- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWilliam Theodore Walton III
- Nickname
- The Mountain Man
- Height2.12 m
- William Theodore Walton III (born November 5, 1952) was an American retired basketball player and television sportscaster. Walton played for John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins in the early 1970s, winning three successive College Player of the Year Awards. He led the UCLA Bruins to two NCAA Championships in 1972 and 1973.
He had a prominent career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning an NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and two NBA championships. His professional career was significantly hampered by multiple foot injuries, requiring numerous surgeries. Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.- IMDb mini biography by: NBA
- SpousesLori Kay Matsuoka(1991 - May 27, 2024) (his death)Susan Kay Guth(February 24, 1979 - 1989) (divorced, 4 children)
- Overcame a severe stuttering disorder while playing in the NBA.
- Missed more than half the games his teams played while he was under contract (1974-1988) due to injury.
- Spent more than half of his 14-year career (1974-1988) on the Injured List due to foot problems, including the entire 1987-1988 season (his last).
- Had perhaps the greatest game ever by a collegiate player in the 1973 NCAA Championship Game when he hit 21 of 22 shots from the field, scored 44 points, and pulled down 13 rebounds for UCLA in their 87-66 win over Memphis State.
- All 4 sons play/have played college basketball: Adam, Nathan, Luke, Christopher (San Diego State class of 2004).
- I have been blessed with an extraordinary life.
- Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail.
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