A lot of people think Pete retired after the 1980 season due to injuries. In fact he reported to training camp for the 1980-81 in fantastic shape and was playing great. But Fitch and Maravich never really got along and Pete got disenchanted and just quit to spend more time with his family. And of course that was the year he missed out on a championship. If you see footage of Pete into the mid 80s he absolutely could have played a 6th man role all the way up to the 86 championship year. But considering what happened to Pete it's just as well he had time to do what he wanted before he left the world.
I don't know if his knees could've help up til 86'. But I think a couple of years was quite possible. Red wanted to sign Pete to a 2 year deal. Pete later said "And I foolishly said no." He wanted prove to coaching and management he could still play first. And ironically, just a few years before, when Fitch was coaching at Cleveland, he was very complimentary toward Pete. The Cavs had been steadily improving and Pete was in his prime. Fitch said "we'd win the whole thing with Pete in our lineup."
Not sure his heart would've held up as long as it did considering that's what killed him in the late 80's . . .he had begun looking more frail too in the year leading up to his death
They did an old timers games back then at the All Star Games in the 80's I've seen a few where he played. Him and Rick Barry were still in competitive basketball shape. Huge bummer he didnt come back at least for that 80-81 year as a spark plug off the bench.
I'll never forget seeing Pistol Pete score 49 against the Warriors in Oakland in '75. The Dubs were defending champs and were having a 59-win season, but Pete completely took over the game in the second half, scoring over 30 points, hitting a great shot to tie the game and send it to OT, and scoring a couple of buckets to ice the game. The Warriors had a hot young guard named Phil Smith who was having a great season, but that night Pete was off the charts.
I saw The Pistol at the Coliseum during the championship season. Too bad the Warriors traded away the pick the Hawks used to draft him in 1970 and got absolutely nothing in return. It would have been quite a sight to watch him and Rick Barry play together.
This is incredibly great stuff, thanks!! Red Auerbach always loved and praised Pete’s game, even saying he wished the Celtics got Maravich earlier. Well, Pete didn’t win a ring but - like he said - he was inducted into the Hall of Fame (and was alive for it), plus he’s one of the best ever and even more than that, he’s easily one of the most influential ever…
The best proof of his influence is that we're still talking about him 44 (!) years after his last NBA game. Red Auerbach understood the game very well and he would allow his players to use their special skills and abilities, however unorthodox, as long as they worked.
@@Amick44watching Bird and Pete playing for that precious short time was like seeing DiMaggio and Mantle playing together in the same outfield at the end of DiMaggio’s career.
@@1avardacman this dude would have had a hundred points or more once in a game when he played for the jazz if the three-point line would have existed people that brag about that weak 81 points that the rapist Bryant had against Toronto who won a whole 14 or 15 games that year cracks me up they have no idea how much better pistol Pete was as a player
@@mamster233 People with a normal heart have two coronary arteries. His heart was enlarged and scarred because of the extra work it had to do to pump blood. Who said his life was harder?
I was at Pete's first home game at the Garden with the Celtics against Detroit. I believe he had 15 points. Not sure if seeing him live was a bucket list moment but I will always remember it.
Had he played in today's Era with constant uncalled walking and palming the ball... he would have averaged 20 assists a game..He was the greatest ball handler of all time, why he wasn't used as a point guard I'll never understand..
He was at times, after his rookie year and Walt Hazzard was traded. But he was really a combo guard the majority of his career. He was expected to distribute and do a bulk of the scoring. As was Oscar, Jerry, Bing and Westphal. A few years later, even Gary Payton kind of fits this category.
I'm no expert on Maravich, but he seemed like such a troubled soul. He did not emanate joy. There was this sadness about him. Too bad, too, because in his younger days, he was so much fun to watch on the basketball court.
