Interesting fact about Pistol Pete

Calsarmy

All-Conference
Jul 24, 2013
1,009
1,232
0
Many of us older KY fans saw Pistol actually play against our Wildcats back in the 60's and were of course blown away. One fact I happen to run across that I thought was pretty interesting about Pistol and scoring.
When Dale Brown because coach at LSU he decided to go back and chart every shot Pistol made and from where during every game he played there.
Pistol averaged 44 points a game during his career with no 3 point line which of course has never been matched.
Brown said if there had been a 3 point line he would have averaged 13-3 pointers a game. Of course that would have had Pistol averaging 57 points a game.
One of if not the greatest college player I have ever seen and that goes back to the 50s to today.
 

spotter34

All-American
Dec 31, 2002
19,497
8,986
113
I love Pistol Pete but he wasn’t a great outside shooter. He attempted just under 40 FG’s a game each of his 3 years at LSU with his best FG% being 44.7%. He shot 77.5% from the free throw line, which is good but not great.

I’d imagine he’d attempted 13 three point FG’s a game but not make that many.
 

spotter34

All-American
Dec 31, 2002
19,497
8,986
113
Fact / best part of this thread is your avatar.

He played his last 3 years with the 3 point shot and in those three years he shot 10-15. Not a huge sample size. My son shot 13-19 from three in a Christmas high school tournament last year; just sayin.
 

Lovebaskelball

All-Conference
May 11, 2009
3,011
2,565
113
He played his last 3 years with the 3 point shot and in those three years he shot 10-15. Not a huge sample size. My son shot 13-19 from three in a Christmas high school tournament last year; just sayin.

You stole my "rest of the story". :D

Actually, it was Pete's last season when the 3 point shot started (79-80 season).
 

SemperFiCat

Heisman
Mar 2, 2009
14,566
30,005
0
He played his last 3 years with the 3 point shot and in those three years he shot 10-15. Not a huge sample size. My son shot 13-19 from three in a Christmas high school tournament last year; just sayin.
Well, when you lose your legs and a knee, your shot suffers. Interesting stat though for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wall Knight Teague

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
29,518
21,619
0
Some things to note:

1. Pete benefited from the free throw rule back in the day. From 1957 - 1972, a player received 1 free throw for the first 6 team fouls of the half. One and one came into play on the 7th foul. Basically, any time he was fouled, he shot free throws.
2. Bill Walton is the one who told that story. He was probably high at the time.
3. In the 1 year the NBA had the 3 point rule and Pete was playing, he took a total of 15 3 pointers. Less than 3% of his shots were from 3 point range.
 

davekersey

Heisman
Oct 10, 2007
3,088
10,124
0
I used to watch the Cincinnati Royals back in my day, with Oscar, Lucas, Twyman, etc. One game I caught was when the New Orleans team come to town, featuring Pete Maravich. He want for 47 that game, but Tiny Archibald nearly matched him with 44 of his own. A fun game to watch. Pete was more than a shooter, a complete player with fancy passes, unheard of ball handling, and creative ways to score.
 

Whatsup

All-American
Feb 15, 2011
8,987
8,085
0
Many of us older KY fans saw Pistol actually play against our Wildcats back in the 60's and were of course blown away. One fact I happen to run across that I thought was pretty interesting about Pistol and scoring.
When Dale Brown because coach at LSU he decided to go back and chart every shot Pistol made and from where during every game he played there.
Pistol averaged 44 points a game during his career with no 3 point line which of course has never been matched.
Brown said if there had been a 3 point line he would have averaged 13-3 pointers a game. Of course that would have had Pistol averaging 57 points a game.
One of if not the greatest college player I have ever seen and that goes back to the 50s to today.
I remember seeing him play. Awesome player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kevcat

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
Pretty much proof that player assessment on team results leads to really bad conclusions.

So does ignoring the obvious link between the two.

Because the alternative is that this one guy just so happened to be singularly gifted in a way no one else in history has been AND happened to be surrounded with teammates so awful for 15 years in various environments that even his one of a kind ability wasn't enough.

People don't want to hear it because he's a folk hero of the common man and a nostalgic era, but the odds say Maravich's numbers are what they are because of how he played and his team success is what it is because of how he played.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big_Blue79

AnarchoNeoLuddite_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2003
15,806
4,814
0
Only one team is going to win it all. so a lot of great players and teams never did win anything. And its entertainment id rather watch Pete as one the best entertainers to lay lose a game than watch some boring *** by the numbers team and or player win a game.
 

kevcat

Heisman
Feb 26, 2007
27,686
32,625
0
Another interesting fact about Pistol Pete is that he never actually owned a gun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crpoore

bluedog79

All-American
Mar 4, 2008
6,015
5,290
0
Nobody could handle the ball and pass like pistol pete. He knew all the tricks. He was the original showtime player. I LOVE watching his youtube instruction videos. He is absolutely amazing in those videos at age 37 or so. Go watch them and tell me how good Pistol was with the ball. His I.Q. for basketball coaching...off the charts. He would've been a good one on the sideline.
 

