The basketball world lost a good man when Bill Walton passed away earlier this week. The 71-year-old Hall of Fame center was a beloved person on and off the hardwood, with plenty of tributes and stories that showcased how awesome of a person he was.
Since Walton was such a likable man, it’s natural that he’s getting so many loving messages from people he has interacted with throughout his life. Reggie Miller was one of the men who’s come forward with a lovely tribute for the former Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics big man.
His message to Big Red was sincere and displayed the depth of the connection they shared with his tribute to his fellow UCLA alum
Reggie Miller shares touching Bill Walton tribute after his death
The Indiana Pacers sharpshooter shared his thoughts on Walton during the latest edition of Inside the NBA. It was clear from how he talked about Walton that he cared about the two-time NBA champion.
Per The Spun’s Chris Rosvoglou:
“To have him talk to us about life lessons, what those Lakers-Celtics series were all about, and have him around when Larry Bird was our coach – because he was around Indiana a lot,” Miller said. “… What’s interesting is that post-career, our relationship got better because of two wheels. He was a huge cyclist. We had a lot of races together. It’s a loss, but for Bruin Nation, he was so colorful. There were so many layers to him, which a lot of people didn’t understand. So many different layers which was very unique.”
Bill Walton was selected first overall in the 1974 Draft, and he immediately made his impact felt as a terrific big man. He was unstoppable in the paint and won one championship with Portland. He was supposed to win more before injuries completely derailed his career.
He’s never been the same after his foot injuries, but he still kept a happy attitude and shared his positivity with others. It’s evident from Miller’s testimony how much he loved the game and the people in it.
Big Red is an icon of the NBA and will be sorely missed.
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