"Pistol" Pete Maravich 1975-76 New Orleans Jazz Road Jersey w/ LOAs From Jazz Officials

He was Cousy long after Cousy, and Magic even before Magic. An entertainer. “Pistol” Pete Maravich was by most accounts, the greatest showman the game of basketball has ever seen. As a sophomore at Louisiana State he began the greatest scoring rampage in NCAA history. By the time he concluded his unparalleled college career in 1970, when he was named College Player of the Year, Maravich held nearly every major NCAA scoring record, including most career points (3,667), highest career scoring average (44.2 ppg), most field goals made (1,387) and attempted (3,166), and most career 50-point games (28). And he accomplished all this without the benefit of the three-point basket, which wasn't introduced into the college game until the 1986-87 season. Maravich brought his thrilling playmaking ability to the NBA after being drafted by Atlanta in 1970. Four years later, the expansion New Orleans Jazz were preparing for their inaugural 1974-75 season. The team needed a marquee player, and who better to launch the franchise than the greatest basketball legend in Louisiana State history? The Jazz shipped out Dean Meminger, Bob Kauffman, two future first-round draft choices and two future second-round draft choices in order to bring Maravich back to Louisiana. The next couple of years saw Maravich peak, as his skills, savvy, and showmanship came to fruition in New Orleans. And although Maravich's teams weren't winners, his sleight of hand with the ball and his creative shooting awed fans and opponents alike. This jersey dates from the 1975-76 season in which Maravich earned his first selection to the All-NBA First Team. The jersey has been consigned by former New Orleans Jazz official scorer Bob Remy (1974-79) who had a personal relationship with Maravich, and was given the jersey by the team as a farewell gift in 1979. The jersey can be dated to 1975-76 based on the combination of the Sandknit tagging, the jersey number “7," and the use of his nickname “Pistol” on the back. Maravich switched from number 44 to 7 after the 1974-75 season and the use of nicknames on jerseys was discontinued after the 1976-77 season. All of the lettering and numbers on the front are screened on, while his nickname “Pistol” is sewn on the back. The jersey shows moderate wear with the only minor flaw being some loosened stitching on the tags. A letter accompanies the jersey, sent to our consignor Bob Remy along with the Maravich jersey in 1979 from Dave Fredman, Director of Public Relations for the Jazz. On Jazz letterhead, Fredman thanks Remy for his distinguished service and states, “I hope you enjoy the Pistol Pete Maravich jersey. If anyone in any sport is as loyal of fan and employee of a franchise as you are I don't know about it.” An additional LOA from Remy details his receipt of the jersey and relationship with Maravich himself. With regard to era, condition and provenance, this is among the finest of the few known Pete Maravich NBA jerseys known. LOA from MEARS (A10).