NBA
Celtics Pay Tribute to Bill Walton Before NBA Finals Game 1
The Boston Celtics, one of the most famous franchises in the NBA, paid a heartfelt tribute to NBA legend and 1986 champion Bill Walton before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The tribute was a reminder of Walton’s unforgettable impact on the team and the sport of basketball.
Remembering a Legend
Bill Walton, who passed away on May 27 at the age of 71, was a titan of the game. A three-time national player of the year at UCLA, Walton led the Bruins to the NCAA championship in 1972 and ’73 during a record 88-game winning streak. His NBA career was equally amazing. He was the runner-up for NBA MVP in 1977, when the Trail Blazers won the NBA title, and won the award the next year.
Despite spending only one full season with the Boston Celtics, Walton’s impact was profound. He was the sixth man on the Celtics’ 1986 championship team, a key contributor that helped the Celtics secure their unprecedented 16th championship.