{"id":2253901,"date":"2024-05-27T16:50:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T20:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/just-in-nba-legend-bill-walton-dies-at-71-after-long-health-battle\/"},"modified":"2024-05-27T16:53:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T20:53:55","slug":"just-in-nba-legend-bill-walton-dies-at-71-after-long-health-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/just-in-nba-legend-bill-walton-dies-at-71-after-long-health-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking News: Health Struggles Lead to Death of NBA Icon Bill Walton at 71"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjust-in-nba-legend-bill-walton-dies-at-71-after-long-health-battle%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2253901&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Basketball legend and Hall of Famer, Bill Walton, passed away at the age of 71 after\u2063 a long battle with cancer, as announced by the NBA. Walton was surrounded by his family at \u2064the time of his death. Known for his unique playing skills, Walton is remembered as a two-time NBA\u200c champion and a significant \u200bfigure in the NCAA championship-winning UCLA Bruins team. Walton&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-laptop-class-fetish-for-manual-labor-is-an-attempt-to-justify-privilege\/\" title=\"The obsession with manual labor among the privileged justifies their privilege.\">skill\u200b set<\/a> was\u2063 unique for his time, showcasing passing abilities of a point guard \u200dwhile playing center. His career later ventured\u200d into \u2064broadcasting, where his\u200c love for the game and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/review-we-are-as-gods\/\" title=\"REVIEW: \u2018We Are As Gods\u2019\">infectious enthusiasm<\/a> captivated audiences. Walton \u2064is remembered for his zest \u200cfor life and warmth. His passing has unified the NBA community in mourning. He is survived by his wife, Lori, and his four sons.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/sports\/\">  Sports <\/a>    <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/%20\"><span>Bryan Chai<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 27, 2024 at 11:06am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>One of the most gregarious and beloved players in NBA history has died at the age of 71.<\/p>\n<p>Two-time NBA champion and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton died on Monday, the NBA announced in a news release.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The following has been released by the NBA. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fdlty5X3F5\">pic.twitter.com\/fdlty5X3F5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAPR\/status\/1795140623239926129?\">May 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to the release, Walton was surrounded by his family.<\/p>\n<p>The former UCLA star died after a \u201cprolonged battle with cancer,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBill Walton was truly one of a kind,\u201d NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. \u201cAs a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, while modern players such as the Denver Nuggets\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-nba-superstar-reveals-really-matters-asked-fatherhood-helped-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> may have normalized the idea of centers who have the passing ability of a point guard, Walton was an absolute anomaly for his day. His passing was the crux of his very unique skill set.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Did you watch Bill Walton play?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Silver continued, \u201cHis unique all-around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ramaswamy-steals-page-out-trump-playbook-while-hanging-with-tiktok-boxer-jake-paul\/\" title=\"Ramaswamy adopts Trump's tactics while chilling with TikTok boxer Jake Paul\">skills made<\/a> him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA\u2019s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Walton won two NCAA championships as a member of John Wooden\u2019s Bruins.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">UCLA mourns the passing of two-time NCAA champion Bill Walton, a Naismith Hall of Fame inductee (1993) and charter member of the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UCLAAthletics?\">@UCLAAthletics<\/a> Hall of Fame (1984).<\/p>\n<p>\ud835\udc70\ud835\udc75 \ud835\udc74\ud835\udc6c\ud835\udc74\ud835\udc76\ud835\udc79\ud835\udc70\ud835\udc68\ud835\udc74: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VwZwd9uVDs\">https:\/\/t.co\/VwZwd9uVDs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6GrCWvplK7\">pic.twitter.com\/6GrCWvplK7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 UCLA Men\u2019s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UCLAMBB\/status\/1795146453884514745?\">May 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>His two NBA championships came in vastly different roles.<\/p>\n<p>The 1977 Portland Trailblazers won a championship with Walton as the focal point and star of the team. The 1986 Boston Celtics \u2014 considered by some to be the greatest professional basketball team of all time \u2014 brought an older and injury-riddled Walton off the bench for effective backup minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Injuries plagued Walton\u2019s career until the bitter end, but the 6-foot-11 center soon found another venture in which he would fall in love: broadcasting.<\/p>\n<p>Silver said he \u201ctranslated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut what I will remember most about him was his zest for life,\u201d the commissioner said. \u201cHe was a regular presence at league events \u2013 always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a testament to how generally beloved Bill Walton is and was, the generally toxic landscape of NBA chatter on X was all unified in mourning over the loss.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Massive loss. All time great that appreciated every era of basketball and didnt tear Any player down. Very smart basketball mind. He will be missed<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Richard \ud83d\udc10 (@pbp_Rich) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pbp_Rich\/status\/1795141017810694225?\">May 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">RIP to the greatest Blazer of all time<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 President Curry. (@Curry4daW) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Curry4daW\/status\/1795142206732337401?\">May 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Rest on Legend \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mkK50THY9s\">pic.twitter.com\/mkK50THY9s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \ud835\ude3f\ud835\ude3e\ud83e\udd64 (@DCWale_CFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DCWale_CFC\/status\/1795142343076565336?\">May 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Walton is survived by his wife, Lori, and his four sons, Adam, Nate, Chris and Luke.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>\u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d Those 12 words have been stuck in my head since I first read them. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently made that comment to Floyd Brown, founder of The Western Journal. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>And if the leftists and the elites get their way, that\u2019s exactly what will happen \u2014 no real election, no real choice for the Electoral College, and no real say for the American people. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal is fighting to keep that from happening, but we can\u2019t do it alone.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We work tirelessly to expose the lying leftist media and the corrupt America-hating elites.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech\u2019s stranglehold is now so tight that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without help<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  from you, we will not be able to continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The 2024 election is literally the most important election for every living American. We have to unite and fight for our country, otherwise we will lose it. And if we lose the America we love in 2024, we\u2019ll lose it for good. Can we <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>count on you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to help? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>With you we will be able to field journalists, do more investigative work, expose more corruption, and get desperately needed truth to millions of Americans. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We can do this only with your help. Please don\u2019t wait one minute.<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>  Donate right now<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  today.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44778\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44778\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44778\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44778\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44778\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. He is an avid fan of sports, video games, politics and debate. <\/p>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Hawaii <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  Class of 2010 University of Arizona. BEAR DOWN. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  Phoenix, Arizona <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English, Korean <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Sports, Entertainment, Science\/Tech <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NBA legend and Hall of Famer, Bill Walton, universally celebrated and cherished, sadly passed away at 71. The NBA officially confirmed the demise of the two-time champion through a news release on Monday, May 27, 2024. Walton was renowned as one of the most outgoing and adored figures in NBA history<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2015,"featured_media":2253902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walton.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2253901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walton.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2253901"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253901\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2253902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2253901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2253901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2253901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}