NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, Dead at 71

Emmy-winning sports broadcaster and former UCLA player Bill Walton has died. He was 71. The NBA announced his passing through commissioner Adam Silver. “Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” he said in a statement. “Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans.

Walton played for the UCLA Bruins, leading them to the NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973. The team had an 88-game winning streak in those years. Walton was first overall pick in the 1974 draft, going to the Portland Trail Blazers. He also played for the Celtics, for San Diego, and for the LA Clippers. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Walton transitioned to sportscasting after his NBA career, winning an Emmy in 1991. After 12 years at NBC, he joined ESPN in 2002. The American Sportscasters association named him one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time in 2009.

“But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life,” Silver’s statement continued. “He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”