Hall of Famer Bill Walton, 71, dies of cancer
May 27, 2024, 01:17 PM ET Basketball legend Costs Walton, who led the UCLA Bruins to 2 nationwide titles before winning two champions during his NBA career, has actually passed away at the age of 71 after an extended fight with cancer.Walton passed away Monday while surrounded by his enjoyed ones, his family stated in a declaration released by the NBA.
“Costs Walton was genuinely one of a kind,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.He was the NBA’s MVP
in the 1977-78 season and a member of the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary groups. That all followed a college career in which he was a two-time champ at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year under iconic coach John Wooden.Bill Walton:
1952-2024
– Born Nov. 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California – College: UCLA
– Two-time national champ at UCLA (1972, 1973); group was 86-4 in his 3 seasons, consisting of two 30-0 seasons
– Scored 44 points on 21-of-22 shooting in 1973 national championship vs. Memphis State (most points, most basket and highest FG pct.– min. 10 makes– in Last 4 history)
– No. 1 choice in 1974 NBA draft (Portland Trail Blazers)
– 1977-78 NBA MVP; two-time NBA All-Star (1976-77, 1977-78)
– Two-time NBA champion (1977 with Portland, 1986 with Celtics)
– Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Popularity in 1993
“What I will keep in mind most about him was his passion for life,” Silver stated in his statement. “He was a regular presence at league occasions– constantly upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and heat. I valued our close relationship, envied his limitless energy and appreciated the time he took with every person he experienced.
“As a valued member of the NBA family for 50 years, Costs will be deeply missed out on by all those who familiarized and love him.”
The 6-foot-11 Walton, who was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life on the court, off the court and throughout his broadcasting career.His NBA profession–
interrupted by persistent foot injuries– lasted just 468 games with the Portland Trail Blazers, LA (and formerly San Diego) Clippers and Boston Celtics. He averaged a double-double in those games– 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.Though neither of those numbers is near record-setting, his
effect on the game was massive.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated”Bill Walton was a true legend– a remarkable player, gifted broadcaster, and important part of the Blazers company,”the Trail Sports jackets stated in a statement.”… Bill was a lot more than basketball. He was larger than life. His upbeat and vibrant character will permanently be kept in mind and cherished, and he will be deeply missed by our organization, Rip City and all who experienced him.” His most famous game was the 1973 NCAA title match, UCLA versus Memphis State, in which he shot an unbelievable 21-for-22 from the field and led the Bruins to another nationwide championship.The Bruins kept giving the ball to Walton, and he kept delivering in an efficiency for the ages. Expense Walton was a component at UCLA, where he led the Bruins to 2 championship games under legendary coach John Wooden, and as an alumnus and broadcaster.”It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him,” Bruins coach Mick Cronin stated. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire”It’s very tough to put into words what he has actually indicated to UCLA’s program, as well as his incredible influence on college basketball,”UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday.”Beyond his exceptional achievements as a player, it’s his ruthless energy, interest for the game and undeviating candor that have been the hallmarks of his larger than life personality. “As an enthusiastic UCLA alumnus and broadcaster, he liked being around our players, hearing their stories and sharing his wisdom and suggestions. For me as a coach, he was truthful, kind and constantly had his heart in the
ideal place. I will miss him quite. It’s hard to picture a season in Pauley Structure without him.”Walton ended up being a charter member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Popularity in 1984, and his No. 32 was signed up with by the No. 33 of previous UCLA excellent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar( known in college as Lew Alcindor )as the very first two guys’s basketball jersey numbers to be retired by the Bruins in 1990. Today I had to say goodbye to a terrific buddy that I will always miss….@UCLAAthletics @UCLAMBB @NBA pic.twitter.com/JIA3sORJgY!.?.!— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(@kaj33) May 27, 2024″ My very friend, fellow Bruin, and NBA rival Costs Walton passed away today, “Abdul-Jabbar published to X.”And the world feels so much heavier now. On the court, Bill was a fierce player, however off the court he wasn’t delighted unless he did whatever he could to make everyone around him
delighted.”He was the best people.”Walton retired from
the NBA and turned to broadcasting, something he never thought he could be proficient at– and an opportunity he often wasn’t sure would be possible for him– since he had a pronounced stutter sometimes in his life.Turns out, he was exceptional at that, too: Walton was an Emmy winner.” As a Hall of Fame player
, he redefined the
center position,”Silver stated.”Costs then equated his contagious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he provided informative and colorful commentary which captivated generations of basketball fans.” Walton initially joined ESPN and ABC in 2002 as a lead expert for NBA games before shifting to college basketball in 2012. He also worked for CBS and NBC and was called one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association in 2009. There will never be another quite like Expense Walton.His ESPN household will miss him dearly pic.twitter.com/mvS0Sh5iWZ!.?.!— ESPN(@espn )May 27, 2024 Rip City icon & basketball legend
