American · La Mesa, California, USA · Born 5 November 1952 · Died 2024-05-27Hall of Fame center who won an NBA championship and Finals MVP with Portland in 1977 and a second title with Boston in 1986, after a legendary UCLA career under John Wooden.
William Theodore Walton III was born on 5 November 1952 in La Mesa, California. He starred at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden, leading the Bruins to consecutive undefeated national championships in 1972 and 1973 as part of college basketball's famous 88-game winning streak, and was named national player of the year three consecutive seasons from 1972 to 1974, including a legendary 44-point, 21-of-22 shooting performance in the 1973 title game. Drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1974, Walton's career was shaped as much by his extraordinary skill as by chronic foot and leg injuries that dated back to high school. Despite the physical toll, he led Portland to its first NBA championship in 1977, winning Finals MVP, and followed it with the regular-season MVP award in 1978, helping redefine the center position with his passing, shooting touch and defensive instincts. Injuries limited Walton to just 44 percent of possible regular-season games across his 13-year career, including five seasons lost almost entirely to foot problems, and led to stints with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers before he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 1985. There, playing behind Robert Parish and alongside Larry Bird, Walton won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award and a second championship in 1986, a title he considered one of the most gratifying moments of his career. Walton retired in 1987 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, later being named to both the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He went on to a celebrated second career as a broadcaster, becoming one of the sport's most beloved and enthusiastic television personalities. Walton died on 27 May 2024 at age 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Winning NBA championships with both Portland and Boston, and redefining the center position with his passing and skill
How They Played
Skilled passing big man with an excellent outlet pass and jump hook shot with either hand
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded as one of the most gifted big men in basketball history, whose career was defined by both brilliance and injury
Career Honours
- NBA Champion 1977 (Portland Trail Blazers)
- NBA Finals MVP 1977
- NBA Most Valuable Player 1978
- NBA Champion 1986 (Boston Celtics)
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year 1986
- 2x NBA All-Star
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1993
- NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
- 2x NCAA Champion 1972, 1973 (UCLA)
- 3x National College Player of the Year 1972-1974
- 3x Consensus first-team All-American
- 2x Final Four Most Outstanding Player
American Athletes