Legendary basketball player and NBA hall of famer Bill Walton recently passed away on Monday, May 27, 2024, find out more about him and his net worth and career below
During his time as a player, Walton was considered a hippy in a basketball community with his long hair, tie-dye shirts, and funny sayings.
Bill Walton cause of death, net worth, bio, age, height, wife and basketball career stats
Notably, Bill Walton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993 and was well known for having a bright personality.
Cause of death
According to reports, Bill Walton passed away after a long battle with cancer on May 27, 2024.
Bill Walton net worth
According to various sources, Bill Walton had an estimated net worth of over $20 million during the time of his death.
Bill Walton bio
William Theodore Walton III was a former American professional basketball player who was born on November 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California, United States. As a young child, Walton wasn’t just any average jock but had an interest in music, art, and literature. Aside from being a former player, he also worked as a television sportscaster.
Age and height
Bill was 71 years old at the time of his death and stood at a height of 2.11 m.
Wife
Walton was married twice. He married his first wife, Susan Guth, in 1979, but eventually parted ways in 1989. The basketball legend then married Lori Matsuoka in 1991. He had four sons, one of whom, Luke, became a two-time NBA champion himself.
Bill Walton basketball career
Walton started out his basketball journey with his high school team, leading them to 49 straight wins and two championships. During his senior season, he averaged 29 points and 25 rebounds per game and set an all-time record of 78.3 percent shooting from the field. Bill Walton later played college basketball for UCLA, where he won two championships and averaged 20.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. He also won a National College Player of the Year award alongside an incredible 73-game winning streak.
Following a successful college career, the Portland Trail Blazers drafted him first as their overall pick in 1974. He suffered many setbacks, like lower body injuries and foot injuries. By the end of the end of the season, however, the 6’11” center had a breakthrough, averaging 18.6 points per game and finishing second in MVP voting. The following year, he was named the best player in the league after averaging 18.9 points per game and also helping his team win the NBA Finals.
Sadly, Walton missed the entire 1978–79 season and two of the next three seasons after that due to injuries. Walton later joined the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers before ending his career with the Boston Celtics. Throughout his career, he won two championships, two All-Star appearances, an MVP, and two All-Defensive first-team nods. He also had a season where he led the NBA in both rebounds and blocks.
Bill Walton post-retirement
Following his retirement from professional basketball in 1988, Walton worked as a broadcaster. Aside from his great basketball insight, Walton often went on tangents and rambling about non-basketball related things, which caught the attention of fans. He worked for several companies, like CBS, NBC, the Los Angeles Clippers, and ESPN.
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