Bill Walton, the gregarious NBA star who became an ESPN commentator and was well known as a dedicated fan of the Grateful Dead, has died after battling cancer, the NBA confirmed Monday. He was 71.
A towering figure who stood 6 feet 11 inches, Walton played for three NBA teams and won two championships during his 13 years in the league, which ended in 1987 after numerous injuries. He was a college superstar at UCLA and was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1993.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind. 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 regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
“Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans. But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events – always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered,” Silver said.
Walton joined ESPN’s roster of commentators in 2002, covering NBA and college basketball games. Before ESPN, Walton also covered NBA and college hoops for ABC and NBC. He was named one of the 50 greatest sportscasters of all time in 2009 by the American Sportscasters Assn.
ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro saluted Walton as a “singular personality” whose enthusiasm translated on screen to fans.
“Bill Walton was a legendary player and a singular personality who genuinely cherished every experience throughout the journey of his extraordinary life,” Pitaro said in a statement. “Bill often described himself as ‘the luckiest guy in the world,’ but anyone who had the opportunity to interact with Bill was the lucky one. He was a truly special, giving person who always made time for others. Bill’s one-of-a-kind spirit captivated and inspired audiences during his second career as a successful broadcaster.”
In 2023, Walton’s life was celebrated with the documentary “The Luckiest Guy in the World,” which aired as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series.
Born in San Diego, Walton began his professional career with the Portland Trailblazers as the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick in 1974. He segued to what was then the San Diego Clippers in 1979, and made the move with the team to Los Angeles in 1984. He wrapped his NBA career with two seasons with the Boston Celtics from 1985-87. He won his rings with the Celtics in 1986 and Trailblazers in 1977. He was voted the league’s MVP in 1978 and NBA Finals MVP in 1977.
During his UCLA days, under the tutelage of the university’s legendary coach John Wooden, Walton was voted national college player of the year three times and his teams took the NCAA men’s championship twice.
In the mid-1980s, as the Grateful Dead enjoyed a career resurgence, Walton’s longstanding fandom for the band became known — standing so tall, he was hard to miss at their shows — and celebrated.
“It’s similar in that it requires, first of all, tremendous discipline,” Walton said, comparing playing in a band to playing with a team, in an undated 1980s TV interview.
Walton’s survivors include his wife Lori and four sons: Adam, Nate, Luke and Chris. Luke Walton followed his father into the NBA as a player and is now an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Adam Walton is an assistant basketball coach at San Diego Mesa College.
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