Portland Trail Blazers legend Bill Walton passed away from cancer on May 27 at the age of 71. "Big Red" was the Trail Blazers' No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft and left a lasting impact on Blazers basketball, bringing Portland their lone NBA championship in 1977.
In that NBA Finals series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Walton averaged 18.5 points and 19 rebounds per game, resulting in Finals MVP. He also went on to win MVP of the league the following season. Despite only playing four seasons with Rip City, Walton's elite peak makes him one of the few players with a strong case for being the best player in Trail Blazers history, as reflected in his ranking as the third-best Blazer of all time.
Blazers' tie-dye jersey band idea is perfect
The Trail Blazers recently announced they will honor the late Bill Walton during the 2024-25 season. Walton deserves a proper and unique send-off because of what he did for Portland—and the basketball world as a whole—as a person and a player. Between the season-long jersey band and the tribute night, this does just that.
Throughout the entire 2024-25 season, the Trail Blazers' players will wear a tie-dye red, white, and blue band with Walton's jersey number, 32, on the top left of their jersey.
The Portland Trail Blazers will honor late Rip City legend Bill Walton with a band on their jerseys throughout the 2024-25 season.
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) September 26, 2024
Team to Host Bill Walton Tribute Night on March 9 vs. Detroit
The Blazers will also hold a "Bill Walton Tribute Night" on Sunday, March 9, against the Detroit Pistons. Walton was a huge fan of the Grateful Dead and constantly wore tie-dye clothing. As a tribute, attending fans are encouraged to wear tie-dye and will also get a tie-dye headband to "rock Bill's classic style."
Celebrating the legacy of Bill Walton
Walton's basketball legacy and what he accomplished during his time on Earth went far beyond his four seasons with Rip City. Walton had an incredibly successful collegiate career at UCLA, winning two NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973. He also went on to win another NBA championship as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1986, adding a Sixth Man of the Year award to his Hall of Fame resume that same season.
After his NBA career, which was a brief ten seasons (four of which were 35 games or less) due to his many back, foot, ankle, and knee injuries, Walton went on to have a successful career in broadcasting. His quirky and authentic personality made him an entertaining sportscaster.
In many ways, Walton was the perfect embodiment of Portland. He loved nature and riding his bike, among other things that made him fit right in from the second the franchise drafted him. It's incredible that the Blazers are giving "Big Red" a proper tribute that he undoubtedly deserves.