Bill Walton

Bill Walton

NBA Legend & Hall Of Famer

Speaking Style: Motivational, Insightful, Inspirational, Authentic

Travels From: California

Fee Schedule: 3, 4

Bill Walton has a passion — for his work, for family & friends, for music, for life and for greatness! Bill brings his outsized passion to the stage and inspires audiences with tales from an improbable life in sport and beyond. Walton speaks about the secrets of world-class performance, personal and organizational excellence, and how he overcame nearly impossible odds – on the court and off – to persevere and win. As entertaining as he is insightful, Walton is widely considered one of the best speakers from the world of sports.

The lessons Bill learned on the basketball court became life lessons that served him well throughout his sports, broadcasting and business careers. No lesson was more important than the words from the legendary John Wooden, Bill’s basketball coach at UCLA, who simply said “Do your best.” Wooden never asked players to go out and win – simply to do their best and not beat themselves. Walton never forgot those words which helped him throughout his extraordinary career.

Following a celebrated college basketball career, Walton went on to have a Hall of Fame NBA career. After basketball, Walton pursued his dream job as a sports broadcaster – but first had to overcome the lifelong stuttering affliction. And then, in 2008, Walton endured risky back surgery for to repair damage done early in his basketball career. Through it all, Walton’s determination carried him through.

Bill Walton is an authentic and true original who personifies greatness and is one of the most compassionate figures in sport with an extraordinary record of giving back through his work with numerous charities and non-profits.

Bill Walton was introduced to the game of basketball while in the fourth grade at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School. Walton then attended Helix High School, where his team won the California Interscholastic Federation High School title two years in a row, while winning their final 49 consecutive games. While at Helix, Walton became the first and only high school player to ever make the U.S.A. Senior Men’s National Basketball Team and play in the World Championship and/or Olympics.

Walton enrolled at UCLA in 1970. He played center for John Wooden’s varsity team for three seasons (1972-1974), after a year with the freshman team in 1971. He was a member of two NCAA championship teams compiling an NCAA record 88 consecutive game winning streak.

In 1972, ’73, and ’74 Walton was named NCAA Player of the Year Award. He is a three-time All-American College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. Bill was named to the Pacific 8 All-Conference first team three times and was conference player of the year for three consecutive years. At UCLA Walton was a scholar-athlete who also earned Academic All-American honors three years in a row. He graduated with honors with a B.A. in history. Walton also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Law in the early 1980’s.

Walton’s professional career began when he was the number one overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He was a member of their championship team in 1977. Nine years later he earned another championship title, this time with the Boston Celtics in 1986. He played with the Trailblazers 1974-1979, the San Diego Clippers 1979-1984, the relocated Los Angeles Clippers in 1985 and The Boston Celtics 1985-1988.

Walton was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, 1978; All-NBA First Team, 1978; NBA All-Star Team, 1977 and 1978; NBA Playoff’s MVP, 1977; All-NBA second team, 1977; winner of the NBA Sixth Man Award, 1986. Walton is one of only four players in the history of basketball to have won multiple NCAA and multiple NBA Championships. Walton is also the second of only five players in the history of the NBA to lead the league in both blocked shots and rebounding in the same season. In 1991 Walton received the NBPA’s Oscar Robertson Leadership Awards. In 1993 Walton was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1997 Walton was selected as one of the NBA’s Fifty Greatest Players of All Time. Also in 1997 Walton was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

After retiring from basketball Bill began his broadcasting career in 1990 as an analyst for the then Prime Ticket Network. Walton worked for CBS Sports in the early 90’s and then for NBC for many years, including work on the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games. Over his career he’s also done broadcasting work for ABC, ESPN, FOX, MSNBC, Turner Sports, KCAL, NESA and the NBA. Walton has been nominated for numerous Emmy Awards and in 2001 won an Emmy for Best Live Sports Television Broadcast. The southern California Sports Broadcasters Association has several times honored Walton with the Best Television Analyst/Commentator Award. In 2009, Walton was named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association.

In June 21, 2001, Walton was named as the inaugural inductee into the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor.

Love of sports runs in the Walton family. Bill and his older brother Bruce (UCLA 1973) are the only brother combination in history to have played in the Super Bowl and to have won an NBA Championship. Bill and his third son Luke is only the third father/son pairing to have ever won NBA Championships. They are also the only father/son combination in history to have each won multiple NBA Championships.

Walton is active with many organizations and charities. For his efforts, in 2002 he received the NBA Retired Players Association Humanitarian Award. He is executive chairman of Connect SD Sport Innovators (SDSI), a non-profit, business-accelerating, trade organization that connects and drives the growth of Southern California’s vibrant sports economy by offering innovative programs and services for startups, mature companies and service providers. Walton is also a board member for the Junior Seau foundation. Walton is also involved in numerous Internet ventures, providing content and business acumen.

