A world of admiring fans is paying tribute after the death of basketball great Bill Walton, 71. He died after a prolonged battle with cancer on May 27, 2024.
The San Diego native, who lived near Balboa Park at the time of his death, was hailed as a glib, athletically gifted and free-spirited native son who loved his hometown.
The 6-foot-11 center starred on the court at Helix High, won two national championships at UCLA and two championships for different teams in the NBA before he was added to the league’s Hall of Fame in 1993.
He went on to become a national TV broadcaster who continued to march to the beat of his own bongo drum. His on-air style was garrulous; you never knew what he’d say next.
On the air, he changed into a Grateful Dead t-shirt on camera and took a bite of a cupcake with a candle still burning atop it.
What friends and coworkers have memorialized about his personal character is that he always had time for charity work, never gave up on people or issues, and cared deeply about the universe–in his own cosmic way.
Lucky Duck Foundation co-founder Pat Kilkenny told The San Diego Union Tribune that Walton supported more than 100 charities. An avid bicyclist, among his favorite fundraisers were the long rides done to raise money for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
In life, Bill Walton was many things, including political-minded. He was arrested for protesting the Vietnam War when he was a student/athlete at UCLA. He also advocated for marijuana far before it became legal.
One of his last political rants was aimed at homelessness in his hometown. Previously a supporter of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Walton later changed his mind and publicly implored Gloria to quit his job.
In an October 2022 press conference, Walton said the mayor was “less than useless” on the issue of homelessness. He nicknamed homeless encampments around the city “Todd Gloria-villes,” and called on the mayor to “step aside.”
At the time, a mayoral tweet responded to Walton’s press conference by calling it “a tantrum of self-aggrandizing hyperbole and outright lies.” That post concluded, “It’s unfortunate Bill Walton is quitting on San Diego, but you can be damned sure Todd Gloria never will.”
The day after Walton’s death, Gloria released a statement: “San Diego mourns the loss of the legendary Bill Walton today. He was a towering figure in basketball and broadcasting as well as a civic icon who loved his hometown. Our city’s thoughts are with his wife, Lori, and the entire Walton family. Godspeed, Bill.”
Before he died, Walton endorsed Larry Turner, who will face Gloria in the mayor’s race in the General Election on November 4, 2024. Turner is a political newcomer and a San Diego police officer.
“Rest in peace to the generous and kind Bill Walton, a cherished friend, mentor and supporter,” Turner said in a statement. “Bill was the kind of man who would support his friends with everything in his heart. A legend, but so humble. My thoughts are with Lori and the rest of Bill’s wonderful family today.”
As San Diegans wait for a plan for a public commemoration of Walton’s life, the accolades for a life well lived continue to stream in from broadcast co-workers such as Mike Tirico (NBC), Greg Gumbel (CBS), Kenny Mayne from ESPN and Walton’s most recent ESPN on-air teammate Dave Pasch.
Professional athletes who’ve had kind words for Walton, include Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Irving and Magic Johnson.
Former President Barack Obama posted on X: “…He was also a wonderful spirit full of curiosity, humor and kindness. We are poorer for his passing, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family.” SDSun
