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with Bill Walton  Walton |
On the audio CD, Walton introduces insightful commentary from players, coaches, members of the press and perceptive observers who witnessed these events unfold along with original radio and TV broadcasts.
Walton is one of the game’s greatest all-around centers, a three-time All-American who led UCLA to an 86-4 record and NCAA titles in 1972 and 1973. During his NBA career, he guided the Portland Trail Blazers to its only NBA Championship in 1977 and nine years later earned another championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986. In 1997 he was named as one of the Fifty Greatest Players in NBA history.
Fans asked Bill about about the current NBA season, his time as a champion Trail Blazer, and about the great NBA moments in At The Buzzer! during a live chat on NBA.com on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
ShaqAttack at 1:22pm ET
What is your opinion on Michael Jordan's return?
Bill Walton at 1:24pm ET
I'm happy for Michael because he's playing basketball, and there's nothing better in life than the ability to play basketball. But this will be very difficult. He's no longer the explosive, dominating, athletic presence we were so used to and so enamored with. This will be his greatest challenge ever. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Jerry Stackhouse, Bonzi Wells -- these guys are really, really good. But in the end, he gets to play, and there's nobody I know who wouldn't jump at that chance. So congratulations to Michael.
Deepak Sambhara at 1:24pm ET
Hey Bill, I'm a big fan of the old game and fundamentals that, like that which you brought when playing in the NBA. What do you think are the main differences between the players back then and now? Thanks for answering.
Bill Walton at 1:26pm ET
The players today are so much more gifted athletically. The two major differences are that the players don't have the relationship with great coaches at a young age in today's game. Some by not going to college, some due to the structure of youth basketball. That's one of the things we're trying to change with the Junior NBA and WNBA. Today's game is also played off the dribble, where earlier, everything took place off passes. Today's NBA is really, really great. Take a look at just how talented these young players are. There's so much focus on Michael right now, but these other guys are playing ball and it is fun to watch.
Marvin Williams at 1:26pm ET
Hey Bill, So i hear you have a new book.
Bill Walton at 1:29pm ET
At The Buzzer....is an incredible, awe-inspiring book. It's the type of book that you open to anywhere and say, "I remember that!" or "I didn't know that!" It's about the history of the NBA -- the greatest moments captured in this 216-page, two-CD, audio and pictorial history. The foreward by Kevin Garnett is spectacular and visionary. The afterword by Karl Malone is powerful and compelling. It reproduces the actual call of the moment, and is augmented by the text and photographs. The best part is the story of success -- guys who came from the humblest of backgrounds who made something of their lives. The ability to overcome adversity that makes the NBA the world's greatest game. It's got a chapter on Jordan, it's got the young players, it has the Knicks, Wilt, Jerry West. It has light moments like the time Dick Motta brought a tiger into the locker room, the time Johnny Most accidentally set himself on fire during a broadcast. It's the entire history of what we live for. I could not be more proud or more privileged to be the narrator and spokesman for this must-have historical document.
Bruce Albaneseat 1:29pm ET
Bill.
I've been a big fan of yours since your days as a Blazer. In fact, as a tribute to you and your 77' Blazer team, our high-school team used to warm-up to Fire on the Mountain before games. It was pure joy to hear Jerry and the boys blaring over the PA as we did our layup drill. What Grateful Dead song did you listen to before games to get you fired up? Was it Franklin's Tower?
Your in awe,
Bruce Albanese
Bill Walton at 1:32pm ET
I used to have an incredible collection of live concert tapes of the Grateful Dead. Over the course of my boys' development into manhood, they have destroyed it. It was different songs all the time, but it was loud, long and fast, and the minute I woke up on game days I'd push the play button on a cued up song, and that would carry on through the entire game day. And with the Blazers, the P.A. man would play these tapes over the P.A. to the entire coliseum as we were warming up, and we won a lot of games. There was no particular song -- they were all fast and they were all long. As Mickey Hart used to tell us, "If it's worth playing, play it loud."
Andrew Potter, Chicago at 1:32pm ET
Is the natural center position slowly being eliminated in the NBA due to lack of quality big men? It appears most teams are content with playing a "4" at center.
Bill Walton at 1:36pm ET
Very few players want to play center anymore, and who can blame them with Shaq out there. It takes a special guy, particularly in this era when everyone's doing it off the dribble. But to me, the center anchors everything, it's the center of the wheel. This goes back to young players not getting proper coaching -- everyone wants to be a perimeter player and make the fancy highlight play. As bigger players have come in, we're seeing unprecedented athleticism. Now, they need to learn to be that focal point of the team, learn to enjoy the task of taking on Shaq. It's hard to imagine the gap between Shaq and everyone else right now. The great centers have always had some challenger, and there was a long period when centers were not the most dominant player, but now you're back with the dominant center in Shaq. It's incredible what he's doing out there in terms of his domination over the rest of the league. All credit given to him, and a challenge thrown down to the rest of the guys to be inspired by guys like Cowens, Unseld, McAdoo -- undersized centers who became Hall of Famers. There's nothing like beating the big guys -- that's when you know you're a real player. That's when you can say, "You know what -- today I am a basketball player, because I just beat that guy."
