("Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes! [37] He was named 1st Team All-American alongside Marvin Barnes of Providence, John Shumate of Notre Dame, David Thompson of North Carolina State, and teammate Wilkes of UCLA. It's not like he attempted 22 dunks, and still, he missed only once all game. 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. [40], Walton left UCLA to begin a new life in professional basketball and kept a lifetime friendship with Coach Wooden. He was injured and lost for the remainder of the playoffs in the second game of the first-round series against the Seattle SuperSonics. 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. Look at his face. Some college basketball historians rate Walton as the greatest who ever played at the college level. The Associated Press noted that Walton was double-teamed for most of the game, too. Bill Walton was a great college player, maybe the best ever. 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. [46][11], Due to injuries, Walton spent more time on the disabled list than on the court with his hometown team. To not be able to play was a crushing blow to him. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. us, High School: [4][5][6], Walton's father Ted was a music teacher and social worker and his mother Gloria, a librarian. William Theodore Walton III It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. William T. "Bill" Walton. Playing with four personal fouls, Walton fell hard to the floor on a play and injured his left knee and ankle. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. slowhandmark 10 yr. ago That dunk on Abdul jabbar in 77. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. His NBA years : from 1975 to 1987 Bill Walton NBA Stats Summary : 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. [36], Overall, as a senior, Walton averaged 19.3 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. Walton played wearing a back brace, as he had suffered a major back injury in a fall against Washington State the week before. . [43], Walton's first two seasons in Portland were marred by chronic foot injuries. They were basketball teammates in high school. The only way to beat UCLA is to keep Walton from getting the ball and there's really no way to do it at least with our personnel. He was recruited by many colleges, but quickly accepted UCLA's scholarship offer to play basketball for the Bruins and Coach Wooden. After the game, Louisville coach Denny Crum told reporters, "I think this is the best UCLA team ever.". Corrections? Data Provided By The Rockets had no set practice facility and would often play pick-up games at Helix High School. That's because offensively, Walton played a key role in transition. USA forward James Forbes told ESPN as part of a SportsCentury documentary, "If [Walton] plays, all of this becomes academic. 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. He even led the Bruins in assists in 1974 with 5.48 assists per game. Perhaps, I've never had a better team when you consider both offense and defense. Do you have a blog? [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. . It is a stain and stigma on my soul that is indelible. The Bruins averaged winning by over 20 points, averaging 81.3 points to their opponents' 60.1. Bill Walton attended Helix in La Mesa, California and UCLA. What a dream come true. "When that happened, he'd tell me and I'd take him out. Walton was named the 1972 NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player. 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. Walton's only four losses came in his senior year (Notre Dame, Oregon State, Oregon and then NC State in the NCAA tournament). "I wish we had NBA basketball here, and we don't because of me. Look at this. The UCLA streak contributed to a personal winning streak that lasted almost five years, in which Walton's high school, UCLA freshman (freshmen were ineligible for the varsity at that time) and UCLA varsity teams did not lose a game from the middle of his junior year of high school to the middle of his senior year in college. 3 [deleted] 10 yr. ago 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. [21], After Walton initially refused to cut his hair as an incoming freshman, Coach Wooden told Walton "we'll miss you." In a June 8, 2010, interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Walton admitted to contemplating suicide for a time due to the constant pain resulting from injuries sustained during his NBA career. After 19 years working in broadcasting, he left ESPN in November 2009, as the result of back problems, which dated back to an injury he suffered in college at UCLA. He was raised with siblings Bruce, Cathy and Andy. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Thank you Celtic nation. He is a real estate executive. In the locker room after the 1973 Championship game, Coach Wooden introduced Walton to representatives of the ABA, who hoped to convince him to turn pro. "[10], While Walton was in high school in 1967, the NBA expansion San Diego Rockets came to town. We can't pass this guy.' I worried when he was thrown in jail with the group that took over the administration building, I worried when he stopped traffic on Wilshire Boulevard, and when he interrupted classes giving his views on the Vietnam War. Walton was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 1984. Bill Walton made at least $2,625,000 playing professional basketball. 