Bill Walton was not scared to be himself.

Walton was a larger-than-life figure, thanks in large part to his almost 7-foot size. He was a two-time NCAA champion at UCLA, a two-time NBA champion, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and a true on-court icon. Off the court, Walton was a chronic fun-seeker, a broadcaster who defied conventional standards and reveled in it, and a man who was very passionate about the causes that were most important to him.

“Bill Walton,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remarked, “was truly one of a kind.”

Walton died Monday at the age of 71 following a long battle with cancer, the league confirmed on behalf of his family. He won the NBA MVP award in 1977-78, was named the league’s sixth man of the year in 1985-86, and was a part of the league’s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he excelled under coach John Wooden at UCLA, winning three national player of the year awards.

“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, posted on social media. “Bill Walton relished life in every aspect. “To compete against him and collaborate with him was a blessing in my life.”

Bill Walton, Hall Of Fame Player Who Became A Star Broadcaster, Dies Of Cancer At 71

Tributes poured in instantly, and the NBA observed a moment of silence to honor Walton’s life before Monday night’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers.

Walton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 and was one of the sport’s most recognizable figures. His NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, and Celtics only lasted 468 games due to severe foot issues. In those games, he averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, which were not particularly impressive.

Nonetheless, his influence on the game was significant.

“I love him as a friend and a teammate,” Celtics legend Larry Bird stated. “Playing alongside my childhood idol was an exciting experience for me, and we won the NBA championship together in 1986. He is regarded as one of the finest players of all time. I’m sure all of my teammates are as grateful as I am that we got to know Bill. He was a joy to know and will be much missed.”

Walton’s most notable game was the 1973 NCAA Championship game between UCLA and Memphis, in which he shot 21 of 22 from the field and guided the Bruins to another national championship.

“One of my guards said, ‘Let’s try something else,'” Wooden told The Associated Press 2008 during a 35th-anniversary review on the game.

Wooden’s response during the timeout: “Why? “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”

They kept handing the ball to Walton, and he continued to provide a performance to remember.

“It’s very hard to put into words what he has meant to UCLA’s program, as well as his tremendous impact on college basketball,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. “Beyond his tremendous achievements as a player, his tireless energy, excitement for the game, and unshakable candor have defined his larger-than-life demeanor.

“It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him.”

When Walton left the NBA, he moved to broadcasting, something he never imagined he’d be good at—and one he doubted he’d ever be able to pursue because he had a severe stutter.

Walton turned out to be a brilliant broadcaster: he won an Emmy, was designated one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association, and even made The New York Times bestseller list with his biography “Back from the Dead.” It related the account of a painful back injury experienced in 2008, which led him to consider suicide due to the persistent pain, and how he spent years healing.

Bill Walton, Hall Of Fame Player Who Became A Star Broadcaster, Dies Of Cancer At 71

“I spent most of my life by myself. But once I got on the court, I was good,” Walton told The Oregonian in a 2017 report. “But in life, I’m so self-conscious, with red hair, a huge nose, freckles, and a funny, nerdy face, and I can’t speak at all. I was quite bashful and never spoke a word. Then, when I was 28, I learnt to talk. It’s become my greatest success in life and everyone else’s worst nightmare.”

The final portion of that was pure Walton exaggeration. He was known for his on-air tangents and even appeared on-air wearing Grateful Dead T-shirts; Walton was a major fan of the band and frequently referenced it, even producing satellite radio specials about what it meant to be a “Deadhead.”

Another of his many passions was the Pac-12 Conference, which has largely vanished due to collegiate restructuring. He constantly referred to it as the “Conference of Champions” and shouted its glories until the very end.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once exclaimed during a broadcast, wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt and a Hawaiian lei around his neck.

Walton’s career included broadcasts of collegiate and NBA games for CBS, NBC, and ABC/ESPN and commentator positions with the Clippers and Sacramento Kings. 2012, he returned to ESPN and the Pac-12 Network, highlighting the league’s roots.

“Bill Walton was a legendary player and a singular personality who genuinely cherished every experience throughout the journey of his extraordinary life,” Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, stated. “Bill frequently referred to himself as ‘the luckiest guy in the world,’ but anyone who had the opportunity to interact with him was considered lucky.” He was a unique, generous individual who always made time for others. Bill’s unique character charmed and inspired people during his second career as a successful broadcaster.”

However, Walton will always be associated with UCLA’s dominance.

He enrolled in 1970 before freshmen were allowed to participate on the varsity team. Once he could play under Wooden, the Bruins were untouchable for over two years—Walton’s UCLA teams won their first 73 games, accounting for most of the Bruins’ incredible 88-game winning streak. It was snapped against Notre Dame in 1974, a 71-70 loss in which Walton went 12 for 14 from the field.

“Bill Walton’s death is a sad event. “One of the great ones in UCLA basketball history,” Digger Phelps, the Notre Dame coach, wrote on social media Monday. “We were good friends over the years. “It will not be the same without him.”

UCLA went 30-0 in Walton’s first two seasons and 86-4 overall throughout his varsity career.

Walton credited his teammates with making him a greater basketball player than he could have been on his own during his 1993 Hall of Fame speech. “The concept of team has always been the most exciting component of basketball for me. If I had been interested in individual success or a specific sport, I would have played tennis or golf.”

Bill Walton, Hall Of Fame Player Who Became A Star Broadcaster, Dies Of Cancer At 71

Walton led Portland to the NBA championship in 1977 before winning his second with Boston in 1986.

“Bill Walton was an icon,” stated Jody Allen, Trail Blazers chair. “His leadership and tenacity on the court were critical in delivering a championship to our fans and defining one of the most magical moments in franchise history.” We will always appreciate what he contributed to our community and the sport of basketball.”

The Celtics issued a statement that read: “Bill Walton was one of the most consequential players of his era. … Walton could do it all, possessing great timing, complete vision of the floor, excellent fundamentals and was of one of the greatest passing big men in league history.”

Walton was lucky to have been mentored by two of the game’s finest thinkers, Wooden and Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach.

“Thank you John, and thank you Red, for making my life what it has become,” Walton said in his Hall of Fame address.

Walton was Portland’s first pick in the 1974 draft. He stated that Bill Russell was his favorite player and Bird was the toughest and best player he’d ever played with, so it was fitting that his career concluded with the Celtics. “Playing basketball with Larry Bird,” Walton reportedly quipped, “is like singing with Jerry Garcia,” referring to the Grateful Dead co-founder.

In his later years, Walton spoke out on the most important causes, such as homelessness in his hometown of San Diego, encouraging city leaders to take action and build shelters to assist those in need.

“What I will remember most about him was his zest for life,” Silver said. “He was constantly present at league activities, always happy, smiling from ear to ear and eager to share his knowledge and friendliness. I enjoyed our friendship, envied his endless enthusiasm, and respected his time with everyone he met.

Walton passed away in the company of loved ones, according to his family. He is survived by his wife Lori and four sons: Adam, Nate, Chris, and Luke. Luke is an NBA championship-winning player who is now a coach.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, a colleague with Walton in Boston, stated, “He defiantly competed for every moment in life to be the greatest it could be.”

SOURCE – (AP)