![]() ![]() Bill also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Law in the early 1980's.īill’s professional career began when he was the number one overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. At UCLA Bill was a scholar-athlete who also earned Academic All-American honors three years in a row. Bill was named to the Pacific 8 All-Conference first team three times and was conference player of the year for three consecutive years. He is a three-time All-American College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. In 1972, ’73, and ’74 Bill was named NCAA Player of the Year Award. He was a member of two NCAA championship teams compiling an NCAA record 88 consecutive game winning streak. He played center for John Wooden's varsity team for three seasons (1972-1974), after a year with the freshman team in 1971. Senior Men’s National Basketball Team and play in the World Championship and/or Olympics.īill enrolled at UCLA in 1970. While at Helix, Bill became the first and only high school player to ever make the U.S.A. He then attended Helix High School, where his team won the California Interscholastic Federation High School title two years in a row, while winning their final 49 consecutive games. Through it all, Bill’s determination and positive attitude carried him through.īill is an authentic and true original who personifies greatness and is one of the most compassionate figures in sports with an extraordinary record of giving back through his work with numerous charities and non-profits.īill was introduced to the game of basketball while in the fourth grade at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School. And then, in 2008, Bill endured risky back surgery to repair damage done early in his basketball career. After basketball, he pursued his dream job as a sports broadcaster – but first had to overcome the lifelong stuttering affliction. Bill never forgot those words which helped him throughout his extraordinary career.įollowing a celebrated college basketball career, Bill went on to have a Hall of Fame NBA career. No lesson was more important than the words from the legendary John Wooden, Bill’s basketball coach at UCLA, who simply said “Do your best.” Wooden never asked players to go out and win – simply to do their best and not beat themselves. The lessons he learned on the basketball court became life lessons that served him well throughout his sports, broadcasting and business careers. His autobiography, Back from the Dead, was a New York Times bestseller and he is perhaps the best-known Deadhead, having seen over 1,000 shows.Īs entertaining as he is insightful, Bill is widely considered one of the best speakers from the world of sports. Bill Walton has led a life of humility in service of inspiring others. After his playing career, Bill pursued broadcasting he currently covers Pac-12 games for ESPN and the Pac-12 Network. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and the NBA named him to the “50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time” (1997) and “75 Greatest Players in NBA History” (2021) lists. Armed with grit and a positive outlook, Bill improbably overcame it all. And a foot disorder led to 39 surgeries on his feet, legs, and back – keeping him sidelined over half of his NBA career. He stuttered so badly he couldn’t say a simple “thank you” until he was 28 years old. But Bill’s nightmarish challenges off the court are less known. ![]() ![]() His success on the court is well-documented the nation’s top college basketball star at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden, he then played for two NBA Championship teams – the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics. Basketball legend Bill Walton is one of sports’ most recognizable and beloved figures. ![]()
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