Breaking: NBA champion, Hall of Famer Bill Walton dies at 71 | SportsCenter 

"Throw it down big man,throw it down.." ~Bill Walton 🕊️🕊️🕊️

You can hear the emotions in Jay Bilas’ voice.

This was a fantastic eulogy by Jay. Bill Walton was a one of a kind legend and we need more people like him.

What a great person he was. So kind and giving of himself

Bill brought memorable commentary to basketball. You can tell he really loved the game.

Brutal news. He transcended sports and was a cultural icon linking the 20th and 21st century.

Rest in Peace....a great man he was!!!

After the NBA, Bill Walton also graduated from Stanford Law School, one of the top three Law Schools in the country. And he could see his band, the Grateful Dead, every year at their annual Stanford show. He was constantly curious and voracious for experience, information, and understanding. And he was so approachable and humane. He is now with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead-- the final adventure. He loved the PAC-12, the Conference of Champions. Fitting that Bill and his beloved PAC-12 died the same year.

Keep on Truckin Bill

Loved Bill and will miss him. Did not know he was sick. Great loss to basketball.

Hearing Jay Choked up like this is heartbreaking 😢

An Athlete, Scholar, Renaissance Man, and Gentleman. Job well done.

So this man just became one of the best NBA memories on memorial day.

This hurts. May he rest in peace. God bless Bill Walton. 🏀💔🙏🏽

Rest in peace Big Red. I used to love listening to Bill call NBA games and college games.

I always appreciated the great respect Bill Walton had for Kansas basketball and its history. Bill repeatedly talked about the huge impact that University of Kansas basketball had on the history of the sport from James Naismith, Phog Allen, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, and Wilt Chamberlain. Bill knew it all. I heard Bill Walton say, “The history of Kansas basketball is really the history of the sport of basketball itself because all roads in the sport’s history run through Lawrence, Kansas and the University of Kansas.” Walton was a true student of the game.

Legend... Rest In Peace... off to that Grateful Dead concert in the beyond

As a San Diegans, Bill was a legend here in the 619… great person who cared about his city and we proud of his legacy… rest in peace Mr. Walton

Bill’s commentary at national baseball games was truly one of a kind. “God bless this legendary man.”

Devastated. Bill was one of the most beautiful human beings to walk the planet.

Sad day in the basketball world. Walton was legendary. Glad that I was able to watch him at his best.

I'm choked up. I loved his personality. He was one of the best. Sorry to see him go

Sad day.A great spirit has left us.Long may you run Big Red.

U of A fans loved Bill. Going to miss hearing “conference of champions “ thanks for the memories

Grew up in LA. Was 14 when Bill burst on scene at UCLA. An amazing baller. Ultimate team player. As great as he was in 1977, his 1986 year with the Celtics (Lakers fan here) was to my mind the pinnacle. Watching him and Bird play together was magical (in retrospect, of course!). A true life force for good. Keep on truckin', brother! Thank you for the joy you brought to my life.

Now Bill and Jerry can hang out together again!!!WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN

Bill Walton was a good man. I remember growing up hearing his commentary on NBC those were the good days.

God bless this great legendary man.

Coach Wooden is hugging him in an embrace befitting two of the best men that basketball shared with the world.

One of the Greatest Center 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Bill Walton is a legend in this game and in our hearts. He meant so much to the game of basketball.

Bill Walton meant a lot to the entire United States. He will be missed.

This just made me LOVE Jay Bilas. More men should be willing to talk about other men like he does. Awesome

Th greatest ambassador of the Grateful Dead community as well as basketball. Spectacular personality. He will be missed.

Rest in paradise Mr. Walton nothing but class from you.

This dude was so funny as a commentator. He will be missed

Dis is sad. I can hear jay bilas fighting his tears 😢

A true legend on and off the court 🙏🏾

Rest in peace sir. Thank you for your service as a person and what you contributed to the NBA.

Rest In Peace Mr. Walton❤

I love Bill Walton. Great basketball player, one of my favorite announcers, but my favorite thing about him was that he had such a love of the game and a love of life. A funny, smart guy. One of the best.

Wow! I didn't know he had cancer. He was still young at 71. 😢

will never forget his NCAA championship game against Memphis State. Dominating.

I loved Bill Walton and was always full of life and energy. He always rooted for Lakers. I will miss him also as a commentator such a great guy.

Sorry to hear this, very unique person and called a game like no one else. Feet don’t hurt in heaven, run Bill run.

Rest In Peace.... Bill Walton was one of the coolest people ever....

