Bill Walton (1952–2024,) fully William Theodore Walton III, was an American basketball player, sportscaster, and author, remembered as one of the greatest centers in the history of the sport. A two-time NBA champion, league MVP, and Hall of Famer, he combined dominance on the court with a colorful broadcasting career.
Born in La Mesa, California, Walton enrolled at UCLA in 1970. Under legendary coach John Wooden, Walton led the Bruins to two NCAA championships (1972, 1973) and was named national college player of the year three times (1972–74.) His collegiate career included an NCAA-record 88-game winning streak, cementing his status as one of the greatest college players ever.
Walton was selected first overall in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He guided the team to its first and only championship in 1977, earning NBA Finals MVP honors. The following season, he won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (1978.) Despite chronic foot injuries that limited his playing time, Walton revived his career with the Boston Celtics, winning another championship in 1986 and earning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. His professional career spanned 1974–88, with stints at Portland, the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston.
Walton later became a sportscaster for CBS, NBC, ABC, and ESPN, known for his enthusiastic commentary and philosophical musings. His autobiography, Back from the Dead (2016,) recounts his struggles with injuries, surgeries, and personal resilience.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Bill Walton
I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do operation on someone else, not you.
—Bill Walton
Topics: Health
No matter how good you get, there’s always something further out there.
—Bill Walton
Topics: Potential, Possibilities
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