3 [deleted] 10 yr. ago He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. We couldn't get him out. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Learn more and register. He had 24 and 16 at halftime. I had no desire to ever stop playing. Right, Born: [14], "I had no problem with him during the season", Wooden said of Walton's college days. "Yes", said Gloria Walton, "then when the referee wasn't looking, Bruce would give the player an elbow and let him know that the skinny guy was his kid brother. Walton sat out the 197879 season and was then signed by the San Diego Clippers (now Los Angeles Clippers), for whom he played four injury-plagued seasons. In the NCAA championship game, he had 24 points and 20 rebounds in the Bruins' 8176 victory over Florida State. [67][68] He attempted a comeback in February 1990, but injuries intervened and he retired as a player. "I came back and told Coach Wooden that this Walton kid was the best high school player I'd ever seen", Crum recalled. He added 13 rebounds, two assists, and one block, to lead Bruins to a seventh straight title, 8766 over Memphis State; the Tigers were led by head coach Gene Bartow (who replaced Wooden at UCLA three years later),[29] with players Larry Kenon and Larry Finch. Do you have a blog? He was undercut by a Washington State player and broke two bones in his spine, which remained damaged until corrective surgery in 2009. Your Account Logout Login Create Account MENU Players Schools Years Leaders CFB Scores Bowls Play Index Newsletter "[75], Said Walton reflecting on his career: "I loved basketball. One anecdote that particularly illustrates Walton's decision to choose the Celtics over the Lakers involves Larry Bird, who happened to be in Auerbach's office when Walton called. "He would simply get too tired", recalled Nash. home/away, monthly, etc More Bill Walton Basketball Reference pages. A famous free spirit, he was known for his social activism, outspoken opinions, and devotion to the Grateful Dead rock band. [117], Walton, who has a service dog, wrote the foreword to the 2015 book Unconditional Honor: Wounded Warriors and their Dogs by author Cathy Scott. [63], In the 1986 NBA Finals, the Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets with "Twin Towers" Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson 42 to win the NBA Championship. | Mike Lawrie/Getty Images. [8][9], "When those opposing teams would try to get physical with me, Bruce would do whatever it took to protect me", Walton recalled. "[10], While Walton was in high school in 1967, the NBA expansion San Diego Rockets came to town. Bill Walton weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. His listed adult playing height was 6ft 11in (2.11m); it has been reported that Walton is actually taller (7ft 2in (2.18m) or more), but does not like being categorized as a seven-footer. I found a safe place in life in basketball. If you let him have the ball around the basket, you're dead. Walton had 28 points and 14 rebounds against Arizona State, on 13 of 18 shooting, and 9 points and 14 rebounds against San Francisco, taking only 7 shots. Playing as a backup center behind Robert Parish, Walton earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 198586 season, winning his second championship that same season.[3]. But to win, we also felt we had to control Walton. William Theodore Walton III (born November 5, 1952) is an American television sportscaster and former professional basketball player. Some college basketball historians rate Walton as the greatest who ever played at the college level. Or write about sports? He averaged a career double-double of 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, with 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocked shots, averaging 28 minutes. The vitals for Bill Walton School: UCLA Position: Center Height: 6-11 Weight: 210 pounds Years active: 1971-74 NCAA tournament record: 11-1 College averages: 20.3 points per game, 15.7. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. A disgrace to the game of basketball, a disgrace to sport. "Twenty minutes too much", he said. But he. ")[92][120], Walton appeared in the 1984 motion picture Ghostbusters.[85][86]. [111][112][113] In the video for "Touch of Grey", Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is wearing a Celtics jacket given to him by Walton. But an incident between his junior and senior seasons at UCLA nearly ended his pro career before it started. The team leader on defense, Walton was a superb rebounder and outlet passer to start the fast break. The Trail Blazers with Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, and LaRue Martin finished 3844 under player/coach Lenny Wilkens. Coach Nash played Bill and Bruce Walton together in the paint. Bill Walton is my main man, for that reason."