2023-24 Season - Player Spotlight: Bill Walton, Part 2

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Greetings, my peeps.

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And welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy G.D.

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In this episode, I'll be doing part two of my player spotlight on the late Bill Walton.

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You'll cover the rest of his pro career.

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And then also we'll talk about his commentating, which he had a full career with that as well.

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So we'll talk about all of it, accolades, what others are saying, you know how I do.

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So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

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Okay guys, it's your boy G.D. back with the All Things Basketball with G.D. podcast.

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And guys, we are in the midst of our player spotlight on the late Bill Walton, who we lost last week.

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So I wanted to do this player spotlight, just chronicle his illustrious career.

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He was a giant, not only on the court, but offered as well.

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Great humanitarian.

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Of course, he did commentating as well, color analysts work and we'll get into all of that.

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So let us begin where we ended at.

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He had won his championship with the Portland Trailblazers in his third season.

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And oh, by the way, that team was the youngest team to ever win a NBA championship.

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So bit of historic bills run in that team's run there.

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So we enter into his fourth season, and the team gets off to a blazing start guys.

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They actually start at 50 and 10.

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But with that happening.

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Then Bill suffers a broken foot.

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Unfortunately.

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So they did end up finished finishing first at 58 and 24.

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Bill only played in 58 games, the average nearly 19 points were game.

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Over 13 rebounds five assists, two and a half blocks in a steel shooting it over 52% from the field, 72% from the free throw line.

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He made a second all star team he actually played in the all star game.

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He was first team all NBA.

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First team all defense, and he wins his first and only MVP award.

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And he won the MVP of the entire NBA guys.

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So, so he sustains the foot injury.

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And then they go into the first round of the playoffs playing the Seattle Super Sonics.

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And in order for Bill to play in that series, he was given a injection of a painkiller in his foot to play.

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And that's what Bill wasn't thrilled about.

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He would play in that series he wasn't all that effective he didn't play all that many games, only 13 and a half points per game 11 rebounds to assist a block and a half stealing a half per game shooting this 60 over 61% from the field and over 71% from the free throw line.

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And after that. So, they get knocked out in the first round by the Seattle Super Sonics for games to two.

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And then after that series in the off season, Bill tells the Portland management that he wants to be traded.

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He no longer trust the medical team, or the management there, in terms of his long term health.

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He actually sat out the 1978 and 79 season, while rehabbing his foot.

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He would later sue the team doctors for negligence over, you know, his care.

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So,

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really, in that series. That was the last time you saw Bill play in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform.

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He became a free agent, and then he ends up signing with the San Diego Clippers. They were in San Diego at that moment.

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So he signs with them a seven year, $7 million contract, which was big money back then guys, you gotta remember that.

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This was like the 980 season. So yeah, so that's what we're talking about guys. So they end up doing a those.

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He became a free agent, but he actually got traded there.

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Portland got in return Kermit Washington. They also got Kevin Kernert in a first first round 1980 draft pick, which turned out to be Mike Jeminsky, a pretty good pro Mike Jeminsky was.

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So his first season that 1979 80 season, he only played in 14 games guys, because he refraction the foot that he was rehabbing. He refraction it.

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So he ends up finishing with 14 points per lesson 14 points per game nine rebounds 2.4 assists 2.7 blocks.

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So bill would go undergo a series of surgeries to correct it, forcing him to miss two more seasons.

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Due to the myriad of injuries he sustained.

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We fast forward to 1983 he was told by his doctors that he can only play a game per week.

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So he ends up in that season playing only third 33 games.

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He ends up playing in that season averaging over 14 points per game, nearly 10 rebounds 3.6 assists 3.6 blocks per game and a steel per game shooting it from the field, almost 53% and just 55.6 from the free so long.

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Then, in 1983 84 just 55 games guys, averaging over 12 points per game 8.7 rebounds over three assists and 1.6 blocks shooting in front of field 55.6% on the free throw line nearly 60%.

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Then we get into 1984 85.

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Mind you all these years guys with the San Diego Clippers, no playoffs.

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Then in 1984 85 the team now moves to LA now they're the LA Clippers now. And bill would appear in a career high of 67 games guys averaging just above 10 points per game.

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So we have three three three nine rebounds 2.3 assists and over two blocks per game, shooting it from the field, over 52% free throw line much better 68% guys.

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Like I said during his tenure with the Clippers, those teams never made the playoffs so not good for bill, but again he's dealing with a conglomerate of entries guys.

