"[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. Obviously, we didn't do a good job of that. Career Stats Bill Walton was born in La Mesa, California. A disgrace to the game of basketball, a disgrace to sport. Bill Walton Greatest Games: 44 Points vs Memphis State (1973 NCAA FInal) - YouTube 0:00 / 5:04 Bill Walton Greatest Games: 44 Points vs Memphis State (1973 NCAA FInal) Larry Legend 20.2K. In addition to making the All-NBA first team and the All-NBA defensive team, Walton was honoured as the play-off MVP for the second consecutive year even though the Trail Blazers failed to repeat as champions. In addition, during his first two years, Walton badly sprained an ankle, broke his left wrist twice, dislocated two toes, dislocated two fingers, broke a toe and injured his leg in a jeep accident. He has been highly successful in the oil business. "[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. Find out more. Playing 20 minutes due to foul trouble, Walton had four points and 12 rebounds in the victory over Weber State, taking only one shot. I said, 'Mom, that's Big E! All of those guys all still my friends to this very day. That's the best team I've ever been on, no question about that. I stuttered horrendously, couldn't speak at all. [87], In 2001, Walton received an Emmy Award for "Best Live Sports Television Broadcast" and in 2018 was the recipient of the CoSIDA Dick Enberg Award. Fans of the Boston Celtics from the 1980s with NBA League Pass are in for a treat on Monday evening. On the black day in 1974 against North Carolina State, he produced 29 . He even led the Bruins in assists in 1974 with 5.48 assists per game. 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]. However, his professional career began to be significantly hampered by multiple foot injuries requiring numerous surgeries. [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. Bill Walton, byname of William Theodore Walton III, (born November 5, 1952, La Mesa, California, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who is considered one of the best all-around post players in the sports history. Updates? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1993 (Full List), More Bill Walton pages at Sports Reference. In July 2012, ESPN and the Pac-12 Network announced that Walton would return to full-time broadcasting as a game analyst for Pac-12 conference basketball coverage. [12][43][44][45], Walton was the number one overall pick by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in the 1974 NBA draft. [108] He attended more than 850[109] Grateful Dead concerts, including traveling with the band to Egypt for its famous 1978 performance before the Pyramids (joining the band on drums),[110] and quotes Grateful Dead lyrics in TV and radio interviews. There were running jump hooks and short jumpers off the glass. Walton's injuries and surgeries limited his career, and counting his 19781979 year-long holdout, Walton played in 44% of the regular season games in his 13-year career. Team chemistry. [57], In five seasons with Portland, Walton played in 209 games, averaging a double-double of 17.1 points and 13.5 rebounds, with 4.4 assists and 2.6 blocks. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Walton once had a triple-double against SMU with 25 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Backing up McHale and Parish, he averaged 6.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 blocks in 19 minutes as the Celtics' had a 30 sweep in the Eastern Conference first round over the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan (43.7 point average in the series). "He was really fun to play against. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Walton with the first pick in the first round of the 1974 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. Walton is a noted fan of the Grateful Dead, as a self-described "Deadhead", and often mentions them in his broadcasts. [25][26], In his 87 career games at UCLA, Walton shot 65.1% from the field, averaging 20.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. His saga of injury and failed rehabs was connected to the use of painkillers by the doctor who was assigned to his case. Before the injuries hampered his professional career, Bill Walton dominated college basketball. [deleted] 10 yr. ago For the curious. We can't pass this guy.' Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Data Provided By [56] Walton nonetheless won the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player award and the Sporting News NBA MVP, as well. He rung up 2,402 points over his collegiate career and was selected as an All-American three times. Thank you Red Auerbach. In the Nuggets series Walton averaged 17.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 3.0 blocks. [16] His 25.0 rebounds per game in a season ranks No. I've had 37 (38 now) orthopedic operations. [102][103], Bill Walton's other brother, Bruce Walton, played in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 to 1975. But an incident between his junior and senior seasons at UCLA nearly ended his pro career before it started. [11], On September 6, 1985, Walton was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Boston Celtics for Cedric Maxwell and a 1986 1st round draft pick (Arvydas Sabonis was later selected). Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. On March 26, 1973, in St. Louis, Bill Walton scored and scored and scored and scored. