Date of Birth: November 5, 1952
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Date of Death: *Not applicable*
Biography
William Theodore “Bill” Walton III, born on November 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California, is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. Standing 6 feet 11 inches tall, Walton is widely regarded as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and had a significant impact in the NBA despite a career marred by injuries. Walton attended Helix High School in La Mesa and later starred at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden. He led the Bruins to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973 and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player both times. Walton was also a three-time National College Player of the Year (1972-1974). He was selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Walton’s professional career highlights include leading the Blazers to their first and only NBA Championship in 1977 and earning the NBA Finals MVP award. He also won another NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 1986 and was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year that same season. After retiring from playing due to chronic foot injuries, Walton transitioned to a successful career in broadcasting. He has worked as a commentator for various networks, including CBS, NBC, and ESPN, and is known for his enthusiastic and sometimes eccentric commentary style.
5 Interesting Facts about Bill Walton
1. Bill Walton was part of the longest winning streak in college basketball history, with UCLA winning 88 consecutive games.
2. Walton is a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
3. He underwent more than 30 surgeries during and after his playing career.
4. Walton is a passionate advocate for environmental and social causes.
5. He is known for his love of the Grateful Dead and has attended over 800 of their concerts.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bill Walton
1. “Life is about growth. People are not perfect when they’re 21 years old.”
2. “I had the only beard in the Western Hemisphere that made Bob Dylan’s look good.”
3. “I was a skinny, scrawny guy. I had no business being in the NBA.”
4. “A good player knows where he’s going, a great player knows where everyone is going.”
5. “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Bill Walton’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.
Children
Bill Walton has four sons: Adam, Nathan, Luke, and Christopher. His son Luke Walton is a former NBA player and current coach.
Relevant Links
2. [Bill Walton’s UCLA Bio](https://uclabruins.com/sports/2013/4/17/208184670.aspx
3. [Bill Walton’s NBA Statistics](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/waltobi01.html
4. [Bill Walton’s ESPN Bio](http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=Walton-ESPNBio
5. [Bill Walton’s Official Website](http://billwalton.com/