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He goes to the owner at the time Donald Sterling and convinces him to trade him.

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And what would be his last year of his con seven year contract. So the only stipulation was that the owner Donald Sterling said, Bill, if I trade you.

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You have this deferred money that I owe you. You got to leave that on the table, and then I'll make the trade for you.

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So bill betting on himself, left the deferred money behind and got traded.

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His choice of teams was between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Los Angeles Lakers, they walked at the idea of, of trading for bill, because they were concerned about his injury history. So, GM at the time, Jerry West said, maybe maybe not.

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So he was worried about, you know, bill being healthy enough to contribute to the team.

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Whereas Boston, red RBAC, actually, at the time, bill had called red RBAC to see if they could swing a deal to bring him in.

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And, hardly enough at the time he was, he made the call to read RBAC. Larry Bird was in the office.

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Larry Bird, legend in Boston. And Larry Bird said, by all means, bring this guy in.

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Larry Bird, he knew about Bill Walton's exploits at UCLA. He saw what he did in Portland, and he figured this is a guy with a pretty high basketball IQ. He will be perfect for the Boston Celtics.

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So, so red was pretty much convinced of bringing him in.

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And he did so. So, Bill gets dealt to the Boston Celtics for Cedric Cornbread Maxwell in a 1986 first round pick that turned out to be our Revis Sabonis, the father of the Montessabonis.

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But actually, at this time, he doesn't enter the NBA as of yet.

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So, Bill Walton joins the likes of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parris. Now, Bill, upon coming to Boston, he met with Robert Parris to let him know he's only there to support him.

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He's not there to take his job. He's just there to be a support to him, which Robert Parris revealed in when he was interviewed, he revealed that that Bill came to him, which he respected, and he appreciated it.

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And he pretty much had no problems with bringing Walton in.

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So, Walton in his first game, a preseason game at Boston Garden, he gets a standing ovation guys.

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So, Bill Walton in Boston, a match made in heaven.

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So, he joins them for the 1980, 1985, 1986 season. And then that season, Boston has a season for the ages guys.

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67 wins, 15 losses. First overall in the NBA.

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And Bill actually appeared in 80 games that season guys. That is a career high for him.

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He only played 19 minutes though guys, low over 19 minutes averaging 7.6 points per game.

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6.8 rebounds so nearly seven over to assist per game and 1.3 blocks, shooting it from the field 56 over 656% from the free throw line.

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Another high for him 71.3% from the free throw line for Bill.

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Boston would go on to the playoffs, they would defeat the Chicago Bulls in a three game suite.

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And that's yes. That's the series where Jordan goes crazy in that one game.

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And still they lost.

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And then in the next round they would beat the Atlanta Hawks for games the one.

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Then in the conference finals they faced the Milwaukee Bucks sweep them for games to none. And then in the finals they would meet up with the Houston Rockets, who at the time had a Kim Elijah one on there Ralph Samson was on the team.

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And they end up beating them for games to two.

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And that series.

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Bill Walton averaged eight points per game. 6.7 rebounds and over two blocks for the season guys.

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And he ends up winning six man of the year. He gets the six man of the year award, making him the only player guys to win league MVP finals MVP and six man of the year. That's what Bill Walton did.

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Oh, by the way, when he won his championship.

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And his brother went on to the NFL and actually played in the Super Bowl.

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And he was the only brother tandem to appear in a Super Bowl game and in a NBA championship.

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Thus, with Bill winning the NBA championship, the only brother duo to do that.

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Once again, bills on top of the world, helping the Boston Celtics win their championship.

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The following season 1986 87 bill only plays in 10 games guys.

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Of course the injuries came creeping back and limited him.

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And also guys, because he was there on the bench there, I believe in the playoffs, and the crowd was chanting for him bill bill bill.

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And he was thinking about going in there and playing. But Dennis Johnson, who was actually there when he sustained the debilitating injury that he went through in that playoff series back when he was in Portland, and they were playing the Super Sonics.

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Dennis Johnson was playing for the Super Sonics at the time. So he saw Bill and he told Bill he said, Bill, don't do it.

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Don't do it. Don't let the crowd here.

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Enchant you into getting out on that floor when you're not healthy.

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And he took that the hard and it was tough on bill not being able to help the team, because you know he's all about team.

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So he would miss the entire 1987 88 season.

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He tried to come back in February of 1990, but to no avail so bill Walton ends up retiring from playing the game of basketball.

