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Bill WaltonAmerican professional basketball player
Date of Birth: 05.11.1952
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Bill Walton was born and raised in La Mesa, California, to Gloria Anne (née Hickey) and William Theodore "Ted" Walton. Walton grew up with siblings Bruce, Cathy, and Andy. His father, Ted, was a music teacher and social worker, while his mother, Gloria, was a librarian. His parents instilled in him a love for the arts, literature, politics, and music. Walton took music lessons and, although his parents were not particularly sports-oriented, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother Bruce, who excelled in athletics.
Walton first played basketball under the tutelage of Frank "Rocky" Graziano, a coach at Walton's Catholic grammar school.
High School Career
Walton played basketball for Helix High School in La Mesa alongside his older brother Bruce, who was 6'6" (1.98 m) tall and 250 lb. (113 kg). "When opponents used physicality against me, Bruce did everything he could to protect me," Walton recalled.
Walton led Helix to a 49-game winning streak over two varsity seasons. Helix won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship in 1969 and 1970, compiling a 29-2 record in 1968-69 and a perfect 33-0 in 1969-70. Walton entered high school at about 6'0" (1.83 m) tall and graduated at about 7'0" (2.13 m).
In his senior season, Walton averaged 29 points and 25 rebounds, and Helix finished with a 33-0 record. His professional basketball height was listed as 6'11" (2.11 m). Walton has been reported to be taller in reality (7'2" (2.18 m) or more), but he dislikes being categorized as a seven-footer. In 1969-70, Walton made 384 of 490 shots, a 78.3 percent shooting percentage, which still stands as the national all-time record. Walton also had 825 rebounds that season, 3rd most rebounds by any player. His 25.0 rebounds per game that season ranks 7th in history.
College Career
From junior high school and throughout high school, Walton avidly followed the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team on the radio. He received scholarship offers from numerous colleges but immediately accepted UCLA's offer to play basketball for the Bruins and Coach Wooden. Wooden would become a lifelong mentor to Walton.
Walton played for UCLA under Coach Wooden from 1971 to 1974. His older brother Bruce had played football at UCLA, arriving one year before Bill. With Bill Walton at center, the Bruins went 30-0 two seasons in a row and won a then-NCAA men's basketball record 88 straight games. With Walton, UCLA won the NCAA championship in 1972, defeating the Florida State Seminoles, and again in 1973, defeating the Memphis Tigers, 87-66.
NBA Career
Walton played in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers (1974-1979), San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1979-1985), and Boston Celtics (1985-1988). He was a two-time NBA champion (1977, 1986), the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1978, a two-time All-NBA selection (First Team in 1978, Second Team in 1977), and a two-time NBA All-Star (1977-1978). He also won numerous awards, including the Naismith Award (1972-1974), the Oscar Robertson Trophy (1972-1974), and the Adolph Rupp Trophy (1972-1974), and was named college basketball player of the year by UPI (1972-1974), Sporting News (1972-1974), the Associated Press (1972-1973), and the Helms Foundation (1972-1973). He was a three-time first-team All-American (1972-1974). In 1996, he was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of All Time. He is the only player in NBA history to win all three of the NBA's major awards: NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (1977), NBA Most Valuable Player (1978), and NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1986).
In 1970, Walton represented the United States at the FIBA World Championship in Yugoslavia, where the team finished fifth.
Personal Life
Walton has resided in his hometown of San Diego with his wife, Lori (m. 1991). He and his first wife, Susie, have four sons: Adam, Nathan, Luke, and Chris.
Luke Walton is a two-time NBA champion (2009, 2010) and the former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers (2016-2019) and Sacramento Kings (2019-present). After Luke won two NBA championships as a player with the Lakers, he and his father, Bill, became just the third father-son duo to both be NBA champions. Luke was named after Walton's friend and former teammate Maurice Lucas. "Maurice was a very important part of my life and Little Luke's life," Walton said. "Whenever there was an important moment in Little Luke's life, Big Luke would show up unannounced to make sure it went right."
Chris Walton played basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs. He is a real estate developer.
Nate Walton played basketball for the Princeton Tigers. He has had a successful career in the oil business.
Adam Walton played college basketball for Louisiana State University, Pomona College, and Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. He is currently an assistant coach at San Diego Mesa College.