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Walton then rode his bike to a nearby barber. The Bruins averaged winning by over 20 points, averaging 81.3 points to their opponents' 60.1. Rocket players learned that to get into the Helix gym they could call the teenage Walton, who had his own gym key. Do you have a blog? He was a dynamic big moment guy, and I just wish I could have risen to the occasion. "[75], Said Walton reflecting on his career: "I loved basketball. Or write about sports? Prior to joining the varsity team, Walton (18.1 ppg, 68.6% field goal accuracy), along with Greg Lee (17.9 ppg) and Keith Wilkes (20.0 ppg), was a member of the 200 197071 UCLA freshman team. Throughout his career, nagging injuries continually slowed Walton. The following series of photographs in The Daily Herald (Provo, UT) show Walton's technique of grabbing a rebound, holding the ball high over his head and throwing a two-handed overhead pass to a teammate. Bill Walton was born on November 5, 1952. [citation needed] Walton has said repeatedly in his broadcasts that he is just as much to blame for taking the medication as the doctor was for giving it to him. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Walton was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Red looks down at me. Learn more and register. [38], In the 1974 Final Four, UCLA's record seven consecutive national titles was broken. Having played just 468 games over 10 seasons, Walton retired after the 198687 campaign. According to Russian sports historian Robert Edelman, "when (the Soviets) saw who was and wasn't on the U.S. team, that's when they started feeling like they'd actually have a chance. If Bill Walton was getting physical treatment in a basketball game, Bruce returned the treatment. The Rockets had no set practice facility and would often play pick-up games at Helix High School. Bill Walton Bill Walton couldn't escape the injury bug in his NBA career. Bill Walton's time at ESPN as a college basketball analyst has delivered plenty of memorable moments over the last decade, and he didn't disappoint on Saturday as he took his . Bill Walton led the Bruins to two consecutive 300 seasons and the NCAA men's basketball record 88-game winning streak. He also set the single-tournament mark by shooting 76.3 percent (45 of 59) in 1973. [28][27], In the 1973 Final Four, the Bruins won the national semifinal 7059 over Indiana and Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight. And another one. [85][86], Walton has his own satellite radio show, One More Saturday Night (named after the Dead song of the same name), heard on Sirius Radio's Jam On and XM Radio's Grateful Dead channel. I'm in charge here.' Two titanium rods and four four-inch bolts were inserted in his back. Look at his feet. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Because of his recovery from the knee surgery, Walton played most of his sophomore year on the junior varsity team. It was just a nightmare. Walton said of the loss, "We could have, we should have won them all, and we didn't get it done. [61], In the Celtics' 41 series win over the Atlanta Hawks with Dominique Wilkins in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Walton averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 13 minutes. Oct 23, 2021. [46][11], Following extensive rehabilitation, which included biking and sand volleyball, Walton's foot began to improve; after playing only 14 games from 1979 to 1982, he played 33 games in 198283 under doctor's orders to play about one game per week. He earned an Emmy Award in 1991. "[12], In 169 games with the Clippers, Walton averaged 11.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 blocks, shooting 53.2%. Bill Walton is a playable character in the video games NBA Street Vol. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Walton ignored doctors who said he would never play again and underwent surgery to restructure his left foot in 1981. 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. [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. But to win, we also felt we had to control Walton. ", UCLA coach John Wooden: "There have only been two men I have coached that could have played on the varsity in their freshman years Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. He also set the single-tournament mark by shooting 76.3 percent (45 of 59) in 1973. I just wish I could do a lot of things over, but I can't. He utilized shot fakes and refined post moves to get clean looks. ", unattributed (1972): "If you rate all the teams in the country you would have to rate it in the following order: the Los Angeles Lakers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the UCLA Bruins.". Center Bill Walton played 10 seasons for 3 teams. [10], Walton's ankle problems became so severe that he had both his ankles surgically fused. Walton appeared in the premiere of the third season in the reality TV show Shark Tank on January 20, 2012, where he helped to sell the "Clean Bottle", a water bottle that unscrews at both ends for easier cleaning.[121][122]. When the Walton children were in junior high and high school, Mr. Walton formed an informal family band: Bruce and Bill played trombone or baritone, Andy played the saxophone, and Cathy played the flute. And to me it was frustrating because I finally had a great team and a great player and it was all coming apart. He had 19 points and 11 rebounds against Long Beach State. [114], Walton also considers himself a fan and friend of the late writer Ken Kesey. