Legendary Bruin Bill Walton to Be Honored Ahead of UCLA Game

Position Sports announced it will honor UCLA Bruins Legend and Hall of Famer Bill Walton on Monday, Nov. 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The tribute, for which Position Sports partnered with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, will take place before former conference rivals Arizona and UCLA meet in the TNT Sports Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. Walton has ties to both UCLA and Arizona, winning two national championships with UCLA before his son, Luke Walton played for the Wildcats and he took on a broadcasting career, covering decades of Arizona basketball games.

The tribute will recognize his impact on basketball as well as his legendary careers on the hardwood and behind the microphone.

“The Walton Family and the Bill Walton Foundation, would like to thank Position Sports and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for honoring Bill in such a meaningful way,” said Lori Walton, Bill Walton’s wife in a statement. “Bill would have been deeply touched by this tribute. To see Bill celebrated through the game he loved, surrounded by two programs that were close to his heart, is incredibly special to our family. We are grateful that his love for basketball, and the connections and friendships it created throughout his life, continue to bring people together and keep his spirit alive. As Bill would say “Thank you for your kindness and my life; good and happy everything forever; shine on from the bright side of the road.”

Who Was Bill Walton?

Walton played three years of college basketball with UCLA, winning the NCAA National Championship in both of his first two seasons with the Bruins. He led the Pac-8 conference in rebounds during each of his three collegiate seasons, also leading the conference in scoring in his senior season with 19.3 points per game.

He played 10 years in the NBA from 1974-87, missing several seasons due to injury, but managed two titles with the Portland Trailblazers and Boston Celtics while earning two All-Star appearances and winning the NBA MVP award and Sixth Man of the Year award throughout his career.

After his playing career, Walton took on sports broadcasting, covering both college and professional basketball for more than 30 years.

“Bill Walton meant as much to college basketball as anyone who has been part of it, and no rivalry is more closely tied to his story than Arizona and UCLA,” said Melissa Meacham-Grossman, President of Position Sports in a statement. “Last year’s tribute in Los Angeles showed how much he still means to both fan bases, and we are honored to work with Lori and the Walton family to celebrate him again in Las Vegas.”

Walton died May 27, 2024, but his legacy on basketball will never fade.

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