Hector at 1:36pm ET
What have you thought so far about the new rules? Personally I don't like them. I feel the old rules made the game faster.
Bill Walton at 1:37pm ET
I don't think they've had near the impact I thought they would. The poor teams are playing a lot of zone. I wish the NBA had gone further and said, there are no more defensive rules ... play whatever you want. I'm also a believer that you don't need the eight-second rule -- the 24-second clock is enough. Make no rule about halfcourt-backcourt. I think the defensive three-second rule is too much. Just play whatever kind of defense you want at any time -- that would have a much greater impact.
Edward at 1:37pm ET
Which Western Conference team is strong enough to put a end to the Lakers 3-peat.
Bill Walton at 1:39pm ET
The three best teams in the West besides the Lakers are San Antonio, Sacramento and Portland, and they all have different strengths. Their challenge will be to find an identity necessary to challenge the Lakers. Minnesota is playing terrific ball right now, but can they sustain that? Will Garnett and their youth and exuberance be enough? All the teams in the West are vastly improved, but still the question is, which one can look at Shaq and say, "You're gonna have to play my game." Until it happens on the court, it's all just speculative talk.
Brett at 1:40pm ET
After working with the Pacers, what is your take on their big men, especially Johnathan Bender?
Bill Walton at 1:41pm ET
I did not work with Jonathan Bender -- he and Al Harrington and Jermaine O'Neal chose not to attend our training camp at the end of last season. I worked with Primo and Bruno, who have a lot of talent and potential, but have yet to turn that into NBA productivity. I think the Pacers are one of the special teams in the league that has a lot going for them. They need more productivity from their frontcourt -- if it can match the contributions of the perimiter players, then the Pacers I think can compete all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Aaron Ponder, Texas at 1:41pm ET
Hey Bill what do you think of the 76ers this year, Do you think they can repeat to the finals now that they have A.I. back?
Bill Walton at 1:44pm ET
Without Iverson, they can't score enough points, so it's huge to have him back. Larry Brown wants to win a championship, so acquiring Derrick Coleman with all the negative baggage he brings, I think so far has worked out. Harpring is a talented perimeter scorer who helps spread the court. In time, this Philadelphia team can be significantly better than last year's team because of Coleman's potential and promise. But it's time for him to start delivering at 35 years old. He has been the antithesis of the team player throughout his career, but Larry Brown dispels that. Derrick has the opportunity to prove all the negative history is behind him and that now he's ready to make that special contribution to what it takes to win a championship.
Drew at 1:44pm ET
How would your Portland championship team stack up against the back to back champion Lakers?
Bill Walton at 1:47pm ET
Oh, we'd sweep them! That Blazer team was the youngest in history to win the championship, and it is highlighted prominently in At the Buzzer. The pictures are awesome, though I'm a little concerned about Dr. J. dunking on me in one. We had the fastest guards in the NBA, we had a brilliant small forward. We had Maurice Lucas who was the greatest teammate I ever had. The greatest compliment I received was that I made my teammates better, and no one made me better than Lucas. On Page 89 of At the Buzzer is my own tribute to Lucas. Jack Ramsay made me the best player that I ever was, and I played for a lot of great coaches, including John Wooden, Lenny Wilkens, Red Auerbach, but Jack Ramsay, he was a genius. He knew how to make men. He knew how to build a team. I reiterate, it would have been a sweep.
RedMan at 1:47pm ET
Kwame Brown must be some basketball player. Michael Jordan doesn't play around and he selected Brown with the #1 pick in the draft. But when are we going to see him play? Has he played at all this season?
Bill Walton at 1:49pm ET
I have not seen him enough. All reports are that he's going to be a terrific player. In the long run, that will be Michael's greatest contribution to this team -- his ability to turn their young stars into the stars that Michael helped develop on the legendary Bulls teams of the 90s. The way he taught so many of his teammates how hard you have to work, the way he taught perfect behavior, responsibility and accountability at all times. Michael Jordan is perfect at everything he does, and if he can influence the young stars that he's got on his squad, that will go a long way towards the long-term resurrection of the Washington Wizards.
Erik at 1:49pm ET
Your abilities as a broadcaster really enhance the NBC game coverage. Sometimes you and Snapper's differences of opinion are more fun than the game itself. How would you characterize your relationship off camera?
Bill Walton at 1:51pm ET
My job is very happy because Steve is always wrong. Off camera, Steve Jones is like my brother. When I joined the Blazers, which was an expansion team, it was unbelievable how chaotic the situation was up there, and Steve Jones came to my rescue. He showed me what it was like to become a professional. He showed me how fortunate we are to be a part of the NBA. He deserves his own At the Buzzer book. We love you, Steve!
Bill Walton at 1:52pm ET
I want to thank everyone for joining me today. It's always fun to be on NBA.com. This At the Buzzer set is incredibly unique. While we talk about hype and promotion, this book will make you feel so good about being a part of the NBA. You see these incredibly important people, and this shows you how to be a part of the team -- it allows you to be in the locker room, on the bus, in the team huddle. A lot has gone into making the NBA
Bill Walton at 1:53pm ET
Thanks for having me -- can't wait to get back on NBA.com.
