Bill Walton, one of America’s most iconic sporting figures, passed away at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer.
A legend on the hardwood, Walton is best known for his dominance while at UCLA and for his two NBA Finals victories. At UCLA, Walton was a member of the legendary Bruins team that won 88 games in a row. Walton was a two-time National Champion and won the Naismith Award all three years at UCLA.
In the 1973 National Championship Game, Walton produced the greatest performance in the history of college basketball. Facing Memphis State, Walton shot 21-for-22 from the field en route to 44 points and a second National Championship in as many years. Walton’s dominance at UCLA led to ‘Big Red’ becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft.
Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, Walton quickly became one of the league’s best players. Unfortunately, Walton battled several debilitating injuries and had trouble staying on the court. Walton was the MVP runner-up in 1976-77 and was named the Finals MVP after leading Portland to its first NBA title. The following season, Walton won his lone regular season MVP. Sadly, the legend would miss three of the next four seasons as he dealt with foot injuries.
After a stint with the Clippers, Walton was traded to the Boston Celtics. In 1986, Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year and helped lead Boston to a championship.
Off the court, Walton will be remembered for his incredible personality and work as a commentator. Following the news of his passing, countless stories were shared that highlighted Walton’s impact on the world. While he was a Hall of Famer on the court, Walton’s impact off the court was even greater.
“Bill Walton was a legendary player and a singular personality who genuinely cherished every experience throughout the journey of his extraordinary life,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Bill often described himself as ‘the luckiest guy in the world,’ but anyone who had the opportunity to interact with Bill was the lucky one. He was a truly special, giving person who always made time for others.”
“My very close friend, fellow Bruin, and NBA rival Bill Walton died today,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posted to X. “And the world feels so much heavier now. On the court, Bill was a fierce player, but off the court he wasn’t happy unless he did everything he could to make everyone around him happy. He was the best of us.”
“It’s very hard to put into words what he has meant to UCLA’s program, as well as his tremendous impact on college basketball,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. “Beyond his remarkable accomplishments as a player, it’s his relentless energy, enthusiasm for the game and unwavering candor that have been the hallmarks of his larger-than-life personality. As a passionate UCLA alumnus and broadcaster, he loved being around our players, hearing their stories and sharing his wisdom and advice. For me as a coach, he was honest, kind and always had his heart in the right place. I will miss him very much. It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him.”
