18.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 47 FG%, 80 FT%
“Chet Walker always seemed to find himself in a behind-the-scenes role. As the “other guy” on an NBA champion Philadelphia 76ers team that starred Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer, Walker rarely, if ever, received top billing. And when he later pursued a career in Hollywood, Walker opted to become a producer and writer instead of an actor. But whether he was battling an opposing forward one-on-one or going head-to-head with show-business types, Walker more often than not came out on top.
During his 13-year NBA career with the Sixers and the Chicago Bulls in the 1960s and 1970s, Walker amassed 18,831 points and earned seven All-Star Team selections. Only twice did his scoring average dip below 15 points per game — a noteworthy achievement given that offensive opportunities in Philadelphia were rationed among future Hall of Famers Chamberlain, Greer and Billy Cunningham. And in Chicago they were shared with the formidable Bob Love.
“Chet the Jet” was among the best open-court forwards of his day. He particularly enjoyed drawing fouls and then taking his .796 free-throw form to the charity stripe. Walker played tenacious defense and proved remarkably durable. He never missed more than six games in any season, and he became one of the few players to appear in more than 1,000 games (1,032) for his career.
Walker’s teams made the playoffs every year, and he had identical career scoring averages of 18.2 points per game in both the regular season and the postseason. His impact was most evident in Chicago, where the Bulls reached the playoffs in each of Walker’s six seasons but not in the year before he arrived or the year after he left.
When he turned in his duffel bag for a briefcase in 1975, Walker discovered that he could have an impact in the entertainment business as well, even without the benefit of training. He went on to produce a number of television and feature films, and he even picked up an Emmy Award for his role in coproducing “A Mother’s Courage: The Mary Thomas Story,” a made-for-TV movie portraying the life and travails of Isiah Thomas’ mother.” [Read]
[Note: the video below chronicles Walker's 1967 championship season with the 76ers, including footage of Philly's Game 6 Finals victory over the Golden State Warriors. The 67' Sixers were ranked as one of the NBA's top ten teams of all-time in 1996.]
[Sources: NBA.com, YouTube, Basketball-Reference.com]
