
Bill Walton, Basketball Hall of Famer Died Monday
Two-time NBA champion and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton passed away today at the age of 71 following a prolonged battle with cancer. His family surrounded him.
“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. 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."
The 6-foot-11 Walton, enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life on the court, off the court, and during his broadcasting career.
His NBA career -- disrupted by chronic foot injuries -- lasted only 468 games with the Portland Trail Blazers, LA (and formerly San Diego) Clippers, and Boston Celtics.
Walton originally joined ESPN and ABC in 2002 as a lead analyst for NBA games before shifting to college basketball in 2012. He also worked for CBS and NBC and was named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association in 2009.
CHECK IT OUT: 100 sports records and the stories behind them
Most Valuable Franchises in American Sports
Gallery Credit: Scott Prather
More From 98.1 Minnesota's New Country








