NBA Legend Bill Walton Passes Away at 71
Tributes for Bill Walton are pouring in from all over the world. Former President Barack Obama even posted in his honor, remembering Bill as a relentless competitor on the court and a wonderful spirit off it.
Bill Walton, the NBA legend who delighted fans for decades both on the court and in the commentary booth, has died at 71, according to the NBA.
The league released a statement Monday morning announcing the sad news, revealing that Bill passed away at his home after a prolonged battle with cancer.
He was surrounded by family when he passed. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remembered Bill as a dominant force on the court and a colorful personality off it, praising Bill for his positive, upbeat demeanor at league events.
Walton played college basketball at UCLA from 1971 to 1974 before the Portland Trail Blazers drafted him with the first overall pick in the 1974 draft.
Bill played four seasons in Portland, where he won his first of two NBA titles and an NBA MVP award. He later played for the Clippers and the Celtics. Unfortunately, injuries forced him to miss significant time, altering the trajectory of his playing career.
Younger fans may know Walton better from his broadcasting career. He began commentating with ESPN on NBA games in the early 2000s before transitioning back to college basketball in 2012, where he remained until his passing.
Bill is survived by his wife, Lori, and his four sons—Adam, Nathan, Chris, and Luke, the latter of whom followed in his father’s footsteps into the NBA first as a player and later as a coach.
Bill always had time to talk about his passions and his friends, including a memorable moment in 2016 when he gushed over superstar singer John Mayer. Bill Walton was 71.
NBA Legend Bill Walton Passes Away at 71
