SCROLL DOWN BELOW TO YOUTUBE LINK FOR EXAMPLE PISTOL PETE "LOST FILMS" CONVERTED FROM 16MM TO DIGITAL FORMAT
COMPLETE LISTING OF GAMES AND KEY STATISTICS PICTURED WITH LOA DOCUMENTS
“Pistol Pete” Maravich was one of the first sports stars to be a “rock star”, long before that terminology was used. Pete’s scoring accomplishments, ballhandling wizardry and flashy style were unique and groundbreaking in basketball and sports in general. His NCAA scoring records at LSU look like they will stand forever. Pete’s early NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks resulted in All-Star Game selections and being named All-NBA 2nd team in 1973.
However, when the expansion NBA New Orleans Jazz franchise acquired Pete in 1974, which became known as “The Louisiana Purchase”, “Pistol’s” stature as a basketball legend soared to new heights as he lit up “The Big Easy.” Pete’s prime in New Orleans, from 1974 to 1978, were highlighted by 1st team All-NBA selections in 1976 and 1977, plus a 2nd team All-NBA selection in 1978. Pete won the NBA scoring title in 1977 by averaging 31.1 points per game.
In the 1970’s the NBA and its star players were far from getting the global attention they enjoy today. Few games were televised nationally or locally and Maravich’s accomplishments, rarely seen on film, were often more urban legend and rumor than were witnessed by fans. Adding to the scarcity of “Pistol Pete” footage from this era is that reel to reel film was being replaced by tape, and for cost savings and practicality reasons, tapes were often reused and recorded over.
Fortunately for basketball aficionados, coaches, historians and filmmakers, the legendary basketball coach, executive and scouting pioneer Bill Bertka was General Manager of the New Orleans Jazz during Pete’s years there. Coach Bertka knew the value of game film for scouting and preparation, so he took the initiative to hire a private firm to film Jazz games. Coach Bertka also had the presence of mind to save these films in his personal basketball archives and they are now being presented to the public for the very first time as “The Lost Films of Pistol Pete.”
The film reels are 7” 16mm black and white format in their original metal cannisters, scouting film without sound, preserved in Coach Bertka’s storage room for decades. 37 different New Orleans Jazz games from 1974 to 1978 are included. Two games are on videotape, plus a 1978 New Orleans Jazz season highlight videotape narrated by “Hot Rod” Hundley. The videotape cassettes are 3/4" U-Matic.
Examples of jaw dropping stat lines from “Pistol Pete” are his 1/17/75 game against the Seattle Supersonics when he delivered a mind-bending triple-double of 42 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists, as well as a 10/26/75 battle against the New York Knicks when Maravich goes off for 45 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists.
Along with “Pistol Pete’s” exploits note that many other NBA legends from the 1970’s like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Dave Bing, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, John “Hondo” Havlicek, Elvin “The Big E” Hayes, Bob Lanier, Bob McAdoo, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Bill Walton have strong performances in the game footage.
Estimate: $100,000+