Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who was a two-time national champion at UCLA and later won two NBA championships, died Monday after a long battle with cancer. The NBA announcedHe died at the age of 71.
According to the NBA, Walton was surrounded by his family.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. It said in a statement“As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center field position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force.”
“What I remember most about him was his passion for life. He was a regular attendee at League events, always cheerful, smiling broadly and eager to share his wisdom and warmth. I cherished our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and respected the time he spent with everyone he met.”
A native of La Mesa, California, Walton achieved legendary status as a player at both the collegiate and professional levels before becoming a beloved announcer.
Walton was named National Player of the Year each of his three seasons at UCLA, and the Bruins compiled a combined record of 86-4. Playing for legendary coach John Wooden, Walton led the Bruins to back-to-back winning seasons in 1972 and 1973, going 30-0.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Walton with the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. In just his third year, the 6-foot-11 center led Portland to its first and only championship in the 1977 Finals, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers. Walton, who was the NBA MVP runner-up that season, went on to win the Finals MVP award.
“Bill Walton was a true legend – an exceptional player, a talented announcer and a valuable member of the Blazers organization,” the Trail Blazers said in a statement. “His mastery of the game not only established him as one of the greatest centers of all time, but also led the Blazers to championships.”
“But Bill was much more than basketball. He was the biggest person in life. His bright and vibrant personality will forever be remembered and cherished, and he will be greatly missed by our organization, Rip City and all who were involved with him.”
Walton went on to win the NBA MVP Award in the 1977-78 season, averaging 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 blocks, but his career was then interrupted by chronic foot injuries.
Walton missed the 1978 playoffs due to a foot injury and only played a total of 14 games over the next four seasons, playing four seasons with the Clippers (first in San Diego, then Los Angeles) before moving to the Boston Celtics, which would be the final stop of his career.
In his first season with Boston, Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year award and won his second NBA championship as the Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets in the 1986 Finals. He played just 10 games in the 1986-87 season, which turned out to be his final NBA season.
“Bill Walton was one of the most influential players of his era,” the Celtics said in a statement. “With fantastic timing, perfect court vision and great fundamentals, Walton was a jack of all trades and one of the best passing big men the league has ever seen. He derived great joy from basketball and music, and loved spending time with his teammates and friends.”
“As a member of the Celtics, Bill overcame years of serious injuries to regain his passion for the game and help lead the Boston Celtics to a championship in 1986, both in play and in spirit.”
Walton appeared in 468 games over 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging career averages of 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. He spent four seasons with the Blazers and Clippers before playing two years with the Celtics. In addition to his MVP and Sixth Man of the Year honors, Walton was selected to the All-Star Game twice, the All-Defensive First Team twice, the All-NBA First Team once and the All-NBA Second Team once.
Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He was selected to both the NBA's 50th Anniversary and 75th Anniversary Teams.
“The world feels heavy right now as my good friend, fellow Bruins player and NBA rival Bill Walton passed away today,” said UCLA legend and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “On the court, Bill was an intense player, but off the court he was only happy if he did everything he could to make everyone around him happy. He was the best of us all.”
After retiring from playing, Walton became a star in the broadcast booth, calling college and NBA games. An Emmy Award winner, he was eventually named one of the top 50 sportscasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association, and his memoir, “Back from the Dead,” appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. The book chronicles Walton's years-long recovery from the severe back injury he suffered in 2008, when the constant pain led him to consider suicide.
Walton was beloved for his on-air comedic comments, and was sometimes seen wearing a Grateful Dead T-shirt. Walton was a huge fan of the band, and would frequently reference them, even recording a satellite radio special celebrating what it meant to be a “Deadhead.”
And the Pac-12 Conference, now in many ways virtually defunct due to college restructuring, was one of his favorites. He always called it “the conference of champions” and loved it right to the end.
“Bill was a special, kind and genuine person,” said ESPN announcer Dave Pash, Walton's longtime on-air partner. “I am eternally grateful for our close friendship and the times we spent together on the air, at post-game dinners and in tents in his backyard. An iconic athlete and announcer, but more importantly, a legendary person who always made me smile.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
