On February 25, 1977, Pete Maravich scored 68 points against the Knicks
Pete Maravichbetter known as “Pistol Pete”, died on January 5, 1988 after suffering a heart attack during a friendly match. He was 40 years old. If he left such a deep mark on the NCAA and NBA imagination, it is clearly because of his qualities as a player. Pete Maravich was so ahead of his time. His technique, his fantasy, and his outside shot would be perfect for the rhythm and offensive basketball of the 2010s and 2020s.
This cocktail was perfectly expressed during the 1976/77 season, where he finished as the league’s leading scorer with an average of 31.1 points, and even more on February 25, 1977 against the Knicks.
“Something happened tonight”, says his Jazz teammateMoe Howard. “The room was almost full. I didn’t know things would turn out like this. As soon as we started playing, he went all out. And shots like I’ve never seen in my career. But growing up in Philly, I saw Wilt Chamberlain. But Wilt played close to the circle. There, if there was a 3-point line, Pete would have scored 80 points. »
Forerunner of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and James Harden
Since he doesn’t exist yet and went out for six fouls with 1 minute 18 left, Pete Maravich stopped at 68 points, 26/43 shooting, 16/19 free throws. More details: 17 points in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 17 in the third and finally 20 in the last act.
“I could have achieved more”the hero of the evening will regret it for the New York Timesafter his team won 124-107. “I missed a lot of easy shots early in the game.”
No outside player had scored as many points in NBA history during that time. Alone Wilt Chamberlain etc Elgin Baylor did better, but much closer to the circle. David Thompson, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Kobe Bryant, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid etc Luka Dončić will follow later.
“Everyone sees how Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and James Harden shoot? Maravich did the same”remembers Bob McAdoo, MVP in 1975 and three-time leading scorer between 1974 and 1976. “We didn’t have a 3-point line, so we didn’t train for that style of shooting. Pete could shoot from long range and there weren’t many like him. This is the best performance I’ve seen.”
https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=6l3kU19npfI
| Pete Maravich | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1970-71 | ATL | 81 | 36 | 45.8 | 80.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 23.2 | |
| 1971-72 | ATL | 66 | 35 | 42.7 | 81.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19.3 | |
| 1972-73 | ATL | 79 | 39 | 44.1 | 80.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 26.1 | |
| 1973-74 | ATL | 76 | 38 | 45.7 | 82.6 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 27.7 | |
| 1974-75 | EAT | 79 | 36 | 41.9 | 81.1 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 21.5 | |
| 1975-76 | EAT | 62 | 38 | 45.9 | 81.1 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.9 | |
| 1976-77 | EAT | 73 | 42 | 43.3 | 83.5 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 31.1 | |
| 1977-78 | EAT | 50 | 41 | 44.4 | 87.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 27.0 | |
| 1978-79 | EAT | 49 | 37 | 42.1 | 84.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 22.6 | |
| 1979-80 * | All teams | 43 | 22 | 44.9 | 66.7 | 86.7 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 13.7 |
| 1979-80 * | BOS | 26 | 17 | 49.4 | 75.0 | 90.9 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 11.5 |
| 1979-80 * | UTH | 17 | 31 | 41.2 | 63.6 | 82.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 17.1 |
| In total | 658 | 37 | 44.1 | 66.7 | 82.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 24.2 | |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-25 13:27:00
