Legendary NBA player and commentator Bill Walton passed away on Monday at 71 years of age after a long battle with cancer.
Walton entered the Hall of Fame in 1993 and was one of the game’s most beloved players.
His NBA career was riddled with foot injuries, so lasted just 468 games with Portland, San Diego, LA Clippers and Boston.
Walton was the NBA’s MVP in the 1977-78 season, the league’s sixth man of the year in 1985-86, and a member of the league’s 50th anniversary and 75th-anniversary teams.
He earned two NBA championships, one with the Trail Blazers in 1977 and one with the Celtics in 1986.
Before his NBA career, he was coached by John Wooden at UCLA and won two national titles.
Walton helped the Bruins to 88 consecutive wins – a men’s college basketball record.
After his retirement, Walton began calling NBA games as a lead analyst for ESPN and ABC and made the switch to to college basketball in 2012.
The NBA world is reacting to his passing.
I am sad today hearing that my comrade & one of the sports worlds most beloved champions & characters has passed. Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him & to work with him was a blessing in my life. Sorry for your loss Walton family. We’ll miss him too. Doc pic.twitter.com/GAEt1DRH8N
— Julius Dr J Erving (@JuliusErving) May 27, 2024
“I am sad today hearing that my comrade and one of the sports world’s most beloved champions and characters has passed,” Julius “Dr. J” Erving, a fellow Hall of Famer, wrote on social media.
“Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him and to work with him was a blessing in my life.”
Rest in peace Bill Walton 🤍
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) May 27, 2024
Rest Easy to the LEGEND BILL WALTON🙏🏾
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) May 27, 2024
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 prayers Walton Family. Great energy, and always positive. Rest In Paradise Bill Walton
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) May 27, 2024
Rest in peace to a friend, 2X NBA Champion, Hall of Famer, and one of the most skilled centers we’ve ever seen Bill Walton! His NCAA Championship performance as a UCLA Bruin against Memphis is by far the most dominate NCAA Championship performance ever – he shot 21 for 22 and had…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 27, 2024
Rick Carlisle on the passing of Bill Walton and a great story on how he helped him on his first date with his now wife. pic.twitter.com/iCw5yQ1fBw
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) May 27, 2024
Today I had to say goodbye to
a great friend that I will always miss….@UCLAAthletics @UCLAMBB @NBA pic.twitter.com/JIA3sORJgY— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) May 27, 2024
Even former President of the United States Barack Obama paid tribute to a man who touched so many sports fans.
Bill Walton was one of the greatest basketball players of all time – a champion at every level and the embodiment of unselfish team play. He was also a wonderful spirit full of curiosity, humor and kindness. We are poorer for his passing, and Michelle and I send our deepest…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 27, 2024
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