2023-24 Season - Player Spotlight: Bill Walton, Part 1

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Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.

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In this episode I'll be doing my play of spotlight on the late great Bill Walton.

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So we'll go through his basketball playing days and then of course his life as a commentator

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as well.

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Just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

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Okay guys it's your boy GD back with All Things Basketball with GD Podcasts and right about

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now guys wanted to do this.

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I did an IG live kind of giving you a little head start on what I'm going to cover this

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week and that's going to be the passing of the late great Bill Walton.

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So we'll do our play of spotlight on him and all that he's accomplished along the way and

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of course give our condolences and so forth.

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So without any further delay let's get right into it.

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Born William Theodore Walton III, Bill Walton, one of the great centers who really played

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the game but you know injuries really robbed him of what we could have seen from him.

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You know you think of passing centers like Nikolai Jokic, I can even go as far back as

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guys like Alvin Adams, guys like that who could pass out of the posts but Bill Walton

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was the prototype when it came to that.

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You just love getting his teammates involved and of course when need be he takes the scoring

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upon himself.

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So with that said and then of course injuries, 38 surgeries he's had in his lifetime.

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So that just tells you all you need to know.

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So with that said like I said Bill Walton, born November 5th, 1952, listed as 611 but

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a lot of people joke, excuse me, a lot of people say oh there's no way he's just 611,

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he has to be 7 feet.

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He never wanted to be listed as 7 feet because being a 7 footer he thought there was a kind

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of I guess you could say kind of a stigma put on guys that are 7 feet and taller so

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he always considered himself to be 611 although he was taller than that.

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But nonetheless like I said born November 5th, 1952 in La Mesa, California and that's

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in the San Diego area.

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His parents, William Theodore Jr. also known as Ted and his dad was 6'4 guys.

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He was a music teacher and also a social worker and his mom Gloria Ann but she's known as

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by her nickname Hickey.

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And guys his mom was 5'10 so you're talking about right there his genes dictated that

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he was going to be a tall young man so and his mom worked as a librarian.

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So that's his parents and then his siblings, his brother Bruce who also played football.

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I'll talk about him in a few also his sister Kathy and other brother Andy.

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Bill's interest as a youngster was music, the arts, literature and politics because

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that was handed down to him from his parents and actually his dad formed a family band

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around the age they were in junior high school and high school.

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And in that band Bruce would play the trombone.

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His brother Andy on the saxophone.

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Kathy she was multi-dimensional she could play the drums she could play tuba and she

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gave him play the flute as well.

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And Bill he would play the baritone horn.

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So very talented family there as you can see.

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Bill's first taste of organized basketball came at the age of 8.

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He played in elementary school playing under Frank Graziano otherwise known as Rocky Graziano.

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And he taught him the teen concept and how to make basketball fun and get everyone involved.

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Bill as he was growing up very shy very reserved.

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He also had a stuttering condition guys that he had up until the age of 28.

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Also Bill would listen to the radio.

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And on the radio in that round that time was Chick Hearn he would call the Laker game.

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So Bill getting his early taste of basketball listening to the transistor radio which I

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know a lot of you young folks are like what transistor radio that's how they listen to

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basketball back in those days when he was coming up.

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Not many families had TVs and so forth.

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So there's that.

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So we fast forward guys to high school.

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He went on to play at Helix High School and that's in the La Mesa area of California.

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Bill started out as a 6-1 kid and then before all was said and done when he graduated he

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was at 6-11.

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And Bill was plagued by injuries early on guys.

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He had a broken ankle, broken leg, bones in his feet, broken bones in his feet.

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Also torn cartilage in his knee.

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In fact he I believe it was his sophomore to junior season where he had well I believe

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it was sophomore year where he had to he got injured.

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So he had to kind of rest himself and then doing that he grew additional five inches.

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So he comes in 6-1 next thing you know he's 6-6.

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And also guys Bill played with his older brother on the team.

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His brother was a year older than him.

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And his brother Bruce let me tell you guys he was 6-6, 250 pounds whereas Bill was a kind

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of a rail at about 210 or so.

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And Bruce would be Bill's enforcer.

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Anytime the other team you know try some dirty tactics.

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Bruce would come in there and handle business.

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So guys during Bill's two varsity seasons those were his healthy years and that would

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be his junior and senior year in fact.