Guess Who

All-American
Jul 26, 2005
20,792
7,284
0
iirc I read that Pistol was Magic Johnsons mentor in how he loved the razzle dazzle ball handling. I did have the pleasure to see him play once in Memorial Coliseum against our famed Big Dan. He was a show without a doubt but yet a one man show that lost. Still a good memory nonetheless.
 

CatColumbia

All-Conference
Apr 19, 2014
5,934
3,140
0
One of the greatest players of all-time. The craziest thing is, scoring wasn’t even the best part of his game. Passing was.

When the pistol entered the NBA he said that he didn’t want to be one of those guys who plays 10 years and then dies when they are forty. Ironically, that’s exactly what happened.
 

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
Terrible take. He played for his dad at LSU and never played for a contender in the NBA. To try to degrade his greatness is laughable.

And never won a thing. Or even came close. Never contended.

Because it wasn't about winning. It was about being The Pistol. Which means that all the numbers need to be viewed through that lens.

If Jamal Murray played four years of college basketball for his dad and was given the green light to do anything he wanted at the expense of winning, how many points would he score?
 
A

anon_q409idbs5m40a

Guest
Pretty much proof that player assessment on team results leads to really bad conclusions.
Right, he didn't have much of a supporting cast but I think LSU did finish second or third in the conference one season while he was playing. Worst game I ever saw him have was in the NIT against Georgetown, I believe.
 
A

anon_q409idbs5m40a

Guest
And never won a thing. Or even came close. Never contended.

Because it wasn't about winning. It was about being The Pistol. Which means that all the numbers need to be viewed through that lens.

If Jamal Murray played four years of college basketball for his dad and was given the green light to do anything he wanted at the expense of winning, how many points would he score?
They did finish second in the SEC his senior season going 13-5. Not a bad record but never made the NCAA Tournament. Finished four games behind UK that season in the standings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ruppcat
A

anon_q409idbs5m40a

Guest
They had a couple of forwards named Al "Apple" Sanders and Danny Hester that were nice players.
Sanders wasn't bad and neither was Hester. They did finish second in the conference that season going 13-5.
 

kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
So does ignoring the obvious link between the two.

Because the alternative is that this one guy just so happened to be singularly gifted in a way no one else in history has been AND happened to be surrounded with teammates so awful for 15 years in various environments that even his one of a kind ability wasn't enough.

People don't want to hear it because he's a folk hero of the common man and a nostalgic era, but the odds say Maravich's numbers are what they are because of how he played and his team success is what it is because of how he played.

What team? He never had one.
 

uky8unc5

Heisman
May 22, 2002
17,433
12,944
113
I used to watch the Cincinnati Royals back in my day, with Oscar, Lucas, Twyman, etc. One game I caught was when the New Orleans team come to town, featuring Pete Maravich. He want for 47 that game, but Tiny Archibald nearly matched him with 44 of his own. A fun game to watch. Pete was more than a shooter, a complete player with fancy passes, unheard of ball handling, and creative ways to score.
Gee Dave, don't mess up this Hate Pete thread with real live testimony.

I saw Pete a few times too. And anyone who thinks he wasn't the Real Deal is embarrassing themself.
 

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
0
They did finish second in the SEC his senior season going 13-5. Not a bad record but never made the NCAA Tournament. Finished four games behind UK that season in the standings.

You don't think it's odd that it just so happens the guy who put up the craziest numbers ever is also the guy who won such a massive amount less than the other all time greats?

There's no way I'm the only one who sees what was going on.
 

kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
You don't think it's odd that it just so happens the guy who put up the craziest numbers ever is also the guy who won such a massive amount less than the other all time greats?

There's no way I'm the only one who sees what was going on.

In college his teammates were rather pathetic. I think you are the only one that doesn’t see that.
 
KSR

Latest

  1. 01 KSR Women's Basketball The Memorial Memo (EP. 74): Kentucky WBB is 2-0, No. 25 NC State up next
  2. 02 KSR Basketball KSR Staff Predictions: No. 23 Kentucky vs. James Madison
  3. 03 KSR Volleyball Home Sweet Home: No. 6 Kentucky VB previews season's final home stand
  4. 04 KSR Basketball Kentucky vs. James Madison: Preview, Odds & How to Watch
  5. 05 KSR Football Playoff Viewing Guide: What games Kentucky fans need to follow in Week 10