Basketball Hall of Famer and San Diego native Bill Walton died Monday following a prolonged battle with cancer, the NBA announced. He was 71.
Walton was a two-time national champion at UCLA where he was named national player of the year in each of his three seasons at UCLA. Playing for legendary coach John Wooden, Walton powered the Bruins to consecutive 30-0 seasons in 1972 and 1973.
He was the number one overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers and was a member of their championship team in 1977. He then won the title again with the Boston Celtics in 1986.
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The NBA All-Star was with the Clippers for their relocation from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1985.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force."
Walton was inducted in the Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1993.
NBA
The La Mesa-born Walton was first introduced to the game of basketball in the 4th grade at what is now St. Katharine Drexel Academy in the College Area. He then attended Mount Helix High School where his basketball reign continued before enrolling at UCLA.
Despite his time around the globe, Walton considered himself a lifelong San Diegan and had lived in a home near Balboa Park for more than 40 years.
"I love San Diego — this is the greatest place on Earth. It’s a welcoming city with dizzying possibilities and anything and everything that you could want," he told the California Now blog in 2020.
In recent years, Walton has been outspoken against Mayor Todd Gloria's handling of the homelessness crisis, speaking publicly at press conferences about the issue.
Walton was often spotted playing the drums with a local Grateful Dead cover band, the Electric Waste Band, which for a time had a scheduled rotation at Winston's in Ocean Beach.
His passion for San Diego was visible through his community outreach. He worked with the Lucky Duck Foundation, a charity organization that helps the unhoused.
"Bill Walton was larger than life and an extraordinarily selfless friend and leader. He cared deeply about helping those in need and gave generously of his time, talent and treasure. We are the luckiest people in the world that we got to call him a friend. There is no better San Diegan or friend than Bill Walton, and we will miss him dearly. We send our deepest and sincerest condolences to Lori and the entire Walton family," foundation co-founders Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny said in a written statement.
A life-sized bronze statue of Walton sits outside the entrance to Walton's gym, the Mission Valley YMCA. The statue has been there since 2018 and has possibly never meant more than it does now.
The statue will be a place people can remember Walton, who spent hours at this Y everyday, recovering from back surgery or just spending time in the pool.
Over the years, staff and other members got to know and love him.
"Bill was just a great guy. He’s one of a kind, truly unique and having to get to know him and met him several times, you're always entertained when you're with Bill Walton," said Dan Cruz, Director of Public Relations & Communications at the YMCA.
"He actually put in a special request for a custom shower head for tall people in our locker room, which we accommodated, so there's a little sign underneath it that says 'for tall people only,'" Cruz said. Walton was 6 foot, 11 inches.
If he wasn’t at the gym, he was often spotted riding around on his custom-made bike.
"His bike was huge. He always had a deadhead sticker on the front of it, so it was pretty interesting. He was a nice guy though, real nice man," said Tony Richardson, Mission Valley YMCA Swim Coach.
"He was a great humanitarian I think and he was great for San Diego, you know I was born and raised here, you know, and there's not a lot of people like that left," Richardson said.
When NBC 7 asked people around San Diego what they will miss the most about him, his success on the court is hardly mentioned.
"He was smart, he wasn't just a basketball guy, he was a community guy," said YMCA member Allison Rossett.
He was a community guy who wasn't afraid to make his opinions heard.
"I mean, he was very active on the issue of homelessness in our community too ... and I appreciated that because it’s a problem," Rossett added.
"Whether he was broadcasting basketball games nationwide or out speaking at various engagements or NBA functions, nobody loved San Diego more than Bill Walton, and it's really just a sad day," Cruz said.
The NBA said Walton was surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Lori and his four sons: Adam, Nathan, Luke and Chris.
