UTAH JAZZ

Danny Ainge Remembers Late Teammate Bill Walton

May 30, 2024, 2:40 PM

Members of the Boston Celtics 1986 championship team Bill Walton and Danny Ainge are honored....

Members of the Boston Celtics 1986 championship team Bill Walton and Danny Ainge are honored (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge was among the many to eulogize NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton who passed away this week at age 71.

Walton and Ainge were teammates for two seasons with the Boston Celtics between 1985-87 and won an NBA title together in 1986.

Ainge appeared on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt to remember his former idol and teammate.

Danny Ainge Remembers Bill Walton The Player

Ainge’s first memories of Walton came before the two players shared the court in Boston.

Growing up in Oregon, Ainge first saw Walton during his legendary college career at UCLA and followed him as he led the Portland Trail Blazers to their only title in 1977.

“I got a chance to meet him in ’75 or ’76, the summer at a Blazers basketball camp, and he always remembered that,” Ainge said. “in 1986, when he joined the Celtics, he had remembered that and remembered me as a player.”

Walton won back-to-back titles at UCLA in 1972 and 1973 before the Trail Blazers selected him with the top overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft.

Though injuries derailed his career, Walton managed to capture two NBA titles, a league MVP, a Finals MVP, and a Sixth Man of the Year trophy in just career 468 appearances.

“In 1977, I still think [that] is one of the most incredible individual performances in NBA playoff history,” Ainge remembered. “What Walton did with that Portland Trailblazers team to win the championship, start out 0-2, to come back and win four straight games — he was so good.”

Ainge Remembers Walton Off The Floor

Though Walton is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, his personality off the floor often eclipsed his accomplishments on it.

“He was just a character, he had a lot of beliefs, a lot of political views, he talked a lot about what a great chess player he was,” Ainge said. “He was so unique in every way.”

Despite just joining the Celtics in the summer of ’86, Walton surprised his teammates by making an impromptu departure from the roster as they geared up for the season.

“He says, I’m sorry, guys, I’m going to be gone for the next three or four days,” Ainge remembered. “It was like, ‘What do you mean you’re going to be gone, we’re getting ready for the season?’ He says, ‘I’ve got to go to South Dakota for an Indian Reservation sit-in.'”

After retiring in 1988, Walton became a television analyst with the NBA on NBC before calling PAC-12 college basketball games with partner Dave Pasch.

“I always loved going to watch him and Dave do their games and would always say hi to Bill and we’d talk for five or 10 minutes,” Ainge said. “We’ve exchanged texts back and forth over the last couple of weeks when he hasn’t been doing well, and to the very end, he just cares more about everybody else than he does himself.”

Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports


Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.

  • Utah Jazz Scoreboard

  • Utah Jazz Team Leaders

  • Utah Jazz Standings

Utah Jazz

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives into Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz...

Ben Anderson

Jazz Split Four-Game Road Trip With Victory Over Spurs

The Utah Jazz played their most complete game of the season beating the San Antonio Spurs 111-110 on the road.

8 hours ago

Isaiah Collier (13) of the Utah Jazz puts up a shot during a NBA preseason game against the Houston...

Ben Anderson

Jazz Rookie Isaiah Collier Scores First Career Basket

Utah Jazz rookie Isaiah Collier recorded his first NBA basket early in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs.

10 hours ago

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) sits on the bench at the end of a game...

Ben Anderson

Jazz Guard Keyonte George Questionable Against Spurs

The Utah Jazz may be without sophomore Keyonte George when they travel to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday,

1 day ago

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy season...

Ben Anderson

Jazz On Pace For Worst Record, Top Draft Odds

Through 10 percent of the NBA season, the Utah Jazz own the league's worst record, and are on pace to have the best draft lottery odds.

1 day ago

Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Patty Mills #8 of the Utah Jazz...

Ben Anderson

Familiar Problems Plague Jazz In Loss To Bucks

Despite a strong first half, the Utah Jazz fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 123-100 to drop to 1-7 on the season.

2 days ago

Utah Jazz Milwaukee Bucks...

Ben Anderson and Chandler Holt

Utah Jazz Sputter In Second Half, Fall To Bucks In Milwaukee

The Utah Jazz got off to a hot start in Milwaukee before eventually falling flat in the second half and dropping to the Bucks.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Spanish Fork H.S....

Spanish Fork Advances After Comeback Win Over Park City

The Spanish Fork Dons completed a thrilling comeback to beat the Park City Miners 30-24 in the UHSAA quarterfinals.

...

Northern Utah High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in all of Northern Utah, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Salt Lake County, honoring their exceptional performances on the gridiron.

game night live...

How To Watch Game Night Live: Park City Miners @ Spanish Fork Dons

Round three of the UHSAA football playoffs is on tap with spectacular playoff matchups around the Beehive State. Winners move on to the semifinals next weekend, and the 2024 high school football season inches toward its end.

Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week...

Utah County High School Player of the Week – Week 12

The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep football players in Utah County. It honors athletes for their performances on the gridiron.

Farmington High School...

American Fork Outlasts Farmington In Defensive Battle

Twelfth-seeded American Fork put together a stout defensive performance, shutting down the Farmington Phoenix in a 21-17 win.

Danny Ainge Remembers Late Teammate Bill Walton