![Bill Walton]()
Bill Walton stood at 6-foot-11, but his height only begins to describe how larger than life he was. Unfortunately, news broke on Monday that Walton passed away at age 71 after what the NBA called a "prolonged battle with cancer."
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1795143583202201834
https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1795140623239926129
It's surreal to make any reference to Walton in the past tense. Even more so because, unless I missed something, I don't recall Walton publicly disclosing his cancer diagnosis, nor was it reported on anywhere. That makes his death hit even harder — not dissimilar to when comedian
Norm Macdonald died in 2021.
Walton was always busy living life to the fullest. He doesn't strike me as the type of person who would dwell on such devastating news as being diagnosed with cancer. He clearly didn't, as he continued to build his legacy and inspire millions around the world with his broadcasting talent. In addition to having a tremendous college hoops career as a two-time national champion at UCLA under GOATed coach John Wooden, Walton was the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. He led the Portland Trail Blazers to a title in 1977, only to have his playing prime knocked off course by nagging foot injuries. Nevertheless, Walton found a way to reinvent himself, regain some of his form, and win another championship with the Celtics in 1986 as that season's Sixth Man of the Year.
Accomplishing all that on the hardwood wasn't enough for Walton. He stayed around the game and worked for many years as a broadcaster, winning an Emmy Award in 1991. Safe to say he was pretty damn good at it pretty quickly. Walton didn't mind going against the grain of conventional basketball analysis. His smooth, deliberate delivery and frequent tangential musings captivated those who tuned in no matter what game it was.
There are a lot of people grieving the loss of Walton today. All the best to his loved ones and family. One silver lining, however — in the spirit of how Walton carried himself and had such an enthusiasm for life — is that lots of the fans, media personalities and peers who followed him or worked with him over the years are paying tribute to his memory by celebrating some of his best moments. And of those there were many.
https://twitter.com/JuliusErving/status/1795155068657795203
https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1795151004733735400
https://twitter.com/Espngreeny/status/1795145070259171766
https://twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/1795146415884083581
https://twitter.com/JomboyMedia/status/1795143962686095817
https://twitter.com/PardonMyTake/status/1795141528433594702
https://twitter.com/lebatardshowfan/status/1795142519535104484
https://twitter.com/Steven_Hyden/status/1795144607115694134
https://twitter.com/jacobinfante24/status/1795142373741060542
https://twitter.com/PabloTorre/status/1795146603788894693
https://twitter.com/LeBatardShow/status/1795148113423831188
https://twitter.com/andrewstreeter_/status/1795144630960304248
https://twitter.com/KFCBarstool/status/1795149567249330419
https://twitter.com/ChrisVernonShow/status/1795148859343028577
https://twitter.com/Super70sSports/status/1795147978941837656
