NBA Legends Explain How Good Bill Walton Really Was

#billwalton #shaquilleoneal #nba #nbalegends
In this Video NBA Legends explain why Bill Walton was great and bad player.
Bill Walton played against Kareem Abdul Jabbar
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[@johnturner7952]

Rest In Peace Bill Walton

[@louisrussi6463]

I’m crushed at the news that Bill Walton passed a few days ago. His career was short, his prime was short and his life was relatively short. But Bill, as a man, as a lover of basketball who played a great game whenever he could, to me, was the greatest center in my lifetime because he was so much more than an NBA player. His enthusiasm, his wonderful exuberance, sharp wit and use of language were unmatched by any player. Bill had the misfortune of being unhealthy. But it didn’t crush his soul. Rest in peace, Big Man. You’ll be sorely missed.

[@garygunter5114]

Shaq was such a tough guy physically but so weak and petty mentally.

[@mrpzpdx]

Definitely!!

[@Sebakeng]

So was Wilt.

[@varj7]

As much as I love Shaq , he has always had trouble giving flowers to Big guys. He considers himself the greatest, but that’s not how the vote goes. He went out of his way to diminish Jokers 3 MVP’s because it threatens his own legacy, and the Joker ain’t finished yet.

[@NebulizerChi]

He delayed offseason foot surgery - which he knew that he needed before the Lakers completed their threepeat and on grounds that the offseason was "Shaq time" and not "basketball time" - until just weeks before the start of training camp; there would be no fourpeat He refused, on grounds that it might make him look silly, to make a serious, sustained effort to improve his free throw shooting To the detriment of his own and his team's success, he was bitter toward and resentful of Kobe He was a great, great player --- indisputably an all-timer both now and for all of time And because of the limitations of his own ego and selfishness, he was a classic underachiever all the same

[@user-bg4yz1xv7q]

i saw dennis rodman lock down shaq shaq was great but to me a touch soft against the few really physical guys he wasnt manhandling karl malone either i luv shaq and he was a monster but a few cats he couldnt intimidate with just his size

[@DINGDONG12344]

He carried Portland to their 1st NBA Championship. He deserved it.

[@enthronedking]

Exactly. And I'm biased towards Grant Hill being on those Top 50 lists as a Pistons fan but a ring's a ring.

[@ryankemplen]

not only that, it was portlands first playoff appearance ever and he carried them to a title and then mvp the next year, they probably go back to back if the injuries didn't start up that year, like he said they went 40-10 their first 50 games then he got hurt. makes you think how good he could have been even with the resume he has he could have been one of the best bigs or players of all time...

[@user-kh2ig7ew3w]

@@ryankemplen But being a vegetarian at actually 7'2" without ingesting collagen didn't help. He was the only starter of both teams when they beat the Sixers that wasn't from the ABA! Jack Ramsey said 6'9" Maurice Lucas was the best power forward in the NBA, and I believe it. Walton to this day insists he's 6'11" , when he was obviously as tall as Kareem, because he considers anyone 7'0" feet to be a freak!

[@markfiedor1139]

!st and only. . .youngest team in NBA history to win the title.

[@ACD1994]

1st and only. RIP Bill Walton.

[@evflorybarnes]

Simply put, if your road to an NBA championship consists of beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the WCF and Dr. J in your second year in the league, career stats be damned. You played and beat the best at your position and in the league in their primes.

[@felixgonzalez5882]

Bill Walton does not belong on the top 50 nba player list !

[@shashishekhar----]

​@@felixgonzalez5882Nah he belongs there

[@user-kh2ig7ew3w]

By God!

[@user-kh2ig7ew3w]

If Shaq slapped a then aged Walton; he wouldn't've "gotten up off the floor after he saw Shaqs hand move like Ostertag said. He'd have been carried out. Ostertag should've taken a step back before engaging in a heated discussion with a guy with ham hocks for paws. And Ostertag sucked it up, where Walton would've hired O.J.s 15 Lawyers!

[@DickNasty480]

@@felixgonzalez5882 You're delusional.

[@flibbidyx2]

Some of the stuff Jokic does now in terms of passing from the center position, Walton was doing in the 70s. What Jokic does is incredible and I'm not trying to take away from that, but Walton was the prototype. Very few big men have had that level of passing ability.

[@Gnofg]

Walton is a better all around player than Jokic. Jokic blows on defense and there are two highlights in the 30 for 30 on Walton dribbling full court and running as fast as the guards.

[@BlackEcology]

Arvydas Sabonis did. I'd argue before injuries - Sabonis would have fucking nuked Jokic's face. Just so much more athletic and bigger. Jokic is getting away with playing in a soft, small NBA now that just chucks 3's and points in the paint. Very little work is done these days to chuck volume shots. Jokic in an era when real big's still existed would be getting hammered.

[@Gnofg]

@@BlackEcology I agree with you. He is a pretty bad defender. Kareem would have 40 by the 3rd qtr.

