Former NBA player and basketball legend Bill Walton has died at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer, according to ESPN.
The NBA released a statement on Monday announcing Walton’s death, media reported. report.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was quoted as saying in a written statement.
Walton He was an exceptional athlete, having been named league MVP in the 1977-78 season with the Portland Trail Blazers, and was a three-time All-American during his collegiate career, winning two championships with the UCLA Bruins, according to ESPN. (Related: Did ESPN cut off Bill Walton’s microphone when he started talking about Russia potentially invading the US?)
Bill Walton was one of the most unique characters in basketball history.
2x Champion League MVP. NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Beam of light, positivity and happiness.
We lost a great person today. Rest in peace, legend. pic.twitter.com/LmyWZKhzuU
— NBA Atlas (@NBA_ATLAS) May 27, 2024
In a statement, Silver called Walton “truly one of a kind” and a “dominant force at UCLA,” and also praised his NBA career. The Boston Globe“Bill went on to bring his passion and love of the game to his broadcasts, entertaining generations of basketball fans with his insightful and colorful commentary. But what I will remember most about him is his passion for life,” the NBA commissioner reportedly continued.
Walton was a two-time All-Star and dominated the competition in blocks and rebounds in 1977, according to an ESPN report.
