After the Hall of Famer Bill Walton passed away from colorectal cancer at the age of 71 last month, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has paid tribute to Walton in advance of the beginning of the Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks series.
A unique montage of his legacy and career highlights in Boston was shown by the Celtics prior to the first game of the series, which was scheduled to take place at the TD Garden on Thursday night. The Celtics honored their former big man, who had won a championship with the organization in 1986.
‘I’m the luckiest man of the world,’ Walton remarked in previous interviews while describing the sensation to have won and played for the Celtics. ‘I’ve been part of the greatest teams in the history of basketball: UCLA, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Boston Celtics.
‘What a team, what a franchise, what a past, what a present, what a future, I am the luckiest guy on planet,’ he concluded, alluding to the Celtics.
Celtics players recognized Walton by sporting black jerseys with Walton’s name on it in several colors before tip-off. Both sides conducted a minute of silence, as well.
Jayson Tatum, of the Celtics, wore a shirt honoring Bill Walton with teammates on ThursdayBoth teams observed a minute of silence for Walton after a tribute clip was played in the arena
Walton – a player-turned-analyst – died in May after a prolonged battle with colorectal cancer
Walton’s family, including his son and ex-LA Lakers head coach Luke Walton, were in attendance for Thursday night’s game as they were all visible in the fans wearing the same jerseys paying honor to the two-time NBA champion as the players on the floor.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that Celtics players would commemorate Walton prior of Thursday’s game.
Other than with the Celtics, Walton won an NBA title and Finals MVP with the Trail Blazers in 1977. He was also the NBA MVP in 1978 and a two-time NCAA national champion with UCLA, guiding the Bruins to an 88-game winning streak.
All of his accomplishments at college level earned him the honor to be the first overall pick of the 1974 NBA Draft.
Walton, who averaged 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocks in 468 regular-season games in a career spanning from 1974-1988, was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
He was named to the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams, as well.
The former center played an integral role in the Celtics’ quest to an NBA championship in 1986
Walton’s family were at TD Garden to honor the two-time NBA champion, including son Luke
Ahead of Thursday night’s game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released warm-up jerseys in tribute to Walton
After retiring from the NBA, Walton overcame stuttering and went on a second career as a sportscaster, serving both as a studio analyst and color commentator with many networks and teams. He got an Emmy Award in 1991.
Walton was a devotee of the Grateful Dead, as a self-described ‘Deadhead’, and often mentioned them in his broadcasts. He aired multiple podcasts and satellite radio programs covering the music of the Grateful Dead.
Last week, former NBA player-turned-analyst Charles Barkley paid tribute to Walton on TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ as Shaquille O’Neal also shared insight on his ‘up-and down relationship’ with the late basketball star.
In the wake of Walton’s passing, Celtics star Larry Bird, former US President Barack Obama and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith honored the California native.
Last week, it was also reported that NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning had surgery to remove his prostate after a stage 3 cancer diagnosis in March.