[@timhughes9855]

@@BlackEcology I actually saw Sabonis play before his injuries--in-person--when he was on a tour of college campuses with the Soviets. He was incredible. I don't know that I've ever seen a better big man. Imagine Victor Wembanyama with another 40 lbs. of muscle and you get the idea. I saw Big Red back in '77-'78 too, his MVP season. Unbelievable. Quite possibly the single most dominant season an NBA player has ever had. But... Don't be putting Jokic down. He's amazing and every bit in the same class of both of them. He's also a lot better defender than meets the eye. If he was the weak defender you guys are all suggesting, then why does he keep outplaying Embiid? And if anything the modern rules and game style hold him back. He would've been BETTER in the days of hand-checking and clogged paint, not worse. Jokic deserves the hype.

[@stevelundt6498]

Lmao! You should get that head injury checked out. Walton had 3 good seasons. That’s it.thats it. Not even a top 200 player

[@forumcelebritypodcast]

shaq never forgets. Walton called him out on some things when he played and Shaq hated it. When he played great Walton applauded him. Shaq wants to be loved. I'd take a healthy Walton over Shaq every day of the week. Great passer, great defender, great inside post player, great rebounder and maybe the best outlet passer of all time.

[@PaliAha808]

"Shaq never forgets"? Mr Sensitive never forgets what normal people do. Shaq plays the game the way he is: a bully. Bullies are insecure so they try to dominate others just like Shaq refers to himself.

[@haroldsmyth6685]

The shaqmeister couldnt even shoot a freethrow

[@johnwhite2576]

good recitation of his diverse skills- one fact -at his peak he played kareem at his peak as well- stats wise they look similar for those few years, but kareem was not a force multiplier, and had to score his points to influence/dominate the game. walton like bird , russell one fo those few players who could dominate a game without scoring points. 77 blazers and 86 celtics the east teams ever-sorry Michael, sorry pop

[@robertnelson3018]

Shaq is also a Freemason........'nough said!

[@catbreath8361]

And Bill can shoot a free throw.

[@LBNLDC1]

Elgin Baylor, Bo Jackson and Gayle Sayers had their careers shortened by injuries but are recognized as all time greats. Walton won two NCAA championships, two NBA championships, three college player of the year awards, one NBA regular season MVP, one NBA playoff MVP and a Sixth Man of the Year Award. He belongs on the all time greats list over Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.

[@randyleinen2035]

Agree he job he did in Portland fabulous and he Was #1for blszers

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Elgin had 10+ healthy years first though.

[@LBNLDC1]

@@bricefleckenstein9666 That’s a long career

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@LBNLDC1 It's more like a medium long career by current standards, but at the time it was long. Kareem as I recall was the first person to manage 18 years in the NBA or ABA+NBA, and there aren't a lot of folks that have managed longer (Vince holds THAT record, at 23 or 24 seasons played in the NBA). Point though is that Elgin didn't have his active carrier shortened nearly as much as Walton did by injuries. More like Bird (9 healthy years, lost most of a year to surgery, few more years as a somewhat reduced capability level).

[@davidmcpherson1347]

NOPE. Stop drinking.

[@jamesstroud8833]

No other player has won an MVP and a sixth man of the year.

[@richardkubik6591]

james harden

[@richardkubik6591]

james harden

[@smhollanshead]

In 1977, Bill Walton was the best NBA center I ever saw. When healthy, Bill Walton could beat anyone. It’s too bad Bill could not stay healthy and avoid injuries. If he could have, Bill would be in the GOAT conversation.

[@mikeflint8291]

Well stated!

[@fishmonger6879]

They say if he was not on the hippie vegetarian or vegan diet he would not have had the injuries. He needed to eat grass fed BEEF!

[@michaelkraus4135]

BINGO !!!

[@chrismclean389]

You are right brother shag should take free throws lessons from big red

[@MrBronx61]

R.I.P. Bill Walton...one of the top 5 greatest college players ever. If not for injuries, he be in my top 15 NBA Immortals list. Dude played the center position as well as anyone I've seen. He did it all...defense, rebounding. blocked shots, scoring and an incredible passer. Had that incredible playoff run in 1977, leading Portland to their only NBA title. What's scary is the Blazers were better the year after they won it all (getting off to a 50-5 start), but injuries ruined their chance to repeat. Of course, I loved listening to Bill doing broadcasts with Steve "Snapper" Jones, saying all kinds of off-the-wall s***, lol.

[@wvu05]

Walton was injured a lot because Portland botched his surgery in 1978 and his feet were shattered. Shaq got injured a lot because he didn't take care of himself. Huge difference.

[@tw364]

Truth. Walton was born with his affliction. Shaq was just lazy and stupid.

[@robertdaniels3029]

WEAK....He is gone and I will not expose him BUT...They were two different type of players. Shaq was pure power: Walton was finesse

[@wvu05]

@@robertdaniels3029 If Shaq played in the 1970s, most of what he did would have been an offensive foul. That's a big factor in how people played.