His father (and playing for him in college) put tremendous pressure on him. It was his Dad's dream first, for Pete to become a collegiate and then pro star. While it is well documented Press geared the LSU offense thru Pete, Pete himself wasn't always thrilled with it. Pistol said at one point he was tired of carrying the load and informed Press. He asked Pete "do you have the ability?" Pete replied "yes." Press' response "then do it!" Press seemed to feel Pete didn't appreciate the "opportunity" in his mind, anyway, he gave Pete. Pete was tired of the burden of having to most of the scoring and distributing every game. Press made it clear he didn't want to hear Pete's "complaint." Adding that to the well known issues in Atlanta, making more as a rookie, than likely the other starters combined and one can see the turmoil brewing. Lou Hudson did say of Pete's enormous (at the time) rookie contract "that said more about management than it did about Pete", but nonetheless there was gonna be reaction to it. On the court and off. And in the off-season after Pete's 4th season in Atlanta, he felt deceived by management when he was dealt to the 1st year expansion NO Jazz. His mother also committed suicide that off season! Such incidents happening about the same time, could make the most solid, grounded individuals depressed!
Maravich was the lone superstar on that short-lived New Orleans Jazz franchise. That has meaning in and of itself. If you interviewed him a year or so later he would have expressed gratitude for that. Not every hall-of-famer needs to star on an east coast team to have a meaningful career:
True. Pete, Dave Bing, Tracy Mcgrady have Nothing to apologize for. Quite the opposite. Excellence does not always result in the desired goal. Especially in Team sports.
it kind of sends chill up your spine to see this footage again I was a little kid when Pistol Pete and the Birdman played together for a little while....great memories, and I lived in MD at the time so I was waffling between the Bullets (Wizards) and Boston.
Wow. This guy was good. I remember reading about how throughout his career he played with only about 2 all-stars on his teams. Here he is with Bird. Bird was great. But they brought Pete in because they were in a war for 1st place and Pete helped them get there. He was actually very instrumental in those games. - It was his caring for people that actually got the best of him. Nate Archibald told the story of how During one practice N. Archibald got mad and kicked the basketball and it went in coach Fitch direction. Fitch at this time was always getting on to Pete for ridiculous reasons. He brought Pete over and griped him out. Pete took it and just left the game for good. Nate asked him why he did it. Afterall, Nate was the one that kicked the ball. He was going to admit up to it. Pete told Nate no, that he was a good young player, and did not want him to get in trouble. He took the yelling for him. --- And with that. I am subscribing to your channel. Great video. ---- OH. I already did.
Thanks! Even from this short clip you can see what great camaraderie there was on the Celtics and that the players really appreciated Pete (unlike on the Hawks).
Lou Hudson was an excellent offensive player and scorer at Atlanta. He was the only All Star Pete played with in his prime. The NO Jazz did sign free agent Truck Robinson, but unfortunately in his first year, Pete suffered the knee injury (which would prematurely end his career) and could not finish out the season. Too bad cause Truck would lead the league in rebounding and was entering his prime.
@@johnd2330 It's described in Pete's biography (Maravich by Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill, page 313). And it was indeed ML Carr who kicked the ball, not Nate Archibald - good call, @Amick44
I was at that Bullet game where he hit the game winning 3 against a still potent Washington team. Shame he couldn't get a ring that year. A Bird/Magic final had to wait until '84...
WOW. As a lifelong Celtics fan, that is something that the Celtics did forever to win championships. Bring in "old broken down past champions." Maravich, Walton, etc.
Walton called them. But both were great players languishing where they were before coming to Boston. Boston fans and all of us got the treat of seeing them shine with Bird and a winning Team mentality.
If Maravich Would Have Started Out With Boston Under Auerbach He Would Seriously Be Considered The GOAT! PERIOD! Maravich Faced Jealousy, Reverse Racism And Shitty Coaching As A Trifecta Against Him In Atlanta. This Totally Changed His Game And Wasted His Talent. In New Orleans At Least He Had Elgin As Coach And Started To Shine, But He Never Had Any Help!
Both played in the same city. Both excelled at their sport. Both burdened by similar injury challenges. Both are legends in each respective sport.Both played their game the right way…Pete Maravich and Bobby Orr.
People forget how great Pistol pete was,he was injured most of his career,if he could have been healthy,he would have been great,he taught Bird alot about basketball.
He was only 31 in 1980 ! Damn !! Should have been his prime. Wow Larry Bird and Pistol Pete on the same team ! Can you imagine if they could have played together with each other during eaches prime ?
