Description: Peter "Pistol Pete" Maravich (June 22, 1947 -- January 5, 1988) was an American basketball player known for his dazzling ballhandling, incredible shooting abilities, and creative passing. He learned at a very young age fundamental basketball and ball handling drills from his father coach Press Maravich. He would follow his father and coach throughout the eastern and gulf seaboards as a young man before exploding onto the National Basketball Association (NBA) in his own right. Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and for three NBA teams. Maravich is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer, averaging a staggering 44.2 points per game, without the benefit of a three-point line and despite the fact that when Pete was in his first year of college, the NCAA had separate freshmen and varsity basketball teams and freshmen were not allowed to play on the varsity team. It was calculated by LSU coach Dale Brown that Maravich would have averaged 57 points per game with the benefit of a college three-point line. After graduating from LSU in 1970, Maravich was the third selection in the first round of that year's NBA player draft[2] and made league history when he signed a $1.6 million contract — one of the highest salaries at the time — with the Atlanta Hawks. He wasted little time becoming a prime time player by averaging 23.2 points per game his rookie season and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. After spending four seasons in Atlanta, Maravich ...