[@robertdaniels3029]

@@wvu05 If is reserved for fairy tales

[@wvu05]

@@robertdaniels3029 Has nothing to do with the fact that Shaq benefited from changes in rules shifting from defense to offense.

[@lukesmith9692]

Shaq is pissed Walton called the Lakers out about the rigged kings series

[@user-ww6kw4sr4i]

Shaq sucks

[@user-yx9bs8zo5q]

Shaq sucked. He was huge, that's it.

[@truongnd1]

Shaq's a hater ... he hated Steve nash , he hated kobe at one point , Dwight and walton ... sounds like jealousy to me

[@mrc302]

A healthy Walton would have given Shaq nightmares.

[@JohnFox-mn7ep]

Shaq was a big lard of blubbe

[@stevewiencek1354]

The reason Walton should be included in the top 50, in my opinion, is that he "played the game the right way" as you hear players say from time to time. It's a coach's kind of compliment, but before the "Big Fundamental" (Tim Duncan), Walton was the most complete, 2-way, intelligent, hard-working, teammate supporting big man there was. He had talent and size, too, but it was how he used that talent to make his teams better that was so impressive. He was a great defender and passer. He was one of those guys that could dominate the game even if he only scored 10 points. I'm old enough to remember watching Trailblazer games in the 1970s. The game was different then but it was clear he was the best player on the court when you looked at all aspects of the game, even when playing against Kareem (who also was a smart player), Dr. J, etc.

[@stevelundt6498]

No way. Walton isn’t even in the top 200 players.

[@bobbyy.7762]

@@stevelundt6498 Based on your comments? Your basketball intellect is in the bottom quartile. If you work very dilligently? Maybe you can move up. Dip.

[@zeetty]

@@stevelundt6498 Bill Walton was a "what might have been" player. But when Bill Walton was healthy, he was flat-out the most impactful player I ever saw...and I'm 70 years old!

[@stevelundt6498]

@@zeetty so the two years he was a great player makes him a hall of farmer. If that’s the criterior to make the hall then there are hundreds of other players that should make it.i remember him playing. He beat my sixes in 77”

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Walton was fairly complete - but not QUITE as complete as Bird overall. Definitely a team player - but so was Bird. There's an argument there - but Walton's edge was he was enough bigger to also be an effective shot blocker and intimidate in the paint, Bird was better outside the lane.

[@richdouglas2311]

The Basketball Hall of Fame NOT the NBA Hall of Fame. You MUST take into account other factors. How can you possibly ignore his college career. He was great.

[@robmckrobmck5567]

Yes, basketball has a HOF that isnt limited to the NBA. Thats why the NBA made the top 50 thing. Walton and Wilkes were on the frosh team that beat the defending NCAA Champion varsity in scrimmages, then won back to back 30-0 NCAA titles before they both lost their focus as seniors. Walton was three time POY, three time consensus All America, and twice NCAA tourney MOP on only back to back undefeated NCAA champs UCLA. These accolades alone put him in basketball HOF alongside Nancy Lieberman, Oscar Schmidt, and MJ

[@anonymouscitizen8920]

Who came here to watch this right after Bill Walton's death? RIP Bill Walton

[@nyestrovicpenchkofferberge3407]

Oh, I didn't look at the date this was made...great timing for this video even if he didn't agree that he was a top 50 player.

[@danknox9986]

Personally Bill Walton was the best player I ever played basketball against. He was in High School at the time and he never lost a game.

[@timodonnell5371]

🧢

[@caryriggs5719]

I love Shaquille. Great personality and a very dominant big man. Not even close to the most skilled however. Walton was a better passer, shooter, rebounder and defender and definitely made other players better. Both players are in the what if category. What if Shaq dedicated himself. He could have been the greatest. He wasn't. He had prime years he wasted. He didn't improve. The years in Cleveland and Boston when he couldn't run and jump as injuries and excessive weight grounded him he did not have any learned skills to fall back on. Loveable big man for sure but not the skills of Walton, Kareem, Hakeem, or Jockic or Wilt,and Russell.

[@zu0832]

Shaq had trouble w free throws...wouldn't try shooting underhanded because it was sissy...yet Wilt shot underhanded

[@basilsimsuangco9164]

Dennis Rodman dominated and schooled Shaq in a playoffs. Mr Bill Walton dominated in High School 49-0..in UCLA 86-4..Not a one tricked Pony who was always a second banana in every team 🙄😅👍🏼

[@tonyczapla3880]

A healthy Walton was among the greatest big men of all time. RIP Big Red...

[@bruce4303]

Could not have said it better...

[@bobke114]

@@zu0832 I would add The Chief to that list. I winner and stayed healthy and played very high level for a long time.

[@davidpeters3857]

Big Bill was incredible when injury free

[@veerchasm1]

Ask the co-pilot Roger about having to drag Walton up and down the court… ✈️

[@rprevolv]

Nice reference

[@wvu05]

Roger Murdock was a great co-pilot, but he'd been hearing that nonsense since UCLA.

[@user-kh2ig7ew3w]

"Tell your Dad to try draggin' Walton & Lanier up & do down the court for 40 minutes!"

