Celtics Legend Had Battled Health Problems In Recent Years

Bill Walton Dies At 63

Celtics' Legend Had Battled Health Problems in Recent Years

Bill Walton, a Hall of Fame center who authored a career that was triumphant and tragic as well as colorful and controversial, died Monday at the age of 63.

Tributes immediately began pouring in, and the NBA held a moment of silence to commemorate Walton's life before Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Fame center for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in the league, had battled health problems in recent years.

As a Celtic, Bill overcame years of debilitating injuries, regained his zest for the game, and helped guide the 1986 Boston Celtics to a championship.

In his first time in a Celtics uniform in the Boston Garden, Walton received a one-minute standing ovation from the Boston home crowd walking onto the court for warmups.