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Bill amassed the record of 62 and two guys including 49 straight games that he won.

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And then doing so they will win two state championships guys.

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And Bill played under the tutelage of Gorton Nash.

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And then one of his early mentors as well was a guy named Ernie Vanderbilt.

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Ernie Vanderway and the name Vanderway.

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Yes, this is the dad of Kiki Vanderway who ended up playing basketball as well.

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So like I said he won the two state championships.

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Guys this is what he, one of his games he would have 50 points 34 rebounds and nine blocks

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shots.

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And he did that against the number one team in California Pasadena.

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Pasadena High School.

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And guys in Bill's senior year he averaged 29 points per game, 25 rebounds.

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Doing it from the field are whopping 78.3%.

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So Bill dominating in high school.

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And actually his first national exposure would come in the magazine Sports Illustrated.

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They would have a section for faces in the crowd and they had a little blurb about Bill

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Walton.

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And this happened during his senior year, January 26, 1970 guys.

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So that's what Bill was doing in high school there.

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And little known fact, the San Diego Rockets at the time that that was a NBA franchise

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there that would later move to Houston and become the Houston Rockets.

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They would practice in the high school gymnasium there for Helix High School.

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And players on the team at that time was Elvin Hayes, Calvin Murphy, Pat Rowley when

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he was a player, Rudy Tom Johnovich when he was a player and Rick Adelman as well.

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All three of these guys.

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Legendary NBA coaches.

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And young Bill would have the keys to the gym because, you know, he want to go in there

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and practice.

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So you have these guys like Elvin Hayes, they would call Bill's house, asking for the

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key to the gym so they can get in there and play and so forth.

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And of course Bill would participate with those pros there.

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So getting the early taste of the NBA game built it.

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So during his time at Helix, of course, the all the colleges, the recruiters would come

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in and Denny Crum, who was a assistant at UCLA, he would later become the head coach

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at Louisville.

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He came down to see Bill play while he was in college.

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Actually he saw him during his junior year.

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And after watching him, Denny Crum went back to the legendary John Wooden and was singing

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the praises of the young Bill Walton saying he is the best high school basketball player

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that he's ever seen.

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And then as the story would go, actually I heard John Wooden say it himself.

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He said, calm down Denny.

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There's never been a great high school basketball player to come out of the San Diego area is

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what he said.

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So not cool even Denny Crum all that much.

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He said, I need to see for myself.

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John Wooden saw and he said, yeah, this guy is kid is pretty good.

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So with that said, of course, they would recruit Bill and low and behold, Bill decides to

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go to the University of California at Los Angeles, otherwise known as UCLA guys.

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And of course, he is now the successor to Lou Alcindor, who will become Korea, who was

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there the previous four years.

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And we know actually I did a play a spotlight on Korean last year, you can check it out.

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And he had a dominant run at UCLA.

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So in comes Bill Walton to the University.

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And oh, by the way, member Bill Walton's brother Bruce, he goes to the same college and plays

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football there.

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And he would later go to the NFL.

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Now, say a little something about that later.

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So Bill in his first season at UCLA actually as a freshman, the rules back then was the

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freshman couldn't play with the varsity team.

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So they would play.

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They bill would be on the freshman team.

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So on that team would be Bill Walton, a kid named Keith, Keith Wilts, who we now know

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as Jamal Wilts and Greg Lee.

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And they formed a mighty big three back then with Bill averaging six over 16 points per

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game of over 18 points per game 16 rebounds and Wilts 20 points.

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He would average and then Greg Lee, he averaged 17 points.

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The JV team would go undefeated guys.

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That's how good they were.

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And of course, playing for the legendary John Wooden.

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And you know, John Wooden, he has his pyramid of success, all his sayings and so forth that

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it gets drilled into those young men's heads.

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And of course, Bill would carry those words on into his pro career and pass it down to

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his sons as well.

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So with all of that said, now we enter his sophomore year.

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So Bill makes his varsity debut December 3, 1971 versus DeSenedo.

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And in his first game, UCLA wins 105 to 49.

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And in that game, Bill has 19 points and 14 rebounds.

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For the season, Bill would average over 21 points per game, 15 and a half rebounds, shooting

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it 64% from the field guys.

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They finished undefeated.

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They would go on to win the championship.

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And as a team, their average was 84.6 points per game and their opponents 64.3.

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So they were absolutely blowing people out of the water all year long.

