“His Feet Were Hurt, His Back Was Ailing”: Bill Walton’s Heartbreaking Health Struggles Revealed by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith

Bill Walton’s battle against prostate cancer did not go his way as the NBA announced the passing of the Portland Trailblazers legend earlier today. Walton was 71 when he bid farewell to the world, after facing a host of physical battles nothing short of a nightmare. While his brighter smile, presenting him younger in years, continues to outshine the obstructions, here are a few things you need to know about his physical discomforts, explained by ESPN’s Stephen. A. Smith. 

Ahead of game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Indian Pacers, Smith took some time to remember Walton on NBA on ESPN. Smith revealed that he worked with basketball Hall of Famer as an analyst for NBA Shoot Around in his earlier days. That is when he noticed the numerous physical struggles that Walton faced. 

Smith shared, “We worked together on the set…During commercial breaks and the time when we were watching games together, he laid down on the floor. He couldn’t sit. His feet were hurt, his back were hurt, he was ailing all the time. You knew the debilitating physical injuries he had to endure.” Throughout his life, Bill had to undergo about 40 orthopedic surgeries as he struggled through consistent injuries including broken wrists, ankle and foot problems, bad back, and more.

On top of this, Walton had prostate cancer as well. Even with discomforts like the above, Walton had nothing much to worry about. He taught the most important lesson in life to the people around him, which Smith revealed. 

What is that one life-changing message that Bill Walton had for the people around him? 

Smith highlighted, “He held you accountable for not smiling“. As mentioned above, Walton had an ear-to-ear smile, and that is the message he put out there to everyone around him. Smith continued, “He held you accountable for your spirit not being high. ‘What are you looking sad about? What are you looking upset about? What on earth would you have to be worried about? Do you understand how lucky you are?'”

Smith met Walton for the last time during February this year, during the All-Star weekend at Indiana. “And the first thing he said to me, ‘Where is my smile, where’s the smile, where is it?’. Because he always had it.”, said Smith. Backing his comment further was Walton’s rival, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

He contested that the 2X NBA champion, regardless of the result on the court, wasn’t happy off of one unless those around him weren’t. “He was the best of us,” the star center reveals. These words from the two convey one thing. Walton taught the people how to celebrate life despite the inconveniences. With his passing, it is now our time to celebrate the basketball legend.