During his 13-year tenure with the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird had the opportunity to play with a number of outstanding players. Two of the more notable players who immediately spring to mind are Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, who both have a position beside Bird in the Basketball Hall of Fame. However, it’s difficult to find a more decorated teammate than Bill Walton in terms of both name and ability.
Big Red is still considered one of the most gifted centers in NBA history, despite missing hundreds of games due to a string of foot injuries. He exchanged his Clipper Blue for Celtic Green in 1985, joining Bird on a squad coming off a defeat to the despised Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
However, Bird had a soft spot for the legendary UCLA player even before Walton moved to Boston, as he previously disclosed in an interview during his playing days.
Bill Walton was selected by Larry Bird as the player he most admired.
Bird became the highest-paid rookie in sports history when he joined the NBA in 1979. Walton was a two-time All-Star and a five-year veteran at that point. In addition, he was a champion who won an NBA Finals championship in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Bird was asked to identify the player he looked up to the most during a sit-down interview. The three-time MVP continued by sharing how Walton’s skills influenced him when he was a little child (h/t: AllBasketballTV).
Walton is better known for his dominance at the collegiate level even though he was a great in the NBA early in his career. For John Wooden’s Bruins, the 6-foot-11 center from La Mesa, California, was the recipient of two AP Player of the Year titles and two National Championships.
