RIP Bill Walton

[MuggsyB]

Kareem's stats at UCLA with 3 titles is pretty ridiculous.  But Walton's numbers are impressive as well. 

[Goose]

Bill Walton was an all time, all time basketball player. He was skilled beyond belief for his size and it was a joy to watch him play the game.

I will always remember and appreciate his time with the Celtics. The '86 team may be the greatest passing time I have ever seen.

All I can say, if you never watched videos of Bill playing basketball, do it tonight. I do not get sad of old athletes dying easily, but I little sadness tonight for this basketball fan.

[Zog from Margo]

A great player with a big personality.

[JWags85]

He was absolutely 1 of 1.  A lot of people didn't like him on color, and I get it, but I enjoyed it in doses cause, unlike Dickie V or others, it never became a shtick.  He didn't have catch phrases and you had no damn idea what was coming next.

I think it's also buffered by the fact that I struggle to recall a negative story or anecdote about the guy.  The worst was some form of "Bill Walton is a lunatic"  but it was never in a malicious or antisocial fashion.  He truly marched to his own drum and encouraged everyone else to do the same.  CBB will miss him

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

Jim Chones

John Dawson

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

He was absolutely 1 of 1.  A lot of people didn't like him on color, and I get it, but I enjoyed it in doses cause, unlike Dickie V or others, it never became a shtick.  He didn't have catch phrases and you had no damn idea what was coming next.

I think it's also buffered by the fact that I struggle to recall a negative story or anecdote about the guy.  The worst was some form of "Bill Walton is a lunatic"  but it was never in a malicious or antisocial fashion.  He truly marched to his own drum and encouraged everyone else to do the same.  CBB will miss him

Didn't have catch phrases? Conference of champions?

[Mutaman]

 "Bill's a gorilla until the fight starts. Then he goes in hiding while I straighten things out,"

Maurice Lucas

[rocky_warrior]

nm

[Spotcheck Billy]

Classic Bill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1YI06ZTNOk

[jutaw22mu]

Really unfortunate.  Will miss his "accidental" references to MU as the warriors...

[JWags85]

Didn't have catch phrases? Conference of champions?

Is that a catchphrase or just his pet name for the conference that he adores?  If he had names like that for a million things, then maybe.  But that was the only thing.

[wadesworld]

Had never really watched many Walton highlights.  Looks like he had a bit of Jokic's passing ability out of the mid post and Duncan's defensive abilities and fundamentals (bank shots from 15).

[Uncle Rico]

Had never really watched many Walton highlights.  Looks like he had a bit of Jokic's passing ability out of the mid post and Duncan's defensive abilities and fundamentals (bank shots from 15).

He started as a guard in high school and had a big growth spurt between frosh and sophomore years I believe, so the passing and feel for that aspect was there.

He'd have thrived in the modern game.  He'd have thrived in any era and did during his time, but playing in the age of spacing?  Yeah, he'd be unstoppable

[tower912]

Before the injuries hobbled him, he was on track to be in the discussion for best big man ever.   He was as good as Kareem.  Bad feet, bad ankles.   Actually listed below his true height.

[Herman Cain]

Before the injuries hobbled him, he was on track to be in the discussion for best big man ever.   He was as good as Kareem.  Bad feet, bad ankles.   Actually listed below his true height.

Walton never wanted to be known as a 7 footer so he listed himself at 6-11 even though he was closer to 7-2.

This picture tells a lot about Walton for those who never saw him play. Blocking Kareems Sky Hook while elevating  on bad wheels..

[WhiteTrash]

Could he guard Kareem?  I know he stated repeatedly he's the best player that he faced. There were a ton of cool bigs from the 70's until the Shaq era.  i would have liked to have seen Moses Malone.  The man appears all business  in the videos I've seen.  Relentless on the glass.  Highly underrated historically imo.

Was Malone great? Moses 3x MVP, Koby 1x MVP.
Moses is way underrated.

[Jockey]

Was Malone great? Moses 3x MVP, Koby 1x MVP.
Moses is way underrated.

agree and disagree.

A great player. Generally considered top 25 all-time, so not underrated.

[The Sultan]

One of the reason Moses is "underrated" is that he was on some really bad teams early in his career. The Houston Rockets were really an afterthought, who qualified for the 1981 Finals with a losing record as a six seed. (When there were only six seeds per conference.) So he kinda battled in obscurity for awhile.

But everyone knew that when he was traded to the Sixers they were the instant leading contender.

[Lennys Tap]

Before the injuries hobbled him, he was on track to be in the discussion for best big man ever.   He was as good as Kareem.  Bad feet, bad ankles.   Actually listed below his true height.

All true.

I know a lot of Scoop hated him as an analyst but I loved the guy - in small doses, which is how, in the Midwest and Florida, I got him. He loved the game and he loved life - and it came through loud and clear.

[lawdog77]

agree and disagree.

A great player. Generally considered top 25 all-time, so not underrated.

He could still be underrated in the Top 25. He led the league in rebounding 14 straight years.

He's better than the other malone (Karl). Many sources have Karl ranked higher. Same with Kevin Garnett. That, to me, means Moses could be considered underrated.

[Pakuni]

He could still be underrated in the Top 25. He led the league in rebounding 14 straight years.

Moses was great, but he did not lead the league in rebounding 14 straight years.

[MuggsyB]

He could still be underrated in the Top 25. He led the league in rebounding 14 straight years.

He's better than the other malone (Karl). Many sources have Karl ranked higher. Same with Kevin Garnett. That, to me, means Moses could be considered underrated.

Ty lawdog.  Jockey appears to have completely overlooked your points or perused various top 25 lists.  The guy was a 3-time MVP.  He clearly owned the fking glass for about 15 years.  Yet, on many lists, I see him behind Dr J, Karl Malone, Garnett, Barkley, Nowitzki, David Robinson, ETC.  My top three underrated are Baylor, Moses, and Rick Barry. 

[MuggsyB]

Moses was great, but he did not lead the league in rebounding 14 straight years.

Doesn't matter.  Look at the man's stats!  He was a rebounding machine. 

[lawdog77]

Moses was great, but he did not lead the league in rebounding 14 straight years.

Yes, my bad. I misread an article. 6 times he did, but 14 straight years he had double digit rebounding

[Uncle Rico]

Nobody rebounded Moses Malone misses like Moses Malone