Foot Injury Interrupts Remarkable Return for Mountain Man

February 18, 1985 Before suffering another in a long series of foot and ankle injuries on Jan. 29, Bill Walton had enjoyed remarkable success with the Los Angeles Clippers this season.

"He's been healthier than we had a right to expect before the season," Clippers Coact Jim Lynam said. "He's made a fine contribution, especially in his defensive rebounding and shot-blocking."

Walton Decides This Is One of His Playing Nights

November 8, 1983 

 

San Diego Clippers center Bill Walton, who had planned to skip tonight's game against the Washington Bullets at Capital Centre (7:35) in favor of playing Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics, will instead play here, a spokesman for the team said yesterday.

Greatness is Fundamental

August 23, 1996

The smile never left his face.

Bill Walton slumped to a seat at the far end of the Stony Brook Indoor Sports Complex, sweat dripping from his long forehead and a weary look in his eyes. He rubbed his knees, let out a long sigh and leaned back against the wall.

Those Southern Californians, They're So Laid Back

While we are on the subject of Bill Walton, I found this little tidbit that is slightly disturbing. John Wooden coached UCLA for 27 years, beginning in 1947, and won 620 games, 10 national titles (including seven consecutive titles from 1966-1973) and 88 straight games at one point. Gene Bartow replaced "The Wizard of Westwood" in 1975, and led the Bruins to a 52-9 record during two seasons as head coach. But Bartow could not replicate Wooden's penchant for winning titles and left the program amid threats to take his life if he continued coaching at the school. I guess UCLA students don't apply their "Life is a Beach" approach to winning basketball programs that fail to net national titles.

Walton Goes for 19 & 13 in 25 Minutes

January 27, 1986

The pre-game mood was different today in the Philadelphia 76er and Boston Celtic dressing rooms. The 76ers were relieved that Kevin McHale, who had scored 88 points in his previous three games against them, was sidelined with a painful Achilles tendon in his left foot. The Celtics were wondering who among them would make up for the loss of the 6-foot-11-inch power forward.

Walton Set the Bar High

Qss


April 1, 2005
Midway through the second half of the 1973 NCAA Tournament championship game at The Arena, UCLA guard Greg Lee spoke up during a timeout.

"Greg said to Coach Wooden, 'C'mon Coach, we've got a 20-point lead, can somebody else besidesBill shoot for a while?'" recalled the subject of Lee's plea, center Bill Walton. "And CoachWooden looked around and said, 'Why?'"

NC State Conquers a Giant: Remembering the Wolfpack's Stunning Victory over Wooden, Walton, and UCLA

March 20, 2006

"People used to say we were a circus team. We had the midget, the giant, the high-flying guy. But we were more than that."

- David Thompson

They certainly were much more. N.C. State's 1973-74 Wolfpack ended the season as NCAA basketball champions two days after shocking perennial champ UCLA 80-77 in a double-overtime Final Four semifinal thriller.

A Return to Full-Time for the Mountain Man?

January 21, 1983

Center Bill Walton officially became a full-time San Diego Clipper Thursday after getting approval from his orthopedic surgeon.

The announcement came after Walton, who is attempting a comeback after a two-year absence, had met with Dr. Tony Daly, who last operated on the former UCLA star's thrice-broken left foot.

Despite a Career Full of Injuries, Walton Feels Lucky

December 1, 2002

The first thing Bill Walton drops into conversation is the surgeries--a staggering list that is as much a part of his persona as his devotion to the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and John Wooden. His nose was broken 13 times, his front teeth knocked out 10 times, surgery twice on his left hand, five times on his left knee and the other 25 on his feet.

Could it be? A healthy Bill Walton?

October 22, 1984 The Los Angeles Clippers are an optimistic bunch approaching the start of the 1984-85 National Basketball Association season, their first in Los Angeles.

There are many reasons for their high hopes, not the least of which is the physical condition of BillWalton.

Walton goes for 15, 11, 9, and 4 in Garden Return

January 30, 1983

The big news last night was to have been Bill Walton's return to Madison Square Garden after an absence of more than five years. Instead, it was Randy Smith, a former Knick, and Lowes Moore, a Nets' castoff, who hurt the Knicks most in their 106-97 loss to the San Diego Clippers.

Clippers Ink Bill Walton and Marques Johnson

October 2, 1984 Like his former college teammate Marques Johnson did two days earlier, veteran center BillWalton forecast big things for the Clippers this season after signing a contract with the National Basketball Association team.

Walton Ensnared by Lawsuits

February 24, 1983 Bill Walton almost went on strike, simply because he had not been paid by the San DiegoClippers, which is less simply explained. The National Basketball Association franchise is enmeshed in a tangle of lawsuits and countersuits. First, the former owner, Ira Levin, and the current owner, Don Sterling, are suing each other over who has the responsibility to pay Walton. Levin, meanwhile, is suing Walton, saying the big center never told him he was injured when he signed with the club.

Walton, with Surgically Rebuilt Foot, Attends Stanford Law

February 4, 1983 He's 30 years old now, plays for the San Diego Clippers, wears goggles and has a "new" left foot.

Other than that, Bill Walton, all 6-foot-11 of him, is virtually the same dominating center he was when he led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA championship six seasons ago. He is averaging 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and shooting 50 percent while averaging 34 minutes a game. He is second in the league with 3.7 blocked shots a game. 

Walton Breaks Finger; will be out of action for two months

December 6, 1983 James Donaldson, the massive reserve center obtained by the San Diego Clippers for just such an emergency, will be called upon to take the place of the injured Bill Walton for the next several weeks.

Walton broke a finger Sunday in Los Angeles and will be out of action for two months. 

Walton Gives Clippers a Different Look

November 29, 1984 Center Bill Walton, working his way back into the lineup after yet another ailment, was welcomed addition to the Los Angeles Clippers' starting lineup.

"With (James) Donaldson coming off the bench for Walton that gives us a good one-two punch," said Clippers Coach Jim Lynam.

With Walton Back, Clippers have some Talent

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January 8, 1985

There wasn't much Jazz in the Utah attack Monday night, in fact coach Frank Layden said it was the Los Angeles Clippers who were making the music.

Forward Marques Johnson returned to action following a finger and a hamstring injury and scored 20 points to lead the Clippers to an easy 116-106 victory over Utah. Guard Derek Smith added 19 for the winners, who led the entire game.

Walton and Donaldson Post Win over Sampson and Olajuwon

January 17, 1985 Every time the Clippers meet the Houston Rockets and Twin Towers Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, James Donaldson automatically wins back his starting center position since Bill Waltonmoves to power forward to form another set of Twin Towers.

Walton Still Showing Flashes of Brilliance

December 6, 1984 Bill Walton doesn't score like he used to, but in the final moments of the Los Angeles Clippers'game against the Dallas Mavericks he sent out a reminder he was once the game's elite center.

Walton, 32, tipped in a pair of misses by teammate Derek Smith in the final 32 seconds to give the Clippers a 110-106 victory Wednesday night.

Lakers Showing Interest in Mountain Man

February 4, 1984 San Diego Clippers center Bill Walton is not on the trading block despite the fact the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in him, according to Clippers officials.

General Manager Paul Phipps told newsmen in Pontiac, Mich., Friday night that Lakers general manager Jerry West had sounded him out about the 31-year-old Walton at the NBA All-Star game last Sunday.