The injuries only killed his basketball playing career. But man he took off as a basketball broadcaster😊 you never knew where Walton's stories we're going to lead, you just knew in the end you were going to be laughing😂😂
I sure do. Bill is under recognized and should be much higher on the all time greats list. I followed him throughout his career, and I say with great confidence that Bill was the greatest center to ever play the game. His history of debilitating injuries is the only thing that keeps him for being recognized and praised for his incredible abilities. I believe he still holds the record for highest percent shots made from the field and did it in a pressure packed ncaa tournament game where he sank 21 of 22. Just incredible.
@@johnwaldrop3211 It was actually a bit surreal. My and a buddy had stopped in for coffee and to catch up. This was in the fall of '86. I didn't notice at first, but guys kept coming in and sitting down at this long table they put together. Next thing I realize, almost the entire Celtics team is sitting there... McHale, Ainge, DJ, Parish and coaches. I then remembered they played the Cavs that night and the pro teams always stayed at the Marriot right next door. So, we're just sitting there taking it in when I looked at the window past them and saw Bird and Walton walking across the parking lot. I told my buddy, let's go, and headed up to the front to pay the bill and timed it so we got there just as they were walking in. I did say to hi them and they said hello back. I asked who won and Bird just goes, "Hmph...we did ... of course"...classic. Don't know which one or if it was both but the place reeked of Ben Gay. We got out to the car and me and my buddy were like did that just happen.
Both great players! I loved watching the 1986 Celtics with Walton! DJ wasn't underrated, as he IS in the HoF, but I guess he was not the most famous or flashy point guards out there. He simply got the job done.
Unfortunately I never seen him at a Dead show. But he probably had better seats than me. I only saw the Dead play about 70x from 1987 to 1995. I seen about 20 or 30 shows after Jerry passed away but it just wasn't the same for me without Jerry. I mean I still loved Bobby & Phil & the rest but without Jerry it didn't pull me into going as much. In '94 I saw 14 shows in a row. IF YOU WANNA STAY ON THIS TEAM YOU PASS THE BALL TO ME!!! Larry Bird❤❤❤ What an awesome qoute! I remember seeing that game where he hit that shot from behind the backboard. Me & my friends started trying to make a similar shot but none of us could do it. He must have practiced that over & over to be able to hit that. That was EPIC!!! You know no one expected that to go in but he made it like it was no big deal. Priceless.
Met Bill Walton at the Purple Shamrock in Boston back when he was on the team. He was the most laid back and friendly guy. Asked him why he doesn't shoot more (Walton was a prolific scorer) and with that toothy grin said 'Larry'.
LB was the real deal, so much so; the NAACP invited LB to a luncheon. But they soon realized LB was not a brother but they quickly regrouped and treated him like a very light skin brother. 👍🏿
Bill Walton senior year in the NCAA Champuonship game! He was 21 of 22 from the field with 44 points! Then went to the Trail Blazers and won a Championship there also!
Reference: Bill was not referring to Jerry West when he was saying Jerry, he was referring to Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead who Bill would never shut up talking about especially when he was a color commentator.
Where did Walton think he was? Portland In 1976-77 with Dr. Jack Ramsay‘s offense and Walton dishing passes, making his teammates better and eight or nine players averaging in Double figures? Boy that would’ve been an interesting matchup, those Celtics versus the Blazers.… With Walton on both teams!😂
My friends and I used to walk right by Bill Walton's A-Frame down by the Willamette river on our way swimming. He's be sitting on his porch with some friends, chillin' and listening to the Grateful Dead. We'd wave at him and he would wave back. We didn't want to intrude on his privacy.... I wish the we would have at least asked them for autographs. What a cool guy with that awesome RED AFRO.
San Diego native In ’79, Bill was traded to the then San Diego Clippers, his hometown team, and missed more games than he played. His feet had him on the edge of retirement ( he blames his lack of play for their move to LA) When he convinced his Dr. to let him play in ‘85 for Boston, it like we adopted the Celtics as our own because of Bill. This town went nuts. He lived the life that he was chosen for. He love his hometown and we love him. Bill Walton was a San Diegan.
What a class act Walton was, think he could barely stand on his banged up feet. And , still contributed any way he could, today's players need to watch how the players back then didn't just jack up 3's, but play a more complete game
I ran into Bill a couple of years ago in San Diego. He was at the finish line of an athletic event for Challenged Athletes. He was cheering on all the kids finishing. Still has that great smile.
