Bill Walton Once Contemplated Suicide: What Led the Celtics Legend to the Devastating Thought Decades Before Demise to Cancer?

Bill Walton in his book Back from the Dead revealed the issues and his situation because of the back injury. “I had lost everything including my dignity my self-respect and I had no hope and dream that I was going to be better…” He said in a podcast in 2022. His first major back injury happened when he was at UCLA college basketball.

Walton claims he broke his spine on the court and played another game roughly 11 days after breaking his back. The injuries not only hampered his on-court career but also came back to haunt him later in his life. Walton’s professional success was stifled and short-lived. In his 14 years in the NBA, he missed more games (680) than he played (488) due to several injuries.

“One day in early 2008, after 18 years of chasing that dream, I was getting off yet another flight when I literally couldn’t move anymore.” Walton said to AdvaMed. Due to the never-ending pain, Walton had thought of taking his life as the only solution to end his nightmare.

Bill Walton talks about the dreaded day

Walton recalls that has had 38 orthopedic surgeries to heal his various injuries. And ultimately that would leave a lasting effect on his body, plus his being 6’11 didn’t help the cause. According to him, the world was only built for preschool children taking a shot at his height and the lack of options available. So thus it took more toll on his body during his constant travels as a commentator.

During the back injury, he tried every step possible apart from the surgery because he was told by some people that would make the condition even worse. “I tried everything to stop the unrelenting, excruciating, and debilitating pain: acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, alternative medicine, meditation, massage, yoga, physical therapy, core strengthening, medication, injections…EVERYTHING,” he said.

At first, Walton did not really understand that medical advancement could help him. But later he agreed to it and got his surgery done by UCSD’s Dr. Steve Garfin. It was all possible due to the relentless effort of his friend and colleague Jim Gray. The surgery was the hardest thing Walton had ever faced. But what would be more challenging would be the recovery process after the surgery.

“About 8 months after my surgery, I experienced a moment I will always remember,” he said. “I was doing some gentle weightlifting in my gym when I realized that my agonizing pain was gone. For the first time in seemingly forever, I knew that I was going to get better. I knew the surgery worked and that, for the first time in years, I had the chance that once again I would be able to enjoy the activities I loved. I would be able to ride my bike and move again.”

Post-surgery activities for Bill Walton

According to Walton, there are only 3 things somebody his age could do. Spend time in the pool, in the weight room, or go biking. He also is very grateful to his wife Lori Matsuoka for taking care of him 24×7 during the pain he suffered. His wife was working full-time with Freedom Dogs providing free service dogs for military personnel. In his interview with Al Franken in 2022 he spoke about his wife.

He also spoke about “more service personnel in our country commit suicide than die in combat,” thus highlighting the work his wife was doing. That’s how Walton used his voice. He was never shy to use it against the authority and call them out since his younger days.

“And here’s this situation where I had nothing, but then I had this surgery and I’m all better. I take no medication, I have no pain, and I go full speed ahead now. I’ve never been busier. I’ve never been happier. I haven’t been this healthy since I was 13 years old. In all these years I never thought that I’d be free of pain, I never thought that I’d be happy in love, and I have both of those today. I am the luckiest guy on earth.” he spoke to David Axelrod of CNN in 2016

And his sudden passing away news shocked many people. He truly touched a lot a lot of people’s hearts with his vibrant and upbeat personality. Walton always spoke to people in high regard and would always remind everybody about his favorite band The Grateful Dead.