RIP Bill Walton

Sad news. I didn't know that he had cancer. Walton was obviously at his best with UCLA and then the Blazers in 1977/1978 but I still enjoyed watching him with 86 Celtics. He was a truly great 6th man for that team despite being limited by all of the injuries to his feet/legs. He could still rebound, block some shots and really pass the ball at a high level. And a huge booster of the Celtics and obviously UCLA/John Wooden in general.

According to my father who had a chance to talk with a bunch of basketball HOFer over the years including Bill Walton, he was a great guy to talk with. He was my father's favorite player since he had an all-around game and was unselfish on the court.

Dogen · Post #10 » by **Dogen** » Mon May 27, 2024 6:33 pm

One of the greats on and off the court, and an amazing human being from all accounts. I loved his passionate work as a color commentator too.

He's with Jerry Garcia and on perpetual tour now, absolutely!

Rest in peace, Legend.

Jammer · Post #11 » by **Jammer** » Mon May 27, 2024 6:35 pm

Few Realize how Dominant a player Walton was in the pre-3 point era.

He was around for like 70 of UCLA's 88 game winning streak.

1973 Finals 21-22 FG, 2-2 FT, 44 points on 22 shots.

1974 was the year Coach Wooden blew a Finals game (He won 10 NCAA Titles). Leading by 7 points with around 2:30 or 2:40 to play, Wooden didn't freeze the ball in the pre-shot clock era. He had vigorously been campaigning for years for a college shot clock, so teams afraid to run with his Bruins wouldn't hit their first basket and then freeze the ball for 20 minutes if UCLA missed their first FG. His Bruins missed 5 straight shots, NC State scored 5 straight times, lost by 3. The next year (or maybe one later), the NCAA approved the shot clock. But Wooden took a lot of sh*t for a loss that any high school coach could have won by simply freezing the ball.

After his 1977 Trailblazers won the NBA Championship, winning 4 straight after starting out 0-2 in Philadelphia, the next year the Trailblazers were 50-10 with Walton and 8-14 after his foot injury (At a time when the NBA players, and only players, would vote him MVP). The Portland doctors rushed Walton back for the 2nd round of the playoffs, and he was never the same. After he broke that foot a second time, he said he learned to rely on your own personal doctor, from a different city than the one you play in, rather than the team doctors. But it was too late. After that, his foot injuries kept re-occurring. For the Celtics in 1986, he was a breath of fresh air and a big reason for their 67 win season. If Len Bias had not died right after the draft, the Celtics might not have pushed Walton as hard as they did the next season in training camp and who knows if his career could have been prolonged a little further. Could very well have gotten injured again anyway, but with Bias deceased, the Celtics were looking for front court help.

Setshot33 · Post #12 » by **Setshot33** » Mon May 27, 2024 6:40 pm

RIP Big Red.

The two man game he played with Bird in 86 should be studied by younger generations to know how beautiful the game is and how it should look.

If he could've stayed healthy.... a top five center of all time.

zoyathedestroya · Post #13 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Mon May 27, 2024 6:46 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #14 » by **Parliament10** » Mon May 27, 2024 7:47 pm

Bar Fight wrote:Wow. Didn't know he had cancer. RIP

Me neither. I did notice some hair loss, but didn't think that he had Cancer.
Great Guy. Great personality. Condolences to Luke and the Whole Walton Family.

zoyathedestroya · Post #15 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Mon May 27, 2024 8:03 pm

neno · Post #16 » by **neno** » Mon May 27, 2024 8:50 pm

Only like 6000 minutes played in the NBA seemed like a lot more. Award winning player every time he was able to play. Probally G.OA.T of Broken or beast best player conversations
Hall of fame hooper, hippie and human
Respect

31to6 · Post #17 » by **31to6** » Mon May 27, 2024 8:50 pm

Thanks for living the inspired life that you did, Bill. Once you opened up and 'got over' your stutter, you never stopped talking, and the world is a better place for having your vibrant spirit in it. Would that we could all be so genuinely in love with existence, and share that enchantment so freely.

rd26 · Post #18 » by **rd26** » Mon May 27, 2024 9:07 pm

Cancer sucks.

RIP Bill

Grahf · Post #19 » by **Grahf** » Mon May 27, 2024 9:27 pm

Watch on YouTube

zoyathedestroya · Post #20 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Mon May 27, 2024 9:48 pm

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