The late Bill Walton holds up his UCLA #32 Jersey encased. Walton was one of the most famous UCLA players of all time which can also be shared with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Walton played for UCLA in 1972 and 1973 where he led the Bruins to two championships (photo from UCLA Bruins)

#1 Long time basketball analyst and former UCLA Bruins star in 1972 and 1973 Bill Walton passed away from cancer at age 71. Walton played in the NBA for the Portland Trailblazers, San Diego Clippers, and Boston Celtics from 1974-75 to 1986-87.

#2 He help lead UCLA to two NCAA Championship titles in the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons. He was one of the most famous Bruins of all time along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

#3 Walton is a charter member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 after playing in the NBA from 1974-75 to 1986-87.

#4 Former Philadelphia 76er Dr. J Julius Erving said of the passing of Walton, “I am sad today hearing that my comrade and one of the sports world’s most beloved champions and characters has passed,” Erving wrote on social media. “Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way. To compete against him and to work with him was a blessing in my life.”

#5 When you look at how carefree and how much fun it was to be around a guy like Bill Walton who after retiring from the NBA became a broadcaster and added more joy to the game as much as when he played the game it’s no wonder why everyone loved being around Bill Walton.

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