Bill Walton, an NBA Hall of Famer and a prominent basketball broadcaster passed away on Monday, as announced by the league on behalf of his family. The former NBA MVP had a long battle with cancer, which he unfortunately lost. Many prominent stars around the league, including Patrick Beverly, took their socials to honor the Hall of Famer and pay condolences to his family.

“Prayers Walton Family. Great energy, and always positive. Rest In Paradise Bill Walton,” wrote Beverly on X.

Walton was a two-time NBA champion and a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. This came after a stellar college career at UCLA, where he was a two-time champion and a three-time national player of the year.“Bill Walton, was truly one of a kind,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in the speech announcing his demise.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993, Walton was a larger-than-life figure both on and off the court. Despite his NBA career being limited to 468 games due to chronic foot injuries, he played for Portland, the San Diego and Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston, averaging 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. The center had a huge impact on the game of basketball.

Celebrating the Life of Bill Walton

Walton’s most famous performance came in the 1973 NCAA title game between UCLA and Memphis, where he made an astounding 21 of 22 shots from the field, leading the Bruins to another national championship. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1974 draft, Walton led the team to its only NBA title in 1977 and was league MVP in 1978. The 6-foot-11 Walton won another championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986, earning the Sixth Man of the Year award.

That season turned out to be his last hurrah. Plagued by injuries throughout his career, Walton played only 22 more games, including regular season and playoffs, before retiring in 1988. After his playing career, Walton overcame a pronounced stutter to become a successful sportscaster, renowned for his colorful language, catchphrases, and hyperbole.

“In life, being so self-conscious, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can’t talk at all. I was incredibly shy and never said a word,” Walton told The Oregonian newspaper in 2017.  He added, “Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. It’s become my greatest accomplishment of my life and everybody else’s biggest nightmare.” 

A man, a player, and a legend. Walton will remain in the hearts of the NBA fans forever.