Chet Walker, the seven-time All-Star forward who helped Wilt Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers win the 1967 NBA title and later played for the Chicago Bulls, has died. He was 84 years old.
The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker's death, according to NBA.com. The 76ers, Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also shared their condolences on social media on Saturday.
Walker was one of the inaugural recipients of Chicago's Ring of Honor in January.
“His skill, dedication and contributions to the game have left a lasting impact on the basketball world and the city of Chicago,” the Bulls said in a statement.
“Chet Walker will always be remembered as a true Chicago Bulls icon.”
Nicknamed “The Jet,” Walker averaged 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 13 seasons in the NBA, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his years in the league.
He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
A native of Mississippi, Walker attended high school in Benton Harbor, Michigan, before playing college basketball at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He was a two-time All-American with the Braves and helped them win the NIT in 1960. His number 31 was retired by the school in 1976.
The 6-foot-7 Walker was selected in the second round of the 1962 NBA Draft out of Syracuse University. He averaged 12.3 points per game in his first season with the Nationals before they moved to Philadelphia and were renamed the 76ers.
In his fifth season, Walker averaged 19.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in 81 games. With Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham and Walker at the helm, the 76ers went 68-13 in the regular season. They beat Cincinnati and Boston in the playoffs and then Rick Barry and San Francisco to win the 1967 NBA title.
The 76ers said Walker had a “tremendous impact” on Philadelphia and the NBA.
Walker was traded to Chicago in September 1969. After the trade, he was selected to the All-Star team four more times and averaged 20.6 points per game in six seasons with the Bulls.
Walker teamed up with Bob Love to give Chicago a powerful one-two scorer duo, but the duo never made it to the NBA Finals together. In 1971-72, the Bulls went 57-25 with Love averaging 25.8 points per game and Walker averaging 22 points per game, but were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
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