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. But, he made 12 of his first 13 shots and the Bruins led Notre Dame by 17 points at halftime. His NBA years : from 1975 to 1987 Bill Walton NBA Stats Summary : I'm lying on the table there in the doctors examining room. 1952 Do you have a blog? I thought everybody had the same thing: great parents, great schools, great neighborhoods, great colleges, great coaches. Walton typically was paired with Steve "Snapper" Jones for national NBA games because he and Jones had a point-counterpoint banter during games. They were basketball teammates in high school. Walton, who missed a 12-foot shot off an inbounds pass to win the game as time expired, finished with 24 points and nine rebounds. I looked up at him with the sad, soft eyes of a young man who just wanted one more chance. "So the things he taught us made no sense to us. [60][59], The 1986 NBA playoffs were Walton's first taste of the postseason in nearly a decade, at age 33. [46][47], In 197576, Walton averaged 16.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.6 blocks in 51 games as Portland, with rookies Bob Gross and Lionel Hollins, finished 3745. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Professional Life of Bill Walton. "He went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Luke Theodore Walton (Little Wheats) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-8, 235lb (203cm, 106kg) . [70][71] Some saw it as a political statement given Waltons opposition to the Vietnam War, but the most likely reason for his decision was his bad experience at the 1970 world championships. We've got a game.' Walton signed with the Trail Blazers. And I realized immediately that I had just absolutely blown this whole deal with John Wooden. Walton's most famous college performance was a 44-point outburst in the 1973 NCAA tournament national championship against Memphis State, when he made 21-of-22 field goal attempts. All these guys treated melittle Billylike I was part of the team. [39][38], "David Thompson's a great champion. He played in 55 games in 198384, and a then-career-high 67 in 198485, by which time the Clippers had relocated to Los Angeles. A famous free spirit, he was known for his social activism, outspoken opinions, and devotion to the Grateful Dead rock band. Ghostbusters was filmed in 1984 and Pasch questioned Walton about his claim throughout the game as to the specifics of his appearance and character, but Walton refused to provide more details. The USA team, under coach Hal Fisher, failed to win a medal in the tournament, coming in a disappointing fifth place. Walton then suffered a broken foot, ending his regular season. [105], Walton is known as a vegetarian and a meditation practitioner. Also Read: Bill Walton's Top Moments during Warriors-Blazers Match. In a 2004 interview with ESPN, Walton stated that "for the first time in my life, I was exposed to negative coaching and the berating of players and the foul language and the threatening of people who didnt perform. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Walton was born and raised in La Mesa, California, the son of Gloria Anne (ne Hickey) and William Theodore "Ted" Walton. He left that to David Thompson, whose N.C. State Wolfpack downed Walton in the 1974 NCAA championship, or Julius. We thought he was nuts, but when you're hot and when you're on top and it's all happening, you never think. Bill Walton is my main man, for that reason."[66]. His commentary has been noted for his frequent use of catchphrases and hyperbole. In 2015, he made a visit to the Ken Kesey Collection while on a stop at the University of Oregon. I was incredibly shy and never said a word. We couldn't get him out. 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. Providing a reliable backup to Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, and playing alongside Larry Bird, Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson, Walton received the 1986 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award en route to the NBA championship. It is a stain and stigma on my soul that is indelible. He is a real estate executive. All rights reserved. "[49], Walton led the NBA in both rebounds per game (14.4) and blocked shots per game (3.2) as he was selected to the NBA All-Star Game, but did not participate due to an injury. "I came back and told Coach Wooden that this Walton kid was the best high school player I'd ever seen", Crum recalled. He has hosted several podcasts and satellite radio programs featuring the music of the Grateful Dead. Wooden said Walton is the best center he had ever seen in throwing outlet passes. I had no idea what we had at UCLA. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Here is the schedule, scores and game times for the 2023 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, running Feb. 23-26. USA forward James Forbes told ESPN as part of a SportsCentury documentary, "If [Walton] plays, all of this becomes academic. . [18], "It was a dream come true to be a part of a special team", Walton said. Bill was unable to play a complete game without resting. Walton averaged 29 points and 25 rebounds, as Helix finished 330 in his senior season. Or write about sports? Walton re-fractured the navicular bone in the fourth 1979 exhibition game and subsequently missed all of the 198081 and 198182 seasons, undergoing several surgeries on his injured foot. