‘225’: Looking back at a basketball legend

Behind his back. Between his legs. Between your legs. If you were assigned to guard “Pistol” Pete Maravich, there was a lot to worry about. From the no-look passes he whipped around defenders to those unstoppable long-range bombs that seemed to defy physics and find a home at the bottom of the net. A record-setting scoring machine and wizard on the court, Maravich thrilled fans, stunned defenders and inspired a generation of players like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to take the game to new creative heights. Twenty-five years ago this month, Maravich collapsed while playing a pick-up game in Pasadena, Calif. The LSU legend and NBA all-star died of heart failure because of a previously undetected congenital defect. He was 40. As a member of the Tulane Green Wave from 1966 to 1970, Dr. Edward Reese played against Maravich eight times. Reese even blocked his shot at the buzzer once to secure a double-overtime Tulane win. In this month’s issue of 225, he tells editor Jeff Roedel what it was really like to guard the “Pistol.” Click here to read the full story.