The mid-1980s were a phenomenal time to be a fan of the Boston Celtics. Almost every player was in their physical prime, and the team kept competing for the NBA championship year after year. Larry Bird was the star, but he had a superb supporting cast.
One of the standouts from that group was Bill Walton , a veteran who was once the best center in the league. Unfortunately, he suffered injuries that hobbled him and led to him embracing a lesser role, in which he excelled, winning Sixth Man of the Year in the 1985/86 season. He was a beloved figure within the Celtics organization, and his former teammate, Danny Ainge , showed him some love.
“Bill was who Larry, Kevin, and I looked up to when we were younger in high school and college. He was a legend in our minds. He was coming into the Celtics, even though he hasn’t played a lot of basketball over the past few years, but we were excited to get him,” Ainge said on the Pardon My Take show. “For me, it was great because I was like Larry and Kevin’s little brother, so I got picked on a lot, but when he came, all the attention went to him.”
Walton was the model teammate for the Celtics
As a superstar for UCLA in college and the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA, Walton had a gleaming reputation. He proved it at every level he played at, but his injuries were too much to handle. He spent some time away from the NBA, but the Celtics gave him a golden opportunity to shine off the bench.
The Celtics players relished playing with the Big Red because he was an icon for them during their formative years. Bill was not just a superstar; he was an influential player because of his creative flair and natural skill set. They also loved his personality away from the court, which made him such a compelling teammate in the Celtics locker room.
Even Bird talked about how important Walton was to the team . Knowing that he was healthy was a big boost for the C's because the team believed his presence ensured a successful outcome.
"This team is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, I've ever been associated with, especially over the long season. They just continued to produce, day in and day out," Bird once said . "The success of this team depends upon how healthy Bill Walton is. If he stays healthy, we'll continue to be successful."
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Walton always had a positive presence
Ainge was spot-on when he spoke about his late teammate. While Walton was undeniably a phenomenal player, known for his natural talent in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking, it was his uplifting presence in the locker room and on the bench that his teammates cherished most.
That kind of positive influence is vital to any team's success. Larry Legend and the rest of the Celtics recognized that having Bill on the team was a game-changer—not just for his on-court skills but also for the way he motivated and uplifted everyone around him. Every member of that Boston squad only had good things to say about him, a testament to how deeply loved and respected he was throughout his career.
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