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So bill retires from the game.

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Now, and being a retired player now.

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What is there for bill to do.

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In a chance meeting with broadcaster Ralph Lawler.

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It was, it was Ralph who suggested the bill. Hey, you should become a broadcaster.

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Remember guys bill war was a long time stutterer. He didn't really get over that until his, his late 20s.

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But still he still had the condition.

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It was under the tutelage of play by play announcer, Marty clickman, long time announcer.

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He was done play by play for many teams.

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He helped him hone his skills as far as controlling his stuttering and get him ready to be in front of a microphone doing analyst work.

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And finally, one of the things he told him was to slow down his brain so that he can articulate what he needs to say, which really helped him.

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So,

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from there, bill started out doing CBA games. That was the continental basketball association, which was kind of a farm system if you will, for the NBA.

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There's a tier below.

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So he would do those games for free guys, he would do it for free.

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And then he would move on to doing actual analyst work in the NBA, working with Ralph Lawler, who was doing the LA Clipper games at the time.

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And that's what that's how bill got his start. Then he moved on to TV, working for CBS, doing pro and college basketball before going to NBC,

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working for the NBA there, and then doing the LA Clippers games on TV now, which he did for 13 years.

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And then NBC that's where they formed the team of play by play man Tom Hammond, and another analyst, and a former teammate of Bill Waltons, Steve snapper Jones.

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And guys, when you think of,

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think of the booth.

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Think about this team being like the Mike bring

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Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.

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This was the predecessor to those guys, the way they have the banter back and forth between Van Gundy and Jackson.

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Van Gundy was like the Walton.

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In that booth, and Mark Jackson was like the Steve snapper Jones in the booth. And then of course, Tom Hammond was like Mike bring.

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So those guys were the predecessors for that because they went at it, Bill and Steve snapper Jones did those guys, and it was entertaining. It was entertaining.

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And Bill, the king of hyperbole. He could come in there saying that Greg Oster tag is the best center in the, in fact, it was when the bulls play the Utah jazz in the finals.

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Finals, where he said Greg Oster tag was the best center in the series, to which he wasn't that far out of it by saying that because Greg also tag. He was a guy who was you know, solid, much better than the centers that the bulls had to offer up but

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what can you do. Anyhow, so, yeah so he and those guys work together for a long time. Then he started working for ABC and ESPN starting in 2002, going all the way to 2009.

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And actually, in 2009. That's when Bill start to experience back problems. And it was so severe that he couldn't even get out of bed. And yet the miscovering again. So much so ESPN you know what they did.

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They understand you're going through problems bill you know, health wise but we got to let you go. So they let them go in 2009.

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So build now out there. No job.

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In this pain.

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I got to do something.

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His pain was so debilitating guys.

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So what happens.

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A friend of his and former colleague, Jim Gray goes and finds him a spine, because he needed spinal surgery spinal fusion surgery, found him the best spinal fusion doctor there is at the time, and that was Dr Steve

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Garfin, who did the surgery on bill. What they did was they took all the unnecessary stuff out of his back. He put in two titanium rods and two four inch steep steel bolts in his back to give him support.

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And he found painful guys but this is what bill went through.

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So, of course, the day it was a time where you know he had to recover and so forth.

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He returned to the analyst business as a part timer in 2010. That's when he started to feel some relief with his back.

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Back full time in 2012 during pack 12 games.

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Pack 12 he considered that the League of Champions for ESPN. And then now he hooks up with a play by play man by the name of Dave patch, who he ends up having a long term relationship up until this year 2024.

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Bill would go on to win awards as far as his work analysts work, Emmy for best live sports television broadcast in 2001.

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And then he won the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association Award called the Cosita.

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Oh, I'm sorry, the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association Award, he won that seven times guys, and then the Cosita.

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That's the college sports information directors of America, Dick Enberg Award, he won that in 2018 guys.

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Bill was a long time vegetarian, I think I mentioned that in the previous podcast.

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In the previous episode, he practiced meditation as well guys. I talk about being a cyclist he's a longtime cyclist.

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And I spoke about him being a big time fan of the Grateful Dead. He saw nearly 1000 shows of the Grateful Dead.

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He's also fan of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, fish.

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Guys who usually close out at Madison Square Garden at the end of the year, and the almond brothers.

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In fact, the dead and company band actually did a video tribute for Bill Walton just recently because they're doing a residency at the spear and Las Vegas and they did a tribute to Bill Walton there.