Bill Walton is author of Back from the Dead (March, 2016) and Nothing But Net. He currently resides in his hometown of San Diego with his wife Lori. They are the proud parents of four sons: Adam, Nathan, Luke and Chris, and the lucky grandparents of Olivia, Chase, Parker, Avery, Patrick, Lawson and Wilhelmina.

THE POWER OF POSITIVE
At 6’ 11” in his Grateful Dead tie-dyed t-shirt, Bill Walton is one of the most recognizable and colorful sports legends ever. He’s also among the most upbeat and positive people you’ll ever meet. It’s a mindset he’s cultivated and credits for his ability to adapt, persevere, and ultimately succeed in his challenges on and off the court. Named one of “50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time,” Bill incredibly missed 9½ of his 14 NBA seasons due to injuries related to undiagnosed congenital foot problems. Despite that, his achievements on the court were enormous. When his storied career ended with his 30th surgery, Bill’s dream was to pursue sports broadcasting. One problem: a severe lifelong stutter that prevented him from even saying a simple “thank you.” Undeterred, Bill set about the task of learning to speak. He conquered stuttering and found a place behind the mic – earning numerous awards and honors since. Bill’s greatest test came in 2007 when severe back pain confined him to the floor of his home for 2½ years. Finally relenting to surgery in 2009, the grueling rehab and recovery from that 37th surgery could well be Bill’s biggest achievement. While Bill exclaims regularly, “I’m the luckiest guy on Earth,” it’s clear his outlook on life helped create that luck. Bill Walton loves to inspire audiences with tales about the power of positive.

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE HARDWOOD
Basketball icon Bill Walton was part of legendary college and NBA championship teams: UCLA, the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers. He was also part of the last place San Diego Clippers. To Bill, the difference between winning and losing was leadership. The best coaches knew how to get the best out of their players. In Bill’s career no one was better than legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. An English teacher who coached on the side for extra money, Wooden focused on the fundamentals. He never talked about winning – and rarely even mentioned the opposing team. Wooden did insist that players work together, not be selfish, execute flawlessly, and be accountable for doing their best. Armed with that approach Wooden went on to win 88 consecutive games (a men’s collegiate record which still stands) and ten national championships. Bill Walton, the consummate storyteller, shares tales that are as insightful as they are entertaining – about lessons of leadership he learned from John Wooden, Red Auerbach, Jack Ramsey, and others during his storied career. Walton provides an inside look at how world-class performance is really achieved on the basketball court – leadership and teamwork lessons based on principles that transfer off the court, too.

WHY WINNING TEAMS WIN
What’s the secret to team success? Basketball legend Bill Walton has a lot to say on that topic and he speaks from experience. Bill played on two championship teams under the revered UCLA coach John Wooden. Bill’s teams contributed to the Bruins’ 88-game winning streak, still the record in men’s basketball more than 40 years later. Bill was also a two-time NBA champion; with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics. Of course, it’s not possible to appreciate great teamwork unless you’ve seen the other side of that coin and Bill experienced that as well during his time with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers. That experience gave him a strong understanding of the building blocks necessary for great teams to develop and function. After Bill’s playing days ended, broadcasting offered him the perfect perch from which to watch extraordinary teams perform. Throughout his business endeavors, Bill applied the teamwork lessons he learned from sports with astonishing success. In this keynote speech, Bill talks about the essentials of successful teams – cooperation, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, discipline, and leadership – with humorous and revealing anecdotes. As one of the most colorful characters from the sports world, Bill Walton delivers an inspiring message for teams looking to take their organizations to the next level.

TALES OF INJURY, REHABILITATION, AND RECOVERY
After 37 surgeries, basketball superstar Bill Walton knows a thing or two about sports injuries and sports injury rehabilitation. He has the dubious distinction of being the most-injured player in NBA history. In his 14-year pro career Bill missed a total of 9½ full seasons due to injury. Even so, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and won numerous awards and honors for his brilliant play. Imagine his impact on the game had he stayed healthy! Bill’s feet, knees, and back – the foundation of his ability to perform as an athlete – let him down. His most serious surgery was to straighten his spine after spending 2½ years on the floor of his home in agonizing pain – literally unable to move and contemplating suicide. Now back in the game of life, Bill remains active on his bike – participating in several week-long charity biking events for groups like Challenged Athletes Foundation. He also speaks to audiences of patients, health care professionals, and those from allied fields – delivering an authentic and inspiring message about his own healing and sports injury rehabilitation.

