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Atlanta Hawks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Hawks

By Phil Watson

May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Original Caption) New York: Pete Maravich (44), Atlanta Hawks, dribbles away from Walt Frazier (10), NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
(Original Caption) New York: Pete Maravich (44), Atlanta Hawks, dribbles away from Walt Frazier (10), NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden. /

16. player. 125. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 3rd overall pick from LSU, 1970 NBA Draft.. SG. 1970-74. Pete Maravich

Pete Maravich was the consensus player of the year as a senior at LSU, topping off a record-setting collegiate career by averaging more than 44 points and nearly six rebounds per game.

The Atlanta Hawks took the three-time All-American with the third overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft.

ATL_16_MARAVICH
ATL_16_MARAVICH /

He was an All-Rookie pick in 1970-71 and went on to become a two-time All-Star and an All-NBA selection in 1972-73 for the Hawks.

Maravich was second in the NBA in scoring in 1973-74 and fifth in 1972-73.

But in a blockbuster May 1974 trade, he was sent to the expansion New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Bob Kauffman, Dean Meminger, first-round picks in 1974 and 1975, second-round selections in 1975 and 1976 and a 1980 third-rounder.

In four seasons in Atlanta, Maravich averaged 24.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 37.2 minutes per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 80.9 percent at the line.

With the Jazz, Maravich was a three-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection and led the NBA in scoring in 1976-77.

Waived by the Jazz, who had moved to Utah, in January 1980, he signed five days later with the Boston Celtics but retired because of knee problems that had become chronic after he was waived in September 1980.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987, Maravich died Jan. 5, 1988, in Pasadena, Calif., while playing in a pickup game. The 40-year-old was later found to have had a congenital defect, born without one of the two major arteries that supply blood to the heart.

Maravich is 28th in NBA history with an average of 37.0 minutes per game and 18th with an average of 24.2 points per game.

Next: Lone All-Star Year Came In Atlanta

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