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In that tournament, they would defeat Weber State 90 to 58, where also Long Beach State,

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they beat them.

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And Long Beach State was coached by Jerry Tartania at the time.

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We would later know him being at UNLV.

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So they beat them 73 to 57.

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And then Louisville, they would beat them 96 to 77 in a game where Bill Walton goes absolutely

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nuts.

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33 points, 21 rebounds.

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He would go 11 of 13 from the field and 11 of 12 from the free throw line.

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So Bill absolutely destroying Louisville.

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And guys, that was in the final four, in fact.

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So in the championship game, they would squeak by Florida State 81 to 76.

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And a game that was kind of nipping tuck until the latter part of the game, UCLA would take

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care of business.

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And in that game, Bill Walton would have 24 points and 20 rebounds.

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And thus getting the most outstanding player in the tournament and making the all-turning

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team.

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So Bill's first full year as a player, a rousing success, guys.

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So much so, he comes into camp for the following season.

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So he's riding high, guys.

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He comes in and during that summer, too, guys, he also got introduced to the band, The Grateful

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Dead.

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So once that happened, then came the love affair he had with the band, The Grateful

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Dead.

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So much so, he grew his hair out, and then he came back to camp.

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And of course, John Wooden, old school coach, he wants his guys clean cut, no facial hair,

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any of that stuff.

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So Bill comes in with his long hair, and John Wood says, what are you doing?

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Bill says, he's won a championship, since he was the most outstanding player in the

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tournament, all the accolades he got in his first year, he's figured, coach will give

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him a little slack and let him wear his hair long.

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No, no, no, John Wooden ain't having that.

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So here's what John Wooden says to him, because he refuses to cut his hair, he said, well,

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Bill, we're going to miss you.

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And with that, Bill jumps on his bike, he loves the bike guys, he's a cyclist.

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So he jumps on his bike, goes finds the local barber, gets him to cut his hair, even get

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the scissors himself to cut his hair off, and then 15 minutes later, he gets back to

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the gym and that's the story.

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So I guess that leeway didn't happen for him.

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All right, so let's go to his junior year.

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Junior year, pretty much a rousing success as well.

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30 straight games, he won.

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So so far, Bill in two seasons as a varsity player, no defeats guys, 60 and 0.

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Another championship, he would average on the season, 20.4 points per game, almost 17 rebounds

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and 65% from the field guys.

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So good gracious.

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And then in that year, they would average 81.3 points per game, the team would average

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and their opponents a little over 60 points per game.

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So again, they're crushing their opposition guys.

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And then that tournament guys, they defeat Arizona State 98 to 81, where Bill dominates

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yet again, 28 points with 14 rebounds.

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San Francisco, they beat them 54 to 39.

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Again, where Bill didn't play all that well guys, nine points with 14 rebounds.

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And then the final four against Indiana coached by the great Bob, the late great Bob Knight.

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70 to 59, where Bill has a game where he has 14 points, just seven rebounds, but he has

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nine assists.

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And then he has the ultimate game guys against Memphis State 87 to 66.

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This is a performance for the ages guys.

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44 points he scores on 21 of 22 shooting from the field.

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Good gracious.

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And then 13 rebounds to assist in a block.

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He does injure his knee late in that game and had to be carried off.

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Memphis State coached by Jean Bartow, legendary coach, and their main player there was Larry

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Keenan, but Bill absolutely destroys Memphis State, giving you one of the finest performance

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you'll ever see in a championship game.

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So your two years undefeated both years, right and high.

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Oh, by the way, he was the most outstanding player in the tournament yet again, and also

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on the all attorney team yet again.

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During the offseason, though, guys, he did get arrested during the offseason.

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And that was for being being part of the anti Vietnam war protests guys.

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So Bill very much aware what's going on and opposed to the Vietnam war, like a lot of

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college students at that time.

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Coach Wooden would have to bail Bill out of jail.

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And they had a talk and he, of course, John wouldn't express his disappointment and basically

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told Bill, you know, there's a better way of handling handling these sort of things.

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So yeah, so they didn't see I'd I in that regard.

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But nonetheless, that's what can you do.

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All right.

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So this is senior year guys.

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00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:10,920
He runs his win streak all the way up to 88 games.

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00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:20,480
So he has an 88 game win streak, which was snapped in a game against Notre Dame coach

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by.