He probably still would've been in his prime, if not for the knee injury 2 yrs earlier. Isiah Thomas was forced to retire relatively early as well (33 I believe) from an Achilles heel injury.
I think the way it was said by the gentleman was in a "in quotes" tone of voice, meaning some others have called him that, but HE thinks it is obviously not so.
Breaks my heart remembering this awesome talent. Sad that he never was crowned a champion, but let's face it. If he hadn't retired, you would never see a Bird fly.
Also, @Jessemathes5126, he only played 26 games for the Celtics. They were already terrific in 1979-80 due in large part to Larry Bird and did not need anyone to help turn them around.
You can thank Bill Fitch for that. He pestered Pete to regain is "old form", and when Pete worked back to shape in the 1980 off season, Fitch was still not impressed. That's when Pete decided to hang it up.
Well, you would likely have had 410,000 views instead your paltry 41,000 if you did not have your annoying watermark in the center so prominent. And I would guess, I am not the only one who tuned out and shut down after 2-3 minutes and did not watch the full video. HOORAY for Pistol Pete - BOOOOOO for YOU.
They didn't know that at the time of the broadcast and, metaphorically speaking, it was what those other writers were saying about his basketball career, that IT was dead.
@@1avardacMaravich was the basketball version of Archie Manning playing for all those horrible Saints teams. In fact they might have both played in New Orleans at the same time. On the Saints and the Jazz.
Even this season, his last, he showed flashes of greatness and prolific scoring.
A lot of people think Pete retired after the 1980 season due to injuries. In fact he reported to training camp for the 1980-81 in fantastic shape and was playing great. But Fitch and Maravich never really got along and Pete got disenchanted and just quit to spend more time with his family. And of course that was the year he missed out on a championship. If you see footage of Pete into the mid 80s he absolutely could have played a 6th man role all the way up to the 86 championship year. But considering what happened to Pete it's just as well he had time to do what he wanted before he left the world.
I don't know if his knees could've help up til 86'. But I think a couple of years was quite possible. Red wanted to sign Pete to a 2 year deal. Pete later said "And I foolishly said no." He wanted prove to coaching and management he could still play first.
And ironically, just a few years before, when Fitch was coaching at Cleveland, he was very complimentary toward Pete. The Cavs had been steadily improving and Pete was in his prime.
Fitch said "we'd win the whole thing with Pete in our lineup."
Not sure his heart would've held up as long as it did considering that's what killed him in the late 80's . . .he had begun looking more frail too in the year leading up to his death
They did an old timers games back then at the All Star Games in the 80's I've seen a few where he played. Him and Rick Barry were still in competitive basketball shape. Huge bummer he didnt come back at least for that 80-81 year as a spark plug off the bench.
@@Amick44if Walton could do it
I'll never forget seeing Pistol Pete score 49 against the Warriors in Oakland in '75. The Dubs were defending champs and were having a 59-win season, but Pete completely took over the game in the second half, scoring over 30 points, hitting a great shot to tie the game and send it to OT, and scoring a couple of buckets to ice the game. The Warriors had a hot young guard named Phil Smith who was having a great season, but that night Pete was off the charts.
I saw The Pistol at the Coliseum during the championship season. Too bad the Warriors traded away the pick the Hawks used to draft him in 1970 and got absolutely nothing in return. It would have been quite a sight to watch him and Rick Barry play together.
This is incredibly great stuff, thanks!!
Red Auerbach always loved and praised Pete’s game, even saying he wished the Celtics got Maravich earlier. Well, Pete didn’t win a ring but - like he said - he was inducted into the Hall of Fame (and was alive for it), plus he’s one of the best ever and even more than that, he’s easily one of the most influential ever…
The best proof of his influence is that we're still talking about him 44 (!) years after his last NBA game. Red Auerbach understood the game very well and he would allow his players to use their special skills and abilities, however unorthodox, as long as they worked.
@@1avardac Definitely!
Red said later he would've played Pete more. But also that he didn't interfere in the coach's decision, regardless of how he felt.
@@Amick44watching Bird and Pete playing for that precious short time was like seeing DiMaggio and Mantle playing together in the same outfield at the end of DiMaggio’s career.