He had tendonitis in both knees from HS on And he was totally unselfish as a player. He Was a passer first, shooter second. And he Won two rings, 1) Portland in 1977 against Philadelphia with Dr. J, 2) Boston. So you Can't say he doesn't deserve being on the All NBA TEAM.he played for better than 10 Yrs. He turned pro in 74 or 75, his first team was the Clippers when they were in San Diego, after they moved from Buffalo. So Do your research before posting a comment. I want to see you play basketball with the Knees that he had. When he played st UCLA coach Wooden would take him out of the Game so he could go get in a tub of ice to Take the swelling down in his knees
DJ's 3 really did count. Also, Kylie Irvings 3 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals counted huge as well, the 3 point shot does have an impact, but not everyone is gonna make em
Lots of respect for Bill Walton. At NC State, there is a famous photo of David Thompson tipping the ball away from Bill Walton. Thompson was 6’-4” and Walton was a solid 6’-11”. NC State beat UCLA and ended their NCAA Championship string of victories if memory serves me.
The editing was a misquote. Bird respected and trusted DJ completely. bird actually said “you want to stay on the team [and the game is on the line] you pass it to me. If I’m covered you pass it to DJ. If Dj is completely covered and I’m completely covered… you pass to me!”
Bill Walton was amazing. Yes Larry Legend was arrogant. It was, earned. The guy was a legend. The whole Celtics team was amazing. I live how Bill describes Kevin McHale. He calls him Frankenstein. Hands that hung below his knees. Shouldn't have been possible for guy to exist like that. Then he laughs. I love Bill Waltin. His smile and laugh just make you love the game all over again. Then you watch them all play and you're just shocked, absolutely dumbfounded that those guys just walked out there and did that. See normally really big guys are a little awkward. These guys, they're not awkward at all!!! They're fast, agile, aggressive. Giants and we got to see it. Man what a time. And kids today think they've seen basketball. There's some good players. But I'll take my Celtics and Bulls and Lakers against any of these new guys.
To me, the top tier of NBA centers all time is The Magnificent Seven: Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, Malone, O'Neal, Olajuwon, Robinson, and Russell. If Walton had just had a normal amount of injuries, it would have to be a list of Eight. (Of course, it pretty much has to now anyway, because I need to add Jokic...)
I was a great fan of Bill's (and Kareem's) because of the UCLA connection ( I was an LA resident following them at UCLA). Then I moved to Portland and the TrailBlazers started, so I really watched Bill. I have never heard that Bill was 7'2", ever. MAYBE he was really 7', like a bit taller than 6'11" 1/2 or something. But in other words, maybe a half inch taller than he was listed, not 3+ inches taller.
Yes, you never heard that because it was never ever said. Just watch any Walton game and compare his height to 7 footers. e.g. Walton on the Celtics was taller than 7' Robert Parish, look at the team huddles.@@phillipschuman4307
Bill was a great player. High IQ, great passer, good shot blocker, good rebounder. The injuries killed his career.
well ... the drug use and following around the Grateful Dead didn't help either.
Neither did vegan diet.
I was never a Bill Walton fan but the man could play.
The injuries only killed his basketball playing career. But man he took off as a basketball broadcaster😊 you never knew where Walton's stories we're going to lead, you just knew in the end you were going to be laughing😂😂
He was a great rebounder and shot blocker.
RIP Bill. A golden voice of Basketball that will never be forgotten.
I don’t think people understand how incredibly good Bill Walton was. The guy was 6”11 and he was JACKED
I sure do. Bill is under recognized and should be much higher on the all time greats list. I followed him throughout his career, and I say with great confidence that Bill was the greatest center to ever play the game. His history of debilitating injuries is the only thing that keeps him for being recognized and praised for his incredible abilities. I believe he still holds the record for highest percent shots made from the field and did it in a pressure packed ncaa tournament game where he sank 21 of 22. Just incredible.
Greatest center to ever play the game 🙄yea right.
@@AliMuhammad-wg5mz I never said he was the greatest
@AliMuhammad-wg5mz he could have been but injuries killed his career
Loved the Celtics teams but will never forgive the fans the way they treated bill Russell
Bill Walton has to be one of the best storytellers ever!! College legend, Deadhead, and 80s Celtic.
