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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Marvi

Lakers legends pay tribute to Bill Walton after his death

On Monday, the NBA world lost a giant figure when Bill Walton passed away at the age of 71 due to cancer.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he was a Hall of Fame center with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics. While his career was cut short by numerous foot injuries, he won NBA championships in 1977 and 1986.

Before that, he was a big part of the University of California, Los Angeles’ basketball dynasty under head coach John Wooden. While Walton was there, the team won an incredible 88 games in a row and back-to-back national titles. Those who were around back then still remember him going 21-of-22 and scoring 44 points in the 1973 national championship game against Memphis State University, which the Bruins won.

Multiple Lakers legends paid tribute to his memory, including fellow Bruins great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Magic Johnson talked about how Walton was ahead of his time with his skill set.

Walton not only had the ability to score, rebound and defend, but he was especially praised for his passing skills, both out of the low post and from the high post.

James Worthy reminisced about meeting Walton in 1982 and his relationship with the former Clipper.

Byron Scott, yet another member of those Showtime Lakers of the 1980s, sent good vibes to Walton’s survivors.

In 2016, Walton’s son Luke became the Lakers’ head coach after a stint as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors. Even though the younger Walton was fired in 2019, he coached LeBron James for one season.

James sent his best wishes to the elder Walton’s soul.

The elder Walton, of course, became a well-known broadcaster for many years after his playing career ended. While some found him annoying, he was very entertaining, and the fact he overcame a lifelong stuttering problem to be a longtime broadcaster was a major accomplishment.

The world is already a sadder place without him.

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