Bill Walton dies at 71, cause of death is cancer
Bill Walton, a two-time NBA champion, NBA Hall of Famer, and long-time sportscaster, died on Monday, May 27, following a long battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.
More than his nearly 7-foot height, Walton was an NBA on-court icon, winning two championships and being elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame. His influence went outside the court as well. Walton was recognized for his colorful personality, which defied traditional standards and brought him great satisfaction. He was profoundly committed to the causes he cared about the most.
He was the NBA MVP in 1977-78, finished sixth in the league in 1985-86, and was a member of the 50th and 75th anniversary teams. After his playing career, Walton met a new generation through basketball. Known as a fan favorite broadcaster, he is known for his great sense of humor, limitless excitement, and contagious love of the game. In addition, he remained outspoken on social, political, and environmental concerns, similar to an NBA student.
Walton’s most notable game was the 1973 NCAA championship game versus Memphis, in which he scored 21 out of 22 from the field, bringing UCLA to another national championship.
When Walton retired from the NBA, he pursued a career in broadcasting, something he had never imagined he could thrive at – and one that he occasionally considered, given his lifelong difficulties with stuttering.
Walton was an Emmy winner who was eventually voted one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association. His memoir, “Back from the Dead,” also made the New York Times bestseller list. The book tells the account of a devastating back injury he sustained in 2008, when he considered suicide due to the constant pain, and how he spent several years recovering from it.
“It’s a legend lost when you talk about basketball ,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said
