Bill Walton is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. He also works as a sports broadcaster. He is a two-time NBA Championship, winning in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers and again in 1986 with the Boston Celtics.
In 1977, he was named the NBA Finals MVP. Then in 1978, he became the NBA Most Valuable Player.
Player Profile and Personal Life
William Theodore Walton III was born on November 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California in the United States of America. He stands 211 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 95 kg. He is right-handed and he plays center.
| Position | Center |
| Height / weight | 2.11 m / 95 kg |
| Born | 5 Nov 1952 |
| Died | 27 May 2024 (71 years) |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Nickname | Big Red |
| Team History | |
Boston
|
1985 - 1987 |
LA Clippers
|
1979 - 1985 |
Portland
|
1974 - 1979 |
His brother Bruce Edward Walton played football in the National Football League. Walton has four sons. His third son – Luke Walton is a professional basketball player in the NBA. Luke played for the Los Angeles Lakers and won the 2009 and 2010 NBA Finals.
Walton and his son Luke became the first father-and-son pairing to have both won multiple NBA Championships.
Walton died on May 27, 2024, after a prolonged fight with colon cancer. He is survived by his wife Lori Matsuoka.
High School and College Career
Walton attended Helix High School in La Mesa, California. Later, he committed to play college basketball for the University of California Los Angeles.
Walton helped lead UCLA to the NCAA Championships twice. He was also named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1972 and 1973. He was also thrice named the National College Player of the Year.
Later on, the UCLA Bruins retired jersey number 32 in his honor.
Professional Career
In 1974, Walton became the first overall pick of the NBA Draft, selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. He played for Portland from 1974 to 1979. From 1979 to 1985, he started playing for the then-San Diego Clippers, now the Los Angeles Clippers, and from 1985 to 1988, he played for the Boston Celtics.
In his time in the NBA, he won the NBA Championships twice. In 1977, he won it while he was with Portland, and in 1986, he won it while with the Celtics. In 1977, he was named the NBA Finals MVP and in 1978, he was the NBA Most Valuable Player.
He was named an NBA All-Star twice and he was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice. In 1977, Walton led the NBA in blocks and rebounds. In 1986, he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Later on, he was named to the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams. The Trail Blazers also retired jersey number 32 in his honor.
After retirement, Walton engaged himself with coaching camps, clinics, and television commentary. In the last fifteen years, Walton worked with CBS, NBC, Fox, Turner Sports, and the NBA. His star status paved the way for him to appear in movies like Adam Sandler’s Little Nicky and Semi-Pro.
In his career total of 468 games, he had an average of 13.3 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists per game.
Career Highlights
- 1977, 1986 - NBA champion
- 1977 - NBA Finals MVP
- 1978 - NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1977, 1978 - NBA All-Star
- 1978 - All-NBA First Team
- 1977 - All-NBA Second Team
- 1977, 1978 - NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 1986 - NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- 1977 - NBA rebounding leader
1977 - NBA blocks leader
- No. 32 retired by the Portland Trail Blazers
NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
- 1972, 1973 - NCAA champion
- 1972, 1973 - NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
- 1972–1974 - National college player of the year
1972–1974 - Consensus first-team All-American
- No. 32 retired by UCLA Bruins
Career NBA Statistics
- Points - 6,215 (13.3 ppg)
- Rebounds - 4,923 (10.5 rpg)
Assists - 1,590 (3.4 apg)
- Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, 1993
- College Basketball Hall of Fame, 2006
