Bill Walton Dead at 71

psuro

Heisman
Aug 24, 2001
9,844
21,648
113
Damn. I know his commentary was not always appreciated, but I enjoyed it.

However, I still hate him for the 1977 NBA finals against the Sixers.

RIP, Bill. What a Long Strange Trip It's Been.

grateful dead touch of grey GIF
 

CaptM

Senior
Dec 4, 2022
387
583
93
RIP Bill Walton. He was my favorite basketball players and personalities of all time. I read his memoir a couple years ago, Back From The Dead. Obviously a take on his life as a Deadhead. It’s a good read that details his many injuries and recoveries as well as his times at UCLA and in the NBA.

You are correct @hohmadw1978 , his performance against Memphis is legendary.
 

Auxgym

Senior
Oct 3, 2002
509
638
93
Damn. I know his commentary was not always appreciated, but I enjoyed it.

However, I still hate him for the 1977 NBA finals against the Sixers.

RIP, Bill. What a Long Strange Trip It's Been.

grateful dead touch of grey GIF
I thought his commentary was hilarious and will miss him. The last thing I need to hear is the likes of Doris Burke constantly spew her X's and O's drool.. RIP Hippie.
 
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MrTailgate

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
992
1,834
93
It’s interesting that when you think of all time NBA greats, most trend towards more recent players. But when you think of great College players, you think of the old guys. Obviously, the one and done’s don’t resonate as much. For me, the best I ever saw at the college level-

1- Alcindor (Kareem)
1b - Walton
3- David Thompson
4- Maravich

5- This one is tough. It’s easy to say Bird or Magic. Maybe Hakeem. For one year, Ken Durrett was other worldly and was as good as anyone. But I will say my #5 was Len Bias.

The Big Redhead though was as skilled a player that I ever saw. What a career, what a life.
 
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LionJim

Heisman
Oct 12, 2021
16,605
22,808
113
It’s interesting that when you think of all time NBA greats, most trend towards more recent players. But when you think of great College players, you think of the old guys. Obviously, the one and done’s don’t resonate as much. For me, the best I ever saw at the college level-

1- Alcindor (Kareem)
1b - Walton
3- David Thompson
4- Maravich

5- This one is tough. It’s easy to say Bird or Magic. Maybe Hakeem. For one year, Ken Durrett was other worldly and was as good as anyone. But I will say my #5 was Len Bias.

The Big Redhead though was as skilled a player that I ever saw. What a career, what a life.
Wow, a great top five. I think you have tabbed Lenny Bias just about right. He was a force at both ends of the floor. Actually, I’d put him above Maravich and if you give this some careful thought you can make a case towards Bias being above Thompson as well. Thompson was more spectacular, though.
 
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MrTailgate

All-Conference
Oct 19, 2021
992
1,834
93
Wow, a great top five. I think you have tabbed Lenny Bias just about right. He was a force at both ends of the floor. Actually, I’d put him above Maravich and if you give this some careful thought you can make a case towards Bias being above Thompson as well. Thompson was more spectacular, though.
SkyWalker gets my nod since he won a title and dethroned mighty UCLA in doing so. For youngins, there might not be all the talk about Jordan if Bias had lived. Just imagine Bias and a healthy Bird together for 6-8 years. Bias was that good.

It’s a different sport, but Bill Bradley should not be forgotten. He was the perfect college player. A tad more recent, Grant Hill was a spectacular college player.
 

psuro

Heisman
Aug 24, 2001
9,844
21,648
113
It’s interesting that when you think of all time NBA greats, most trend towards more recent players. But when you think of great College players, you think of the old guys. Obviously, the one and done’s don’t resonate as much. For me, the best I ever saw at the college level-

1- Alcindor (Kareem)
1b - Walton
3- David Thompson
4- Maravich

5- This one is tough. It’s easy to say Bird or Magic. Maybe Hakeem. For one year, Ken Durrett was other worldly and was as good as anyone. But I will say my #5 was Len Bias.

The Big Redhead though was as skilled a player that I ever saw. What a career, what a life.
Intersting factoid....even though UCLA had a great run starting in the 1960s, the University of Seattle put more players in the NBA in teh 1960s than any other program - including the vaunted UCLA Bruiins.
 

Erial_Lion

All-American
Nov 1, 2021
4,300
5,094
113
When discussing greatest college players, I'd definitely have Christian Laettner right near the top.
 
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