[@wvu05]

@@user-kh2ig7ew3w *old man *48

[@kennyhuskisson2684]

Roger that👍✌️

[@Kaharris.96]

He averaged 18-19-5 in the '77 Finals. Anybody who thinks this dude was weak is brain dead.

[@stump4522]

What a monster double double machine! 😮

[@zachgates7491]

On their ESPN show, Charles Barkley called Shaquille, Mr. Sensitive. When Bill Walton was critical of Shaquille’s play, he became Mr. Hyper Sensitive.

[@user-mz3pd8tk9g]

Walton was the most fundamentally sound center. Shaq was big. Period.

[@GregHalvorson]

Bill Walton was the leader of the band, a cosmic optimist, always smiling, and, ALWAYS, making others smile… A marvelous basketball player, he was an equally marvelous person, a guy who genuinely cared for others, and made it a point to put them first. ❤

[@robmckrobmck5567]

Due to a major stuttering problem, Bill was painfully shy and would give the press one syllable replies using 6 syllables. wi wi wi wi wi win. After he got cured, a seemingly introverted kid all his life proved to be an extrovert as an adult

[@Worklikeyoushouldbe]

RIP Bill you were a lot of fun to listen to!

[@ababner317]

Bill was a BEAST when he was on.

[@a.r.s978]

Being the first man to win mvp and a 6th man of the year is deserving to be on that list. Very rare accomplishment. Shaq has more rings him and Walton have the same amount of MVPs

[@mikedineen7857]

I think Wilt and Bill were the only players to block that SKYHOOK. RIP Bill.

[@stevek6518]

Bill Russell retired the year before Kareems rookie year. They never met on court. You mean Wilt, who did block the skyhook

[@mikedineen7857]

@@stevek6518 I meant Bill Walton

[@jasonwise078]

He's always gonna be considered an all timer its been etched in stone for a long time now

[@wvu05]

If it wasn't for the injuries, forget Top 50, he would have been Top 10. His peak was short, but it was so high that he deserves the flowers.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

If it wasn't for injuries, Walton would be the GOAT and little to no other competition for the spot.

[@willhooke]

Remember that Bill Walton won a ring as the best player on the team This separates him from Hill + TMac IMO

[@josemanuelcaballero1162]

Also from Shaq. He would nt have rings if it werent for Kobe. Kobe was the real leader.

[@jackbombay1423]

@@josemanuelcaballero1162 Shaq was posting 35 and 15 on those finals, yeah... it was because of Kobe he won. LOL!

[@randyshields9800]

Walton was the original "Big Fundamental" -- excellent passer, rebounder, scorer and defender. Read what John Wooden thought about Walton.

[@tommyrawlings3046]

When healthy in his absolute prime, Walton was the best ever! After winning the title with Portland, the next year, they were 50-10 on the way to another title when he broke his foot & was never the same!

[@chuckstruzzieri8397]

The game against the Lakers at the Garden... Walton had 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks in 16 MINUTES!!!! That’s Insane

[@derkwayne1833]

He was a finals MVP. NUFF SAID!!!

[@varj7]

Walton was amazing! He had it all and made it look so easy. His feet couldn’t handle his talent. Endless surgeries robbed Bill of a full career and also robbed the fans of one one the greatest to ever step on the court. Hard to compare Walton with his limited career, to many great centers that played some many more seasons. It’s just good to hear him in the conversation, which brings back so many fond memories.

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

Walton was the greatest college player of all time. He made the top 50 players list before he even entered the NBA. You young guys don't remember, but a star college player used to come into the league as a sure thing and be dominant immediately. The college game was so much better when players played four years before turning pro.

[@forshigity5000]

Pistol Pete was the greatest college player of all time

[@jamestownstudios8543]

Big Dog Robinson might have something to say about that.

[@billmorrison9068]

The NBA game was better too.

[@billmorrison9068]

Kareem was the greatest college player or all time, with Walton a very close #2.

[@billmorrison9068]

@@forshigity5000 That's overstating it. Maravich was never known as a winner.

[@terryhill4732]

Walton was 22 of 23 vs. Memphis State in the National Championship game in the early 70's

[@salleone7649]

Shaq has always come off as unjustifiably condescending toward other players when you consider how his career was built on his overwhelming size, not his JV high school level skill set.

[@markleeman9932]

Yep😊

[@gailshepard-cook6350]

Totally agree. The Best Thing He was Good at was Jumping Up Grabbing The Rim So He Could Show Off Bending The Rim Because Of His Freakish Size & Fat.

[@FoxUnitNell]

His mental skills were pretty on point too making sure to add some muster on a finish to demoralize the opponents and pick up his team.

[@RussellHouston-wv5wn]

Couldn't agree more,wilt would have destroyed him!😮

[@yoe91]

His skillset was pretty good actually, but that's besides the point. He talks about how dominant a center is and how good a career he's had, and in both he is certainly far ahead of Walton.

