NBA’s first-ever MVP who retired as league’s leading scorer dies at 93

NBA legend Bob Pettit, the league's first-ever MVP, has died at the age of 93. His passing was officially confirmed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday. Pettit played his entire 11-year career with the Hawks franchise in Milwaukee and St. Louis, earning an All-Star selection in every season and capturing the 1958 NBA championship against the Boston Celtics.

Drafted second overall in 1954, Pettit won Rookie of the Year in 1955 before securing MVP honors in 1956 and 1959. He retired in 1965 as the NBA's all-time leading scorer, becoming the first player to surpass 20,000 career points while finishing with career averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.