One of the greatest college basketball players of all time, Bill Walton, sadly passed away on Monday at the age of 71. He was a superstar in the NBA, winning the MVP award in 1978 and two championships with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics. The NBA announced that Walton lost his battle with cancer after fighting for a long time.
Bill Walton, a legendary basketball player who dominated the court in college and the NBA, sadly passed away on Monday at the age of 71 after a long fight with cancer. He was a star player for the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, winning two NBA championships and the MVP award in 1978.
Walton was a game-changer in the world of basketball. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised him for revolutionizing the center position with his skills. But what really stood out about Walton was his infectious energy and positive attitude. He was always smiling, eager to share his wisdom, and made everyone he met feel special.
Born in La Mesa, California in 1952, Walton's basketball journey began in grade school. He was a shy, skinny kid who struggled with a stutter, but found his voice and passion for the game thanks to a mentor named Frank Graziano. Despite facing injuries and setbacks, Walton's determination and love for basketball never wavered.
In high school, Walton played alongside his brother Bruce, who also excelled in sports. Together, they made history as the only brothers to compete in both the Super Bowl and NBA Finals. Walton's growth spurt turned him into a dominant big man on the court, transforming his game from guard to center.
Walton's legacy will live on in the hearts of basketball fans everywhere. He was more than just a player - he was a symbol of resilience, passion, and the joy of the game. Rest in peace, Bill Walton.
Walton's journey to the NBA started when players from the San Diego Rockets would come to play basketball at Helix High School. They needed Walton to let them into the gym because he had a key. One time, Elvin Hayes, a famous basketball player, called Walton's house and spoke to his mom.
Walton remembered, "My mom had no idea who Elvin was! She asked him who he was and he said, 'Tell Billy, Big E is calling and we need him to open the gym tonight.' I was so excited, I had to take the phone from her!"
During his last two years of high school, Walton led Helix to two championships and a 49-game winning streak. He even set a national record by shooting 78.3% from the field in his senior year.
Denny Crum, a famous coach, saw Walton play and called him the best high school player he had ever seen. John Wooden, another legendary coach, didn't agree with Crum's statement, but Walton still ended up playing for UCLA. He started on the freshman team and led them to a perfect season before moving up to the varsity team.
During his time at UCLA, Walton won three Naismith College Player of the Year awards, two national championships, and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player twice. His 44-point game against Memphis State in 1973 is still a record for the national championship game.
The Bruins were on fire during Walton's time there, winning 86 out of 90 games over three seasons. Walton even helped them achieve an amazing 88-game winning streak, which is still a record today. Unfortunately, the streak ended during Walton's senior year when they lost to Notre Dame. Walton played in that game wearing a back brace because he had broken his spine earlier in the season. The Bruins made it to the national championship game, but lost to North Carolina State in double-overtime.
Off the court, Walton was just as interesting. He got arrested at a protest during his junior year and had to be bailed out by his coach, Wooden. Walton was passionate about making the world a better place and didn't care much about money. He believed that being happy was more important than being rich.
Even though Walton and Wooden didn't always see eye to eye, they had a strong bond. When Wooden passed away, Walton joked that he might have been the reason for Wooden's early death. Wooden focused on teaching his players about life and character, rather than just basketball skills.
When Walton was ready to go pro, he had a lot of options. He was first drafted by the Dallas Chaparrals in the ABA, but decided to finish college instead. He could have played for his hometown team in the ABA, but chose to join the NBA and was picked first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sam Gilbert, who was Walton's lawyer back then, mentioned that a group from the ABA offered more money than Portland did. However, it seems like Walton was swayed by NBA legends like Jerry West and Sidney Wicks who talked to him. It seems like he really wanted to challenge himself against the best players in the NBA.
Even though Walton was super talented and fit right in with the NBA, he had a tough time with injuries during his first two seasons. He had issues with his fingers, wrist, toes, and ankle. He even broke his toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. In total, he only played 86 games in his first two seasons.
But in his third season, everything finally fell into place. The Trail Blazers got Maurice Lucas, hired Jack Ramsay as their new coach, and Walton stayed healthy. Walton was a beast on the court, leading the league in rebounding and blocks. The Trail Blazers won 49 games and made it to the playoffs for the first time ever. They even beat big names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving to win the championship.
After the big win, Ramsay called Walton the best player, competitor, and person he had ever coached. Erving said Walton was an inspiration. Walton was named Finals MVP after putting up some impressive stats. The team was on fire in the 1978 season, winning 50 out of their first 60 games. But then disaster struck when Walton broke his foot in February and had to sit out the rest of the regular season. Despite missing a bunch of games, he was still named MVP. He tried to come back for the playoffs but ended up hurting his foot again and never played for the team after that.
But even in death, the last word should be reserved for Walton, given his propensity for language:
"The perfect thing about basketball is that it is the most complete, surreal and special game of all, where all you have to do is wait for the opening tip and then each and every player, each and every component, has a chance to make a contribution on every single play. Basketball, yeah, shine a light."
