Skip to main content

NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton Dies at 71 After Cancer Battle

Photo: Instagram/Bill Walton

NBA legend Bill Walton, a two-time NBA champion, passed away at the age of 71 after battling cancer, the NBA announced on Monday.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Walton, saying, "Bill Walton was truly one of a kind. As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and in the NBA, leading to an MVP season, two championships, and spots on the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He was a beloved broadcaster known for his colorful commentary. Most of all, I will remember his zest for life and the warmth he shared with everyone. He will be deeply missed."

Walton was a standout at UCLA under coach John Wooden, winning three national player of the year awards from 1972-74. He was the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, quickly making an impact and leading them to the 1977 NBA Championship, where he was named Finals MVP and the league MVP.

Photo: Instagram/Bill Walton

Despite foot injuries that caused him to miss several seasons, Walton had a notable career, later winning another championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986, where he was named Sixth Man of the Year.

Walton's career stats included averages of 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. After retiring, Walton became a popular broadcaster, known for his engaging and often humorous commentary. He worked for CBS, NBC, the Clippers, ESPN, and the Pac-12 Network.


Walton was also a passionate Grateful Dead fan, hosting a radio show dedicated to the band.

He is survived by his wife, Lori, and his sons Adam, Nate, Luke, and Chris. His son Luke followed in his footsteps, winning two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and currently serving as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Read Next: Mavericks Troll Travis Kelce, Fans Boo Him During NBA Playoffs

Source: Fox News 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bruce Springsteen Says Fame Once Scared Him and Therapy Saved His Life

Photo: Bruce Springsteen / Instagram   Bruce Springsteen says he feared fame would change him when his career took off with Born to Run  in 1975.  The rocker, now 76, told TIME100 in a cover story on Sept. 25 that he felt life becoming very different after his first TIME and Newsweek  covers.  He said the praise for his music was a dream come true but came with new problems.  Photo: Bruce Springsteen / Instagram   His sister Pam even told him about paparazzi looking into their family kitchen, which made him worry about how fame would affect them. Springsteen called fame “a very distorted lens” and said he had to protect what mattered most to him.  Those fears helped inspire his next album, Darkness on the Edge of Town , which celebrated working-class life.  He also revealed he struggled with thoughts of suicide after his 1982 album Nebraska and began focusing on mental health.  Springsteen still goes to therapy today and says it has cha...
Post a Comment
Read More

Lola Young Cancels Second Show After Onstage Collapse

Photo: Lola Young / Instagram   British pop star Lola Young has canceled a second show in three days after collapsing onstage at the All Things Go festival in Queens on Saturday. The 24-year-old singer fell backward while performing her song “Conceited” and was carried offstage by staff. On Sunday, she announced on Instagram that she would not perform at the All Things Go festival in Columbia, Maryland, later that day. Photo: Lola Young / Instagram   She apologized to fans and said she loved her job but asked for “a day off.” The Maryland cancellation followed another on Friday, when Young pulled out of the We Can Survive concert in New Jersey due to what her team called “a sensitive matter.”  After her onstage collapse, she later told fans she was “doing okay now” but gave no reason for what happened. Lola Young suffers medical accident and collapses on stage. Keep her your prayers. We love you Lola. pic.twitter.com/0IUwjeAyql — Pop Bakes (@ThePopBakes) September 28, 202...
Post a Comment
Read More

Matt Heafy Explains Why TRIVIUM’s Tour With Bullet For My Valentine Ended Early

Photo: Matt Heafy / Instagram   TRIVIUM’s Matt Heafy has spoken out about the early end of “The Poisoned Ascendancy” tour with Bullet For My Valentine. The two bands started the run earlier this year to honor the 20th anniversaries of “Ascendancy” and “The Poison.” Plans were made for a full world tour, but things stopped after just three months. TRIVIUM bassist Paolo Gregoletto said Bullet singer Matt Tuck pulled out, adding that he was the only decision maker for the band. Photo: Matt Heafy / Instagram   Bullet later shared a statement saying they respect TRIVIUM but wanted to focus on making a new album instead. In a new interview, Heafy said TRIVIUM wanted to keep going but their “dance partner dropped off.” He confirmed TRIVIUM will now push ahead with their own “Ascend Above The Ashes” tour this fall with Jinjer and Heriot. The band also has a new EP, “Struck Dead,” coming in October and plans to play songs from across their career. Read Next: Lola Young Cancels Second S...
Post a Comment
Read More