Maravich would go on to play his final three years on his father’s varsity LSU squad where he would average 44.2 points per game and lead the entire NCAA in scoring for each of those three varsity seasons. He would go on to play a decade in the NBA where he would be rated as the one of – if not the best - ball-handler and offensive force in the years before the three-point line and shot clock.

These Converse All-Stars were game used by Pistol Pete right at the beginning of his meteoric career. The pair was given to LSU’s equipment manager, Dex Bott, after a home game against Southern Miss. Though they were worn in only a handful of games, Maravich had wanted a new pair, and Bott held on to them in case he was not issued a fresh set. The classic black canvas All-Stars show good game use, with fading to the black canvas body and visible wear to the tread and rubber soles. The Converse labels are still affixed to the read of both sneakers and the laces are also present, with appropriate wear. The most interesting attribute to these gamers are the labels found in each tongue, hand lettered with “F-24.” Number “24” was Maravich’s number in 1966-67 and the “F” was for the freshman squad on which he starred.

This incredible piece of basketball history comes with a LOA from MEARS for the game use and a signed letter of provenance from the estate of Dexter Bott, the equipment manager for LSU basketball from 1965-1969. The provenance from the estate includes the original typed and initialed letter from Dexter Bott detailing when he received these shoes, Bott’s various LSU awards and LSU ephemera, a copy of the book Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich by Mark Kriegel that mentions and discusses these exact shoes on page 341 (The book is signed and inscribed by the author to Dexter Bott) and a copy of the magazine The Lost Year of Pistol Pete showing Maravich in his freshman uniform #24, with a style match to black converse low tops on his feet . Additionally, a LOA from Norm Vener, a well-known collector and historian Norm Vener, who was able to research the shoes and confirm size of the shoes worn by Maravich by speaking with Bill Newton, a teammate of Maravich.

Additionally, this lot includes seven LSU programs. There is also a signed copy of “PISTOL The Life of Pete Maravich” signed to Dexter Bott by the author Mark Kriegel, who inscribed “For Dexter Bott, with respect, affection, and great gratitude for all your help.” There’s a June/July 2016 issue of the “Tiger Rag” puplication with “The Lost Year of Pistol Pete” showing Maravich taking a jump shot, two yearbooks, a “LSU 100 1909-2009 A Century of Basketball” tote bag, a framed award presented to Dexter Bott from LSU, a Dexter Bott Official Party VIP lanyard, an LSU-ROTC patch, a personal LSU TIGERS 1967 calendar, a wool purple LSU cap with a small yellow brim that has “BOTT” handwritten on the underside brim and a 3 ½ x 6-inch wood floor piece with the design of the PETE MARAVICH ASSEMBLY CENTER court.

Please note that this lot has a 25% Buyer’s Premium (28% if payment is made using a credit card and/or is not paid within 10 days of invoice). Goldin Auctions will be donating 5% of the winning bid price to The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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