[@kapla2004]

Shaq has such low self-esteem lol

[@user-lu6qn5sh7j]

Love and peace! A great human being !! Bill Walton! Thanks for all your enthusiasm, encouragement and inspiration!

[@ergoat]

How many other superstars, who had their careers cut short by injuries, won a ring, a Finals MVP and a MVP? There are a lot of what ifs in the All Time What If List, but Walton stands alone in that when he was healthy, he was winning championships. Period.

[@brianjoseph8754]

It's what Walton did in college that puts him in the top 50 and 75 ball player of all time, it's between him and Kareem as to who was the greatest college player of all time

[@jvidr]

Shaq could have fouled Bill and assaulted him, but not defend against him when Big Bill was at his best.

[@erik15th]

And what do you think he couldve did with SHAQ at anytime in his career???????? Absolutely NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thomasmichaels6850]

Rest in Peace Big Bill. He was more than a great basketball player. The pride of Helix High, and a true ambassador for the city of San Diego. Just a good human being, someone we can all learn from.

[@bobjames5264]

Come on, bruh. Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady had longer primes, but they never won a championship. In the short time he had, Bill Walton was an integral part of TWO championships, and also won an MVP award, which neither G. Hill nor T-Mac did. There’s no reason to compare.

[@yoe91]

I agree, and on that topic I think Mcgrady is unjustifiably overrated. He was a great scorer, but that's it. He wasn't a great player. Never made it deep in the playoffs. NBA greatness is measured by the playoffs.

[@wmden1]

I agree. I don't remember either player rebounding, defending, blocking shots, or passing, anywhere near as well as Walton. We have to consider play quality at both ends of the court.

[@no1uknugamingchannel]

I think he's top 75....not top 50 (sub in Dominique Wilkins 👍)

[@teogotdasauce4233]

And he won that finals MVP he got the dreadful city of Portland there only chip as well

[@jorad4887]

Bill always had a smile on his face, full of life and spirits

[@Crizzy4141]

I saw Bill Walton play many games for UCLA and in the NBA ( Blazers & Celts)... He was a dominating force inside and a fantastic defender, rebounder & passer. What a SMART and KIND man. Bill had a very strong will to win and he usually did...

[@linkercasas1004]

There have only been 35 different regular-season MVPs and 54 different NBA Finals MVPs. Bill Walton joined those list 3 seasons into his career. He also led the league in rebounds and blocks at least once. That body of work already speaks volumes about his greatness. Assuming a relatively healthy career, Bill would probably be mentioned as one of the top 15-20 players to ever play-if not higher.

[@Bluejacket4life2]

But he didnt have a healthy career and he shouldnt be on the top 50 & 75 player....2 seasons 3 at the most

[@linkercasas1004]

@@Bluejacket4life2 I hear what you mean. Whether Walton deserves to be on the list because of such a short peak is understandable. I think he does-just because he was so extraordinary regarding his play and accomplishments while he was healthy during his first three seasons. One thing that can't be debated is from a pure talent standpoint-Bill Walton EASILY is within the top 50 players ever to play.

[@aidangibbons4131]

agree, he'd prob be in that borderline top 10 range comparable with KD, KG, Jerry West, Oscar, etc. But perhaps higher...

[@Bluejacket4life2]

We dont base a hall of fame career on 3 seasons and we don't assume a healthy career for a hall of fame player

[@linkercasas1004]

@@Bluejacket4life2 so my impression is that you in the voting committee? Please tell me more about what the criterion is.

[@kennethbrady]

Greatness and skill and beauty does NOT depend on longevity. The solar eclipse we just witnessed does not happen every day - but it is still a sublime, epic, transcendental experience. Just like Walton, RIP.

[@Hisservant-uh6ji]

Your a man that who has looked beyond all the smoke and mirrors of life and seen that a mans' greatness and skill has nothing to do with his longevity but who he is as a person.

[@MTXSHO9732vV8SHO]

1:40 I had a chance to be around Bill Walton as he was "rehabbing" with the Clippers in 1983 at a Basketball Camp for High Schoolers with the Sonics Defensive Coach and many coaches from around the So. Cal area. Bill Walton hit that shot, pivoting in either direction from either side of the court for 15 minutes straight, every shot off the glass. Go find me one guy in the league that can do that right now on two, good feet.

[@waltereaton4420]

RIP Bill. I watched you from UCLA to Portland, San Diego then Boston. You belonged big guy!

[@otisgreer8429]

I look at him like I look at Gale Sayers. When he was healthy, he was good as anyone. End of discussion.

[@ehoffman2260]

Exactly right.

[@thehaughtcorner]

They were both brilliant. Just breathtaking.

[@fv1291]

He was a wonderful neighbor, a gentle giant.

[@acekapone1367]

San Diego’s Own.. RIP CHAMP

[@prairiemark4084]

Jabbar called Bill "Dr Scholles." Hilarious. Fourty-four playoff points with only one missed field goal. Unbelievable. Did Shack ever do that? Bill had a better and more frequent smile than Shack. I liked that smile.

