NEW YORK, April 18 -- Hall of Famer and NBA on NBC analyst Bill Walton, who led his Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA Championship 25 years ago, is again making history as he "Loves it Live" by traveling to 30 NBA playoff games in 30 nights.

Walton, who has been known to "tour" with the Grateful Dead, will begin his long, strange trip, on April 20th, the first day of the 2002 NBA Playoffs. As part of Walton's "Love it Live" playoff tour, he will call games for NBA on NBC's playoff coverage on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, he will file daily reports on NBA.com (www.nba.com) and will provide nightly updates for NBA TV, the league's 24-hour television network.

Bill Walton is hitting the road for 30 games in 30 nights. Mitchell Layton NBAE/Getty Images

"I have been around the NBA as a player and analyst for 30 years and I can't recall a playoff field more competitive and wide open as the 2002 playoffs promise to be," said Walton. "This is truly a dream come true. I want to see it all happen, the excitement of the NBA playoffs, city by city, meeting with fans as they cheer on their team, watching the world's greatest athletes do battle for the ultimate honor in basketball. I can't wait to get on the road. What a long, strange - and magical - trip it will be."

The first stop on his 30-day journey will be Sacramento, where Walton will perform his regular duties for the NBC telecast of the Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings game. Following the game, he'll head to Los Angeles for the Portland Trail Blazers vs. L.A. Lakers matchup.

The NBA Playoffs tip off this weekend with Game One matchups of the Indiana Pacers vs. New Jersey Nets (12:30PM/ET NBC); Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings (3:00PM/ET NBC); Seattle Super Sonics vs. San Antonio Spurs (5:30PM/ET NBC) and the Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets (8:30PM/ET TNT), on Saturday, April 20th.

On Sunday, April 21st Game One matchups include the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (12:30PM/ET NBC); Minnesota Timberwolves vs. the Dallas Mavericks (3:00PM/ET NBC); Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (5:30PM/ET NBC) and the Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons (8:30PM/ET TNT).