Bill Walton as a San Diego Clipper: 25 Points, 8 Rebounds, 7 Blocks vs. Portland (1982)

December 26, 1982 - After years of recurring foot injuries and a season lost due to self-imposed protest, 1977 NBA Finals MVP Bill Walton finally seemed to be turning a corner, returning to the San Diego Clippers lineup in 1982 following an injury-induced two year sabbatical. Per doctor's orders, Walton was on a one-game-a-week diet at the season's outset, making his Boxing Day showdown against his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers, just his ninth appearance of the season (out of 28 Clippers games total).
In front of a cable television audience, Walton turned in arguably his best performance of the 80's (to that point), finishing with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks in a 112-105 win.
With Walton in and out of the lineup, the Clippers never found success over the course of his four-year stay (six if you include the two he missed due to injury). With his minutes and production angling downward, and with the Clippers' relocation to Los Angeles, Walton began eyeing a new role for a new team. In 1985, he signed with the Boston Celtics, earning the Sixth Man of the Year award as the Celtics steamrolled their way to an NBA championship.
Final note, for those curious: Walton was sporting goggles this season as a result of a fractured cheekbone sustained two to three weeks prior to the Dec. 26 showdown vs. Portland.
Credit for the original broadcast upload goes to Lonnie Anderson. For those interested in checking out an enigma of a San Diego Clippers team, featuring Hodges, Tom Chambers, Bill Walton, and Terry Cummings, the full game can be seen here: • Portland Trail Blazers...
Box Score: www.basketball...

[@CapAnson12345]

A healthy Bill Walton would have been the 3rd best center of all time. Just a tragedy what he had to go through.

[@Barnabus007]

It is hard to say where he would have ended up because if you imagine him being injury free you also have to look at how that would have altered Kareem's success. It is also scary to think of how Bill would have evolved. Truly one of the great what ifs

[@daredevil5904]

​@@Barnabus007exactly.

[@ronschaffer5959]

​@@Barnabus007 Walton is the only player that was capable of competing with Kareem in his prime on an even level.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

Hey, look, a basketball game in which Bill Walton actually played! #WooHoo

[@billw5189]

RIP Legend Bill Walton. I wish you had been cloned for more of us to enjoy

[@milart12]

Walton, Chambers AND Terry Cummings.

[@carljustinenuestro8771]

I never saw Bill Walton wearing goggles until when I watched this game.

[@jeffvw1994]

I went to a bunch of those games, that was a fun team, also had Joe Jelly bean Bryant, Koby's dad.

[@JakeStine]

Watching supposedly 6'11 Walton tower over 6'10 Mychal Thompson by +3" inches or more will never get old for me. Not really sure how Walton got away with underselling his height by over 2" his whole career.

[@benjaminbritt7862]

It's the red jewfro 😂 adds a few inches

[@carlweaver3243]

Walton didn't want to be associated with the term, Seven Footer. He thought that saying He was 7' or More would mean He was a Freak of Nature.

[@Barnabus007]

ON paper this frontline is incredibly scary

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

They had a potentially great front court of Walton, Terry Cummings, and Tom Chambers but didn't really have any quality guards.

[@kevinlawrence8580]

Just think if the red head could've stayed healthy.

[@uncletony6210]

who else went to SD Clippers games at the Sports Arena?

[@jbodiesel]

I did! World B Free, Terry Cummings, all ballers! They left SD in '84 which was a sad moment for SD

[@uncletony6210]

@@jbodiesel Yep! I also went to Magic's summer all-star game in 89 (at the Sports Arena). MJ played and my friend and I made our way to the locker room at half time and after the game.

[@jbodiesel]

I went to that too! All the stars was there that time. That's dope you got to go to the locker room. I would of died if i got to meet Magic Johnson

[@uncletony6210]

@@jbodiesel That's incredible you were there! So at halftime, we nonchalantly walked back with the teams (as if we somehow belonged). No one said anything. We were there with Magic, MJ, and even the Laker girls. We did not go IN the locker room, however, but I got a "what's up?" from Charles Smith, Drexler, and we talked to Tony Campbell.

[@uncletony6210]

@@jbodiesel Tony didn't play but was there in civilians. He denied that he was Tony Campbell, but it was him.

[@MrPiraka123]

Nice upload I’ve been wanting to see this game since yesterday’s upload!

[@muadda187]

@Tommy Ford he doesn’t have it genius, that’s why he was waiting for it

[@qAtuBiFa]

@Tommy Ford He doesnt have the game .He was waiting someone to upload the game on the KZbin so he can watch. How dumb can you be?

[@carlweaver3243]

I'll bet Today's Players don't know what the Term, Give and Go, means.

[@grousemoriarty]

why not 50 shot a game? love when he faces up or partial faces up inside after a fake rare moves I wish pros giev ihm more bank shotr off pass lek his 4 pt game in collee ucla

[@edscottable]

Is it true that Bill only played home games because he was in law school?

[@grousemoriarty]

coach job to not let scrubs shoot and feed monster player liek walton whiel atackign other team mosnter player n fouling them out, i dont get why they dont do it