Basketball Legend Bill Walton Dies at 71

Basketball legend Bill Walton has died. The Hall of Fame player and broadcaster had been battling cancer. He was 71.

Walton passed away on Monday [May 27] surrounded by love ones, his family said in a statement.

"Bill Walton was truly one of a kind," NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated.

Born on November 5, 1952 in La Mesa, California, Bill Walton played college basketball for UCLA under legendary coach, John Wooden. He was a three-time National Player of the Year at UCLA and guided the Bruins to back-to-back National Championships in 1972 and 1973. The 6'11" Walton was the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. During his professional career, he was the NBA MVP in the 1977-1978 season. He won two NBA Titles, one with the Portland Trailbazers in 1977, and again with the Boston Celtics in 1986. 

In 1993, Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and later was named a member of the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary teams.

After his playing career was over, Walton turned to broadcasting. His distinct voice and larger-than-life persona made him a fan favorite behind the mic. He inked a deal with ESPN and ABC in 2002 as an NBA analyst. He transitioned to college basketball in 2012, working for CBS and NBC. In 2009, He was named one of the Top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association.