Basketball great Bill Walton passed away earlier this year at the age of 71. Even though he only played for the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons, the team will memorialize him this season in the most Bill Walton way.
Yesterday the Blazers announced they will wear a special memorial band on the left shoulder of the jerseys — but it won’t be just any memorial band: it will be a tie dye!
The band will be worn on all Portland jerseys, and will feature No. 32 in white varsity block lettering. The Blazers retired that number in Walton’s honor.
“A legend as vibrant and memorable as Walton deserves a fitting band, and the unique band that will don Trail Blazers jerseys this season accomplishes just that,” the team said in a news release.
After an incredible college career at UCLA, winning three consecutive national college player of the year awards (1972–1974), while leading UCLA to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973 and an 88-game winning streak, Walton was drafted No. 1 by the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately his professional career was marred by injuries, but he still played at a high level. Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to the team’s first NBA championship in 1977, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. The following season, Walton was the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), leading the Trail Blazers to the league’s best record before breaking his foot late in the season. His career with Portland lasted only five seasons, from 1974 through 1979, although he didn’t play in 1978-79. He also played for the Clippers and Boston Celtics (he would win his second NBA title with Boston). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993.
Many of you may only remember Walton for the second part of his career, in which he became a basketball color commentator. Walton worked for CBS (1990), NCAA on CBS (1991), NBC (1990–2002), the Los Angeles Clippers (1990–2002) and ABC/ESPN (2002–2009). Unfortunately, injuries even sidelined Walton from covering hoops, but he did eventually return to broadcasting, but on a more limited basis.
So…some of you may be wondering…why are the Blazers memorializing Walton with a tie dye band? Well, among other things, Bill Walton was a Deadhead — and he may be the only professional athlete to have seen the Grateful Dead live more times than I (back in the day, I attended over 125 shows, plus a whole bunch more recently with “Dead & Co.”). Walton famously loved tie dye shirts, and occasionally wore them while broadcasting games!
On at least two occasions, I saw Walton at Dead shows — while I wasn’t anywhere near him, he wasn’t hard to spot — standing at 6’11” he towered over the sea of Dead Heads in his midst, and was frequently in or near the front row. I’m pretty sure no one ever complained about him blocking their view.
So it’s entirely fitting — perfect, in fact — that the Trail Blazers will memorialize Walton with a tie dye band on their jerseys.
And it won’t be just a memorial band. The Blazers will hold “Bill Walton Tribute Night” on March 9, 2025, when they take on the Detroit Pistons at home. Fans are encouraged to “rock Bill’s classic style” by wearing tie dye to the game, the Blazers said. Fans in attendance will also receive a special tie-dye headband to wear. There will also be in-game tribute videos to Walton during the game. More details about the tribute night will be released at a later date, the team said.
RIP Bill. You’ll be sorely missed, but you’ll be remembered in the most Bill Walton way possible!
Memorial Bands Done Right!
I’m not a Portland or Walton fan in general, but, wow, wouldn’t that band make for a great UW Membership Card design?
This awesome!
Phil, how do you feel about John Mayer being in Dead & Co.?
Mayer is Dead to me ;)
I’m choosing to interpret that in a positive light!
love this memorial band. Appreciate how Bill Walton was unique and individual with his early style on the court.
This is how it’s done. I’m sure somewhere Bill is smiling.
Indeed!
Never liked Walton or the Dead but this is so spot on and well done. Bravo, Blazers!
This is great! I loved hearing his commentary, no matter how he weaved his perspective. My favorite line? I don’t remember what game he was calling, but he said, in reference to a tired player sharpening his focus and giving all he had, “fatigue of the body makes the mind golden.”
Really hope the Blazers wear those awesome late 70s unis on Bill Walton tribute night!
Yep
That is phenomenal. Well done, Trail Blazers…
Love this. I met Bill once at the airport and he was very gracious with his time. We were both waiting for different flights, and he spent a good amount of time discussing UCLA basketball, and also Long Beach State and Jerry Tarkanian. Great guy.
An excellent tribute to a beautiful soul. Well done, Trail Blazers.
I believe he was in the Lamda Sigma Delta fraternity.
Hey, Phil, thanks for the personal take on Bill Walton’s legacy on and off the court .
A friend in Utah was involved in a car crash when he was 16 (1990?). His settlement required that he wait until he was 18 to receive it. The day after he graduated he withdrew all the money and followed the Grateful Dead for two years until his cash ran out.
I almost asked him if he regretted “blowing” all his money but over the years as I got to know him and the Dead better, I realized how that experience was Irreplaceable. I soon became a Deadhead and will always appreciate Bill Walton’s connections to the band and the Celtics and love how the Trailblazers are honoring him.
…………….God bless Bill Walton
I love Bill Walton and I love this memorial band!
I will say that Portland did drop the ball on one point.
“Bill Walton Tribute Night” should have been March 23, 2025 when the Celtics were in town.
I sort of agree but I also realize that the Celtics are probably going to have a tribute night for Bill, as well
They picked that game because Bill’s son Luke is an assistant coach for the Pistons.
Whomever decided this should be put in charge of these kinds of decisions going forward for the big 4 pro leagues. This is great.
Correction, perhaps needed?
“He was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame in 1993.”
There is no NBA specific hall of fame. Basketball collectively inducts players, coaches, and those with a significant impact on the game into the “Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.”
Very well done by Portland. To nitpick, I would’ve liked a few more colors in that tie dye pattern.
The Celtics did wear beautiful Walton “shooting shirts” during the playoffs. I hope they also do some sort of tribute this season, because he was loved & respected in Boston too.
Just perfect. Love it!
Wow, I didn’t know Phil is a Deadhead. (agree on his John Mayer take)
Bill Walton was greatness on and off the court.
Absolutely perfect — which is all too rare in the uni-verse this days.
Love it.
This looks like the same design Dead and Co used when paying tribute to Bill right after he passed. It’s really lovely.