TUCSON, Ariz. — If you've watched an Arizona Basketball broadcast in the last 12 years, you know Bill Walton: The sing-speak timbre of his booming voice extolling the 'Conference of Champions' has been part of the Wilcats' courtside soundtrack on the now-sunsetting Pac-12 Network since its launch in 2012.
While younger Arizona fans might have been first introduced to Walton as a color commentator, or as the father of former Wildcat and NBA coach Luke Walton, Bill Walton had a storied basketball career prior to his days as a sportscaster. From his time as a UCLA Bruin under John Wooden to his championship-winning NBA career as a Portland Trail Blazer and Boston Celtic, Walton was honored with numerous MVP awards. He was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
And perhaps most famously, muralist Ignacio Garcia painted this larger-than-life Bill Walton mural in the heart of downtown: Even former UA Basketball head coach Sean Miller shared pictures and memories, writing,"In the 12 years I was at Arizona, I had the great fortune to be around Bill and interact with him as a colleague, mentor and friend. He introduced himself to me at every gameday shoot around the same way, 'Coach, Hi I’m Bill'."Bill Walton was always so generous to the @prideofarizona. He vocally supported the bands at the games he covered & would even shout out directors by name.