William Theodore Walton III Dies
Hall of Fame basketball player was 71
Walton was a two-time national champion at UCLA
William Theodore Walton III, known to most as Bill Walton, died Monday at the age of 71. Walton was a 6-foot-11 center who played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, San Diego Clippers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Walton was born in La Mesa, California, on November 5, 1952. He played college basketball at UCLA, where he helped the Bruins win two national championships in 1972 and 1973. Walton was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in 1974.
Walton was drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1974 NBA Draft. He played for the Trail Blazers for six seasons, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 1977. Walton was traded to the Boston Celtics in 1980, and he helped the Celtics win the NBA championship in 1981 and 1984.
Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
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