The Hawks have one big fan in Louisiana.
Bob Pettit knows a thing or two about the playoffs. He was on the only Hawks team to win an NBA championship and that came in 1958 when the franchise was located in St. Louis. Long retired, the 82-year-old Hall of Famer watches the team-oriented, ball-movement style of today and likes what he sees.
“I have been keeping track of it,” Pettit said Friday before the Hawks played the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. “They play well together. They pass the ball an awful lot which is great, working for the open shot. I think they’ve got the basis for a really strong team. Obviously, they proved it this year.”
Pettit played 11 seasons for the Hawks and was an All-Star each year. He left the game for a job in banking still in the prime of his career in 1965.
Pettit came to watch the Hawks in New Orleans earlier this season. He looks back on his successful playing days but still keeps an eye on the franchise which hasn’t had this much current success since he was suiting up.
“We made it out of the second round a few times,” Pettit said. “We went to the finals four times and lost three and won one. Those were good years. I remember them with a great deal of fond memories. To tell you my opinion, I’m very impressed with the Atlanta Hawks today. They’ve had a great year. They deserve all the credit in the world for what they’ve done. I’m just pulling for them to come back tonight and win this series.”