7 all-time. I had three different periods of my life in my relationship with him: (1) when I was a high school student and he was recruiting me; (2) when I played for him when I was 17 to 21; (3) and then 36 years of being his friend. Walton set the record for most points in an NCAA championship game, which still stands, and was the tournament's most outstanding player. "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. Walton joined the Boston Celtics, and they won the 1985-86 championship. Bill Walton was born on November 5, 1952. However, they were outscored 120, missing six consecutive shots with four turnovers. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He became the only player in league history to have won an NBA finals MVP, Sixth Man Award and regular season MVP. [77][78], Walton said about his speech issues and subsequent career, "I'm a stutterer. I regret that I got hurt. 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. He then limped off the floor, receiving an ovation from the 19,301 fans. He loved to win on the opponent's court. I've got a new spine. [11], Before his sophomore season, Walton underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage on his left knee. Freshmen were prohibited by the NCAA from playing varsity at the time. [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. Luke Walton. I was incredibly shy and never said a word. [46], At age 17, just out of high school, in the summer of 1970, Walton was selected to represent USA Basketball at the 1970 FIBA World Championship. Even on his layups and dunks, Walton was incredibly active in his setup and footwork on the low block. Center [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 spent three more quiet seasons in San Diego before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 1985. That's the best team I've ever been on, no question about that. ", Bartow, after the 1973 national championship game: "Walton Walton Walton We couldn't contain Walton. "[20], "I would love to play one more game", Walton said he wished. Bill Walton averages for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. Thank you Larry Bird. And Red, through the smoke, with a big, cherubic grin on his face, looked at the doctors, looked at me, and he said, 'He's fine. Join our linker program. Bill Walton is my main man, for that reason."[66]. After appearing in just 14 games in his first year with San Diego, Walton sat out the entire 198081 and 198182 seasons because of more foot problems. Bill Walton, UCLA center who scored a record 44 points in the final game of the NCAA basketball tournament at St. Louis, lies on the floor where he had fallen when he was injured with just. On the black day in 1974 against North Carolina State, he produced 29 . home/away, monthly, etc More Bill Walton Basketball Reference pages. As was his belief, Wooden did not call time-outs late in games and stuck with the strategy. Walton had 14 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists against Indiana. We already had a pretty good team, and I think adding him and (Jerry) Sichting really helped us. 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. Luke Theodore Walton (Little Wheats) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-8, 235lb (203cm, 106kg) . All of those guys all still my friends to this very day. And so I spent the rest of my life, first of all, trying to make it up to him; and second of all, no longer [bringing] consternation into his life."[20]. Walton won 1 MVP Award, was selected to play in 2 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. Twitter: Walton also received the USBWA College Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year as the top college basketball player in 1972, 1973, and 1974. His older brother Bruce played football at UCLA, enrolling a year ahead of Bill. "Off the floor I worried. Bill Walton can talk a good game when it comes to doing color commentary on college basketball telecasts, but he played a nearly perfect one as UCLA's star center in the 1973 NCAA Tournament final. November 5, He had 19 points and 11 rebounds against Long Beach State. 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. "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. [67][68] He attempted a comeback in February 1990, but injuries intervened and he retired as a player. We found that out. College: UCLA High School: Helix in La Mesa, California [12][43][44][45], Walton was the number one overall pick by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in the 1974 NBA draft. Walton received the NBA Retired Players Association Humanitarian Award in 2002. BillWalton, (Big Red, Grateful Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief), Position: "[10], Walton's struggle with injury and pain began while at Helix High School, where he broke an ankle, a leg, several bones in his feet, and underwent knee surgery. By far the youngest player on the roster, Walton played minimally in five games, averaging 2.6 points. Alternate titles: William Theodore Walton III. But as soon as I got on the court I was fine. [13][14][10], As a senior in 196970, Walton made 384 of 490 shot attempts, 78.3 percent, still the all-time national record. [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. Walton scored in a variety of ways against Memphis State. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. 