Hall of Famer, 1978 MVP, 1977 Finals MVP, member of the Top 75 best players in history… He is one of the greatest interior players of all time, in the person of Bill Waltonwho left us today, as communicated by the NBA. He was 71 years old and had been battling cancer for several years.
A genius of the 1970s, whose career was unfortunately shattered by injuries despite a short period of intense domination, Luke Walton's father dominated the second half of the decade, after being a success in the NCAA under the colors of UCLA (two titles championship, three best university player trophies and two Final Four MOP trophies).
Leader of a team of Blazers crowned in 1977, and who imposed his rule on the entire league, Bill Walton was undoubtedly the most “valuable” player in the NBA at that time.
“ Basketball is a sport played by five players. » explained for example Julius Erving, beaten by Portland during the 1977 Finals. “ The Blazers practice it like they invented it. We were a team with great one-on-one skills, but Portland played like a group, without any heads sticking out. In the end, the collective principle wins. »
It didn't last long, but enough to mark the memories of an entire generation, before his body decided to ruin his life. Bill Walton, however, will succeed in finding color among the Celticsnotably winning a new title in 1986 and a Sixth Man of the League trophy the same year.
Bill Walton | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
1974-75 | POR | 35 | 33 | 51.3 | 68.6 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 12.6 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 12.8 | |
1975-76 | POR | 51 | 33 | 47.1 | 58.3 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 13.4 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 16.1 | |
1976-77 | POR | 65 | 35 | 52.8 | 69.7 | 3.0 | 11.0 | 14.4 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 18.6 | |
1977-78 ★ | POR | 58 | 33 | 52.2 | 72.0 | 2.0 | 11.0 | 13.2 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 18.9 | |
1979-80 | SDC | 14 | 24 | 50.3 | 0.0 | 59.3 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 13.9 |
1982-83 | SDC | 33 | 33 | 52.8 | 0.0 | 55.6 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 9.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 14.1 |
1983-84 | SDC | 55 | 27 | 55.6 | 0.0 | 59.7 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 12.2 |
1984-85 | LAKE | 67 | 25 | 52.1 | 0.0 | 68.0 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 10.1 |
1985-86 | BOS | 80 | 19 | 56.2 | 0.0 | 71.3 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7.6 |
1986-87 | BOS | 10 | 11 | 38.5 | 0.0 | 53.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
Total | 468 | 28 | 52.1 | 0.0 | 66.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 13.3 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.