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And, yes, so Bill also has appeared in movies and doing cameos like Celtic pride, semi pro little Nikki forget Paris.

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And he was even and ghost buses I don't even remember.

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I guess I can go back to the original ghost buses and try to find that.

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And he also appeared in a Katy Perry video guys with forming a fictional broadcast team with rich eyes and of the NFL network.

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I'll talk about rich eyes and a minute.

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And also he had a his own reality show called Bill Walton's long strange trip.

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Bill, a gregarious character in the game of basketball, not only on the court but offered as well, doing the commentary and so forth.

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And a long time contributor to ESPN radio shows all up and down the dial.

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And unfortunately guys he passed away on Monday, May 27 from collect girl cancer.

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I even, and a lot of people are saying they even know he had this cancer, because that's the way bill was he wanted to show you.

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He's full of life, he's full of energy, and he had one anybody feeling sorry for him that's the way bill was.

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So he passes away at his home in San Diego surrounded by family.

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He passes away at the age of 71 guys.

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He was survived by his longtime wife Laurie, his wife of 32 years, and his sons, Luke Walton, who, oh by the way guys he was named after who bill considers his best teammate ever.

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Chris, he considers him his best teammate, and the best player he's played with Larry Bird. That's what he says.

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So Luke, Nathan, Chris, and Adam, oh by the way, all of them played basketball, competitively at some capacity in their lives following their, the footsteps of their dad bill.

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With that said, that is the bill story there. We'll get to his accolades, what bill has said, and what others are saying about him and some other tributes and so forth.

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So, the accolades guys, like I said bill one of Emmy. So he won another Emmy this is a different one guys, he won this one for environmental documentary that he did in the Philippines, and this was in 1979 that he won the Emmy for that.

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He was inducted into the US into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984. And that was the inaugural class.

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His jersey was retired by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1989, and then UCLA the following year in 1990.

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He was inducted into the Brett Bart Hall of Fame by the San Diego Hall of Champions, and also in 1990.

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He won the NBPA Oscar Robinson Leadership Award in 1991.

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He was inducted into the Naysmith Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 inducted into the Verizon Academic All American Hall of Fame in 1994 inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

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And then in the, I even know this was a thing, the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor in 2001. And that's the SNL girl inductees guys.

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He received an MBA retired players Association Humanitarian Award in 2002 inducted in, excuse me, inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

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He was named the top 10 pundit in America by Forbes magazine in 2007.

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He was named among the top 10 business athletes representatives by TSE Sports and Entertainment Group in 2007 as well.

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Among the top 50 sports casters of all time by American Sports Sports American Sports Castors Association in 2009.

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He was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame 2010.

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They made a bronze statue of him at San Diego's ski beach park.

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In 2016, he was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame in 2017.

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They named a gym gymnasium in his honor at the Boys and Girls Club inside Brady Family Clubhouse, and this is located in Santi, California.

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In 2018, he was named the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Men's Basketball Award.

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Well, he won that in 2024.

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And also see Vivian Stringer, longtime coach. She won it also, but for women's basketball, she won the award.

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And then in 2000, 2021, he was named to the NBA Top 75.

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But previously in 1996, he was named to the NBA Top 50.

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So those are the accolades for Bill Walton.

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Some of Bill Walton's sayings, shine the light, be the light.

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It's okay to disagree, but don't be disagreeable.

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And then he recalled a conversation that was had when he was at the Top 50.

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And, you know, he's amongst all these legends of the game.

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And he overheard an argument between Wilchameland and Michael Jordan, who was arguing who's the goat, who's the greatest of all time.

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And so, Wilchameland will end the disagreement by saying this.

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They changed the rules to make things easier for you.

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Whereas they changed the rules to make things harder for me, which is very true.

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They took away Duncan and all kind of other stuff to kind of, Wilchameland's less of a threat.

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And that way. And Jordan had nothing to say after that.

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So take with that what you will.

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Alright, so with that said, what others say about him, I'll just do a few of these and then I'll touch on some other stuff and then we'll be done guys.

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Now, this is from Michael kid Gilchrist about Bill Stuttering.

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He was great for me to, it was great for me to witness him.

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A pillar of the Stuttering community.

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Michael kid Gilchrist, he also suffers with stuttering as well. So, he saw Bill Walton doing his thing. So he had a role model. As far as that community goes so that's what Michael kid Gilchrist said, former player and the NBA.