  • Back From The Dead
  • Nothing But Net: Just Give Me the Ball and Get Out of the Way
  • AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc.
  • American Frozen Food Institute
  • American Gas Association (AGA)
  • ASC Communications
  • Association for Advancing Automation
  • Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC)
  • Association of Insurance and Financial Analysts (AIFA)
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC)
  • Banner Health
  • Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington (BOSHA)
  • Berkadia
  • Bike Bakersfield
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Challenged Athletes Foundation
  • Cisco
  • Columbia Bank
  • Comfort Systems
  • Continuum Managed Services
  • Dan Newlin Law
  • Dell
  • DST Systems
  • Dynamic Disruption Summit
  • Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) San Diego
  • Freightliner
  • Fresno County Farm Bureau
  • Governors Highway Safety Association
  • Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS®
  • Guerin Marketing Services
  • Hughes Marino/Opus Bank
  • Intershop Communications
  • Irving Place Capital
  • Jewish Family Service of Colorado
  • K2 Insurance
  • Kennedy Wilson
  • KidWorks Foundation for Success Luncheon
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America
  • Las Vegas Review Journal
  • LBA Realty
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Lido Consulting
  • MatchPoint Ball (Youth Tennis Fundraiser)
  • McKesson
  • Meals on Wheels Association of America
  • Mercato Partners
  • Meritage Homes
  • Microsoft
  • National Auto Auction Association
  • National Organization of Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Associations
  • New England Institute of Technology (NEIT)
  • Planet Fitness
  • Preston Estate Planning, A.P.L.C.
  • Prime Sport
  • RCI, Inc.
  • Riverside Unified School District
  • Rockbridge Capital
  • Seismic
  • Servant Leadership Institute
  • SKLZ Global Sales Meeting
  • Tech Data
  • Terry College of Business, University of Georgia
  • The Beavers
  • Turner Sports
  • UPS
  • Violin Memory
  • Wells Fargo
  • Wendy’s College Tailgate Tour
  • Westcoast Sports Associates
  • Western Independent Bankers

“Bill Walton was great. Personable, entertaining, professional, welcoming, interesting. We had great feedback about him. He was a real pleasure to work with. At our Thursday night reception, he stayed until 930 or so! He spoke to everyone who came up to him. That night, he signed everything we gave him. He was an overwhelming success!”Senior Vice President, Rockbridge Capital

“From the bottom of my heart, Thank You.  Your talk was wonderful.  The crowd loved you.  It touched on such important and current topics.  Lunch was amazing!  There aren’t enough words.  All I can say is, “Let’s do it again!”… soon!” – President, San Diego Entrepreneurs Organization

“NBA Legend Bill Walton delivered an intimate and inspirational message that was tailored to our organization.  He was very personable and well-received by our audience.”CEO, Fresno County Farm Bureau

 “I have never received more positive feedback about one of our guest speakers and please believe me when I say a room full of lawyers is a very tough crowd. In describing your presentation, I heard the words “inspiring,” “motivating,” “positivity” and “amazing” multiple times.  I think it would be a good idea for you to give your presentation on national television to our entire country, as I think you are just what we need to get inspired, motivated and to bring some positivity to everyone.”Past President, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel

 “We had Bill Walton at our event a few years ago-he did an unbelievable job! Very engaging with our members during a private meet & greet, and, joined the attendees at the opening reception.  I’d highly recommend him to other groups.”President & CEO, National Sporting Goods Association

“Without a pun, you are larger than life. Rarely have I had the pleasure of talking and sharing with someone as forthcoming as you displayed. And, it is even more rare to find a celebrity who is willing to give of his time so graciously. You deserve respect for all your achievements and maintaining a sense of civility – keeping down to earth and all things in perspective.”Conference Program Director, BOSHA

“It was an amazingly, spectacular event with Mr. Walton.  Our customers and guests were blown away with his genuineness — intelligence — outlook on life and compassion toward others — and their “one and lifetime” opportunity to meet a living legend.  Bill went out of his way to make EVERY person in the room feel like they mattered — and he personally spent time talking to each of them. Simply unbelievable, which an email can not describe.”Head of Strategic Services, Irving Place Capital

 “Thank you for making our event last evening a huge success!   I was very inspired by your stories and passion.” President and CEO, Mold Rite

 “On behalf of LBA, I wanted to thank you for your participation in our Annual Leadership Conference.  The feedback was extremely positive and your kick off clearly lifted the remainder of the Conference.  On a personal note, it was moving, inspiration and heartfelt to hear your comments and they had a significant impact on each and every person in the room.”Principal and COO, LBA Reality

 “Bill’s performance at our event was funny, insightful, authentic and captivating.  He carefully tied in the principles he was talking about with the characteristics of our firm, for which we owe him a large debt of gratitude.  The Q&A session that followed his remarks was spectacular. Each question he answered, was done in a fashion that left you with the impression that it was the first time he had ever been asked these questions. In a word, it was fresh.”CFO & Director of Operations, Preston Estate Planning

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