Key Takeaways:
– Josh Maravich, the son of NBA star Pete Maravich, succumbed at the age of 42.
– LSU, where both father and son played basketball, announced his demise.
– Josh had been a part of his father’s statue unveiling ceremony held at LSU.
– No cause of death was reported.
Introduction
The sports world is in mourning with the news of the demise of Josh Maravich, son of late NBA Legend Pete Maravich. Josh, a former LSU basketball player, passed away on June 7 at his family’s residence in Covington, Louisiana.
A Life Under a Legacy Banner
Josh Maravich was born into a family steeped in basketball history. His father, Pete Maravich, better known as “Pistol Pete,” was an esteemed Hall of Famer known for revolutionizing the game in the 1970s. The elder Maravich, a standout at LSU, later offered considerable contributions to the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics during his ten seasons in the NBA.
Playing Basketball in Father’s Footsteps
Following his father’s steps, Josh decided to put on the LSU jersey to honor his father. During his four-year sports stint at LSU from 2001 to 2005, he worked hard to make his father proud, even though he knew he wouldn’t be a star player.
Before college, Josh had been an accomplished star at St. Paul’s High School in Covington, Louisiana, where he scored more than 1,000 points and was named the District MVP in his senior season. As a senior, he averaged 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals per game.
Tracing His Father’s Legacy
His father’s influence was indelible in Marevich’s life, influencing his decision to study at LSU and remain involved in basketball throughout his life. “I wanted to come here for my dad to make him proud,” Josh said in 2005, according to LSU’s statement.
Tribute to His Father’s Legacy
In July 2022, Josh participated in the unveiling of a statute celebrating his father at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, further cementing Pete’s enduring legacy. Josh and his elder brother Jaeson chose the iconic pose now on display on the plaza where his father is enshrined alongside the other greats of the game.
The Passing of Pete Maravich
Pete Maravich had a sudden heart attack while playing a pickup game in California in 1988, six years after Josh’s birth. A recent article in JACC Case Reports posits that it was most likely myocardial disease, a disease of the heart muscle, that led to Pete’s sudden demise, rather than the initially suspected congenital coronary artery disease.
Conclusion
Josh Maravich is survived by his mother, Jackie Maravich McLachlan, his stepfather James, and his older brother Jaeson. As the sports community mourns this loss, the memory of both father and son in the world of basketball lingers.