Bill Walton, the NBA icon, dies at 71.
Basketball Hall of Fame member Bill Walton passed away on Monday at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Walton’s life was as remarkable off the court as it was on it. A standout champion in high school, college, and the NBA, Walton also embraced the counterculture of the late 1960s and 1970s.
He maintained his connection to both basketball and his love for the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young throughout his life, balancing his roles as a player, TV analyst, and cultural icon.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.
“I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”
At 6-11, Walton was one of the most versatile big men to ever play the game. He excelled in defense, rebounding, shot-blocking, passing, and scoring.
An NBA legend
Over his 10-season NBA career, he averaged 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. Unfortunately, chronic foot injuries severely limited his career, causing him to miss the entire 1978/79, 1980/81 and 1981/82 seasons.
Despite these setbacks, Walton’s achievements on the court were extraordinary. After a stellar career at UCLA, where he won two NCAA titles under the legendary coach John Wooden, Walton was the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
He led the Blazers to their first NBA championship in 1977, earning Finals MVP honors with an average of 18.5 points, 19 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.7 blocks per game in the series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The following season, Walton was named the NBA’s regular-season MVP, posting averages of 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.