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He's called Karim Karima do Jabbar. Now he has a article on some stack that you guys can read there. And then he also does about a almost a three minute long video about the passing of Bill Walton, but here's just a excerpt of it.

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He had wanted to be more like me on the court, and I wanted to be more like him off the court. That's what Karim said that's part of what he said but again there's a three minute video you can find it on YouTube.

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And then Karim has a sub stack where he has an article there about bill wall.

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My family and I love and appreciate it. Your spirit. Rest in peace bill Walton with a white heart emoji. And that's from current Boston Celtic Jalen Brown.

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And then

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it's another one. Bill Walton laughed at himself care deeply about people history ignored. It was one of the greatest athletes to walk the earth.

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A planet he both adored and transcended.

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Rest in peace broken heart emoji. And this is from Pablo Torre of ESPN.

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Rest in peace to a true legend in a one of a kind personality bill wall.

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We know Bill's legacy will continue to shine on. And this is from the University of Arizona's men's basketball team.

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That's what they had to say.

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Bill Walton is legendary and was a great man. Rest in power bill. And that's from Gilbert arenas former NBA player. And actually he told a story on this podcast about how bill

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went to him and said you need to have a good game because I'm going to hype you up basically. So he told me at a time and actually Gilbert arenas had a

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good game. And I think he dropped a 50 burger on them. So

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and let us continue. My favorite bill Walton experience. He came to visit us at the jump.

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So a frame photo we had on set a bill Russell is favorite player and simply walked over grabbed it and took it home.

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The game was absolutely delightful. What a force. He will be so miss. And this is from Rachel Nichols who at the time is working for ESPN.

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Now she's does some work. Well a few places. She has a podcast that she does with

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cousins. And she also appears on like Undisputed and other places. So that's from Rachel Nichols.

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I'm sad today hearing that my comrade and one of the sports most beloved champions and characters has passed bill Walton enjoyed life in every way

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and I'm sorry to compete against him and to work with him was a blessing in my life. Sorry for your loss. Walton family will miss him to

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Doc. And this is from Julius Irving who they played in that finals where bill Walton in this team won over the Philadelphia 76ers.

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And I'm sorry to say that. Rest in peace. No, no, rest in paradise big red. And this is from LeBron James as he reposes a Portland Trailblazers tribute video that they did for bill Walton.

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And then I have a few more here.

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And I'm going to talk about the commissioner of the NBA Adam Silver. This is what he had to say. Bill Walton was one of a kind.

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As a Hall of Fame player he redefined the center position. His unique all around skills may him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular season and finals MVP to NBA

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championships in a spot on the NBA's 50 and 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

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Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertain generations of basketball fans.

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And what I will remember most about him was his zeal for life.

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He was a regular president at league events, always upbeat and always upbeat, smiling, ear to ear, and looking to share his wisdom and warf.

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And he was a very close relationship, envied his boundless energy and admire the time he took with every person he encountered a cherished member of the NBA family for 50 years.

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He was deeply missed by all those who came to know him and love him heartfelt condolences to Bill's wife Laurie, his sons, Adam, Nate, Luke and Chris and his many friends and colleagues.

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That's from Adam Silver.

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This is from John Mayor.

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He is a musical artist.

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Bill Walton lived a life that the rest of us could only hope to achieve on our second or third go around.

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He had an eye towards the truly important stuff, the stuff we already know better than to lose sight of, but often do.

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And Bill's great, great talents was to reorient you, reorient you so as to stand beside him and see the light in life that he refused to break eye contact with the client to acceptance is steep in the grateful dead universe.

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Bill gave me a huge lift up those stairs with his kindness, his encouragement, and his friendship, he will be deeply missed, and his, but his approach to life will never be forgotten.

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I think it's pretty good advice that when times get tough.

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Everything will be okay if you just pretend to be bill wall.

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Thank you bill heart emoji. And that's from john mayor.

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This is from the Portland Trail Blazers organization.

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He's a true legend, an extraordinary player, talented broadcaster, and vital part of the blazers organization, his master, his mastery of the game, not only established him as one of the greatest centers in history, but also let the blazers to a championship in 1977.

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Where he earned fine MBA finals most valuable player, but bill was so much more than basketball. He was larger than life, his upbeat and vibrant personality will forever be remembered and cherished.

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And he will be deeply missed by our organization, rip city, and all who experienced him.

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Our love and condolences go to Bill's wife, Lori, and his sons, Adam, Nate, Luke, and Chris.