[@randysandberg5615]

Bill was MVP of the league. Every other MVP is in the HOF. So is Bill. When he was healthy, he was fantastic on both ends of the court.

[@piemuggs]

I feel like if his name was Will Balton, he never would have got injured.

[@yoe91]

That's the sort of sensible wisdom I come for on these comment sections.

[@ezsmith3765]

Or if he was black Shaq would have zero issue with him. 🤷🏻 Facts are facts

[@piemuggs]

Yeah, but we were just talking about the potential durability of a man named Will Balton

[@zeetty]

Yeah but he would have had zeros for career statistics.

[@treystyles3760]

If Mr Ice man George Gervin says he was special and validates it..I have no argument. He doesn't give credit easily and has credentials.

[@timhughes9855]

George is a good man. I love that his point of comparison was his running mate, Special K. Kenon is one of the most underrated players of all time. It says a lot that George was so impressed by how Walton played agains Kenon in the NCAA finals.

[@roxydejaneiro5640]

Someone who plays 20 years is automatically twice as good as someone who plays 10? Who cares how long? When they played, how good were they? Duration is a question of value to a franchise, not how well they played.

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

If you’re trying to build an all-time best team to run as many consecutive seasons as possible, then you don’t want Bill Walton. But if you’re trying to build a team of all-time greats for one dream game, then Bill Walton definitely belongs in the conversation.

[@surfdocer103]

Could not have said it better. Walton was the best passing center in history.

[@DenOndeMister]

Jokic exists man

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

@@sactownchad Jokic might be a better passer, but is he a better center? He’d prolly be a PF or even SF if he was playing back in the day, with his mediocre rebounding and almost complete lack of any shotblocking whatsoever.

[@timhughes9855]

@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers "Mediocre rebounding"? Reality check: Jokic is #35 all-time in rebounds per game. He's averaging 12.2 this season, which is 4th in the league. The last two years he was 2nd in the league. Dude's one of the best rebounders in the game.

[@stevesmith2171]

It's a lot easier to rebound when most of the team is outside of the paint. There's no inside game anymore. It's apples to oranges. We know all of the older players could rebound in today's game conditions. We do not know if he could when the elbows were flying. ​@@timhughes9855

[@jasonpdsi]

If Bill had remained healthy, they would be talking about Shaq chasing HIS records.

[@Hisservant-uh6ji]

Whether it is the young Shaq or the old Shaq the man will not ever be happy until at least in his mind he is called the greatest center of all. A man's greatness is a reflection of who he is not what he thinks he is in his own mind.

[@abdoulayetandia2175]

This guy stayed a great player a legend of world basketball not only USA basketball of course he was ruined by injuries but enthusiasm energy are his signature the big fella and Walton are high in ucla basketball achievements respect

[@ChinaAikikai]

Saw him play in college. Wow. Wow. Wow. Top 50/75 easily. Overcoming all those injuries to win another chip? Wow

[@billmorrison9068]

The 1980s beautiful game as typified by Magic and Bird, was pioneered by Bill Walton, his passing, and his will to win.

[@kennethbrady]

Great insight.

[@ericpitt-bey3005]

There are rules and then there are exceptions to rules. Walton was a true NBA exception. He actually deserves all of the accolades he has received despite his lack of actual games played. Walton achieved in his 2-3 relatively full seasons everything that many superstar players failed to throughout their entire lengthy careers (i.e an MVP award, a finals championship and MVP award, and a most inspiring Sixth Man award). When Walton helped The Celtics beat the Lakers in '86 he actually should have been the Comeback Player Of The Year as well.

[@bobbresnahan8397]

Bill had his legs under him and he could jump fast. He was incredible. Made you think about how the game was played. Kareem and Bill. He really was something before his injury. Good after, but really great before.

[@davidschortner7439]

He lived in the hills above a Portland park that had the best pick-up games in town. Sometimes he would come down and play. I never got to play in a game he was in and the only time I talked to him was on a cloudy morning when I was alone shooting and he walked by, I didn't ask him to join me because he was on crutches, his Blazer heyday was over. He was the best I ever saw until I watched Bird came to town and play left-handed. Bird scored 47.

[@williamthurlow6675]

RIP BILL WALTON!! Amazing College player and NBA PLAYER !

[@ronnietil7086]

Walton, was a beast before the injuries!! he could play facing the basket with his back towards the basket able to run the floor awesome post moves with a strong jump hook..

[@Richard-mh5ll]

Bill Walton was a fantastic human being and a very good player. I saw him play for the Boston Celtics in 1986! What a team killer lineup and legendary players! I was born the same year RIP Bill!

[@jcaff6963]

Nice review, thanks.

[@stevenhaun9837]

Short but Sweet ❣️💪💯 Big Red 🙏🏼

[@richkunkiewicz9070]

One of the best players ever barring injuries and even a better person. RIP.