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00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:28,480
Now we know him as a commentator digger felt.

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00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:39,560
And that was a 71 to 70 loss in a game where Bill, he had a very good first half second

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00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:46,160
half, he was MIA 24 points in the first half with nine rebounds and then scoreless in the

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second half.

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Mine you bill did injured his back like 11 days prior to that.

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So you have that there.

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00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:06,080
And then also two guys, Greg Lee was benched in the second half of that game.

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00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:16,840
So that many people say that that definitely played a role in what happened as far as the

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00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:18,600
game goes.

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So very critical there.

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00:26:23,060 --> 00:26:31,040
So they end up the year finishing actually 26 and four.

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00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:38,640
They would have a weekend where they had two consecutive losses guys on the road to Oregon

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00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:41,520
and Oregon State.

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For the year, Bill average above 19 points per game, nearly 15 rebounds, five and a half

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00:26:53,160 --> 00:27:00,440
assists because this was a year where assists were actually being recorded in college.

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00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:06,840
And then 66 and a half percent from the field guys.

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And Bill played in of those 30 games he played in 27.

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00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,280
So he missed three.

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00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:26,480
In the tournament guys, they end up defeating Dayton 111 to 101 where Bill has 27 points

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00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:36,720
with 19 rebounds and then also San Francisco, they beat them 83 to 60 in a game where Bill

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00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:41,880
has 17 points, nine rebounds for assists.

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00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:48,480
In the final four though guys, they would lose to North Carolina State and what was

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00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:52,120
a absolute barn burner guys.

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00:27:52,120 --> 00:27:57,120
They went into double overtime 80 to 70.

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00:27:57,120 --> 00:28:09,880
And in that game, Bill played 50 minutes scoring 29 points along with 18 rebounds and four assists.

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And this game is considered by a lot of people, one of the greatest tournament games and NCA

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00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:19,960
history.

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00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:25,080
Actually, they ranked it and it's 13th.

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00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,800
What happened with UCLA?

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00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,400
They had a five point lead down the stretch in regulation.

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00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,440
They lost that lost that lead.

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00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:40,360
And then in the second overtime, they had a seven point lead with state loss.

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00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:46,600
So Bill did make all tournament team there.

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00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,440
But UCLA, they come short.

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00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:55,880
So Bill has two championships as a collegiate player.

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Definitely something you can not underestimate for the most part.

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00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:18,920
As for his career, 86 and four.

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00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:26,080
So actually the 88 games win streak was the college's win streak.

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00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:27,400
So let me correct that.

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00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:32,320
It was the college's win streak, not his personal win streak.

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00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:39,640
And he goes, like I said, 86 and four during his college career.

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00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,140
Outstanding guys.

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00:29:41,140 --> 00:29:45,080
His career averages when all was said and done.

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Above 20 points per game.

288
00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:49,600
Nearly 16 rebounds.

289
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,040
Five and a half assists.

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00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:59,160
Probably more, but they started counting in his senior year and then over 65% from the

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00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,080
field guys.

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00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:09,840
So that is his career there with the UCL18.

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00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:14,280
Now we move forward to his time.

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Oh, before I even go there, many consider him the greatest college player ever.

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00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:29,280
Of course, among the likes of Luau Sender as well.

296
00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:34,040
He's in that stratosphere guys as a college player.

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00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:41,000
And during his time, the ABA came chasing after Bill Walton.

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00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:48,920
First in his after his junior year, the Dallas Chaperrals tried to recruit him.

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00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,760
They came in.

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00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,840
Briefcase full of money.

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00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:56,400
That didn't sway Bill.

302
00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:07,280
And then as a senior, the San Diego conquistadors came, came a knocking, trying to get Bill

303
00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,920
to come over to the ABA.

304
00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:17,720
And they sweetened the deal to guys by signing Wilch Chamberlain as a player slash coach.

305
00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:25,280
But again, Bill not having that his eyes are towards the NBA.

306
00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:33,760
So with that said, he enters the 1974 draft guys.

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00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:40,360
He's drafted number one overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.

308
00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:49,120
And in that draft guys, the number two pick Marvin Barnes, who goes, who gets drafted

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00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,160
by the Philadelphia 76ers.

310
00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:53,840
He actually doesn't go there.

311
00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,640
He goes to the ABA instead.

