Monday was a sad day for basketball fans and media alike with the passing of legendary NBA player and announcer Bill Walton, especially for those who knew him well, like his longtime on-air partner Dave Pasch.
The two have been commentating on college basketball games together since 2013 and are well known for their playful on-air banter that has brought plenty of laughs to viewers.
“Bill and I had a special friendship,” Pask said in an interview on “SportsCenter” on Monday. “He would talk to me, he’d take his headset off during commercial breaks and just say, ‘I love you, but don’t tell anyone.’ He enjoyed me being his sparring partner and having fun together and just being able to hit me.”
“I knew it was all part of the game, and we had a great friendship off the air. Bill paid for all our meals. The last time I played a game with Bill was Feb. 1 at USC. We were rarely alone together. … We talked a lot about the future. It was a conversation I’ll never forget.”
Walton died of cancer on Monday, his family announced. He was 71 years old.
He had a stellar basketball career that spanned a decade, including stints with the Trail Blazers, Clippers and Celtics.
Walton worked for CBS, NBC and ESPN before moving to the broadcast booth, where he began working with Pash as an analyst for Pac-12 broadcasts.
Walton was best remembered for the funny, bizarre moments that had little to do with what was happening on the court.
“There will never be another man like Bill. I love you and miss you, my friend.” Pash wrote to X. He also included a photo of himself with Walton taken during the broadcast.