"I love this guy's voice! I could listen to it all day!!" -Bill Walton
Yup! 😂
That’s classic! Well played sir.
I actually ran into both Walton and Bird together....at a Denny's in Cleveland of all places.
Did yall talk a second ?
it's bc all Denny's are a portal to another dimension.
@@johnwaldrop3211 It was actually a bit surreal. My and a buddy had stopped in for coffee and to catch up. This was in the fall of '86. I didn't notice at first, but guys kept coming in and sitting down at this long table they put together. Next thing I realize, almost the entire Celtics team is sitting there... McHale, Ainge, DJ, Parish and coaches. I then remembered they played the Cavs that night and the pro teams always stayed at the Marriot right next door. So, we're just sitting there taking it in when I looked at the window past them and saw Bird and Walton walking across the parking lot. I told my buddy, let's go, and headed up to the front to pay the bill and timed it so we got there just as they were walking in. I did say to hi them and they said hello back. I asked who won and Bird just goes, "Hmph...we did ... of course"...classic. Don't know which one or if it was both but the place reeked of Ben Gay. We got out to the car and me and my buddy were like did that just happen.
Nah bro. That's EXACTLY where you run into them.
Sounds like you hit a grandslam
imo Bill Walton is one of the greatest "what ifs" in NBA history.
I agree that Walton was a great player but I guess I don't understand the "what if" part.
He wasnt injured @@fritzthecat2634
Multiple championships when NBA was more than fake entertainment.
@@fritzthecat2634 what if he wasn't injured so often.
He had injuries that shortened his prime
MAN! I forgot Bill Walton was a Celtic! Love him!
Bird was always teasing Walton. Or would always make jokes referring to Bill. I think Larry actually loved Bill.
He was having a flashback from a Dead show and thought they were yelling Jerry , for Jerry Garcia !!!! 😂😂😂
Lol awesome comment, some of these idiots have no clue what you are talking about
Rest in peace
Bill Walton
Great NBA player
Bill was an awesome passer for A post. Dennis Johnson was truly one of the best guards ever, criminally underrated.
Both great players! I loved watching the 1986 Celtics with Walton! DJ wasn't underrated, as he IS in the HoF, but I guess he was not the most famous or flashy point guards out there. He simply got the job done.
DJ was great
Walton is an underrated reason the 86 Celtics remain the best team to ever do it.
As a Clippers fan since San Diego, I will never get over the lost seasons he had because of those brutal feet.
Bill was an enormous Deadhead fan … there are great stories about him and the team….
Bill Walton knows the game and he has permission to talk about the game.
Not according to Shaq haha
@@g99se9Shaq is a racist
6’11 3/4 he won the championship in Portland in 77
Larry = GOAT
When healthy....He was a legit BEAST with a real High IQ. Him and Larry on the pick & roll....Devastating..
Love Bill, can’t believe people hate on this dude.
Bill Walton won how many NCAA and NBA championships?
@@phylliskelly54842 ncaa, 2
NBA Portland and Celtics
@@phylliskelly5484 Two and two.
he was a DOG who sat out most of his spotty "career"..... Look at the numbers.... As Larry Bird said " he was healthy when he wanted to be".
He is the most obnoxious sportscaster on the air. If he is calling a game I turn the volume off
White Boys Can Play Some Ball That was a Heck of a Team..❤
Bill russell’s 11 championships leads everyone
Bill Russell is a racist and jealous of the GOATS all Caucasian 😊
D.J. and Parrish contributed greatly also, it was the right combination and one great team.
@@LuckyEyeglasses-xg2rj
Don’t forget Cornbread Maxwell, Gerald Henderson and ML Carr.
Bill really has become grandpa. Stories for days!
Unfortunately I never seen him at a Dead show. But he probably had better seats than me. I only saw the Dead play about 70x from 1987 to 1995. I seen about 20 or 30 shows after Jerry passed away but it just wasn't the same for me without Jerry. I mean I still loved Bobby & Phil & the rest but without Jerry it didn't pull me into going as much. In '94 I saw 14 shows in a row.
IF YOU WANNA STAY ON THIS TEAM YOU PASS THE BALL TO ME!!! Larry Bird❤❤❤ What an awesome qoute!