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. It's true that Bill's game, even when he was healthy, was never about flash. Bruce was a star football player as well. He did all that in just 33 minutes, too. Perhaps, I've never had a better team when you consider both offense and defense. [23], In the 25-team 1972 NCAA tournament, UCLA defeated Weber State 9058. Or write about sports? Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. We had a bitter argument over that, and I lost that argument, too", said Walton, who took only three shots as UCLA had a 7861 win. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Walton was not swayed. But, he played in only six games and did not start any of them. And they're saying, 'Red, come here. [21], After Walton initially refused to cut his hair as an incoming freshman, Coach Wooden told Walton "we'll miss you." He currently is a college assistant coach at San Diego Mesa College. [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. He played college basketball for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive national college player of the year awards (19721974), while leading UCLA to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973 and an 88-game winning streak. Bill Walton Returns to ESPN College Basketball Airwaves Having starred at UCLA as a player, Bill Walton is synonymous with being on the call for games involving Pac-12 Conference teams. I think I can, Red.' All rights reserved. Let's go. [57][58][11], During the off-season, Walton demanded to be traded, citing unethical and incompetent treatment of his and other players' injuries by the Blazers' front office. "We were able to go right through the press." Their comparative career stats: WALTON 468 Games averaging 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 blocks on 52.1% shooting from the field. [19], Beginning in elementary and high school, Walton had loyally followed UCLA's basketball team on the radio. Thank you Boston Celtics. He said of his efforts that day, "A complete failure on all levels, particularly as a human being. Other than that, it was all fine. They couldn't have been nicer, and I became their friend. I've never seen a player so dominating as Walton. 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). Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. I drove the poor guy to an early grave when he was 99. UCLA was 864 in Walton's three seasons. Coach Gordon Nash promoted him to the varsity team the end of the season. Portland lost the series to Seattle in six games. He was injured and lost for the remainder of the playoffs in the second game of the first-round series against the Seattle SuperSonics. To fellow Deadheads, Walton is fondly known as "Grateful Red" and the "Big Red Deadhead" and "World's Tallest Deadhead". Walton scored in a variety of ways against Memphis State. John Wooden. UCLA was 86-4 during Bill Walton's three years of college with the center starting his college career 73-0. I'm the luckiest guy on earth. Jerry West college stats and vitals School: West Virginia Position: Guard Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 pounds Years active: 1957-60 NCAA tournament record: 6-3 Career averages: 24.8 points per game,. He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. During this time, he befriended the controversial writer Jack Scott, who wrote and published a book about him in 1978. "[41], Walton was drafted by the American Basketball Association's Dallas Chaparrals in the 1973 ABA draft as an underclassman in an attempt to lure him from UCLA. He did not get his wish and sat out the entire 1979 season in protest. (Bill Walton had attended Stanford Law School for two years while with the Clippers, but never graduated.) Walton continued to display his dominance during the 197778 campaign, ultimately winning the NBAs MVP award after tallying 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game that season. After graduating from high school, Walton embarked on an outstanding collegiate career at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), leading his team to a pair of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships under legendary coach John Wooden in 1972 and 1973. 1978 NBA MVP. Do you have a sports website? Walton was named to the NBA's First All-Defensive Team and the All-NBA Second Team for his regular-season accomplishments. Andy Wittry has written for Stadium, SI.com, Sporting News, the Indianapolis Star, Louisville Courier-Journal and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. DI indoor T&F championship selections revealed, How La. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. [99][100], Nate Walton played basketball at Princeton. Nonetheless, he was one of the greatest college basketball players in history. Helix won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championship in both 1969 and 1970, finishing 292 in 196869 and 330 in 196970. And I almost wasn't. "Twenty minutes too much", he said. But that led to extreme efficiency. [15] In addition, Walton's 825 rebounds that season ranks No 3 all-time. [67], Overall, Walton played 90 total games for the Celtics, shooting 55.1% and averaging 7.