Bill Walton, who played for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins and went on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family.
Walton, who had been battling cancer for a long time, was 71 years old.
He was named the 1977-78 NBA MVP, won two championships as a player and was a member of both the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams — all of which came after a collegiate career at UCLA where he was a two-time champion and three-time National Player of the Year.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
(Associated Press)
Still, his impact on the game was significant.
His most famous game was the 1973 NCAA Finals against UCLA and Memphis, where he made 21 of 22 field goals to lead the Bruins to another national championship.
“One of the guards said, ‘Let’s try something else,'” Wooden told The Associated Press in 2008 during a 35th anniversary retrospective of that game.
Denver Nuggets guard Dan Issel, left, guards Portland Trail Blazers guard Bill Walton as he moves toward the basket during a game in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 12, 1978. Walton, who played for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71 years old. (AP Photo/Jack Smith, File)
Wooden’s response during the timeout was, “Why? If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”
They kept giving the ball to Walton, and he continued to put in history-making performances.
“It’s very difficult to put into words what he meant to the UCLA program and the tremendous impact he had on the college basketball world,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. “Beyond his incredible accomplishments as a player, his relentless energy, passion for the game and unwavering candor define his extraordinary personality.”
“A passionate UCLA alumnus and announcer, he loved being with the players, listening to them and sharing his wisdom and advice. To me as a coach, he was honest, kind and always had the right heart. He will be deeply missed and it is hard to imagine a season at Pauley Pavilion without him.”
