Statue Honoring LSU’s Bob
Pettit
Because of Gayle Hatch’s leadership, Shaquille O’Neal’s statue will have a neighbor, the statue of a man who LSU should have never waited this long to honor. A statue of Bob Pettit.
Bob Pettit resume:
1970 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
First LSU athlete in any sport to have a number retired (1954)
Two time All-American, three time All-Sec selection
Led LSU to 1953 Final Four
Holds LSU single-season rebounding average record (17.3, 1953-54)
First round pick in the NBA by Milwaukee, Hawks (1954)
Played entire 11-year career with the Hawks and was an All-Star each year
4 time MVP of the NBA All-Star Game
He led St Louis Hawks to NBA Championship (1957-1958)
1956 and 1959 NBA Most Valuable Player
1954 NBA Rookie of the Year
Became the first NBA player to surpass 20,000 career points (1964)
Named one of 50 greatest players in the NBA history