I remember seeing that game where he hit that shot from behind the backboard. Me & my friends started trying to make a similar shot but none of us could do it. He must have practiced that over & over to be able to hit that. That was EPIC!!! You know no one expected that to go in but he made it like it was no big deal. Priceless.
he was backstage a lot but when he was out in the crowd you couldn't miss him
Larry is the funniest dude ever and an equal opportunity troll, he had too much personality to be bullied by Bob Knight
Met Bill Walton at the Purple Shamrock in Boston back when he was on the team. He was the most laid back and friendly guy. Asked him why he doesn't shoot more (Walton was a prolific scorer) and with that toothy grin said 'Larry'.
RIP Bill Walton.
LB was the real deal, so much so; the NAACP invited LB to a luncheon. But they soon realized LB was not a brother but they quickly regrouped and treated him like a very light skin brother. 👍🏿
More bill Walton 😂
Bill Walton sounds just like Jeff Allen. Even the way he talks.
Danny Ainge ❤
I came from Portland at the end of my career and got a ring with Boston because the trailblazers wasn't going nowhere soon.
Bill Walton
Bill Walton senior year in the NCAA Champuonship game! He was 21 of 22 from the field with 44 points! Then went to the Trail Blazers and won a Championship there also!
Junior year
So does he
RIP
B. WALTON
No one makes up a story like Bill
Reference: Bill was not referring to Jerry West when he was saying Jerry, he was referring to Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead who Bill would never shut up talking about especially when he was a color commentator.
Where did Walton think he was? Portland In 1976-77 with Dr. Jack Ramsay‘s offense and Walton dishing passes, making his teammates better and eight or nine players averaging in Double figures? Boy that would’ve been an interesting matchup, those Celtics versus the Blazers.… With Walton on both teams!😂
My friends and I used to walk right by Bill Walton's A-Frame down by the Willamette river on our way swimming. He's be sitting on his porch with some friends, chillin' and listening to the Grateful Dead. We'd wave at him and he would wave back. We didn't want to intrude on his privacy.... I wish the we would have at least asked them for autographs. What a cool guy with that awesome RED AFRO.
Loved hearing Bill color commentate..... Always had me in stitches!
Walton knew Larry was right and played accordingly. Great team player.
San Diego native
In ’79, Bill was traded to the then San Diego Clippers, his hometown team, and missed more games than he played. His feet had him on the edge of retirement ( he blames his lack of play for their move to LA) When he convinced his Dr. to let him play in ‘85 for Boston, it like we adopted the Celtics as our own because of Bill. This town went nuts. He lived the life that he was chosen for. He love his hometown and we love him.
Bill Walton was a San Diegan.
Damn came across this video as I found out he past away long live Bill Walton a legend 🙏🏽❤️💪🏽💯🍀
Rip to a legend
Met him on a plane. He stole my seat. Super nice guy. He told me “you’re a gentleman and a scholar”.
Rest in peace, Bill.
RIP, Bill. You were one of the greats.
Funny 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Rest in peace legend ❤️❤️
I believe waltons story but it’s hard to because Larry’s passing always said he never thought he was bigger than the Celtics or the win.
Larry was trolling
What a class act Walton was, think he could barely stand on his banged up feet. And , still contributed any way he could, today's players need to watch how the players back then didn't just jack up 3's, but play a more complete game
I never tire of these stories
Yeah that 86 team was a beast. Will miss your stories Bill
I ran into Bill a couple of years ago in San Diego. He was at the finish line of an athletic event for Challenged Athletes. He was cheering on all the kids finishing. Still has that great smile.
He had tendonitis in both knees from HS on
And he was totally unselfish as a player. He
Was a passer first, shooter second. And he
Won two rings, 1) Portland in 1977 against
Philadelphia with Dr. J, 2) Boston. So you
Can't say he doesn't deserve being on the
All NBA TEAM.he played for better than 10
Yrs. He turned pro in 74 or 75, his first team was the Clippers when they were in San Diego, after they moved from Buffalo. So
Do your research before posting a comment.
I want to see you play basketball with the
Knees that he had. When he played st UCLA
coach Wooden would take him out of the
Game so he could go get in a tub of ice to
Take the swelling down in his knees
You're probably the same age as me I remember he was a great player and a pretty good commentator when he kept his opinion short
50 and 10 to start '77/'78. God they were good. You could draw the plays they ran for lay ups.
His ankles too.
actually he was drafted number one by the Portland trail blazers he went to the clippers after Portland
RIP Bill
Larry Legend ❤
💚
Larry was surrounded by three point artist.
