“I was losing the ability to breathe, it was getting worse” - When Bill Walton’s HoF career was nearly over before it even started

While Bill Walton ’s prime years in the NBA were undoubtedly hampered by injuries, his accomplishments remain impressive. From leading the Portland Trail Blazers to their lone NBA championship in 1977 to winning the Finals and regular season MVP, to later winning the Sixth Man of the Year award at the age of 33, Big Red never shied away from defying the odds.

Moreover, even his collegiate career at UCLA, wherein he led them to two consecutive titles, solidified his status as one of the greatest collegiate basketball players ever. However, a potential career-ending accident during the summer between his junior and senior years nearly derailed his pro career entirely.

Walton’s strange accident

Following UCLA’s seventh consecutive national championship triumph in 1973, Walton began his usual summer routine. This involved attending morning classes at Sonoma State College in California, followed by a bike ride to his friend’s house. One day, however, this familiar routine took an alarming turn.

While cycling, ‘Big Red’ felt a sting on his leg. Upon inspection, he discovered a large bee persistently injecting venom into his body. Despite the pain and unease, he continued his journey to his friend’s house, where he finally managed to flick the bee off him. Unfortunately, by that point, Walton’s condition had deteriorated significantly, placing him in a precarious medical situation.

"All of a sudden, my whole body... felt like it was on fire. I was pouring out sweat from every pore. My vision was blurring, fogging over," Walton wrote in his autobiography 'Back From The Dead.' " My mouth was foaming, my nose and eyes running. I was losing the ability to breathe as my throat and tongue were rapidly swelling. And it was all getting worse - fast."

Related: The Lakers' team bus would always leave Kobe Bryant behind because he waited to talk to MJ after every game: "We were always one head short with Kobe"

Walton’s friend rushed to his aid

Upon hearing Bill’s distress, his friend - Jim immediately called for an ambulance. As the ambulance raced towards a hospital in Santa Rose, a doctor acted with swift precision. Regardless of how painful it was, the doctor injected a massive needle of epinephrine and shoved Benadryls down Walton’s throat to fight off a nasty anaphylactic shock from the bee sting.

"(The doctors) started forcing Benadryl tables down my throat, hoping to reverse the deadly anaphylactic shock caused by the bee sting," Walton added.

Although the 6’11” center was eventually brought out of danger, from that incident onward, Benadryl and EpiPens became Walton’s regular travel companions, ensuring he was always prepared for any future allergic reactions.

Related: Bill Walton on what made Wilt Chamberlain unique: “Wilt was a combination of Magic Johnson and Santa Claus”