Phoenix Head Coach Nate Tibbetts Remembers Late Legend Bill Walton: “He Was a Icon”

Today, the Phoenix Mercury faced defeat on the road as the Connecticut Sun thrashed them and took a 70-47 blowout victory. Their previous defeat was against Dallas on Sunday when the Texans took over a 107-92 win. These losses indicate that the Mercury need to work on their gameplay as they play their next game against the New York Liberty tomorrow at the Barclays Center.

Meanwhile, Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts engages in conversation post-game and reflects upon what went wrong with the team’s execution on the court. More so, he also talks about the basketball legend, the late Bill Walton, remembering his impact on basketball and life.

Nate Tibbetts shares insights on Bill Walton

In the post-game interview, Phoenix Mercury head coach, Nate Tibbetts was answering questions related to their back-to-back loss, when a reporter asked him about Bill Walton’s legacy in Portland and what elements he would take away from Walton’s life to apply in his coaching style and daily life.

To this, Tibbetts responds by saying, “Yeah I did know Bill personally, uh, obviously spending that time in Portland he was an icon. Um, I think he had a great outlook on his life, uh, how he approached each and every day which allowed us probably could do a better job of that, um, you know, I, I got to coach his son Luke who’s, who’s a great guy and um you know I’m thinking to them and their family.”

During his NBA career, Walton played for three teams, namely, the Portland Trail Blazers, the San Diego Clippers, and the Boston Celtics. Throughout his career, he sustained multiple injuries, but that didn’t stop him in any way and he continued to play, given his deep love for basketball.

He began his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers and won his first NBA championship title. “Walton could do everything, he had great timing, a complete vision of the floor, had excellent fundamentals, and was a great passer, both in outlet passes and in the half-court. He loved playing basketball, just loved it, practices, games…especially away games. He loved to win on the opponent’s court. And he had a great head, a very dedicated team player,” said Jack Ramsey, Portland’s head coach, enlisting Walton’s on-court skills.

Bill Walton’s legacy in the NBA

“I loved basketball. And I was going to go until I couldn’t go anymore. I had no desire to ever stop playing. I’ve never met anybody who stopped playing voluntarily. I ground my body up. I’ve had 37 (38 now) orthopedic operations. I ground my feet up into dust. I’ve got a new knee. I’ve got a new spine. I’m the lucky one, in that I never thought going through all of it that I would be healthy at the end. And I almost wasn’t. But I’m all better now,” said the 6-feet-11 Bill Walton, reflecting on his basketball career.

“I would love to play one more game. But then I would want to play another one. And another one. But I will take one,” He added, wishing to play just one more game.

Bill Walton is a name and a legacy in itself. His larger-than-life approach has touched countless lives through these years. Drafted in 1974, the 1st round overall pick was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. With this team, he won his first NBA championship in 1977, averaging 18.2 points, 15.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.4 blocks per game.

That season he also won the NBA Finals MVP Award for his outstanding display. His second championship came around in 1986 with the Boston Celtics, becoming the Sixth Man of the Year, behind Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.

Throughout his 13-year career in the NBA, Walton played 468 games and averaged a career double-double with 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds with 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. After he retired from the league, he was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 1993).

After his retirement, her became a color commentator for basketball and worked in broadcasting for various networks including CBS, NBC, and ABC/ESPN for 19 years.

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