312
00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:00,360
Marvin Barnes does the fifth pick.

313
00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:04,680
Bobby Jones, he's drafted by the Houston Rockets.

314
00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,560
That's when they would make the move to Houston.

315
00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:14,160
Bobby Jones would also defect to the ABA.

316
00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:19,160
Then you have Campy Russell, who was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers at eight.

317
00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:23,000
Also Bill's teammate, Mar Wilkes.

318
00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:29,320
He gets drafted by the state warriors at pick number 11.

319
00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:32,880
And then Maurice Lucas drafted 14th.

320
00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:36,040
Bear that name in mind guys, Maurice Lucas.

321
00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:41,680
He would get drafted by Chicago via the New York Knicks pick.

322
00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:47,000
And then Maurice Lucas, he would go to the ABA.

323
00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:52,720
And then also Brian Winters, he's drafted by the LA Lakers at 12.

324
00:32:52,720 --> 00:33:01,400
And then late in the third round, George Gervin gets drafted by the Phoenix Suns.

325
00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:06,280
But George Gervin at the time was in the ABA playing for the Virginia Squires.

326
00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:10,480
He stays in the ABA.

327
00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:14,680
So Bill is now in the NBA.

328
00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:20,600
His first two seasons were pretty much a disaster guys.

329
00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,720
They were injury plagues seasons guys.

330
00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:29,880
Here's the injuries he amassed in those first two years.

331
00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,520
Broken wrist twice.

332
00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:37,320
Two dislocated toes.

333
00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:40,880
Two broken toes.

334
00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:45,040
Spray ankle and a leg injury.

335
00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:53,480
As a rookie, he only played in 35 of the 82 games.

336
00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:59,800
Adverting 12.8 points per game.

337
00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:02,120
12.6 rebounds.

338
00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:08,360
Nearly five assists shooting at 51.3% from the field.

339
00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:14,280
And also he was 2.7 blocks for him.

340
00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:19,760
His second season, oh by the way, he was coaching his first two seasons under legendary

341
00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,960
coach Lenny Wilkins.

342
00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:29,800
Although his two seasons here were nothing to sneeze at.

343
00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:34,200
It didn't go all that well for Lenny Wilkins.

344
00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:40,320
But Bill had a tremendous respect for Lenny Wilkins nonetheless.

345
00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:46,400
And in season two, 51 games he played in.

346
00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:50,560
And then his average over 16 points per game.

347
00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:54,240
13.4 rebounds.

348
00:34:54,240 --> 00:34:55,240
Over four assists.

349
00:34:55,240 --> 00:34:58,400
About a little over block and a half per game.

350
00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:04,880
Shooting at only 47, over 47% from the field.

351
00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:10,040
And season three, that's where everything came together guys.

352
00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:15,400
They changed coaches from Lenny Wilkins to Jack Ramsey.

353
00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:22,640
Jack Ramsey, a veteran coach, he's coaching other places like Philadelphia and also for

354
00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:28,480
the Boston Braves.

355
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:34,240
And then also a key move for the Portland Trailblazers at the time.

356
00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:43,760
Acquiring in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft, a guy by the name of Maurice Lucas, who I

357
00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:51,960
think made a huge difference in for that Portland team.

358
00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:59,160
His presence really, really was imperative for that squad.

359
00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:07,840
He was a guy who, if guys want to try and, you know, beat up Bill, that wasn't going

360
00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:13,000
to fly with Maurice Lucas.

361
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:15,320
He wasn't having that.

362
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:20,280
Also on the team was Lionel Hollins in the back court.

363
00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:35,280
So Bob Gross, Dave Tawczyk, Rookie, Johnny Davis, and Lloyd Neal as well on the squad.

364
00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:40,000
Bill in the off season, he still continued his cycling.

365
00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:48,480
He got it to weightlifting guys and he would change up his diet upon entering that season.

366
00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:55,760
Bill pretty much went vegetarian for the most part.

367
00:36:55,760 --> 00:37:00,600
In those first two seasons, it was rough for Bill.

368
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:11,400
The fan base got on him, calling him a bus and just absolutely destroying Bill.

369
00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:16,400
And then, you know, remember too, the fact that he's this free spirit, you know, he's

370
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:22,160
now really gets to hang with his guys, the Grateful Dead and so forth.

371
00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:27,120
So you know, they call him a hippie and all these sort of things.

