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Bill Walton

William Theodore Walton III (born November 5, 1952 in San Diego, California) is a former American basketball player and current television sportscaster.

Walton played college basketball at UCLA from 1970 to 1974, including the national title in 1973 in a win over Memphis State in which Walton scored 21 of 22 shots. Some regard it as the greatest offensive performance ever in American college basketball.

He went on to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA title in 1977. The following year, the Blazers went 50-10 in their first 60 games, leading the league, before Walton suffered a broken foot, which would turn out to be the first in a horrific string of foot and ankle injuries that cut short his career. He was nonetheless named the league MVP that season (1978).

After several seasons alternating between the court and the disabled list, both in Portland and with his hometown San Diego Clippers, he spent a considerable amount of money to buy himself out of his Clippers contract in 1985. He then called Jerry West, then general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, asking about the prospects of playing for the team. West responded that he couldn't risk signing Walton, given his injury history. Next, he called Boston Celtics GM Red Auerbach. At the urging of Larry Bird, who happened to be in Auerbach's office at the time of Walton's call, Auerbach signed Walton. Walton turned out to be an almost perfect added piece to the Celtics in their 1986 championship run, providing them with a reliable backup to Bird's fellow frontliners of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish . Walton would receive the NBA Sixth Man Award that season, becoming the only player to have won both the Sixth Man Award and MVP in his career.

However, he was again injured the following season. Walton attempted a comeback in 1990, but injury again intervened; he then permanently retired from the game. His ankle problems became so severe that several years later, he had to have both his ankles surgically fused.

As of 2003, Walton is a basketball television analyst for ESPN. His son Luke currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Walton was also a well-known fan of The Grateful Dead, attending numerous Dead concerts, and was even invited to play on-stage with the group on some occasions.


Last updated: 11-06-2004 16:41:37