@@1avardacman this dude would have had a hundred points or more once in a game when he played for the jazz if the three-point line would have existed people that brag about that weak 81 points that the rapist Bryant had against Toronto who won a whole 14 or 15 games that year cracks me up they have no idea how much better pistol Pete was as a player
one of the best basketball players ever and a good man RIP
Watch him score 68 (no 3 pt line ) against defensive specialists guarding him.Red called him "the best play maker in the game today"
The guy was living with one coronary artery his entire life. Incredible.
what does that mean?
Mean he was missi g a artery to his heart@@mamster233
@@mamster233 When he was about 40, he died during a pickup game from an undiagnosed heart defect.
@@agneslong2323 I know the term but how much harder did that make life for him?
@@mamster233 People with a normal heart have two coronary arteries. His heart was enlarged and scarred because of the extra work it had to do to pump blood. Who said his life was harder?
The most gifted player ever.And the most underrated!
I was at Pete's first home game at the Garden with the Celtics against Detroit. I believe he had 15 points. Not sure if seeing him live was a bucket list moment but I will always remember it.
The Pistol, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird on the same team were definitely interesting. Too bad we only got to see it for a couple of months.
Had he played in today's Era with constant uncalled walking and palming the ball... he would have averaged 20 assists a game..He was the greatest ball handler of all time, why he wasn't used as a point guard I'll never understand..
He was at times, after his rookie year and Walt Hazzard was traded. But he was really a combo guard the majority of his career. He was expected to distribute and do a bulk of the scoring. As was Oscar, Jerry, Bing and Westphal.
A few years later, even Gary Payton kind of fits this category.
Nate Tiny Archibald was the king of palming the ball back in 70/80s
I'm no expert on Maravich, but he seemed like such a troubled soul. He did not emanate joy. There was this sadness about him. Too bad, too, because in his younger days, he was so much fun to watch on the basketball court.
His father (and playing for him in college) put tremendous pressure on him. It was his Dad's dream first, for Pete to become a collegiate and then pro star.
While it is well documented Press geared the LSU offense thru Pete, Pete himself wasn't always thrilled with it. Pistol said at one point he was tired of carrying the load and informed Press.
He asked Pete "do you have the ability?"
Pete replied "yes." Press' response "then do it!" Press seemed to feel Pete didn't appreciate the "opportunity" in his mind, anyway, he gave Pete. Pete was tired of the burden of having to most of the scoring and distributing every game. Press made it clear he didn't want to hear Pete's "complaint."
Adding that to the well known issues in Atlanta, making more as a rookie, than likely the other starters combined and one can see the turmoil brewing.
Lou Hudson did say of Pete's enormous (at the time) rookie contract "that said more about management than it did about Pete", but nonetheless there was gonna be reaction to it. On the court and off.
And in the off-season after Pete's 4th season in Atlanta, he felt deceived by management when he was dealt to the 1st year expansion NO Jazz. His mother also committed suicide that off season!
Such incidents happening about the same time, could make the most solid, grounded individuals depressed!
@@Amick44 Thanks for the background. This really explains a lot. 😥
Pete died a very happy man as a born again Christian ,after years of disillusionment. One of my all time hero's
@burtonaka___
No pattern
Birds dad committed suicide when Bird was in high school while dealing with alcoholism, economic and marital problems.
@@Amick44 Thank you for your comment, Amick. Interesting and very insightful. Much appreciation.
Damn pistol pete looks like a young Ralph Nader 😮
Haha.. true
Always wished Pete played at least one more season with the Celtics and won a championship!
Maravich was the lone superstar on that short-lived New Orleans Jazz franchise. That has meaning in and of itself. If you interviewed him a year or so later he would have expressed gratitude for that. Not every hall-of-famer needs to star on an east coast team to have a meaningful career:
True. Pete, Dave Bing, Tracy Mcgrady have Nothing to apologize for. Quite the opposite. Excellence does not always result in the desired goal. Especially in Team sports.
Pete with the frodo baggins hair
Can you imagine a healthy Maravich and Bird on the same team in 81 thru 87??? Wow!!! Who's batman and who's robin???
