BOSTON —
Boston Celtics legend and two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Bill Walton died of cancer at the age of 71, the NBA announced Monday.
Walton had a prolonged fight with cancer.
“Bill Walton was one of the most consequential players of his era,” the Celtics said in a written statement. “A Hall of Famer, Most Valuable Player, and two-time NBA Champion, Walton could do it all, possessing great timing, complete vision of the floor, excellent fundamentals, and was of one of the greatest passing big men in league history.”
“As a Celtic, Bill overcame years of debilitating injuries, regained his zest for the game, and helped guide the 1986 Boston Celtics championship with both his play and his spirit,” the Celtics said. “The Boston Celtics celebrate Bill’s wonderful life and legacy, and send their deepest sympathies to the Walton family.”
Walton was a beloved member of the Celtics from the moment he was traded to the team from the Los Angeles Clippers in 1985.
In his first time in a Celtics uniform in the Boston Garden, Walton received a one-minute standing ovation from the Boston home crowd walking onto the court for his first exhibition game in 1985.
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