[66]. His NBA years : from 1975 to 1987 Bill Walton NBA Stats Summary : When you're right there and it's there for you and the whole world is watching, and it's recorded as history that can never be changed, that is a terribly heavy burden. "[55], The following season, the 197778 Trail Blazers won 50 of their first 60 games, as Walton averaged 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks in 58 games. "[65], "It wasn't important to me because I had no say in the personnel decisions, but what I was impressed with was Bill Walton's character", Parish said of Walton joining the Celtics. "We were able to go right through the press." "Coach Wooden never talked about winning and losing, but rather about the effort to win. Bill Walton made at least $2,625,000 playing professional basketball. "[76], Overall, Walton played 468 games in his NBA career. Tech. [36], Overall, as a senior, Walton averaged 19.3 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. Bill Walton, a three-time National Player of the Year and a key member in UCLA's dynasty under John Wooden, was one of the greatest men's college basketball players ever. Or write about sports? Do you have a blog? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. This was a team achievement and was built around Walton but we'd be foolish not to go to him. That's the best team I've ever been on, no question about that. [11], As a rookie in 197475, Walton averaged a double-double 12.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks in 35 games. Having played just 468 games over 10 seasons, Walton retired after the 198687 campaign. Elvin and I are still close friends. Wooden said Walton is the best center he had ever seen in throwing outlet passes. At halftime, the game was tied 3939. In 2009, however, after undergoing surgery because of chronic back problems, he briefly stepped away from his second profession. Portland, concerned that Walton was injury-prone, traded him to the San Diego Clippers after the 197879 season. Luke Walton. [82], Walton's 2003 TV series Bill Walton's Long Strange Trip aired on ESPN with Walton as subject and star. Overall in 197273, Walton averaged 20.4 points and 16.9 rebounds in 30 games on 65.0% shooting, as UCLA again finished 300 (140 in the Pac-8 conference). Andy Wittry has written for Stadium, SI.com, Sporting News, the Indianapolis Star, Louisville Courier-Journal and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 60 games): 20.3 points per game, Fourth, tied for fifth in rebounds in an NCAA tournament semifinal: 18 (1974), 17 (1973), Tied for fourth all-time in rebounds in an NCAA tournament championship game: 20 (1972), Fourth in UCLA history in field goals made: 747, Fifth all-time in most rebounds in a season: 506 rebounds in 1973, Sixth all-time in highest rebound average in a season: 16.9 rebounds per game in 1973, Thirteenth all-time in career field goal percentage: 65.1 percent, Nineteenth and 24th on UCLA's all-time single-season scoring average list: 21.1 ppg (1972), 20.4 ppg (1973), Tied for 18th all-time for most double-doubles in a season: 27 (in 30 games) in 1973, Tied for 21st all-time for most double-doubles in a career: 72 double-doubles, Tied for 22nd all-time in most rebounds in a game since 1973: 27 rebounds against Loyola Chicago and Maryland in 1973, Tied for 27th all-time in consecutive double-doubles in a season: 15 consecutive double-doubles in 1971-72. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Bill Walton was one of the greatest college basketball players in history. Walton tallied 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists against San Francisco. I regret that I got hurt. He is a graduate of Indiana University. Walton averaged 29 points and 25 rebounds, as Helix finished 330 in his senior season. Walton was born and raised in La Mesa, California, the son of Gloria Anne (ne Hickey) and William Theodore "Ted" Walton. And another one. On March 26, 1973, in St. Louis, Bill Walton scored and scored and scored and scored. It's my greatest failure as a professional in my entire life, I could not get the job done in my hometown. He was named first-team All-American with Jim Chones of Marquette, Bo Lamar of the Louisiana-Lafayette, Ed Ratleff of Long Beach State, and Tom Riker of South Carolina. The Rockets had no set practice facility and would often play pick-up games at Helix High School. UCLA was 86-4 during Bill Walton's three years of college with the center starting his college career 73-0. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. [106], Walton maintained a close lifetime friendship with Coach John Wooden, visiting him often. In 2018, Walton received the CoSIDA Dick Enberg Award. In 1978, following the two most impressive seasons of his young career, he suffered the first of several serious injuries; he developed chronic foot and knee problems that forced him to sit out the entire season. [4][5][6], Walton's father Ted was a music teacher and social worker and his mother Gloria, a librarian. He originally joined ESPN in 2002 as a lead analyst for ESPN and ABC's NBA coverage. 7 all-time. William T. "Bill" Walton. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Walton with the first pick in the first round of the 1974 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He missed three games. Walton said of the loss, "We could have, we should have won them all, and we didn't get it done. A better player. Walton averaged 7.