As expected, many anticipated Walton's arrival in the NBA. In 1974, after averaging 19.3 points and 14.7 rebounds in his junior year, Bill was drafted by the Blazers as the No. 1 overall pick.

"When I told Walton I was writing about my days with the Larry Bird Celtics of the 1980s, he said, 'You cannot overemphasize in your book how much fun this was. It was better than perfect.

These classic Bill Walton moments were common during his broadcasts because he always kept it real. That's why the basketball world mourned when he died at 71 last May after losing a bout with cancer.