NBA: 12 players whose skills ideally match today’s uptempo play style

Pete Maravich, Shooting Guard (1970-1980)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, Boston Celtics

Career best stat line: 27 points, 6.7 assists, 44% FG (1977-78)

A scoring machine at LSU and in the pros, “Pistol Pete” was a force to be reckoned with. Not only did he have the ball handling to frustrate defenders, but he also had the shooting range ability.

Unfortunately, Maravich entered the league, in 1970, when the it didn’t have a 3-point line. Although it was introduced only nine years later, by then Maravich was 32 and no longer the same great scorer he once was.

What’s most impressive about his career, however, is that he led the league in scoring, in 1976-77, averaging 31 points per game. For every basket that he scored, only 2 points were added to his totals, including shot attempts that would have qualified as 3-pointers just two seasons later.

Pistol Pete is often overlooked in terms of overall great players in NBA history, and that’s a real shame. Had he played in today’s game, I don’t think that would be the case.