Basketball legend Bill Walton has died at the age of
71.
The Hall of Fame center and two time NBA champion
passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Matt Weiner joins us now.
Matt is the host of TNT Sports Tonight.
Matt, remind us about his legacy in the world of
basketball.
Yeah, Boris and Jessica, if there were a Hall of
Fame within the Basketball Hall of Fame,
something set aside for the truly elite players the game
has ever seen,
Bill Walton would be a part of that.
One of the great college players,
ever a three time national player of the year.
Twice a national champion at UCLA where his teams won
88 straight games at one point.
He had one of the great national championship game performances
of all time back in 1973.
Hit 21 of 22 shots and scored 44 points to
help beat Memphis State.
That was before he landed in the NBA where he
was a two time NBA champion.
Once with the Portland Trail Blazers,
still their only title back in 77,
and again as a 6th man coming off the bench
with the Boston Celtics in 1986.
It was a league MVP.
It was a 6th man of the year.
Very different roles, and despite the fact that he was
plagued by injuries.
A great pro career as well,
truly one of the elite players in the game's history.