372
00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:36,720
But Bill won the fan base over on opening night in his third season, guys, after getting

373
00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:40,720
it to a fight and being ejected from the game.

374
00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:46,280
From third string center comes in trying to mess with Bill.

375
00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:51,840
Bill stands up for himself and he gets into a fight and he gets ejected.

376
00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:54,680
The crowd goes wild.

377
00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:59,800
And then after that, the crowd started showing up for the games.

378
00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:02,200
And then of course, the winning helps.

379
00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:14,320
So they began winning as well with Jack Ramsey under the helm and his cast of players in

380
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:22,080
the record for the season, 49 and 33 guys.

381
00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:24,160
He played in 65 games.

382
00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:30,280
So much more up from his previous season, 14 more games.

383
00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:39,200
The average 18.6 points per game for over 14 rebounds, 14.2 to be exact, which led the

384
00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:46,440
NBA 3.8 assists and then 3.2 blocks.

385
00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:49,000
That also led the NBA.

386
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:56,560
And guys, he's two of five players to have led the league and rebounds and blocks in

387
00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:57,560
the same season.

388
00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:02,560
And guys, that's the kind of season Bill was having.

389
00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:12,160
He finished 52.8% from the field and then nearly 70% from the free throw line.

390
00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:20,360
And that year, guys, he finished second in the MVP voting, losing out to his predecessor

391
00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:25,600
at UCLA, Karim Abdul-Jabbar.

392
00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:30,080
He was selected to his first All-Star game, although he didn't play in that game.

393
00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:33,280
He was hurt at the time.

394
00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:38,520
He was first team All-Defense, second team All-NBA guys.

395
00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,320
That's the kind of year he had.

396
00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:44,160
So let's go to the playoffs.

397
00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:54,560
In the playoffs, guys, he would win the first round against Chicago going up against artist

398
00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:56,800
Gilmore.

399
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:05,640
And in that series, guys, two games from when they went, 17.3 points per game, 12.3 rebounds,

400
00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:11,000
4.3 assists, 4.3 blocks.

401
00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,600
So very nice series for Bill.

402
00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:21,640
Then we move on to the conference semifinals where they would face Denver Nuggets at center

403
00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:24,480
for them, Dan Issel.

404
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:28,840
And they win that series four games to two.

405
00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:39,080
Bill in that series, 17.5 points per game, 13 rebounds, over 6 assists, and 3 blocks.

406
00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:44,280
In the conference finals, guys, against the LA Lakers, they were the underdog in that

407
00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:45,280
series.

408
00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:47,720
Everybody thought the Lakers would win.

409
00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:51,080
Lakers had the better record, actually.

410
00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:55,360
And of course, led by Karima Dujibar.

411
00:40:55,360 --> 00:41:03,400
But the Blazers would get the best of the Lakers, winning that in a suite, guys, four

412
00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,160
games to none.

413
00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:17,600
Bill for that series, 19.3 points per game, nearly 15 rebounds, nearly 6 assists, and

414
00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:19,000
2.3 blocks.

415
00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:22,760
I mean, he went toe-to-toe with Karima.

416
00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:25,440
Karima, of course, he got his numbers.

417
00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:32,360
But overall, the Blazers just wiped him off the floor.

418
00:41:32,360 --> 00:41:38,520
And then in the finals, guys, they played the Philadelphia 76ers, again in the underdog

419
00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:45,400
role because a lot of people were rooting for Dr. J. It was his first year in the NBA

420
00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:47,560
after being in the ABA.

421
00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:49,600
So everybody was rooting for them.

422
00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:52,400
It had a stack team as well, guys.

423
00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:54,800
It had Dave McInnes.

424
00:41:54,800 --> 00:42:00,120
You had also Phil Collins, not Phil Collins.

425
00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:02,680
Doug Collins, you had him there.

426
00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:07,000
You had Lloyd Free, who we now know as World B Free.

427
00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:08,720
Darrell Dawkins was on that team.

428
00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:11,320
They had a loaded team.

429
00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:21,400
Again, everybody had them favored, no one except for the Portland faithful gave the Blazers

430
00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:24,080
a chance.

431
00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:33,640
And then as the series started, the Blazers would lose the first two games.

432
00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:39,280
So it seems like things were not starting good for the Blazers.

433
00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:44,960
But in that game, I think this is critical.