Class of '77 Beaverton High. Best summer ever, I met Wilma. Lol
DJ's 3 really did count. Also, Kylie Irvings 3 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals counted huge as well, the 3 point shot does have an impact, but not everyone is gonna make em
Bills one cool guy and he got along very well with Larry🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Does anybody tell a better players story than Walton?
Which is all the more amazing because the dude worked to overcome a severe stuttering problem.
I thought at the end he was gonna say that Larry eould say its ok if Bill himself shoot sometimes....but it sas the opposite 😂😂
This is the second story I have heard being told about Larry not wanting Danny to have the ball
rip legend
Larry was a true leader
Lots of respect for Bill Walton. At NC State, there is a famous photo of David Thompson tipping the ball away from Bill Walton. Thompson was 6’-4” and Walton was a solid 6’-11”. NC State beat UCLA and ended their NCAA Championship string of victories if memory serves me.
Sounds just like Larry.. lol 😂😂
That's the greatest Dead-Head of all time, right there!
This is the essence of Larry Bird!
I love it!
Long Love Bill Walton
RIP GREAT GUY NBA LEGEND
thanks Bill
Yeah those 11 championships bill Russell won with the Celtics are the most in nba history
The editing was a misquote. Bird respected and trusted DJ completely. bird actually said “you want to stay on the team [and the game is on the line] you pass it to me. If I’m covered you pass it to DJ. If Dj is completely covered and I’m completely covered… you pass to me!”
I enjoyed those years of the Celtics games!
Of course Bill heard Jerry ❤ NFA
I had forgotten how big Bill Walton actually was.
Bill Walton was amazing. Yes Larry Legend was arrogant. It was, earned. The guy was a legend. The whole Celtics team was amazing. I live how Bill describes Kevin McHale. He calls him Frankenstein. Hands that hung below his knees. Shouldn't have been possible for guy to exist like that. Then he laughs. I love Bill Waltin. His smile and laugh just make you love the game all over again. Then you watch them all play and you're just shocked, absolutely dumbfounded that those guys just walked out there and did that. See normally really big guys are a little awkward. These guys, they're not awkward at all!!! They're fast, agile, aggressive. Giants and we got to see it. Man what a time. And kids today think they've seen basketball. There's some good players. But I'll take my Celtics and Bulls and Lakers against any of these new guys.
In hindsight, wish I paid more attention to Boston when I had the opportunity
Larry was a bird of a different color😅
Larry Bird was the goat
Read Walton’s book, Back from the Dead. You’ll love him even more! Great on audio as Bill is the reader!
Love the stories!
Seen him at a fancy restaurant in Boston. Tall stature of a man almost looked mythical.
DJ with 2 shiners. That era was ROUGH.
The one true Goat, Larry Joe
Larry the Legend!
RIP Bill.
Straightened Gomer out, like the LEGEND he is.
Now that's team work with the coach on the side line, huh!
If Bill Walton didn't have Cronic issues will fracture in his feet! We could be including him in the GOAT conversation! He was that great a player!
To me, the top tier of NBA centers all time is The Magnificent Seven: Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, Malone, O'Neal, Olajuwon, Robinson, and Russell. If Walton had just had a normal amount of injuries, it would have to be a list of Eight. (Of course, it pretty much has to now anyway, because I need to add Jokic...)
Absolutely
Bill was referring to Jerry Garcia, not Jerry West.
the glory days of NBA
Thats right Larry ,Larry
Larry is definitely the GOAT
That was great basketball, i sure miss it !!!
Rip bill Walton
Walton was a great player. Listed as 6'11, he was really the same height as Jabbar, 7'2.
I was a great fan of Bill's (and Kareem's) because of the UCLA connection ( I was an LA resident following them at UCLA). Then I moved to Portland and the TrailBlazers started, so I really watched Bill.
I have never heard that Bill was 7'2", ever. MAYBE he was really 7', like a bit taller than 6'11" 1/2 or something. But in other words, maybe a half inch taller than he was listed, not 3+ inches taller.
Yes, you never heard that because it was never ever said. Just watch any Walton game and compare his height to 7 footers. e.g. Walton on the Celtics was taller than 7' Robert Parish, look at the team huddles.@@phillipschuman4307
Why show jerry west?? Bill was talking about Garcia. Duh seriously
Was a big Celtic fan!
MJ found out the same thing. He was surrounded by good players.
Best stories
God Bless ,Great story