Bill Walton, a two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion and member of the basketball Hall of Fame, whose brilliant but injury-riddled career led to a second act as a free-spirited broadcaster, died on Monday at the age of 71, the NBA announced.
Walton, who had a prolonged battle with cancer, was surrounded by his family when he died, according to the NBA.
"Bill Walton was truly one of a kind," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that recalled his many accomplishments on the court and his "insightful and colorful commentary" as a broadcaster. "But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life."
Indiana Pacers pay tribute with a moment of silence to Bill Walton before the game against the Boston Celtics during Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, U.S., May 27, 2024. /CFP
Walton, a 6-foot-11 (211cm) center who moved gracefully despite his height, rose to stardom in college where he was part of the University of California, Los Angeles, dynasty under Coach John Wooden, winning National Collegiate Athletic Association championships in 1972 and 1973.
The first overall pick of the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Walton established himself as a force early in his professional career, leading Portland to the championship in the 1976-77 season, and he was named Most Valuable Player the following year.
But with brittle bones in his feet, Walton missed three of the next four seasons, mostly as a member of the San Diego Clippers, and later came back as a bench player for the Boston Celtics, helping them win the NBA championship in 1985-86.
Basketball HOF's tweet on May 28 about Bill Walton. /@Hoophall
In the years following his NBA career, Walton turned to sports broadcasting and was involved with multiple charitable and philanthropic organizations, clinics and camps. He served as both a studio analyst and a color commentator.
Walton suffered from myriad injuries throughout his life, requiring 38 orthopedic surgeries, according to an interview with the Advanced Medical Technology Association.
"I am sad today hearing that my comrade and one of the sports world's most beloved champions and characters has passed," Julius "Dr. J" Erving, a fellow Hall of Famer, wrote on social media. "Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him and to work with him was a blessing in my life."
(With input from agencies)