News broke on Monday afternoon that former UCLA and NBA star Bill Walton passed away at 71 years of age. The Hall of Fame center battled cancer before succumbing to his illness, per the NBA.
Walton, a two-time NCAA champion and two-time NBA champion, had an illustrious basketball career that saw him win Naismith College Player of the Year three times and play 10 seasons in the pros.
Immediately, odes and tributes started pouring in for the iconic and eccentric basketball player and broadcaster.
Over the years, Walton became known for his hilarious — and generally off-topic — comments while calling games and doing radio spots, and fans quickly took to social media and shared their favorite Walton highlights.
It was a lovely way to remember the spontaneous and life-loving man.
There will never be another quite like Bill Walton.
His ESPN family will miss him dearly ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mvS0Sh5iWZ
— ESPN (@espn) May 27, 2024
.@DavePasch always seemed like he was having simultaneously the best and worst time of his life calling games with Bill Walton.
What a treat that pairing was for college basketball. pic.twitter.com/luPomZfW1l
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) May 27, 2024
Rest in Peace Bill Walton. You were a real one. #RIPBillWalton #BillWalton #Legend pic.twitter.com/S9UuVL8Bzy
— Purple & GoldMinds (@PurpleGoldMinds) May 27, 2024
Bill Walton on Boris Diaw (and Beethoven) is an all-timer. 🏀🎙️❤️https://t.co/7cpGO9JNNF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 27, 2024
A note I have saved to my phone during a game broadcast – Walton on rainbows and Mars https://t.co/JpXSPW5bby pic.twitter.com/g1CuA9Mrw3
— Brian Geisinger (@bgeis_bird) May 27, 2024
You sent me an email in 2020 that said:
————-
PUT THE MUSIC ON,
as soon as it doesn’t seem right,
change the music/station,
but don’t turn it off
—————
I promise, the music will always be on.
I’ll miss you dearly, you marvelous, vivid, wonderful pic.twitter.com/aNMaAzRS6D
— Jason Benetti (@jasonbenetti) May 27, 2024
there was literally never a dull moment when Bill Walton was on our screens https://t.co/NYSqMJ4vlP pic.twitter.com/C29lL4VDQf
— brandie (@brandieeemac) May 27, 2024
“I’m the luckiest dude in the world.”
– Bill Walton ☮️❤️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/Z9qSP2rW8b
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) May 27, 2024
There will never be another Bill Walton. His games were appointment television.
I mean this in all sincerity: every sports broadcast ^needs^ at least a *touch *of unhinged chaotic nonsense.
🕊️Rest in power, king. https://t.co/5cRRe5XDED pic.twitter.com/OUTxEWVyyY
— Andrew Streeter (@andrewstreeter_) May 27, 2024
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) May 27, 2024
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) May 27, 2024
Bill Walton laughed at himself; cared deeply about people history ignored; and was one of the greatest athletes to ever walk the Earth. A planet he both adored and transcended. RIP 💔 pic.twitter.com/9rCWruhGUs
— ‘Miserable’ Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) May 27, 2024
Fav #BillWalton memory: @dpshow had him on radio in like 02. DP said hi. Bill starts talking about the universe, man's place in the cosmos, his typical Bill Walton thing. After 8 minutes of Bill talking nonstop, DP just says "well Bill, We gotta let you go. We're out of time."
— Demetri Ravanos (@DemetriRavanos) May 27, 2024
