Hall of Fame basketball legend Bill Walton dies at 71

Two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Bill Walton has died of cancer at the age of 71. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

The world of basketball has lost one of its most colorful characters. Hall of Fame basketball legend Bill Walton has died at 71, the NBA announced Monday, after battling cancer in recent years.

Born on Nov. 5, 1952, in La Mesa, Calif., just east of San Diego, Walton had a renowned college career at UCLA under iconic coach John Wooden. During his career in Westwood, the 6-foot-11 center won two national championships (in 1972-73) and three national college player of the year awards, and was a three-time All-American. His teams only lost four games in his three seasons as a varsity player (freshman were not allowed to play back then), going 86–4 overall.

His success continued in the NBA. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, he won an NBA championship in 1977 and MVP award (averaging 18.9 points and 13.2 rebounds) in 1978. But he struggled with chronic foot injuries that limited him to 209 games (out of a possible 328) played in four seasons.

After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season to protest how his and his teammates’ injuries had been treated, Walton signed with the San Diego Clippers as a free agent. Yet he only played in 169 games over six seasons, missing two full campaigns due to foot injuries.

In 1985, Walton was traded to the Boston Celtics. He played a career-high 80 games during the 1985-86 season and won another NBA championship as the sixth man for a team with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Walton only played 10 games the following season and retired after injuries prevented him from playing the 1986-87 campaign.

“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-05-27 17:24:23

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