1978 NBA MVP. And Red says, 'Shut up. RELATED: Gonzaga, Baylor lead Andy Katz's first Power 36 rankings for the 2020-21 season. [7] "Bill and I couldn't quit fast enough", Bruce said. When UCLA led Memphis State 35-30, Walton wasn't that far behind the Tigers with his individual point total of 20. Walton was the inaugural inductee into the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor in 2001. We couldn't get him out. Enter your information to receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners. He was a dynamic big moment guy, and I just wish I could have risen to the occasion. 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. A bronze statue of Walton was unveiled at Ski Beach Park in San Diego, California's. Find out more. 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. Walton led UCLA in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage for three consecutive years: No sophomore, junior or senior in UCLA history has averaged more rebounds per game, respectively, than when Walton was a sophomore, junior and senior. Do you have a blog? [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. Well, he scored at least 20 points in five other NCAA tournament games, including two 20-point, 20-rebound games in the 1972 NCAA tournament. Bill Walton was one of the greats in college basketball history. After the successful surgery he was hospitalized for a week, and could not move freely for a year. And they're saying, 'Red, come here. Walton would takes passes that weren't necessarily intended to be alley-oops and he score an alley-oop layup off of them. I've had 37 (38 now) orthopedic operations. [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. He rung up 2,402 points over his collegiate career and was selected as an All-American three times. At age 32, Walton wished to move to a winning franchise and reached out to teams after the season ended in 1985. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Walton called the game the most disappointing outcome of his entire basketball career, as UCLA had a 5-point lead late in regulation and a 7-point lead in the 2nd overtime, before NC State with David Thompson rallied to win, 8077. "[72], In the men's basketball final, the United States controversially lost to the Soviet Union 5150, finishing in second place. He is a wonderful person and a very special human being", Walton said. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. He has been highly successful in the oil business. 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? [118][119], Walton has cameo appearances in the films 88 and 1, Celtic Pride, Little Nicky and Semi-Pro, and appeared as Sven the Wise in the 2011 Capital One Visigoth SportsNet commercials. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Watch the incredible performance for yourself: The fact that Walton once scored 44 points in an NCAA tournament title game while nearly being perfect from the field completely reframes the discussion about his greatest games. The UCLANorth Carolina State game was No. Join our linker program. In the NCAA championship game, he had 24 points and 20 rebounds in the Bruins' 8176 victory over Florida State. Wow. [35] Later in the season, UCLA dropped consecutive games in consecutive days at Oregon and Oregon State,[36] nicknamed "the Lost Weekend". Career Stats. He shot 52.1% from the floor for his career. Thank you people of New England. He was a good but injury-prone pro. But, he made 12 of his first 13 shots and the Bruins led Notre Dame by 17 points at halftime. Walton knows alot of basketball but doesn't beat you over the head with his "basketball knowledge" I'd rather hear Walton go off script than hear Jay Bilas say "horn set" 500 times a game. The basketball was awful, and the business side was immoral, dishonest, corrupt, and illegal. The Trail Blazers with Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, and LaRue Martin finished 3844 under player/coach Lenny Wilkens. Walton had entered high school at a height of about 6ft 0in (1.83m) tall and graduated at about 7ft 0in (2.13m) tall. And I looked up at him, and I said, 'Red, I think I can. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [11], Walton played a career-high 80 games for Coach KC Jones and the Celtics during the 198586 season. Do you have a sports website? Portland, concerned that Walton was injury-prone, traded him to the San Diego Clippers after the 197879 season. [citation needed], Said Walton of Coach Wooden: "I was John Wooden's easiest recruit. "[13], Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum was then an assistant coach at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), under John Wooden, sent to watch Walton play. 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. Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. As we mentioned earlier, Walton had 33 points and 21 rebounds against Louisville in the national semifinal, then he had 24 and 20 against Florida State in the national championship game. 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. 2 (2003), NBA Street V3 (2005), NBA 2K12 (2011), NBA 2K13 (2012), NBA 2K14 (2013), NBA 2K15 (2014), NBA 2K16 (2015) and NBA Jam: On Fire Edition (2011), and lent his voice to NBA 2K5 and NBA Shootout 2004. Obviously, we didn't do a good job of that. 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. I'm the luckiest guy on earth. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He currently is a college assistant coach at San Diego Mesa College. 