Former NBA MVP and Hall of Famer turned legendary announcer Bill Walton died of cancer on Monday, according to multiple reports.
He was 71 years old.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
After a successful career at UCLA under coach John Wooden, Walton was selected first overall in the 1974 NBA Draft and played 10 seasons with the Trail Blazers, Clippers and Celtics, but missed five seasons due to a foot injury.
Walton had a long career as an announcer for CBS, NBC and ESPN.
He joined ESPN in 2002 after 12 years at NBC, where he served as the lead NBA analyst, and returned to call games for the network in 2012, this time as a college basketball analyst for Pac-12 broadcasts.
Walton, who won NBA titles with Portland and Boston, became known for his distinctive broadcasting style, peppering games with quirky, funny moments that had little to do with the action on the court.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
“As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position,” Silver continued in a statement. “His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to NBA regular season and Finals MVP awards, two NBA championships and appearances on the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Bill went on to bring his passion and love for the game to his broadcasts, entertaining generations of basketball fans with his insightful and colorful commentary.”
“But what I remember most about him was his passion for life. He was a regular attendee at League events, always cheerful, smiling broadly and eager to share his wisdom and warmth. I cherished our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and respected the time he spent with everyone he met.”