[@anonymike8280]

After having seen Bill Walton play at UCLA in the televised games, I remember, when I saw him with Boston, again on television, not live, how I thought he looked so old in comparison. Now he looks pretty young to me. Of course, in the NBA, he was playing against a different level of competition and couldn't do on every play what he did in college, but I can see here that even at the age of 33, he still could play his game. His Sixth Man of the Year award was earned, it wasn't just given to him for old times sake. Who knows if Boston would have won the 1986 championship without him. Walton was about four-and-a-half years younger than me and he always had been. Even by today's standards, he didn't die inordinately young, but it still stuck me as incongruous when I heard of his passing. If you saw him play at UCLA, you would think, if there ever was a guy who was supposed to be forever young, he was the one. But not.

[@MartinHMyers]

Shaq, large in stature but small as a person!

[@vakp799]

These comments were years ago.If you hear Shaq talking about Bill now it's nothing more than respect.

[@MartinHMyers]

@@vakp799 He is to sensitive about all these bogus arguments of "goat" or best center. Shaq was a once in a lifetime player and of the all-time greats.

[@LKaramazov]

“ GRANT HILL”?????? I can see McGrady being in the conversation, but even he didn’t have a finals MVP! But GRANT HILL! Look, I’m a Bad Boy, I was excited when we got him, but he did t do SQUAT for us, he was TERRIBLE! After that, I consider him a journeyman. I dont see how anyone could mention Bill Walton with his college career, winning with Portland, and the Cetics in the same breath as Grant Hill. I’m flabbergasted.

[@timhughes9855]

I don't like the comparison with McGrady and Hill either. But don't you think you're being too hard on Hill? He was a fantastic player. And, by the way, he won as many NCAA championships (two) as Walton did...

[@LKaramazov]

@@timhughes9855 i don’t think so, even before he hurt himself,he never did anything for the pistons, and I never saw him as a dominant player on any team. I don’t think he ever could have led an NBA team to a ring like Walton did. To ME he was a good role player at best. We used a pretty high draft pick on him, and he really never showed any promise. I seem to be in a severe minority opinion, I understand that, but I was never impressed with him as an nba player. To bring up hills college career against Walton? C’mon, Walton was the NCAA player of the year all three years he played went to the finals three times and won twice, and lost the third time in OT. he was the NCAA tournament MVP twice and the NBA finals MVP. Hill was the ACC player of the year ONCE. There’s simply no comparison between Hill and Walton, but again, that’s my opinion., and I won’t belittle you for not having my opinion.

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

It's a shame that Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden all lost their prime due to injury.

[@rkcraig348]

Man, when you lay it out like that, just how damn cursed are the Trailblazers? So much greatness lost to injury. I'm a life-long Lakers fan, but I still have to admit how much that sucks just for the game of basketball itself. SMH

[@Diaz23]

None of those guys could hold Waltons jock strap. Bill actually delivered a championship. They didn’t do shit for the Blazers

[@ernestb4473]

@@willschrank As a born and raised Chicagoan, I thank Portland for taking Bowie. But I actually understand why they took him. They already had Drexler from the draft the year before, who was virtually the same guy a Jordan. So it was time to get a big man. Hakeem went first, so Bowie was the next best thing. If Portland didn't take Bowie, then the Bulls would have grabbed him with the third pick, so once again, I thank Portland for taking Bowie.

[@jyy9624]

​@@Diaz23more appropriate comparison would be Ralph Sampson

[@jyy9624]

​@@Diaz23more apt comparison would be Ralph Sampson

[@syedshamrezrehanshahkazmi3324]

He deserves that position - funny how Shaq was against him being on the top50 since a lot great centers didn't want the young Shaq on the 50 greatest including Wilt. Anyways he deserves that position because of his amazing career but more importantly because he was voted in by BBall Legends like Wilt, Bill, Bird, Magic, Oscar, etc.

[@albertjimenez7896]

Bill Walton was an elite player on both ends of the floor, with barely any weaknesses aside from injuries. There are only a select few players who can be compared to him in this regard.

[@dougoeffling2677]

Shaq should have had 20 offensive fouls called against him every game if the refs had any balls!

[@charlesbromberick4247]

Walton was fabulous. An just by-the-way, Bill belongs in the top 25.

[@user-qs2br2jl4x]

By the NBA stats Bill Walton was just average player.

[@charlesbromberick4247]

@@user-qs2br2jl4x Stats are just part of the story - like in the caseb of Roberto Clemente.

[@user-qs2br2jl4x]

@@charlesbromberick4247 Bill Walton NBA stats are not that great. He average 13.3 PPG. There is at least 350 current or ex NBA players average 13.3 PPG. He was just average NBA player. He has great personality and he got popularity. He was also many years NBA TV commentator. I like him as a person. Numbers don't lea. How you can put someone with average NBA stats to be in top 25 players. What about 350 players who have better stats than him. That doesn't make any sense What you were saying.

[@charlesbromberick4247]

@@user-qs2br2jl4x The four best NBA centers in order are: Wilt, Russel, Kareem and THe Big Redhead - and you can take that to the bank!

[@user-qs2br2jl4x]

@@charlesbromberick4247 Not even close with his NBA stats.Numbers don't lea.