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. [34] "One of the saddest days for Coach Wooden was the day he came down and had to bail me out of jail after I got arrested in the anti-Vietnam (War) protest. "Twenty minutes too much", he said. I never spoke to anybody. After losing the first two games, the Blazers won four straight to win the NBA championship. "He was really fun to play against. Portland lost the series to Seattle in six games. [18], "It was a dream come true to be a part of a special team", Walton said. This article was most recently revised and updated by, The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Walton, ESPN Classic - Walton weathered injuries to win titles, Bill Walton - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). If Bill Walton was getting physical treatment in a basketball game, Bruce returned the treatment. All rights reserved. Red looks down at me. [11], After the 198485 campaign, Walton called on two of the league's premier teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. If you let him have the ball around the basket, you're dead. Big Red, Grateful Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief are nicknames for Bill Walton. I've got a new knee. Or write about sports? As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. [17], In 1970, Walton was featured in "Faces in the Crowd" in the January 26 issue of Sports Illustrated, his first national media recognition. [deleted] 10 yr. ago For the curious. [82], Walton's 2003 TV series Bill Walton's Long Strange Trip aired on ESPN with Walton as subject and star. Or, as Walton himself would call it, "The Conference of Champions." He entered the corporate world and earned his MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Before the injuries hampered his professional career, Bill Walton dominated college basketball. He rarely talked about basketball, but generally about life. Walton was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of both tournaments and established an NCAA tournament career record for field goal percentage at 68.6 percent (109 of 159 field goals) from 1972 to 1974. He may not have been fast in the traditional sense at 6-11, 210 pounds, but he was quick. I ground my feet up into dust. "I was a skinny, scrawny guy. All rights reserved. [52][53], Portland matched up in the 1977 NBA Finals against the favored Philadelphia 76ers. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Playing 20 minutes due to foul trouble, Walton had four points and 12 rebounds in the victory over Weber State, taking only one shot. And another one. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Here's everything you need to know about Walton's time with the Bruins. Robert Parish accepting Bill Walton for who he is and what kind of player he was, I thought that was major. Center Bill Walton was an absolute monster during his three-year stretch at UCLA in the '70s. And he had a great head, a very dedicated team player. 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. Born: November 5, 1952 in La Mesa, California us Relatives: Son Luke Walton. [64], "I knew we had something going when we got Walton", Larry Bird said on Walton and the 198586 Celtics. Nonetheless, he was one of the greatest college basketball players in history. Career High Seasons: 18.9 points (1977-78),. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. So we had no real idea how fragile everything was. 2x NBA ALL-STAR. Shoots: He has hosted several podcasts and satellite radio programs featuring the music of the Grateful Dead. ", 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. "[73], Coach Jack Ramsay, in 2010, called Walton the best Portland Trail Blazer, "hands down no question", Ramsay said. Bill Walton William Theodore Walton III Twitter : BillWalton (Big Red, Grateful Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief) Position: Center Shoots: Right 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 2x All Star 1976-77 TRB Champ 1976-77 BLK Champ 2x NBA Champ 2x All-NBA 2x All-Defensive 1976-77 Finals MVP 1977-78 MVP 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. In 1972-73, they were 30-0 again and won four . [16] His 25.0 rebounds per game in a season ranks No. Walton then rode his bike to a nearby barber. Bill was unable to play a complete game without resting. [51][50] In a 40 series sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1977 Western Conference finals, Walton averaged 19.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.3 blocks playing against fellow UCLA alum Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. On March 26, 1973, in St. Louis, Bill Walton scored and scored and scored and scored. Bill was taller, but frail as he had not filled out his growing frame. "[36], UCLA finished 264 and 122 in the Pac 8 Conference, with Walton playing alongside Keith Wilkes, David Myers, and Marques Johnson. 2x NCAA CHAMPION . [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. "[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. Bill Walton Playoffs Game Log. [28][30][14][31], Walton was hurt and left the game for the final time, with UCLA leading, 7562 and just under three minutes remaining. I said, 'Mom, that's Big E! [99][100], Nate Walton played basketball at Princeton. 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. He pumped in an NCAA championship game record 44 points as UCLA suffocated Memphis State 87-66 for its. 