Pete Maravich, also known as “Pistol Pete,” passed away at the age of 40 due to a heart attack while playing a pickup basketball game.
Pete Maravich was an American professional basketball player known for his incredible scoring ability and showmanship on the court. He played in the NBA for 10 seasons, earning five All-Star appearances and the scoring title in the 1976-1977 season. Maravich’s career was marked by his creative and flashy play style, which made him a fan favorite.
On January 5, 1988, Maravich collapsed and died during a casual basketball game in a church gymnasium in Pasadena, California. An autopsy revealed that he had a rare congenital heart defect; he was born without a left coronary artery, which usually supplies blood to the heart muscle. His right coronary artery was compensating for the defect, but the extra stress on his heart from the intense physical activity ultimately led to his untimely death.
Maravich’s legacy lives on as one of the most entertaining and skilled players in the history of basketball. He was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. His influence on the game is still felt today, and his records, particularly his NCAA scoring record, remain a testament to his talent and showmanship.