434
00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:54,080
The fact that there was this fight towards the end of the game with Darrell Dawkins and

435
00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:56,760
Maurice Lucas.

436
00:42:56,760 --> 00:43:00,520
And yeah, it was pretty bad fight.

437
00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:04,760
You know, back in those days, they let people go and so forth.

438
00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:13,480
If it was today's NBA, both those guys would be probably suspended for game three.

439
00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:17,160
But that wasn't the case here.

440
00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:21,200
So so that's the way to get game two ends.

441
00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:22,200
Game three.

442
00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:25,240
Here's what Maurice Lucas does.

443
00:43:25,240 --> 00:43:29,800
Man, it's a genius.

444
00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:35,960
He goes makes a beeline for you because everybody was out there.

445
00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:39,520
Everybody was shooting up shots, practicing and so forth.

446
00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:42,080
Maurice Lucas was nowhere in sight.

447
00:43:42,080 --> 00:43:46,160
What happened was he would come on to the floor.

448
00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:50,200
He would make a beeline for the lake.

449
00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:53,240
Not the lake is the Sixers bench.

450
00:43:53,240 --> 00:43:55,000
He goes up to Darrell Dawkins.

451
00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:59,280
What he does, he puts out his hand and shakes his hand.

452
00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:03,920
Reluctantly, Darrell Dawkins go and shakes his hand.

453
00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:11,480
And from that moment, Darrell Dawkins was putty and Maurice Lucas's hand the rest of

454
00:44:11,480 --> 00:44:13,680
the series.

455
00:44:13,680 --> 00:44:16,360
Absolutely genius of Maurice Lucas.

456
00:44:16,360 --> 00:44:19,920
So what do the Blazers do?

457
00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:27,440
They run off four straight victories to get the championship.

458
00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:35,760
And in that series, Bill Walton absolutely showed up and showed out 18 and a half points

459
00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:36,760
per game.

460
00:44:36,760 --> 00:44:38,080
19 rebounds guys.

461
00:44:38,080 --> 00:44:43,080
He absolutely controlled the boards over five assists.

462
00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:47,480
3.7 blocks in a steal per game.

463
00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:52,320
And then the game clinching championship game.

464
00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:56,920
Game six, 20 points, 23 rebounds.

465
00:44:56,920 --> 00:45:00,920
And assists in eight blocks, guys.

466
00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:03,520
Absolutely masterful performance.

467
00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:08,360
So much so, Bill Walton gets the finals MVP.

468
00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:17,440
And the Portland Trail Blazers win their first and only championship for the City of Portland.

469
00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:22,040
And then dig this, guys.

470
00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:26,000
CBS has to.

471
00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:27,120
The game is over.

472
00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:29,080
You know how it is today.

473
00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:32,440
They have the trophy ceremony and all this.

474
00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:38,880
CBS cuts away from all of that to show the Kemper open.

475
00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:44,640
Because supposedly the one of the higher up execs was a golf lover.

476
00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:51,440
So the Kemper open was and they kept advertising it during the game.

477
00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:55,440
If you know the series over will go straight to the Kemper open.

478
00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:58,240
And then that's what happened.

479
00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:04,520
So Bill Walton's on top of the world.

480
00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:07,040
Winning the NBA championship.

481
00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:10,040
What's to come?

482
00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:12,040
Well, anywho.

483
00:46:12,040 --> 00:46:13,640
All right.

484
00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:15,360
So I'm going to cut it off here.

485
00:46:15,360 --> 00:46:20,880
Actually, there's more to do as far as Bill's career in the NBA.

486
00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:25,920
And then also his commentating that he does after his playing days are done.

487
00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:28,240
So we're going to stop it here, guys.

488
00:46:28,240 --> 00:46:30,280
But I'm going to continue.

489
00:46:30,280 --> 00:46:35,240
But please come back to listen to the second half of this.

490
00:46:35,240 --> 00:46:36,880
All Things Basketball with GED.

491
00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:43,720
That's the website on YouTube, socials, podcast platforms, all of that.

492
00:46:43,720 --> 00:46:44,720
All right, guys.

493
00:46:44,720 --> 00:46:48,080
So I have part two coming to you.

494
00:46:48,080 --> 00:46:49,080
Thanks so much for listening.

495
00:46:49,080 --> 00:46:51,080
And we'll talk soon.