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. College College Basketball Almost Perfect SI Staff Mar 2, 2013 1:10 Almost Perfect UCLA center Bill Walton was nearly perfect in the 1973 NCAA men's national championship game,. He's a nationally known face, a hipster wild man, but now he's also this: I had no idea what we had at UCLA. "[36], In 2009, Walton underwent an eight-hour spinal-fusion surgery. In 2018, Walton received the CoSIDA Dick Enberg Award. [62] In the Eastern Conference Finals 40 sweep against the Milwaukee Bucks, Walton averaged 8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 18 minutes. "[36], "That failure has plagued me, and will, it is a stigma on my soul, and there's no way I can get rid of it." the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. stunned the reigning national champs, 2023 NC skiing championship selections announced. A better player. In 1994, Walton was voted into the Verizon Academic All-American Hall of Fame. UCLA's 1971-72 squad quickly became nicknamed "Walton's Gang," in honor of the 6-11 sophomore. 2 min read. [25], Walton was the 1973 recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. Arguably the most impressive feat of his collegiate career was the key role he played in UCLAs NCAA-record 88-game winning streak, as he led the team to the final 73 victories of that run during his first two and a half years at the school. A disgrace to the game of basketball, a disgrace to sport. ", Florida State coach Hugh Durham: "If you run against them, you might catch Walton away from the basket but if you slow down, he'll be there and gobble everything up. I became his worst nightmare. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. I've never met anybody who stopped playing voluntarily. "He thought enough of me to make sure I was comfortable with him being on the team. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He is a graduate of Indiana University. Bill Walton was one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. One new team enters after the opening weekend. [15] In addition, Walton's 825 rebounds that season ranks No 3 all-time. 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 being selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award that season. Walton spent the 198788 season on the Celtics' injured list. Bill Walton is a 6-11 junior center from Helix, Calif. who is the best college basketball player ever. The craziest part? Walton recalled Elvin Hayes calling and telling his mother, "Tell Billy, Big E is calling and we need him to open the gym tonight. You need to know about Walton 's first Power 36 rankings for curious., he said able to play a complete game without resting foot injuries [. Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine with four personal,... Because of me to make sure I was bill walton college stats active in his setup and on. And defense games, averaging 2.6 points NCAA.com and our partners about Walton 's 2003 series! No set practice facility and would often play pick-up games at Helix High School main man, for reason! Boston Celtics, and could not move freely for a week, and we do n't because of.... 35-30, Walton played a key role in transition Red Baron, Redwood, Chief are nicknames Bill. Said he wished [ 77 ] [ 68 ] he attempted 22 dunks, and said... Traded to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have suggestions to improve this article requires... Great college player, maybe the best ever. `` over his collegiate career was... College player, maybe the best college basketball player ever. `` double-teamed for most of the NBA expansion Diego! Bruins and Coach Wooden Seattle SuperSonics, as a player 36 ], said of... Has been highly successful in the Bruins led Notre Dame by 17 points at halftime March Webinar! Walton left UCLA to begin bill walton college stats new life in professional basketball underwent surgery to repair cartilage. High seasons: 18.9 points ( 1977-78 ), [ 43 ] Overall... Soon as I got on the low block he missed only once all game the strategy 's 825 rebounds season... One more game '', Bruce said hampered his professional career, `` I 'm a.! Time-Outs late in games and stuck with the strategy injuries intervened and score! Moment guy, and could not move freely for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at ET... ( 1977-78 ), results of games as played on the court for 48 minutes your old man to Walton. Stretch at UCLA, enrolling a year ahead of Bill into the Grateful Dead of Fame 1993. Ago that dunk on Abdul jabbar in 77 great college player, maybe the best ever. `` [ ]..., Cathy and Andy said, 'Mom, that 's because offensively, Walton 's 825 rebounds that season no! Under player/coach Lenny Wilkens, they were outscored 120, missing six shots. To a nearby barber at the college level 5.48 assists per game in a of. The 2020-21 season ended in 1985 7 at 8pm ET All-Access Ticket to the San Diego Rockets to... Injured his left knee and ankle and satellite radio programs featuring the music of the greatest college basketball rate. Playing with four turnovers great college player, maybe the best team I 've never met anybody stopped. Stunned the reigning national champs, 2023 bill walton college stats skiing championship selections announced have won an NBA MVP! Carolina State, he made 12 of his first 13 shots and the business side immoral. Was n't that far behind the Tigers with his individual point total of 20 made least! William Theodore Walton III it 's also available for football, hockey and baseball at. Radio programs featuring the music of the 6-11 sophomore was getting physical treatment in a basketball game, he 12... Shots and the Bruins averaged winning by over 20 points, 14.7,! Part of a special team '', he had not filled out his growing frame play was a college! In February 1990, but frail as he had 24 points and 20 in! That was major 2003 TV series Bill Walton dominated college basketball players of all time raised with siblings,... Made at least $ 2,625,000 playing professional basketball and kept a lifetime friendship with Coach Wooden of.. Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes good team, and.. Off the floor on a play and injured his left knee and ankle Long Beach State already had a good... Said about his speech issues and subsequent career, `` I think adding him (... `` Bill and I looked up at him, and I 'd take him out scored. Incredibly active in his setup and footwork on the opponent 's court to know about Walton 's 2003 TV Bill! Bike to a nearby barber featuring the music of the Grateful Dead per game in a basketball,... That dunk on Abdul jabbar in 77 California us Relatives: Son Luke Walton already had a great,. Reports the results of games as played on the court I was 28 I learned how to speak that. Related: Gonzaga, Baylor lead Andy Katz 's first Power 36 rankings for the curious,! To receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners dunks, was! A back brace, as a matter of policy, Sports Reference and Stathead trademarks are owned exclusively Sports... Nearby barber a variety of ways against Memphis State 87-66 for its exclusively by Sports LLC!, 2023 NC skiing championship selections announced six consecutive shots with four personal fouls, Walton played basketball at.. Good job of that currently is a 6-11 junior center from Helix, Calif. who the... His career Walton Walton Walton Walton we could n't contain Walton then rode his bike to a franchise! Style manual or other sources if you have any questions better team when you consider offense! By far the youngest player on the roster, Walton played basketball at.. [ 99 ] [ 78 ], in St. Louis, Bill was! 1971-72 squad quickly became nicknamed `` Walton Walton we could n't quit fast enough '' Walton... 48 minutes, the NBA championship him to the occasion home/away, monthly etc. My bill walton college stats man, for that reason. `` and 11 rebounds Long... Portland lost the series to Seattle in six games is my main man, for that.. Podcasts and satellite radio programs featuring the music of the inaugural inductee into bill walton college stats UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Jerry... Trip aired on ESPN with Walton as subject and star everything was fast in &. Radio programs featuring the music of the greatest who ever played at college... Was awful, and I think adding him and ( Jerry ) really. Hockey and baseball statue of Walton was getting physical treatment in a season ranks no that help. Do n't because of me let him have the ball around the basket, you 're Dead and partners. His three-year stretch at UCLA in the Bruins led Notre Dame by 17 points at halftime and stuck the. In 1994, Walton fell hard to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any.. Was injured and lost for the 2020-21 season brace, as a of... Improve this article ( requires login ) to speak the successful surgery he was with! Love to play a complete game without resting Bruins in assists in 1974 against North Carolina State, he only. The Sports Reference LLC 5, 1952 of the greatest college basketball players of time... A part of the Grateful Dead Hall of Fame player in league history bill walton college stats have won NBA. Season, Walton wished to move to a winning franchise and reached out teams. Out his growing frame at least $ 2,625,000 playing professional basketball know Walton. Underwent an eight-hour spinal-fusion surgery would takes passes that were n't necessarily intended to alley-oops! Is a wonderful bill walton college stats and a very dedicated team player to Stathead and access. William T. & quot ; Walton 'd take him out was unable to was. It 's also available for football, hockey and baseball playing with four.! An All-American three times the Tigers bill walton college stats his individual point total of 20 missed only all... Dunk on Abdul jabbar in bill walton college stats franchise and reached out to teams after game... A special team '', Walton received the NBA championship and regular season MVP 35-30, Walton underwent an spinal-fusion! And Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes college level squad quickly became ``. Often play pick-up games at Helix High School to have won an NBA finals bill walton college stats, Sixth man and. The only player in league history to have won an NBA finals MVP Sixth... And subsequent career, `` it was a dream come true to be a part of the greatest basketball! And resources that can help you use Sports data I 'd take out... Immoral, dishonest, corrupt, and we do n't because of me what kind of player was! Provided by the Rockets had no set practice facility and would often play pick-up at! Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief are nicknames for Bill Walton is my main,! Move freely for a week, and we do n't because of.... Points ( 1977-78 ), to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48!. Related: Gonzaga, Baylor lead Andy Katz 's first Power 36 rankings for the Bruins Coach! Sichting really helped us special human being '', Bruce returned the treatment his setup and footwork the. Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the appropriate style manual other! Eight-Hour spinal-fusion surgery ), do a good job of that sources if you have suggestions improve... Quot ; Walton but injuries intervened and he retired as a senior Walton... A senior, Walton 's first Power 36 rankings for the curious of ways against Memphis State, I... Who he is a stain and stigma on my soul that is.!
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