With Walton too!!!
it kind of sends chill up your spine to see this footage again I was a little kid when Pistol Pete and the Birdman played together for a little while....great memories, and I lived in MD at the time so I was waffling between the Bullets (Wizards) and Boston.
Wow. This guy was good. I remember reading about how throughout his career he played with only about 2 all-stars on his teams. Here he is with Bird. Bird was great. But they brought Pete in because they were in a war for 1st place and Pete helped them get there. He was actually very instrumental in those games. - It was his caring for people that actually got the best of him. Nate Archibald told the story of how During one practice N. Archibald got mad and kicked the basketball and it went in coach Fitch direction. Fitch at this time was always getting on to Pete for ridiculous reasons. He brought Pete over and griped him out. Pete took it and just left the game for good. Nate asked him why he did it. Afterall, Nate was the one that kicked the ball. He was going to admit up to it. Pete told Nate no, that he was a good young player, and did not want him to get in trouble. He took the yelling for him. --- And with that. I am subscribing to your channel. Great video. ---- OH. I already did.
Thanks! Even from this short clip you can see what great camaraderie there was on the Celtics and that the players really appreciated Pete (unlike on the Hawks).
I heard it was ML Carr that actually kicked the ball.
Lou Hudson was an excellent offensive player and scorer at Atlanta. He was the only All Star Pete played with in his prime. The NO Jazz did sign free agent Truck Robinson, but unfortunately in his first year, Pete suffered the knee injury (which would prematurely end his career) and could not finish out the season.
Too bad cause Truck would lead the league in rebounding and was entering his prime.
Source for this story?
@@johnd2330 It's described in Pete's biography (Maravich by Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill, page 313). And it was indeed ML Carr who kicked the ball, not Nate Archibald - good call, @Amick44
Could you imagine a healthy Pete Marovich along the side of Larry Bird in his prime that'd been dramatic
I hope Pistol enjoyed his last stop in an incredible career. R.I.P. Pete!
In my opinion, two of the greatest moniker in basketball.....Dr. J....and ...'Pistol Pete'..
I was at that Bullet game where he hit the game winning 3 against a still potent Washington team. Shame he couldn't get a ring that year. A Bird/Magic final had to wait until '84...
Wow you're old.
@@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212 As will you someday. But perhaps not
@@buckchile614 Well I'm already 40, I'm not that "young". But you seem to be older than me.
WOW. As a lifelong Celtics fan, that is something that the Celtics did forever to win championships. Bring in "old broken down past champions." Maravich, Walton, etc.
Two of my all-time favorites.
Walton called them.
But both were great players languishing where they were before coming to Boston.
Boston fans and all of us got the treat of seeing them shine with Bird and a winning Team mentality.
Dang, he would have been a great 3 point shooter if that had been available for him in his early years.
If Maravich Would Have Started Out With Boston Under Auerbach He Would Seriously Be Considered The GOAT! PERIOD!
Maravich Faced Jealousy, Reverse Racism And Shitty Coaching As A Trifecta Against Him In Atlanta. This Totally Changed His Game And Wasted His Talent. In New Orleans At Least He Had Elgin As Coach And Started To Shine, But He Never Had Any Help!
Should have gone to the ABA.
Wilt had two good coaches, and two rings. I believe you.
Too bad he and Bird didn't play together when he was in his prime. That would have been amazing.
Having text on the guy's face really adds something
Imagine if they had the 3 point shot in college ball when he played.no one would have caught him.
And the rules didn't allow freshmen to play, so add another year onto his scoring records and they are absolutely untouchable.
Both played in the same city. Both excelled at their sport. Both burdened by similar injury challenges. Both are legends in each respective sport.Both played their game the right way…Pete Maravich and Bobby Orr.
People forget how great Pistol pete was,he was injured most of his career,if he could have been healthy,he would have been great,he taught Bird alot about basketball.
Averaged what 60 ppg at lsu before the 3pt line...amazing player ..knees...the hard court is tough on them
This dude AVERAGED 44.5 pts. a game in college, an unbreakable NCAA record.
With no 3 point line!!!!
