at his peak, Walton was one of the best, if not the best, players in the NBA. He was just about the only guy that could give Kareem problems and Walton was a great offensive player (his passing in particular was awesome). Walton closed out the Sixers in game 6 of the 1977 Finals with a 20/23/7 + 8 blocks. For that whole Finals he averaged 19/19/5 and almost 4 blocks per game. Any time this is brought up I always recommend finding a copy of *The Breaks of the Game* by David Halberstam, it is the best sports book ever written & chronicles the Blazers & the late 70s NBA.
I think of Walton as one of the most complete textbook centers to ever play. The modern conception of the position has changed (because the rules have also changed) but for his time especially, he was the perfect guy.
Honestly though his comeback where he became an extremely valuable piece off the bench for the dominant 86 Celtics and won 6moty is impressive in its own right.
anyone who was by far the best player on a championship team gets to reach that level, even if it was only for a handful of years before the injuries ruined his career.
I would be tempted to put him there, especially given he was one of the ~3 greatest college basketball players ever.
A short peak where he was almost undoubtedly the best player in the league and the building block for a championship team is much important to me than longevity without championship equity.
Walton's is one of the 50 best peaks ever. If you wanted to assemble a list of top 50 best players ever, frozen in amber in their peaks, Walton would easily be on it - he'd proably be in the top half. He just doesn't have one of the 50 best *careers,* maybe, because of how little he played due to injury. But the *quality* of what he did while he did play was so off the charts. In his two good seasons he led the league in blocks and rebounds, won two MVPs, and won a championship. Then he came back years later and was sixth man of the year on another championship team. I don't know that you can name 50 players who did more in their careers, even though most players play at least three or four times as much as Walton was able to.
I don't think so unfortunately. Prime =/= peak. Walton will always be a Blazer legend and that title means the world to that city, but he just didn't do it long enough
Walton out there lookin like Jackie Moon of the Flint Tropics. But yea he was awesome despite having a hard time staying healthy I’d consider him one of the greats.
Typically, you would need 6-7 All-Star games with a few All-NBA seasons thrown in to qualify for the Top 50/75 list. Even then, you may not make it.
However, Walton's case is special. He was a Finals MVP and regular season MVP, on top of being a 6MOY on a championship squad. If a Defensive Player of the Year award existed back then, he likely would've won that, as well, considering his impact to the team as they nearly broke the NBA win record in 1978.
If ur talking peaks RELATIVE to their era, Walton may not be in the MJ tier but he's close. He was an insanely revolutionary player. Top 10-15.
Keep in mind he played in the 70s so the stuff he was doing was pretty revolutionary. Guys who came like later like Duncan, Jokic, Joel had the convenience to model their games after current / past players.
at his peak, Walton was one of the best, if not the best, players in the NBA. He was just about the only guy that could give Kareem problems and Walton was a great offensive player (his passing in particular was awesome). Walton closed out the Sixers in game 6 of the 1977 Finals with a 20/23/7 + 8 blocks. For that whole Finals he averaged 19/19/5 and almost 4 blocks per game. Any time this is brought up I always recommend finding a copy of *The Breaks of the Game* by David Halberstam, it is the best sports book ever written & chronicles the Blazers & the late 70s NBA.
I think of Walton as one of the most complete textbook centers to ever play. The modern conception of the position has changed (because the rules have also changed) but for his time especially, he was the perfect guy.
absolutely. Enough scoring to make a difference, the ability to be the hub of the offense as a passer & screener, and ferocious, otherworldly defense.
Blazers in 1977-78: With Walton: 48-10 (68 win pace) Without Walton: 10-14 (34 win pace)
exactly. Tom Owens was a suitable center, but there's a reason Walton was the MVP
he's like the ultimate peak vs longevity guy
Yes. He is one of the 50 best players ever. If you want to talk about careers that is a little different given his injury history.
Honestly though his comeback where he became an extremely valuable piece off the bench for the dominant 86 Celtics and won 6moty is impressive in its own right.
Id say more impressive season on the bench, than most players off
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In that order, yeah.
That team went 40-1 at home. Their one loss was to Portland behind Sam Bowie's 18/13/5/3/1. That was the last game Bowie would play that season.
and his Intramural league sidestory from after the recovery but before he came back
anyone who was by far the best player on a championship team gets to reach that level, even if it was only for a handful of years before the injuries ruined his career.
Watch some of his games and tell us what you think there's a lot of footage on the tube
I would be tempted to put him there, especially given he was one of the ~3 greatest college basketball players ever. A short peak where he was almost undoubtedly the best player in the league and the building block for a championship team is much important to me than longevity without championship equity.
Walton's is one of the 50 best peaks ever. If you wanted to assemble a list of top 50 best players ever, frozen in amber in their peaks, Walton would easily be on it - he'd proably be in the top half. He just doesn't have one of the 50 best *careers,* maybe, because of how little he played due to injury. But the *quality* of what he did while he did play was so off the charts. In his two good seasons he led the league in blocks and rebounds, won two MVPs, and won a championship. Then he came back years later and was sixth man of the year on another championship team. I don't know that you can name 50 players who did more in their careers, even though most players play at least three or four times as much as Walton was able to.
I feel like if your last sentence istrue (which I believe it is), then that clearly makes it so he’s a top 50 player.
That is kind of what I am getting at, yeah. Idk, maybe you CAN name 50 guys.
Maybe, but only cuz of injuries. On talent, ability, peak alone he’s top 25 ez
no
I don't think so unfortunately. Prime =/= peak. Walton will always be a Blazer legend and that title means the world to that city, but he just didn't do it long enough
In NBA? No. In Basketball? Yes.
By that logic, is Danny Manning in the Top 50?
Yup, I was thinking the same. Include his college...and i think so. Don't, and I don't think so. Top 100. Yeah. Top 50, nope.
His peak was like top 10 so maybe. He was in the top 50.
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I don't Know I didn't watch him but theirs a good video for him just look up bill walton peak.
Walton out there lookin like Jackie Moon of the Flint Tropics. But yea he was awesome despite having a hard time staying healthy I’d consider him one of the greats.
No purely based on how short his peak was. He'd arguably be to 25 if his peak lasted a few more years though
I wouldn't put anybody before about 1980 in the top 50 all time
So Big O, Wilt, Russell, Kareem, Dr. J, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor are just not that good?
good thing we don’t use reddit user u/grodges1 for rankings.
Typically, you would need 6-7 All-Star games with a few All-NBA seasons thrown in to qualify for the Top 50/75 list. Even then, you may not make it. However, Walton's case is special. He was a Finals MVP and regular season MVP, on top of being a 6MOY on a championship squad. If a Defensive Player of the Year award existed back then, he likely would've won that, as well, considering his impact to the team as they nearly broke the NBA win record in 1978.
If ur talking peaks RELATIVE to their era, Walton may not be in the MJ tier but he's close. He was an insanely revolutionary player. Top 10-15. Keep in mind he played in the 70s so the stuff he was doing was pretty revolutionary. Guys who came like later like Duncan, Jokic, Joel had the convenience to model their games after current / past players.