On this day in Boston Celtics history, basketball legend Peter “Pete” Press Maravich died unexpectedly while playing a game of pickup basketball due to an undetected heart condition in 1988.
Born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in 1947 to mother Helen Gravor Maravich and father Peter “Press” Maravich — a basketball star in his own right, Piston Pete (as he was called as a nickname) picked up his father’s talents and then some as a player, whom he played for at Louisiana State University. His elite offensive talents and amazing handle quickly got the attention of professional teams as a two-time National College Player of the Year and was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 1970.
He would play for that team, and the New Orleans and later Utah Jazz before joining the Celtics as a free agent in 1980.