Jazz legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich in action with New Orleans. – Photo by Robert Kingsbury via The Sporting News Archives and Wikimedia Commons/This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.
Handles/Playmaking: “Pistol” Pete Maravich
In his prime, “Pistol” Pete Maravich was regarded as the greatest playmaker in NBA history. Maravich had an uncanny ability to create and score out of ostensibly thin air. It’s what made the five-time NBA All-Star and 1977 NBA Scoring Champion one of the greatest players of all time.
What made Pistol so special was his misleading yet lethal quickness, eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head court vision and trickery that would make Penn & Teller green with envy. It’s also what made him one of the most watchable and entertaining players ever. The guy was so cool, he had his nickname on the back of his jersey.
But the skill that made Pistol most impressive was his handle. He was a wizard with a basketball in his hands and rarely made a mistake. Legend has it that while growing up, Pistol carried a ball with him wherever he went. That paid major dividends later in life, because he ended up being a one-man Harlem Globetrotters squad.
Take a look at these two clips to get an idea of just how talented Pistol Pete was. May he rest in peace.
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