The "Big Red Head!" ...The Best Passing Big Man in the NBA History. ...Next to Lew Alcindor, was the best college basketball player of ALL Time! 👑🏀💯😉

Thanks for all the memories Bill. You were a hero in many ways.

The Walton Gang --a team for the ages. Bill made that team. Incredible loss for so many of us who idolized him.

I Kant Stop Krying😢 I Loved His Personality, Especially Wen I Watched Pac12 Basketball Games, Always Had a Awesome Story To Tell 👌🏾

When he was healthy, he proved he was a winner. 65 games was the most in a season he ever played for the Blazers, and they won the championship

Bill Walton might be one of the most interesting people to walk the face of the Earth

🙏 Rest in Peace Bill Walton. "Throw it down, Big Man"

I’m a Celtics fanatic & this hits hard

The man of the people 🙏🏾

The league of champions has loss a champion. Love him or hate him he was a brilliant person.

One of the giants of the boomer generation is gone. Thanks, Bill, you were an artist in every way.

growing up when even i was flipping through ESPN channels and saw Bill I would always stop and watch..he was fun to listen to and had stories for days..great player and great human being

Rest up CHAMPION

He was a kind man who loved basketball and did everything to share his love with others he will be missed he is such a legend I will always preach his greatness

For me, Bill Walton and Hubie Brown are the best NBA comentators of all time

Rest In Peace, Big Man, Rest In Peace

"My hair is on FIRE!" - Bill Walton.

He was a great guy, I got to meet him one time when he came into my workplace. We laughed pretty hard for like two minutes, he liked my dark humor lol

Listening to Bill Walton was an experience He will be dearly missed

Truly one of the greatest centers in NBA history, thank you for the memories Bill Walton 🙏🙌🙏 #RestInParadise

I remember watching him walking on the shores in La Jolla, California. You could totally tell he was in his element and happy in that moment.

Psychedelics opened him up and allowed him to become the human being he was.

Bill Walton and Kobe not just basketball but good personality

Thanks for this Jay

My condolences to his family and teammates 😢

😓😓😓 let’s get the win for Bill tonight ☘️

Rest in Heaven Bill Walton a Basketball Player and a Personality I will never forget ❤️🙏🏿

Not a bad word anyone can say about Bill. Rest easy big man.

Walton if healthy would be a great center in today's game. He was a great player.

Oh man,R.I.P BIG MAN...🙏🏀

Rest in peace legend 🙏 😔

Aww man this one hurts, condolences to the family.

Rest in peace 🙏🏾

This man went 21-22 in a championship game. Let that sink in.

Im 41, Man this sucks. The hands of time fkn suck!! The world is shifting eras and i fkn hate it!! 😢😢

@6:11 "I'm having a hard time keeping it together" Truer words were never spoken. Rest easy Bill ... you know our love will not fade away

MAY THE 4 WINDS BLOW YOU SAFELY HOME....

I love the impressions of him, especially from Caliendo. Too bad, still pretty young at least from my vantage point.

My favorite NBA Commentator!

I loved watching him call the college games. He had a memory like an elephant. He annoyed the other announcers, that always made me laugh.

Bill wasn’t the greatest commentator but his enthusiasm for the game was amazing

A great, great basketball player. A better man. God Bless.

Met him on a bike ride in 2009. Acted like just a regular guy! He will be missed. 😢

The ultimate irony would be that Bill passed just hours after his beloved Pac-12 played its final game as a conference. He won't have to live in a world without his Pac-12.

Bill Walton helped the Blazers to their only championship. I loved his game, and his eccentricities. "TERRIBLE PASS!" 😂 Rest in peace, Bill.

Rest in Power Big Red

Sad. He was a ray of sunshine.

Shocked and saddened. My 2nd-favorite all-time favorite player (Kareem is my #1) ever. An extremely interesting person, true to himself. Said and did some things that pissed many folks off, but, it came from a real, true inner sincerity. Was a fan from his Sophomore year at UCLA, and hugely respected how he battled through his injuries and public scrutiny. Rest in Peace, Big Red.

One of the most underrated HOF centers to ever played pro ball.

So sad, a lot of people getting cancer these days, three in my family the last 3 years. May he rest in peace.

Rest in Power.....❤

Tough call….I think Pete Maravich deserves to be considered in any discussion regarding the best college basketball player of all time.

Great player. Very unique personality!

A all time top 3 College player of all time.., a great Center in The NBA , had it cut short by injuries,,,,and a gem of a man on and off the court..