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And that is from the trailblazers organization.

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And then the last one I'll read.

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This is from Irvin magic Johnson.

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Rest in peace to a friend, two time NBA champion, Paula famer, and one of the most skilled centers we've ever seen, Bill Walton.

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His NBA championship performance as a UCLA Bruin against Memphis is by far the most dominant NCA championship performance ever.

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He shot 21 for 22. It had us all mesmerized. That's when I first fell in love with his basketball game.

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They talk about your kick, Nikolai you'll kick in the NBA now being the most skilled center, but bill was first.

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From shooting jump shots to making incredible passes. He was one of the smartest basketballs to basketball players to ever live.

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Bill was a great ambassador for college basketball and the NBA, and he will be sorely missed cookie and I send our condolences and prayers to his wife, Lori, and kids, Luke, Nathan, Chris and Adam, and all of his loved ones,

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praying hands emoji, and that's from magic Johnson.

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And then guys, you have the various shows he's gone on. I listened to Rich Eisen, he tells a fabulous story about Bill Walton, because remember they did the Katy Perry, Perry video together.

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So he has a great story that he tells Al Franken, also a grateful dead follower like Bill. So they formed a friendship there. He does an awesome tribute to Bill.

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And then Dan LeBertar, I watched their tribute to him and then I watched one time that Bill came on the show. Absolutely. If you can go on YouTube find it where Dan LeBertar asks him how he's doing, and Bill Walton goes seven minutes straight

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until he stops it. Ask another question. That was Bill Walton, man. If you don't rain him in, he'll just keep going.

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So that's something you can check out on YouTube.

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So there's a clip there from NBA Today on ESPN with Malika Andrews. She was talking to Mike Breen and Mike Breen tells this absolutely heartbreaking story about Bill Walton, what he did for Mike Breen's dad, who was suffering from Alzheimer's at the time.

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Awesome story. Dave Patch, he's been on a number of different shows, giving his perspective, his longtime partner in the booth.

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And then Larry Bird, he does a tribute, I believe, on Yahoo Sports, if you get a chance to check it out, check it out where he talks about his friend, Bill Walton.

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And there's a myriad of others that you can find on Twitter or X. But all of that to say, for me, I just enjoyed, I only got to see him play, you know, after all the surgeries and so forth when you hit the Boston Celtics.

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And of course, me being a Nick fan, I'm not too thrilled about that, but it was something about Bill where I was like, Okay, okay, it's Bill Walton. Okay.

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But yeah, and in terms of his commentating, I loved it. I loved it, because you can see his passion for the game. Sure, he gave you crazy hyperbole.

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That was just part of the entertainment of the game. You know, there's some people that, you know, want this, the people in the booth to be so serious.

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But Bill, Bill wasn't, he could have made room for that, but he wanted to bring fun to the booth. And you got to respect that I did.

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So I say all that to say, I love the guy, anytime he came on, because he used to come on my Michael K show, and I would watch when he came on there so absolute character, someone who was good for the game, somebody full of life,

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somebody full of zeal, and somebody who just want to put a smile on your face. And I heard a couple of people say it but the world just got a little sadder, because we don't have Bill Walton.

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So, condolences to his wife, Laurie, and to his boys, Luke, Nate, Chris and Adam, we send our condolences to you at this moment in time.

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Bill will be missed. And he's loved by millions and millions for what he has brought to the game of basketball. The true ambassador of the game of basketball, a giant and more ways than one, not just his height, but his personality, his character, and the man himself.

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So, just wanted to do that quick spotlight. Guys, I'll be giving you the NBA finals preview shortly. And then I'll also talk some WNBA stuff, not going on there. A lot of people I got to take to the woodsheds so we'll get to that but I had to do this trip you here.

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All right guys so with that said, all things basketball with GD.com. That's the website there. You can support me on the website. I got a bunch of buttons over there you can support me there buy me a coffee, paypal, Spotify you can support me that way.

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Cash App GD that sports do dollar sign GD that sports do that's the cash out. If you want to support this podcast. By all means do guys. And then on all the platforms I'm there YouTube I'm there as well.

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Apple Podcasts, Leave Reviews, all those sort of things. And on the socials I'm there and some kind of capacity just kind of searching you'll find me. All right guys so that said, with all that said, thank you for listening as always your listenership is always appreciated.

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And I just thank you very much for listening to this tribute to the great Bill Walton. Alright guys until then, we'll talk soon.