Legendary NBA big-man Bill Walton died at age 71 on Monday after what the NBA described as a "prolonged battle with cancer."
Immediately, tributes to Walton came pouring in from all corners of the NBA world. Players and media personalities lined up to praise him with many posting some of the best and brightest highlights of his career to social media platforms.
Many of Walton's most memorable highlights didn't come on the basketball court. They came from his 30-year broadcasting career, where his unique, off-the-wall style of calling a game always reigned supreme when calling games for CBS, NBC and ESPN. Walton was named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association in 2009.
"Bill Walton was a legendary player and a singular personality who genuinely cherished every experience throughout the journey of his extraordinary life," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. "Bill often described himself as 'the luckiest guy in the world,' but anyone who had the opportunity to interact with Bill was the lucky one. He was a truly special, giving person who always made time for others.
"Bill's one-of-a-kind spirit captivated and inspired audiences during his second career as a successful broadcaster. We at ESPN extend our deepest condolences to Bill's loved ones, including the entire Walton family."
Walton had some of the wackiest moments that modern basketball broadcasts have ever seen. Here's a look at some of his best quotes and broadcast antics that will bring smiles to his fans as they mourn his death.
MORE: NBA world pays tribute to Bill Walton
Bill Walton eats cupcake with lit candle on it
Walton and Dave Pasch were color commentators on ESPN's college basketball coverage, so they had many a fun moment together. Among the most notable came when Pasch encouraged Walton to take a bit out of a cupcake with a lit candle after the duo sang "Happy Birthday" on the air.
Walton obliged, much to the delight (and horror) of Pasch. He came away from it unharmed despite putting the whole candle in his mouth and mimed as if he was going to throw the cupcake in Pasch's face.
"How about the face plant, here?" Walton said, as Pasch laughed.
There was nobody more full of life at all times. RIP Bill Walton ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DKwVPrAphl
— Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) May 27, 2024
Bill Walton sings 'Happy Birthday' to Phil Knight... at the zoo
Walton evidently likes to sing "Happy Birthday" to people. At the very least, he's willing to do so, as he demonstrated while celebrating Nike founder Phil Knight's 85th birthday in 2022.
The strange part of this bit? He did so at the Portland Zoo, apparently in or around the beaver habitat. That led Walton to deliver one message to his viewers after that clip aired.
"I love beavers," he said.
Bill Walton sings happy birthday to a beaver at the Portland Zoo for Phil Knight's birthday, then declares "I love beavers!" pic.twitter.com/OuLLG3j85j
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 26, 2022
Bill Walton on being 'Larry Bird's valet'
Walton was calling a Pac-12 basketball game alongside Pasch in 2020 when Walton pretended momentarily he hadn't played for the Celtics. Pasch initially was confused by Walton's delivery, but the former NBA star instantly turned it into a self-disparaging joke.
"You did win Sixth Man of the Year," Pasch said of Walton's Celtics career.
"Which means I was Larry Bird's valet," Walton replied. "Which means my job was to tell Larry what time the game started."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 14, 2022Dave Pasch: "Is he aware that you played for the Boston Celtics?"
Bill Walton: "I have no idea. Did I?"
Pasch: "You did win Sixth Man of the Year."
Walton: "Which means I was Larry Bird's valet. Which means my job was to tell Larry what time the game started." 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/RwHY9iCTaM
Bill Walton explains baseball, claims he has been dead for years
If you've ever imagined what it might be like to see Bill Walton call a baseball game, you're in luck. The White Sox broadcast got him to call a game with then-play-by-play man Jason Benetti, and Walton had a fun time.
Walton started his appearance with a simplistic explanation of baseball.
"I understand that it starts, and then you play, but the offense can't touch the ball," Walton said. "And then the defense goes first. And then there's no time limits. And then you just go until somebody says, 'It's over!' Sounds very much like a [Grateful] Dead show."
As great as that was, he had an all-time exchange with Benetti that went something like this.
