Died of cancer. Well-known Grateful Dead Head. Perhaps the best passing center. Wonderful basketball commentator.
I met Walton at the Wynn years ago in Vegas in the elevator. It was the weekend of USA basketball. I asked him what's up and he said he was heading up to play in a poker game. Said Bobby Knight was playing. Asked him whom would win. He said you always let Knight win. Too funny.
Coincidentally, I met Joakim Noah at the Wynn too around the pool area years ago. He had 3 or 4 women playing with his hair in the pool and it was very entertaining.
I loved Walton called games. Always entertaining with his stories. And Bill knew and loved basketball. His color analysis during games were quite insightful. He will be missed. RIP Bill, and fu(k cancer.
Surprised me with this story. Had not anticipated his passing. Difficult for big men to live long lives anyway. UCLA, Trailblazers and Celts. Seemed like he played sound fundamental basketball, good D and team basketball. Injuries impeded his abilities in NBA but always entertaining
RIP Bill! What a player and man! I'm turning 71 in August, so I very much feel Bill has been shortchanged at the end of his life. I hate cancer having had to beat Lymphoma twice myself, both T-Cell and B-Cell, second time in 2023. I feel like God has a reason for me to still be here. It seems like the world could find cures for cancer. I went over 11 years in remission. The treatment was the same although the chemo got the job done in lesser amounts. I'm having a PET scan on Thursday before spreading them out to longer times in between. I'm believing for the best. I would appreciate your prayers for continued good health and a clear PET scan.
Yes he was. IMO, he and Alcindor were the 2 greatest college players of all time, and Bill’s national title game against Memphis was the greatest performance ever by a college basketball player. He also was very religious and attended church more than a thousand times. Of course, his church was a Grateful Dead concert.
Couldn't stand him when I was a kid in the early 90s. I learned to appreciate his affable character and appreciated his commentary. Was not expecting to hear this at all. Time is a blur and although he has been around forever in my lifetime I didn't consider him in poor health or to be very old. Sad news.
I remember the Final against Memphis. 21of 22 from the field. Maybe the greatest single performance in Championship game history. RIP.
As others have said, and absolute legend announcer. I'd watch a game just because he was on the broadcast. Can't say that about anyone else.
RIP to a legend and good guy! If you get a chance to watch the "30 for 30" on him, which originally aired in June 2023, you should. It's fantastic! Huge Deadhead!
In that title game, he missed one shot; many of his goals were very long and off the backboard! Incredible!
After he led Portland to the NBA title, he rode his bike in the celebration parade. My kinda guy, an unrepentant hippie.