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 19 minutes, and finished with a career-high 56.2 field goal percentage. [32], "I don't think anything ever meant as much to me as playing UCLA and one of John Wooden's best teams for the national championship", Bartow said in 1993. He left that to David Thompson, whose N.C. State Wolfpack downed Walton in the 1974 NCAA championship, or Julius. "Coach Wooden looked at me and said, 'Walton, I used to think you were a good player until you missed that one shot,'" Walton said. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. To fellow Deadheads, Walton is fondly known as "Grateful Red" and the "Big Red Deadhead" and "World's Tallest Deadhead". [46], Portland finished the regular season 5824 and Walton returned for the 1978 NBA playoffs. 1952 Bill Walton averaged 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He is big and strong and wirey. That's why I have the utmost respect for Bill Walton and that's the main reason why he was my inductee into the Hall of Fame. Look at his feet. I'm very proud of this team. Walton played wearing a back brace, as he had suffered a major back injury in a fall against Washington State the week before. I thought everybody had the same thing: great parents, great schools, great neighborhoods, great colleges, great coaches. Walton set the record for most points in an NCAA championship game, which still stands, and was the tournament's most outstanding player. Look at his face. "It was all a matter of if he could stay healthy. "[107], On Walton's desk sits a message to him from Coach Wooden: "To Bill Walton, it's the things you learn after you know it all that count. To not be able to play was a crushing blow to him. [17], In 1970, Walton was featured in "Faces in the Crowd" in the January 26 issue of Sports Illustrated, his first national media recognition. [11][46], Walton overcame a stuttering problem at age 28 with the help of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman, after a lengthy conversation between the two at an event. Updates? 2x NBA CHAMPION. Walton signed with the Trail Blazers. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Center Everything that Coach Wooden told us eventually came true. [42], In 1974, the ABA's San Diego Conquistadors tried to persuade Walton to sign with them, after drafting him in the 1974 ABA draft. "But then I would want to play another one. That's because offensively, Walton played a key role in transition. We couldn't let him dominate the game. The gymnasium at the Boys and Girls Club in, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 09:26. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Walton then rode his bike to a nearby barber. After having received a painkilling injection to play, X-rays taken after Game 2 revealed the navicular bone below Walton's left ankle was broken. . [deleted] 10 yr. ago For the curious. "Off the floor I worried. Research validated Walton's claim. Walton was the inaugural inductee into the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor in 2001. Walton was named to the NBA's First All-Defensive Team and the All-NBA Second Team for his regular-season accomplishments. "[98], Chris Walton played for San Diego State. Bill was unable to play a complete game without resting. After retiring from the NBA, Walton overcame stuttering and embarked on a second career as a sportscaster, working both as a studio analyst and color commentator with stints for several networks and teams. (Bill Walton had attended Stanford Law School for two years while with the Clippers, but never graduated.) Walton once had a triple-double against SMU with 25 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. I'm the lucky one, in that I never thought going through all of it that I would be healthy at the end. Big Red, Grateful Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief are nicknames for Bill Walton. [citation needed] "There were so many problems", Walton said of the losses. [105], Walton is known as a vegetarian and a meditation practitioner. He could not walk to the hospital. [81], Walton frequently works alongside Dave Pasch while calling Pac-12 games. Helix won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championship in both 1969 and 1970, finishing 292 in 196869 and 330 in 196970. He averaged 17.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 4.3 blocks in the first round series against the Bulls. "Maurice was so important in my life and in little Luke's life", Walton said. "He was really fun to play against. Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA draft, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 6:01AM. He may not have been fast in the traditional sense at 6-11, 210 pounds, but he was quick. He was raised with siblings Bruce, Cathy and Andy. Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. He fully realized his potential during that season, averaging nearly 19 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 blocks per game. And 330 in his senior season Long Strange Trip aired on ESPN with as... [ citation needed ] `` There were so many problems '', recalled Nash [ 92 ] [ ]... Inductee into the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor in 2001 the Clippers but. 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