"I've been dead for quite a few years," Walton said.
"And we all may be by the end of the night, Benetti responded.
Bill: I've been dead for quite a few years@Jasonbenetti: And we all might be by the end of the night pic.twitter.com/TljlWYZ7DP
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 17, 2019
And here's more of Walton's foray into the world of baseball:
Ladies and gentlemen, the best of @BillWalton! pic.twitter.com/bO4pDravg1
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 17, 2019
MORE: How Bill Walton became Grateful Dead's biggest celebrity fan
Bill Walton pretends Colorado-Oregon game is 2000 Pacers game
Walton decided to take a possession to call play-by-play in place of Pasch during one of their late-night, Pac-12 matchups in 2020. He was solid in that role, but there was one issue: he pretended he was calling a 2000 Pacers game.
As Walton referenced players like Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller and Rik Smits, Pasch chimed in to ground him.
"You don't have a future as a play-by-play guy," Pasch quipped.
Down the stretch in this Colorado-Oregon game (both top-20 teams), and Bill Walton has decided to pretend he's calling a 2000 Indiana Pacers game. pic.twitter.com/DN7De8b3dO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 14, 2020
Bill Walton reveals he auditioned to be 'Chewbacca'
Pasch spent a minute trying to coax Walton into answering a question about a rumor that Walton had been "in the running" to play Chewbacca. Walton revealed he had met George Lucas at a fundraiser, along with several other NBA talents, and that led Walton to audition for the role of the iconic "Star Wars" character.
He didn't get it, but he apparently had an influence on the character.
"I auditioned for Chewbacca," Walton explained. "They said, 'No, but we're gonna model the character after you.'"
Pasch noted he believed Walton, who previously explained he was in "Ghostbusters" in 1984. Few believed Walton's tale from the broadcast, but it was later revealed Walton actually did appear as an uncredited background actor.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 2, 2024Bill Walton won't give Dave Pasch an answer on if he was in the mix to play Chewbacca in Star Wars.
Bill finally says that he "auditioned" to play Chewbacca, but they modeled the character after him.
This is an amazing interaction.🏀🎬🤣 pic.twitter.com/uk4rORSf1D
Bill Walton explains Earth's axial tilt to Dave Pasch
Walton took time out of a UConn vs. San Diego State broadcast — which Pasch noted was a 10-point game — to explain some basic astronomical principles to Pasch. Walton detailed that the Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt was responsible for the seasons and that the planet rotates around the sun in an elliptical pattern.
Pasch seemed annoyed that Walton wasn't paying attention to the game while also using Pasch's orange to display the run.
What was Walton's response when Pasch asked if he could eat the orange?
"No, that's the sun," Walton said. "That's what gives us our energy, our life."
Bill Walton educates Dave Pasch about the earth's axial tilt and rotation around the sun. With props! pic.twitter.com/pyA3GVR77e
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 22, 2017
Bill Walton makes sound effects for every XFL team
Pasch asked Walton on the spot to come up with sound effects for each XFL team ahead of the league's planned 2020 season. Walton obliged, creating one of the more ridiculous segments on the duo's "Pac-12 After Dark" broadcast.
Here's Bill Walton making a sound effect for every XFL team during a promo at the urging of @DavePasch and slipping in that Trojans joke pic.twitter.com/ZY4XK5UZ9E
— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) February 9, 2020
After coming up with the sound effects, Walton had just one question for Pasch.
"What sport is that?"
Best of Bill Walton
Frankly, there are so many weird, unique and flat-out bizarre moments from Walton's broadcasts that it's impossible to list his greatest hits. But to get a smattering of some of his career highlights, check out the reels below:
— ESPN (@espn) May 27, 2024There will never be another quite like Bill Walton.
His ESPN family will miss him dearly ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mvS0Sh5iWZ
The best of Bill Walton on commentary: pic.twitter.com/MqwNQZj2dg
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) May 27, 2024
