‘I Loved Basketball’: NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton Dies at 71
NBA Hall of fame legend Bill Walton lost his battle with cancer and died at just 71. His personality on and off the court was just as legendary as the championships he won. Walton could walk into any arena and people would just go nuts to be around him.
William Theodore Walton III died on May 27, 2004. He was a two-time NBA Champion (1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers, and 1986 with the Boston Celtics), as well as a two-time champion at UCLA, and a three-time national player of the year. Walton grew up in San Diego in the 1950s and 1960s.
Reflecting on his career in his memoir Back from the Dead, the self-professed Grateful Dead superfan said after years of pain and injury he overcame it, but always believed he was the lucky one.
“I loved basketball. And I was going to go until I couldn’t go anymore. I had no desire to ever stop playing. I’ve never met anybody who stopped playing voluntarily. I ground my body up. I’ve had 37 orthopedic operations. I ground my feet up into dust. I’ve got a new knee. I‘ve got a new spine,” he told GQ writer Clay Skipper in 2016. “I’m the lucky one, Clay, in that I never thought going through all of it that I would be healthy at the end. And I almost wasn’t. But I’m all better now. Not everybody gets better. I am well aware how privileged and lucky I am. That carries with it responsibility.”
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Self-conscious in his younger days due to a stuttering problem, Walton considered overcoming stuttering one of his many great accomplishments in life. After playing ball he spent 19 years working as an announcer, won an Emmy and was named by the American Sportcasters Association as one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time in 2009. In addition, he hosted multiple podcasts and radio programs, and lent his voice and appearance in TV and film.
“As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams,” shared NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans. But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events – always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.
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“As a cherished member of the NBA family for 50 years, Bill will be deeply missed by all those who came to know and love him,” Silver continued. “My heartfelt condolences to Bill’s wife, Lori; his sons, Adam, Nate, Luke and Chris; and his many friends and colleagues.”