13.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 10.5 RPG, 2.2 BLKS, 52 FG%, 66 FT%
“Though remembered by many for a career plagued by injuries and a personal life spiced by controversy, Bill Walton won high praise from players and coaches alike during his checkered career. During his prime as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers in the mid-1970s — a prime that lasted a mere three years — Walton drew comparisons to such players as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell.
“Bill Russell was a great shotblocker. Wilt Chamberlain was a great offensive player,” Dr. Jack Ramsay, Walton’s coach in Portland, told Sport magazine. “But Walton can do it all.”
After achieving superstardom playing for John Wooden’s powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early ’70s and winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, Walton was destined to become an NBA legend. When he was healthy, Walton had few peers.
He won the NBA Most Valuable Player award while playing for the defending NBA champion Trail Blazers in 1977-78. At the top of his form, Walton scored, passed, intimidated, hustled, and played the role of leader with the best centers of his day. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play.” [Read]
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[Sources: NBA.com, YouTube, Basketball-Reference.com]
October 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
God he was ugly… looks like the guy from the movie “Mask.”
I talk to the old guys every Sunday morning when we ball, and they all tell me how Walton was truly one of the best big men ever. Much of the credit is due to John Wooden–I think either Walton or Kareem said if they put their respective UCLA teams on the floor right now, all of the guys would know what to do. They were that well-prepared. I think Walton benefited from Wooden–Wooden never cared about defense (he said D is all about heart and can’t be taught), he was all about scoring, scoring, scoring.
Some people say there was never a more skilled big man than Walton. Shame his body gave out on him. Pretty crazy though how he won a title in only his third year in the league. He averaged 19 points, 14 boards, 4 assists and 3 blocks per game that season. NUTS!
December 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
ewwwwwwwwwwwww