Hall of Famer Bill Walton Dies At The Age of 71 [1952-2024]

If you haven’t heard Mike Breen’s story about Bill, you should.

 

My favorite Bill Walton clip. RIP.

 

Bill Walton’s colleagues share their favorite memories​

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Dave Pasch, ESPN broadcaster

There are so many memories when you spend a lot of time with someone over a 12-year working relationship and even before that because we worked together during my first year on the NBA, in 2006, although Bill said that never happened (laughs).

The last game Bill and I did together, on Feb. 1 at USC, I think was a great example of just how fun Bill was. We were at USC, and George Lucas and “Star Wars” came up out of the blue. So I jokingly asked him how his audition went for Chewbacca. He said he auditioned for the role but didn’t get it (he called him “Chewybacca”), but that the character was fashioned in his likeness. We just completely made up the story, and the next day the story is all over the news. People Magazine even ran with it. Hollywood reporters were pulling up old quotes from Lucas about where he actually got the idea for Chewbacca just to counter our made-up story about Chewbacca being made in the image of Bill. He just went with it in the middle of a basketball broadcast, and no one else probably ever would do that.

I also remember our dinner together after the game. Turns out that would be the last time I saw my friend.

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2 UCLA / NBA Hall of Famers, proud owners of multiple NCAA / NBA rings

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I know Jay, the photographer, a bit. he's a great guy, and has shot hundreds, maybe thousands, of dead shows.

one of his books:


https://a.co/d/j2oyKyE


https://www.blakesberg.com

 

Bill Walton's Greatest Games: 44 Points vs Memphis State (1973 NCAA FInal)

Record breaking performance by Bill Walton, 44 points on 21/22 FG



after the game, his coach, John Wooden. said to him "Bill, I used to think you were pretty good but then you missed that shot".​

 

Saw a couple of his old videos as a player. He was build like a shorter (LOL) Wemby. Loooonggg arms, but with strength. Fantastic court view. Basketball IQ trough the roofs.

 

What I remember most about him was what a huge fan of Hakeem he was.

 

"I'm being dead serious, Bill"

"You're always serious, that's one of your problems."

 

The man won at every level he played at, even through injuries early on. One of the most decorated athletes of our time, and a hell of an ambassador for basketball worldwide. Rest in Power Bill.

 

Friends of ours were in the audience for this (not their video):

 

Blazers/Sixers was the first NBA Finals I remember well. I can still name the top 8 rotation players on that Blazers team. I loved that squad.

 

Dr. J's philly team won the first game, and was winning the 2nd game by an even bigger margin. during the closing minutes of game 2, this happened

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then, in game 3, the Blazers returned home trying to get its first win

How a handshake by Maurice Lucas [ Blazers' designated Enforcer / Walton's Protector ]
helped lift the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title

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During pregame introductions of Game 3, after Blazers fans unrelentingly booed Dawkins, Lucas was introduced before a sellout Memorial Coliseum crowd in Portland.. But instead of
jogging to stand next to his teammates, as was common practice, Lucas trotted toward the 76ers' benchto stand face-to-face with a stunned Dawkins. Some in the crowd gasped and
Philadelphia players backed away from the two hulking men, no doubt because they expected another brouhaha. But instead of raising his fists, Lucas reached for Dawkins' right hand,
squeezed hard and said: "No hard feelings." Dawkins was frozen.

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The Blazers went on the win 4 straight, winning the 1977 NBA championship

Walton often referred to Lucas as the greatest Blazer ever. Walton named his 3rd son, Luke, after Lucas. The same Luke Walton who'd play for and coach the Lakers​

 

He loved LSD!!!

 

That fight was an unforgettable moment in NBA history for me. Chills.

Like everyone else, I thought the Blazers were dead after it was 0-2. But they took control the next 3 games and most of game 6, until they collapsed and held on for dear life at the end. LOL, using my brother's old fashioned tape recorder, I recorded myself calling the final play of game 6. I was 14.

 

Game recognize Game: