Big Red does not die. The jubilant big man is forever throwing it down with thousands of Portlanders on the city’s rosiest day, them hoisting him, him lifting the city. Living on — shining on — not only in black and white photographs and grainy videos of Portland’s one championship parade,

PORTLAND, Ore. (May 27, 2024) – The Portland Trail Blazers organization is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of two-time NBA champion and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who passed away at the age of 71. The organization issued the following statement:

The Portland Trail Blazers issued a statement Monday in response to the death of one of the franchise’s all-time greats, Bill Walton.

A dominant, colorful center, he won championships in high school, at U.C.L.A. and with the Trail Blazers and the Celtics before becoming a TV commentator.

ESPN is reporting that former Portland Trail Blazers legend Bill Walton has died of cancer. Walton rose to fame as part of the team that brought Portland its only NBA Championship in 1977. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement: “Bill Walton was truly one of a kind.

Bill Walton, who led the Trail Blazers to their only NBA title, is dead at age 71. The center, who won two NBA titles during his injury-plagued career, died of cancer, the NBA announced Monday morning.