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 blocks in 18 minutes. Bill Walton was one of the greatest college basketball players in history. I never spoke to anybody. The varsity UCLA team, led by seniors Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, and Steve Patterson defeated Villanova in the 1971 NCAA Championship Game for UCLA's 5th consecutive NCAA title. "[72], In the men's basketball final, the United States controversially lost to the Soviet Union 5150, finishing in second place. Viewed by many as the best-passing big man of all time, Walton was honoured as one of the NBAs 50 all-time greatest players in 1996. Twitter: I've got a new knee. Bill Walton attended Helix in La Mesa, California and UCLA. Walton wrote the memoir Back from the Dead (2016). "When that happened, he'd tell me and I'd take him out. Bill Walton averaged 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. And he had a great head, a very dedicated team player. Then I joined the NBA. 7 all-time. He originally joined ESPN in 2002 as a lead analyst for ESPN and ABC's NBA coverage. Here are the top matchups and tournaments to watch in the non-conference portion of the NCAA softball season. With Walton, UCLA won the NCAA Championship in 1972 over Florida State and again in 1973 with an 8766 win over Memphis State in which Walton made 21 of 22 field-goal attempts and scored 44 points. I found a safe place in life in basketball. "[12], On Clippers owner Donald Sterling, Walton commented, "The checks bounced higher than the basketballs when Donald Sterling took over. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He said, 'Bill, I know you feel very strongly about this, but I just don't think that you getting arrested and taking part in this demonstration is what it's all about", recalled Walton. The Irish made six shots in a row, winning on Dwight Clay's shot with 29 seconds left, as Notre Dame prevailed 7170. "[36], In 2009, Walton underwent an eight-hour spinal-fusion surgery. Bill Walton was one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. At UCLA in the early . He could not walk to the hospital. He is big and strong and wirey. [48][46], In 197677 season Walton played in 65 games and, spurred by new head coach Jack Ramsay, Walton and a newly acquired ABA draftee in Maurice Lucas, the Trail Blazers became the Cinderella team of the NBA. I had no desire to ever stop playing. It was a humbling honor and privilege to be on the same squad as true legends Monroe Nash, Wilbur Strong, Phil Edwards, and Bruce Menser. Walton was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 1984. Playing with four personal fouls, Walton fell hard to the floor on a play and injured his left knee and ankle. [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. Bartow added, "I felt very good at halftime, very good. BILL WALTON: College basketball stats, best moments and quotes. Period.". [25], Walton was the 1973 recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Gonzaga, Baylor lead Andy Katz's first Power 36 rankings for the 2020-21 season, Find out which March Madness Moment was voted the greatest of all time, College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined, How recent eventual March Madness men's champions did in their conference tournaments, 2023 Selection Sunday: Date, schedule, TV times, Marquette, Indiana leap into the top 6 of the men's college basketball Power 36 rankings, We're tracking all 32 NCAA men's basketball conference tournaments, auto bids for 2023, 2023 NCAA printable bracket, schedule for March Madness, Undefeated teams in DI college basketball, 5 stunners that rocked men's college basketball on the last Saturday before March, Arizona State's buzzer-beating 3-pointer from beyond half court shocks No. By far the youngest player on the roster, Walton played minimally in five games, averaging 2.6 points. He averaged 18.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 blocks and Portland finished 4933. [67][68] He attempted a comeback in February 1990, but injuries intervened and he retired as a player. Here is the Week 1 ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll, released Feb. 14. [citation needed], Said Walton of Coach Wooden: "I was John Wooden's easiest recruit. [27], In the 25-team 1973 NCAA tournament, UCLA defeated Arizona State 9881 and then San Francisco in the West Regional Final 5439 to reach the Final Four. UCLA's 1971-72 squad quickly became nicknamed "Walton's Gang," in honor of the 6-11 sophomore. Walton was named the NCAA player of the year in three consecutive seasons (197274). All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He spent three more quiet seasons in San Diego before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 1985. [84], While broadcasting a WashingtonOregon January 2019 game with Dave Pasch, Walton mentioned he had appeared in the motion picture Ghostbusters. He entered the corporate world and earned his MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. His efforts were rewarded with the NBAs Sixth Man Award for the 198586 season. We couldn't let him dominate the game. [95][96][97] Luke was named after Walton's friend and former teammate Maurice Lucas. After steadily improving his game, he led the Trail Blazers in 1977 to their first NBA championship. In a Final Four game against Louisville in the 1972 NCAA tournament, Walton was 11-of-15 from the field, scoring 33 points to go along with 21 rebounds. In a pre-season meeting with his new coach, Walton had advised Ramsay, "Coach, don't assume we know anything. [citation needed] In 2001, Walton was inducted into The Grateful Dead Hall of Honor. After the game, famous basketball journalist Dick Weiss of the Courier-Post (Camden, N.J.) wrote, "How could any team lose with Bill Walton on its roster? 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