Nothing But Net: Just Give Me the Ball and Get Out of the Way
by By Walton, Bill
Category: Sports & Recreation , Basketball

One of the most talented centers ever to play basketball, Bill Walton led the way to two NCAA championships at UCLA under Coach John Wooden. After being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the number one pick in the 1974 draft, Walton became one of the league's best players - and his shooting and rebounding records are still on the books. Winning the NBA championship with the Blazers in 1977, Walton was named MVP, and went on to join the 1986 championship Boston Celtics team, winning the NBA's Sixth Man Award.Now, in Nothing But Net, Bill Walton describes his colorful basketball career, recalling the highs and lows, the wins and the losses, that marked his time in the paint. From participating in UCLA antiwar protests, to the exciting Memphis State game in which he made 21 out of 22 shots; to why he chose not to play in the 1972 Olympics - it's all here, as well as the excitement of playing against top NBA adversaries Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J., and Michael Jordan, and the thrill of playing with Celtics teammates Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, and Kevin McHale.Walton delivers his opinions on coaches, players, and teams, and details his off-air activities as well, from helping coach Shaquille O'Neal, to going on the road with the Grateful Dead, to his thrilling induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Nothing But Net is a provocative account from someone who knows basketball on court as well as behind the camera, and whose love of the game comes through with every word.