[@jvidr]

Well, first off, I idolized Bill Walton. I idolized Joe Namath also who some say doesn’t deserve hall of fame status. Sometimes it’s not just stats that make a player special and admired by the crowds. Sometimes it’s impact. Bill and Broadway Joe made legacies in their own special way. And the world loved them.

[@RitaSora]

My dream was to hang out for a day with Bill Walton, Jeff Van Gundy and Charles Barkley all at the same time. A day of non stop laughs! Thank You Bill for the great play. I really loved your broadcasting on NBC and for you being such a nice person.Great to see you at the All-Star game this year.Love You until Forever!! You will be Missed so much!! Your fan since day one.❤😢

[@MrBez007]

I remember when the 50 greatest players were announced, reading an interview with bob mcadoo and he was saying he was the only legue mvp left of the list. His point of view was the selectors should have picked all the mvp's then selected the rest. I see where he is coming from and by mcadoo reconing walton belonged.

[@LKaramazov]

Did Shaq just compare Walton to Ostertag? No one ever said Shaq didn’t know how to troll.

[@ergoat]

Which is funny, because the Jazz went 4-0 and 4-1 against the Shaq-led Lakers. Absolutely diced O'Neal with the pick and roll. So Shaq, being insecure, picks on Ostertag.

[@LKaramazov]

@@ergoat just like he used to attack Yao for no reason whatsoever! Even that song about Kobe was SO unnecessary🤣!

[@oscarwarren469]

I remember David Thompson..pinning his shot on the glass board inthe college playoffs...he rebounded it😂

[@troybailey6904]

Shaq, I love your game but you brought not 1 NCAA title to your School. You were not a Team Leader without a Point Guard.

[@sharonjones9248]

I'm from SC I've been a Celtic fan since the seventies loved him and the team

[@OxCart78]

I think what puts Walton up there is his college career but what he did for the Trailblazers, how he did it and the ring he won.

[@skillywilly187]

Don't forget sixth man boston nineteen eighty six... He pulled them through

[@CoachDarren]

I seen Bill play when he was healthy and Bill was a beasts on the floor. Let's never underestimate that healthy version of Walton. High School,, college and pros. And of course unfortunately we couldn't see more of the pro version.

[@rickhoro]

I remember rooting for Walton during his UCLA days and experiencing the disappointment at his injury filled career. Same with Pistol Pete. I think he was a great player, but I have to agree with you about him probably not deserving top 50 or 75 all time players, but only because of the injuries. Otherwise, no question in my mind that he would have been up there.

[@rickweston8289]

I watched or listened to almost all of the Celtics' games in '85-'86 (seven in the old Garden). That team truly was in the stratosphere, and Bill Walton was a big reason for it. And I remember his career in college as well (he had four years on me). I think he deserves to be on the 50- and 75-year teams, but I understand the injury caveat. But let me say that I don't think he earns those teams on the logic of the "what might have been," but rather of the what was: his career, stunted though it was, was still one of extraordinary talent, brilliance, and hard work. He was an absolute joy to watch.

[@pierovittori1076]

To me prime Bill has been the epytome of modern center, some type of player two or three decades ahead of his time. He was the epytome of players' player too, outmarting everyone else on the floor with speed of thought first of all.

[@ErnestPorter-wl1cx]

Bill Walton was the man when he was Heathy. Without his injuries he definitely was a top 50 Greatest NBA player

[@tucsonairbrush3233]

Bill Walton, aka the "Mountain Man" in 1977 was simply unstoppable. This tall, lanky white man with a reddish beard single-mindedly overwhelmed all who would get in his way, and in his team's way. My beloved 76ers led by the incomparable Dr. J proved no exception. As a force of nature he willed his teams to win! Brother, you are sorely remiss not to include Walton in your list of all-time greats, his fragile feet-hampered career notwithstanding. I guess one must witness greatness firsthand in real time as I did in the case of Bill Walton in 1977 as a 12-year old fan glued to the TV NBA Finals, in order to truly appreciate the absolute dominating phenomenon that he was. Plus, as a human being full of life and compassion towards helping others, and in his commitment towards social justice, few can match Bill. "The magic begins when the selfishness ends," (I paraphrase the late, and truly great Mr. Bill Walton).

[@TheGame-zd5cj]

big red was a shooting star. he lit up the NBA sky but only for a few years. his HS career was impressive and his college career was unparalleled. his accomplishments in the NBA, albeit short, cannot be diminished as seen by the awards and championships he accomplished. for the time that I watched him play and to this day, i have not seen another player with the skills this man displayed. in my book, top 50.

[@Naif19th]

Bill Walton and Kwahi Leonard recognition looks similar

[@ekayaniperforms]

He was a nice guy and people appreciate that

[@user-pe7ts8hg2y]

Best college basketball player I ever saw.

[@user-mi8nb9rq3k]

The Legend has been called home today (May 27th, 2024), he played like a well-oiled machine! R.I.Paradise big fella! 🏀😢B❤W😢🏀