The tributes are pouring in for Walton, a two-time NBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer remembered as “truly one of a kind.”
Bill Walton, a two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion, Hall of Fame player and beloved broadcaster, has died at the age of 71, the league says.
The NBA said Walton died Monday after a lengthy battle with cancer.
“Bill Walton was truly unique,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
Walton, a 6-foot-11 center who moved gracefully despite his height, rose to stardom in college, where he was part of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) dynasty under the direction of coach John Wooden.
He won National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1972 and 1973 before establishing himself as a force early in his professional career.
Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to the championship in 1977 and was named NBA Most Valuable Player the following year.
His most famous performance was the 1973 NCAA title game, UCLA vs. Memphis, in which he shot an incredible 21 of 22 from the field and led the Bruins to another national championship.
But Walton's NBA career, interrupted by chronic foot injuries, lasted only 468 games with Portland, then San Diego and finally the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics.
He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in those games, neither of those numbers exactly record-breaking. Still, his impact on the game was enormous.
“As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique and versatile skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to regular season and NBA Finals MVPs, two NBA championships, and a spot on the 50th and 75th Anniversary teams. of the NBA,” Silver said Monday.
When Walton retired from the NBA, he went into broadcasting, something he never thought he would be good at or possible for him because he had a pronounced stutter at times in his life.
But he excelled, winning an Emmy Award and eventually being named one of the 50 greatest sportscasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association.
Rest in peace to a friend, two-time NBA champion, Hall of Famer and one of the most skilled centers we've ever seen, Bill Walton! His NCAA Championship performance as a UCLA Bruin against Memphis is by far the most dominant NCAA Championship performance ever: he shot 21 of 22 and had…
—Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 27, 2024
And Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, both on and off the court.
“He provided insightful and colorful commentary that entertained generations of basketball fans,” Silver said Monday. “But what I will remember most about him was his enthusiasm for life.
“He was a regular presence at league events, always upbeat, smiling from ear to ear and seeking to share his wisdom and warmth.”
Walton also received tributes from some of the biggest names in basketball, including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who described Walton as “one of the most skilled centers we've ever seen.”
“They talk about [Denver Nuggets star Nikola] Jokic was the most skilled center but Bill Walton was the first! From shooting jumpers to making incredible passes, he was one of the smartest basketball players who ever lived,” Johnson wrote in X.
“Bill was a great ambassador for college basketball and the NBA, and he will be deeply missed.”
Julius “Dr J” Erving also paid tribute to Walton and offered his condolences to his family.
“Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. Racing against him and working with him was a blessing in my life,” Erving said in a social media post.
Today I am saddened to know that my comrade and one of the most beloved champions and characters in the world of sports has passed away. Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. Competing against him and working with him was a blessing in my life. Sorry for your loss, Walton family. We will miss him too. Doc pic.twitter.com/GAEt1DRH8N
– Julio Dr. J. Erving (@JuliusErving) May 27, 2024
