Bill Walton

William Theodore Walton III (November 5, 1952 – May 27, 2024) was an American professional basketball player and television sportscaster. He was born in La Mesa, California.

Walton played college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he won three national college player of the year awards, and led UCLA to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973. 

Professionally, Walton played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics.  He led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977, and won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. The following season, Walton was the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He won a championship with the Celtics in 1986.  His professional career lasted from 1974 until 1988.

Walton was a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. After his playing career, he became a successful sportscaster. In 2001, Walton received an Emmy Award for "Best Live Sports Television Broadcast".

Walton died from colon cancer at his home in San Diego, California on May 27, 2024, at the age of 71.

References

Other websites


 Walton's historical profile on NBA.com



Category:1952 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer
Category:Portland Trail Blazers players
Category:Los Angeles Clippers players
Category:Boston Celtics players
Category:American sports commentators
Category:Sportspeople from San Diego
Category:People from San Diego
Category:American Emmy Award winners
Category:Television personalities from California
Category:American radio personalities
Category:Cancer deaths in San Diego County