Source:
MediaNews
Group/Pasadena
Star-News
via
Getty
Images
/
Getty
/
Bill
Walton
The
sports
world
lost
a
giant
on
Monday
with
the
passing
of
Bill
Walton,
a
two-time
NBA
Champion,
Basketball
Hall
of
Famer,
and
all-around
exceptional
human
being.
Through
commissioner
Adam
Silver,
the
NBA
announced
the
passing
of
the
Emmy-winning
sports
broadcaster
and
former
UCLA
player
on
Monday.
In
a
statement,
Silver
said,
“Bill
Walton
was
truly
one
of
a
kind.
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.”
Silver
continued,
“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.
“As
a
cherished
member
of
the
NBA
family
for
50
years,
Bill
will
be
deeply
missed
by
all
those
who
came
to
know
and
love
him.”
The
71-year-old
former
professional
hooper
died
from
cancer
on
Monday
in
the
presence
of
his
loved
ones,
his
family
said
in
the
statement.
Bill
Walton’s
Long
List
of
Accomplishments
Walton
had
an
exceptional
career,
winning
two
national
titles
with
the
UCLA
Bruins
before
winning
two
NBA
championships.
His
NBA
career
did
not
last
long
because
of
nagging
foot
injuries,
playing
468
games
with
the
Portland
Trail
Blazers,
LA
(and
formerly
San
Diego)
Clippers,
and
Boston
Celtics,
averaging
a
double-double,
13.3
points
and
10.5
rebounds.
Walton
was
the
NBA’s
MVP
during
the
1977-78
season,
earning
a
spot
on
the
league’s
50th
and
75th
anniversary
teams.
Walton
was
enshrined
in
the
Naismith
Memorial
Basketball
Hall
of
Fame
in
1993,
He
seamlessly
transitioned
into
the
broadcast
booth,
where
the
6’11
giant
became
one
of
the
most
recognizable
voices
in
sports
thanks
to
his
famous
catchphrase,
“Throw
it
down,
big
man.”
The
American
Sportscasters
Association
named
him
among
the
top
50
sports
broadcasters
in
2009.
The
NBA
Honors
Walton
on
Social
Media
Following
the
sad
news,
former
players
and
friends
like
Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar,
Larry
Bird,
and
Julius
“Dr.J”
Erving
paid
tribute
to
Waltton
on
X,
formerly
Twitter.
“I
am
sad
today
hearing
that
my
comrade
&
one
of
the
sports
worlds
most
beloved
champions
&
characters
has
passed.
Bill
Walton
enjoyed
life
in
every
way.
To
compete
against
him
&
to
work
with
him
was
a
blessing
in
my
life.
Sorry
for
your
loss
Walton
family.
We’ll
miss
him
too,”
Erving
wrote
on
X.
Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar
wrote
on
X,
“Today
I
had
to
say
goodbye
to
a
great
friend
that
I
will
always
miss.”
Walton
is
survived
by
his
wife
Lori
and
sons
Adam,
Chris,
Nate,
and
Luke,
who
played
ten
seasons
in
the
NBA
before
becoming
a
coach
in
the
league.
You
can
see
more
reactions
to
his
passing
in
the
gallery
below.