. Rest in Peace, Expense pic.twitter.com/czZ4IiX6m2!.?.!— Portland Path Blazers(@trailblazers)May 27, 2024 Costs Walton was among the most consequential players of his period. A Hall of Famer, Most Valuable Gamer, and two-time NBA Champ, Walton could do it all, having terrific timing, total vision of the flooring, excellent
basics, and was of among the best passing big … pic.twitter.com/AW1PIUxALk!.?.!— Boston Celtics( @celtics)Might 27, 2024″ Costs Walton was a legendary player and a singular personality who really cherished every experience throughout the journey of his remarkable life,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro stated in a declaration.”Bill typically explained himself as’ the luckiest guy on the planet,’however anybody who had the chance to interact with Bill was the lucky one. He was a really unique, offering individual who always made time for others. “Bill’s unique spirit mesmerized and motivated audiences during his second career as an effective broadcaster. We at ESPN extend our deepest condolences to Bill’s loved ones, consisting of the whole Walton family.”Walton was precious for his on-air
tangents. He sometimes appeared on-air in Grateful Dead T-shirts
; Walton was a huge fan of the band and referenced it frequently, even often recording satellite radio specials celebrating what it indicated to be a Deadhead. “In life, being so uneasy, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can’t talk at all. I was exceptionally shy and never stated a word,”Walton told The Oregonian in 2017.”Then, when I was 28, I found out how to speak. It’s become my biggest accomplishment of my life and everybody else’s biggest problem.”The Pac-12 Conference, which has essentially vaporized in many ways now since of college realignment, was another of his numerous likes. He constantly referred to it as the”Conference of Champions”and liked it all the way to the end. “It doesn’t get any much better than this, “he when said on an ESPN broadcast, tie-dyed Tee shirts on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.No, Bill. Thank you for your life. pic.twitter.com/3LCRvs4XlJ!.?.!— Pac-12 Conference(@pac12 )Might 27, 2024 Walton even appeared on The New york city Times
‘bestseller list for his narrative, “Back from the Dead. “It told the story of a disabling back injury suffered in 2008, one that left him considering taking his own life since of the constant pain, and how he spent years recovering.In his final years, Walton spoke up about issues that mattered most to him, such as the problem of homelessness in his native San Diego, prompting city leaders to do something about it and develop shelter space to assist those in need.The first general choice of the 1974 NBA draft by the Path Sports jackets, Walton played 10 seasons in the NBA, winning championships with the Blazers (1977)and Celtics(1986). He amounted to 6,215 points, 4,923 rebounds, 1,034 blocks and 1,590 helps.”Costs Walton was among the most consequential players of
his age,” the Celtics said in a declaration.”… Walton could do it all
, possessing great timing, total vision of the floor, excellent principles and was of among the best passing big males in league history.” Walton said Costs Russell was his favorite player and discovered Larry Bird the most difficult and finest he played with, so it was proper that his playing profession ended as a member of the Celtics.”Playing basketball with
Larry Bird, “Walton as soon as stated, “resembles singing with Jerry Garcia, “referencing the co-founder of the Grateful Dead.”I am extremely sorry about my good friend, Bill Walton. I love him as a friend and teammate,”Bird stated in a statement.”It was an excitement for me to play with my youth idol and together we earned an NBA Champion in 1986. He is one of the greatest ever to play the game.”I make certain that all of my colleagues are as grateful as I am that we were able to understand Costs, he was such a delight to know and he will be sorely missed out on.”The household of Garcia, who died in 1995, commemorated Walton in a social media post, writing,”We will miss that huge smile and bigger transmittable spirit! Bill will be greeted with a wondrous guitar riff and huge smiles as he shows up on the other side.”The NBA was preparing a moment of silence to celebrate Walton’s life before Video game 4 of the Boston-Indiana matchup in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night.A two-time All-Star, Walton led the NBA in rebounding and obstructs in 1977 and was the league’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1986– the only player aside from James Harden to have actually won both MVP and the Sixth Guy award.”They discuss [Nikola] Jokic being the most competent center but Costs Walton was first!”Hall of Famer Magic Johnson posted to X. “From shooting jump shots to making amazing passes, he was among the smartest basketball players to ever live. Expense was an excellent ambassador for college basketball and the NBA, and he will be sorely missed out on. “Walton will always be associated with UCLA’s supremacy. “Expense Walton’s passing is a sad catastrophe. One of the excellent ones in UCLA basketball history, “former Notre Dame coach and ESPN college basketball analyst Digger Phelps posted Monday on social media. “We were terrific friends for many years. It will not be the same without him.”He registered at UCLA in 1970, before freshmen might play on the varsity team.
Once he could bet Wood, the Bruins were unequalled for more than two years– Walton’s UCLA teams won their first 73 games, the bulk of the Bruins’extraordinary 88-game winning streak.UCLA went 30-0 in each of his very first 2 seasons, and 86-4 in his career on the varsity.” My colleagues … made me a better basketball player than I might ever have actually become myself,”Walton said at his Hall of
Popularity speech in 1993. “The idea of group has constantly been the most interesting aspect of basketball to me. If I had had an interest in individual success or a specific sport, I would have taken up tennis or golf.”ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and The Associated Press added to this report.