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40 years ago, Pistol Pete won the NBA scoring title ...
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:09 am
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:09 am
LINK
Maravich was a five-time All Star during his 10-season NBA career. If he were playing today, he’d still be an all-star — and that’s understating it, according to former Washington Bullets swingman Kevin Grevey, who grew up idolizing him.
“Pistol would be today better than he was then,” Grevey tells USA TODAY Sports. “He’s about the only player I could say would be better in this era than he was in his own. And we know how great he was in his own era. Oh my God, he’d be phenomenal now.”
That’s partly because the NBA didn’t adopt the three-point line until the last season of Maravich’s NBA career (when bad knees limited his playing time) and partly because he played when hand-checking could handcuff his brand of creative drive-and-dish.
“It’s not a bully game like it was 30, 40 years ago,” Grevey says. “You always had a hand on your hip. The defender was guiding you, telling you where to go. Now the offensive man tells the defensive player: ‘You can’t touch me.’ They can get to the rim, get into the paint so much more easily now. And that’s what Pistol was so great at. He did it with ball-handling and trickery. He would fool you. And if you didn’t get up on him, he’d shoot a 30-foot set shot. And it was only for two.”
Maravich was a five-time All Star during his 10-season NBA career. If he were playing today, he’d still be an all-star — and that’s understating it, according to former Washington Bullets swingman Kevin Grevey, who grew up idolizing him.
“Pistol would be today better than he was then,” Grevey tells USA TODAY Sports. “He’s about the only player I could say would be better in this era than he was in his own. And we know how great he was in his own era. Oh my God, he’d be phenomenal now.”
That’s partly because the NBA didn’t adopt the three-point line until the last season of Maravich’s NBA career (when bad knees limited his playing time) and partly because he played when hand-checking could handcuff his brand of creative drive-and-dish.
“It’s not a bully game like it was 30, 40 years ago,” Grevey says. “You always had a hand on your hip. The defender was guiding you, telling you where to go. Now the offensive man tells the defensive player: ‘You can’t touch me.’ They can get to the rim, get into the paint so much more easily now. And that’s what Pistol was so great at. He did it with ball-handling and trickery. He would fool you. And if you didn’t get up on him, he’d shoot a 30-foot set shot. And it was only for two.”
9
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:15 am to tiderider
God he was awesome.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:17 am to tiderider
quote:
“Pistol would be today better than he was then,” Grevey tells USA TODAY Sports. “He’s about the only player I could say would be better in this era than he was in his own. And we know how great he was in his own era. Oh my God, he’d be phenomenal now.”
I don't know that he is the only player that would be better in this era cause I am sure there were a few swing 4 that were stuck on the block back in the day. Having said that Pistol Pete would have been a monster in today's in NBA
This post was edited on 2/17/17 at 7:20 am
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:29 am to Dire Wolf
#butoldschoolcouldnthangintodaysgame
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:38 am to tiderider
quote:
It’s not a bully game like it was 30, 40 years ago,” Grevey says. “You always had a hand on your hip. The defender was guiding you, telling you where to go. Now the offensive man tells the defensive player: ‘You can’t touch me.’ They can get to the rim, get into the paint so much more easily now.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:39 am to tiderider
Pistol is the primary athlete I wish I could have seen play. Also, I love the fact his legend grows stronger as the years pass.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:42 am to Honest Tune
quote:
Pistol is the primary athlete I wish I could have seen play
I was about to say the same thing. I'm 30. If I could see one athlete that I missed it would be pistol. As good as he was, I'm not sure he was even as good as he is in my mind
. I've built him up so much based on the stories and things I've heard over my life. Just wish I could have watched.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:46 am to tiderider
A better scoring Larry Bird would have lebron eating his dust.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:20 am to kywildcatfanone
Had ESPN existed back in those days, Pete would have been a bigger name than Jordan. Very few to no LSU games were ever televised & highlight shows did not exist, so only the fans in the SEC got to see just how great Pete was. For 3 straight seasons. One game with the Jazz, in a packed Dome, he took a defensive rebound & took off like a jet towards half court. A teammate on the right wing. As he got to the half court circle, a defender planted right in front of him, arms wide, legs split. Pete stopped on a dime, turned around facing the other way & bounced a pass between the defender's legs to the teammate streaking towards an easy layup. I was one of the 60,000 + who did not realize what had happened for several long seconds & then the Dome went nuts.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:28 am to sicboy
quote:
#butoldschoolcouldnthangintodaysgame
To be fair, Kevin Grevey said Pistol is the only one who would be better.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:28 am to kywildcatfanone
I am birds biggest fan but on the inside lebron would over power larry.
Larry passing
Larry shooting, moving
Larry better open court defender.
Lebron inside.
Rebounds even or bird by a shade
Larry passing
Larry shooting, moving
Larry better open court defender.
Lebron inside.
Rebounds even or bird by a shade
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:31 am to lsugrad35
My uncle was at LSU same time as PP, and he basically talks about him as though he was a god on the court.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:32 am to tiderider
Pistol Pete averaged 24 ppg for his career and 31 in the year he won the scoring title.
I'm not entirely sure he'd be an NBA basketball player if he was born 25 years ago instead of back in the day.
I'm not entirely sure he'd be an NBA basketball player if he was born 25 years ago instead of back in the day.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:36 am to ReauxlTide222
quote:
Pistol Pete averaged 24 ppg for his career and 31 in the year he won the scoring title.
I'm not entirely sure he'd be an NBA basketball player if he was born 25 years ago instead of back in the day.
you don't think he could play in the nba today?
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:36 am to ReauxlTide222
I know, man. I feel the same way about Bear Bryant. Doubt he could win many games in today's athletic environment.
Derp.
Derp.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:36 am to CelticDog
quote:
am birds biggest fan but on the inside lebron would over power larry.
Larry passing
Larry shooting, moving
Larry better open court defender.
Lebron inside.
Rebounds even or bird by a shade
I can concede Bird as a better scorer, but better passer and open court defender is a bit much.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:43 am to tiderider
I'm not sure.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:44 am to Honest Tune
quote:I agree, as far as titles go. Hell he might not win many games either. Have you ever heard him coach? Doesn't exactly come across as an X's and O's guru. No way he'd be a legend if he coached today.
I know, man. I feel the same way about Bear Bryant. Doubt he could win many games in today's athletic environment.
This post was edited on 2/17/17 at 8:47 am
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:45 am to ReauxlTide222
Well, I politely disagree with you on both counts, sir. Greatness transcends era.
Make no mistake, one day there will be kids that think Jordan couldn't hack it in "today's game."
Make no mistake, one day there will be kids that think Jordan couldn't hack it in "today's game."
Posted on 2/17/17 at 8:46 am to ReauxlTide222
quote:
Pistol Pete averaged 24 ppg for his career and 31 in the year he won the scoring title.
No 3 point line.
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