Ranking the top 50 players in NBA history…
Imagine what Walton’s Hall of Fame career would have looked like without so many injuries!
Despite a myriad of physical problems throughout his 10 seasons (1974-87) with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clipper and Boston Celtics, Walton put together an unbelievable resumé, which includes two championships (1977, 1986) and the 1978 NBA MVP award,
Simply put, Walton was one of the best passing big men of all time. He was proficient in every other area of the game, too, averaging 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocks per game over 468 career contests, shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
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His physical peak, of course, was 1976-78. In the 1976-77 season, Walton averaged 18.6 points, 14.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, leading Portland to its only title in franchise history and pickup up Finals MVP.
A superstar at UCLA under John Wooden, Walton’s versatility at 6-foot-11 with elite court vision and shot-blocking would have made him dominant in any era, including today.
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Chronic foot injuries started eating away at Walton during the 1980s, but he still gutted it out for an impressive stint with the Celtics, which saw him win the 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year Award on the way to his second ring.
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Walton’s counterculture persona and impossible-not-to-love charisma made him a broadcasting star in the years following his playing career.
Walton will never be forgotten, and he changed the idea of what a center in the NBA can be, more than most modern fans realize.
Featured image via Dick Raphael/USA TODAY Sports