Today in Boston Celtics history: Bill Walton inducted into Hall of Fame; Adams passes

Today in Boston Celtics history, William Theodore Walton III, more commonly known as Bill Walton, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. An NCAA champion under the legendary head coach John Wooden at UCLA, the California native was selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He played for the Blazers for four seasons, during which he won an NBA title in 1977.

He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers during both their San Diego and LA phases before being traded to the Celtics in 1985. The La Mesa native, who is one of the NBA's 75 greatest players, won a second title with Boston in 1986 before constant pain from injuries forced his retirement in 1987.

Walton passed away in 2025 after a quiet struggle with cancer. Rest in peace.

Former Boston Celtics and the Current Coach of the Year for the Indiana Pacers Larry Bird (R) stands next to Bill Walton after a press conference 02 October in Springfield, MA where Bird will be inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame. AFP PHOTO/ JOHN MOTTERN (Photo by JOHN MOTTERN / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MOTTERN/AFP via Getty Images)

Gone too soon

It is also the anniversary of the passing of former Celtics president and trustee Clarence H. Adams, who helmed the team on the business side during the era the club was owned by National Equities Inc.