Before 3 pt line
He was only 31 in 1980 ! Damn !! Should have been his prime. Wow Larry Bird and Pistol Pete on the same team ! Can you imagine if they could have played together with each other during eaches prime ?
He probably still would've been in his prime, if not for the knee injury 2 yrs earlier. Isiah Thomas was forced to retire relatively early as well (33 I believe) from an Achilles heel injury.
He was 32-33.
The TV program got it wrong, lol, dude was born in 1947.
The Jazz were dumb to not utilize him when they moved to Utah. Although it's likely him and Dantley couldn't have co existed.
How could anyone call Pete a loser is crazy
I think the way it was said by the gentleman was in a "in quotes" tone of voice, meaning some others have called him that, but HE thinks it is obviously not so.
Pistol Pete you where Mr entertained and the most under rated player in Basketball the Joker reminds me of your style of play and he is a center.
RIP Pete you are in the kingdom now.
How he ended up dying. Is still troubling for me to this very day.
Great video, thank you
Pistol Pete one of the greats in basketball history.
Thank you so so much!
1:52 A rare 3 pointer by Pete Maravich
Matthew 7:14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto LIFE, and few there be that find it. (King James Version).
The Pistol.
The Fleet Center doesn't have the same soul as the Garden did
Imagine Pete Maravich,Larry Bird,Tiny Archibald, and Dave Cowens, all in their prime on the 1980 Celtics😧
Breaks my heart remembering this awesome talent. Sad that he never was crowned a champion, but let's face it. If he hadn't retired, you would never see a Bird fly.
Wow, those players look a lot smaller than today's.
A great one buried on a crappy team.
He would "LOVE" to play 6-7 years more (1980). Sadly, he would be released the very next season. :(
2:27 Pete Maravich looks like Ralph Nader
Keep in mind, he was THE sixth man of that Celtics squad, and was instrumental in helping them turn around.
ML Carr was the 6th man for the 1979-80 Celtics.
Also, @Jessemathes5126, he only played 26 games for the Celtics. They were already terrific in 1979-80 due in large part to Larry Bird and did not need anyone to help turn them around.
@@johnd2330 Pete helped, you're probably right, for I was only 5 at the time.
@@johnd2330 I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but he helped. I was only five at the time.
@@johnd2330 Also too that the WHOLE team including Cedric Maxwell were essential. Robey AND the rest of them.
Why do they say "he's 31, oh he's too old to play at the highest level" ??
First time I ever saw him he scored
64 points at Kentucky....against Dan Issell . Pete was raw.
Thank you
4:59 if only......
I don't know why he didn't stick around with the Celtics one more year he would have got his championship
You can thank Bill Fitch for that. He pestered Pete to regain is "old form", and when Pete worked back to shape in the 1980 off season, Fitch was still not impressed. That's when Pete decided to hang it up.
@@mr.sinjin-smyth What did the roster space give Fitch? Who got Pistols spot?
@@NameCallingIsWeak Gerald Henderson took over Pistol's spot with more minutes.
Well, you would likely have had 410,000 views instead your paltry 41,000 if you did not have your annoying watermark in the center so prominent. And I would guess, I am not the only one who tuned out and shut down after 2-3 minutes and did not watch the full video. HOORAY for Pistol Pete - BOOOOOO for YOU.
..... and he died 8 years later
And his last were “I feel great”
Obituary writers is crazy and not funny considering he didn't live long
They didn't know that at the time of the broadcast and, metaphorically speaking, it was what those other writers were saying about his basketball career, that IT was dead.
Pete Maravich was much better than Larry Bird.
Bird was great in his own right. Pete was probably a better ballhandler, though.
@@1avardacMaravich was the basketball version of Archie Manning playing for all those horrible Saints teams. In fact they might have both played in New Orleans at the same time. On the Saints and the Jazz.
@@michaelconnor5378good point
@@michaelconnor5378he was way better as a basketball player than Manning was a quarterback
Larry Bird was a better teammate and leader.
Cc is way better than this guy. She score 17 in a wnba game. He scored 17 in a. Quarter in nba lol
Sarcasm isn't always easy to spot in text alone (no tone of voice or visual expressions).
It took me a sec to figure out which way you were headed.