When the news broke on May 27, 2024, that Bill Walton had passed away, it felt like a giant sequoia had fallen. For decades, the "Big Redhead" wasn't just a basketball player; he was a vibration. A force of nature. If you ever watched him call a game on ESPN, you know exactly what I’m talking about. One minute he’s dissecting a pick-and-roll, and the next, he’s comparing a backup center’s footwork to the majestic movement of a desert bighorn sheep.
He was 71.
The immediate question for fans who had just seen him vibrant and eccentric on television was simple: what did bill walton die from? While he had been the poster child for orthopedic issues for fifty years, the culprit this time wasn't his shattered feet or his fused spine.
The Short Answer: A Prolonged Battle
The NBA released a statement on behalf of his family confirming that Walton died following a prolonged fight with cancer.
Initially, the specific type of cancer wasn't broadcast in the headlines. Most major outlets like the Associated Press and ESPN stuck to the "prolonged battle" phrasing. However, reports from those close to the situation and specialized health news outlets later clarified that it was prostate cancer.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock because Walton always seemed indestructible in a spiritual sense, even when his physical body was failing him. He’d survived 37 (some counts say 38) orthopedic surgeries. He had lived through chronic back pain so severe he once contemplated taking his own life because he couldn't get up off the floor to eat.
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To survive all that and then be taken down by a "silent" illness like cancer feels particularly cruel.
Why the World Didn't See It Coming
Walton was a master of the "masterpiece." He lived by a John Wooden quote: "Make each day your masterpiece." Because of that mindset, he didn't spend his final months or years complaining or making his illness the center of his public identity.
He kept working. He kept wearing his tie-dye shirts. He kept talking about the Grateful Dead.
- The Mask of Enthusiasm: Bill's broadcasting style was so high-energy that it masked any underlying fatigue.
- A Private Struggle: Like many public figures of his generation, he chose to keep the gritty details of his treatment behind closed doors.
- The Injury History: We were so used to Bill being "hurt" (feet, knees, back) that "Bill is sick" didn't register the same way.
A Body Broken by the Game
To understand the weight of his passing, you have to understand the physical toll his career took. It’s impossible to talk about what did bill walton die from without acknowledging that his body had been a war zone since the 1970s.
Walton was perhaps the most skilled center to ever play. At UCLA, he was a god. In the 1973 NCAA title game, he shot 21-for-22. That’s not a typo. He was perfect, or as close as a human can get. But his feet were his Achilles' heel—literally.
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He had high arches and a structural alignment that simply couldn't support his 6'11" frame under the rigors of professional basketball. He missed more games than he played. Out of 1,148 possible NBA games, he only suited up for 468.
Think about that. He’s a Hall of Famer who missed more than 60% of his career. That’s how good he was when he could walk.
The Back Surgery That Changed Everything
In 2008, Walton’s back literally collapsed. He spent years in a state of "unremitting, excruciating, and debilitating" pain. He eventually underwent a massive spinal fusion surgery performed by Dr. Steven Garfin at UC San Diego.
It was a miracle. He went from wanting to jump off a bridge to riding 100-mile bike tours.
When he finally faced cancer in the 2020s, he approached it with that same "back from the dead" mentality. He had beaten the odds so many times before that many assumed he would just... keep going.
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The Legacy Beyond the Cause of Death
What really happened with Bill Walton wasn't just a medical diagnosis. It was the conclusion of a life lived at 100 miles per hour.
He was a vegetarian, a meditator, and a guy who probably attended over 1,000 Grateful Dead shows. He overcame a stutter so severe that he didn't speak comfortably until he was 28 years old. Then, he spent the rest of his life making up for lost time by never shutting up—much to the delight of basketball fans everywhere.
His death from cancer at 71 serves as a reminder that even the most exuberant spirits are housed in fragile vessels. But if you ask his sons—Adam, Nate, Chris, and Luke—they’ll tell you he didn't "lose" a battle. He just finished the race.
What We Can Learn From Bill’s Health Journey
If you’re looking for a "takeaway" from Walton’s passing, it’s not just about the dangers of prostate cancer, though that’s a real conversation men over 50 need to have with their doctors.
It’s about the resilience of the human spirit.
Bill Walton taught us that you can be broken and still be whole. You can be in pain and still be joyful. You can be a "nerdy, red-headed kid with a big nose" and become the voice of a sport.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Health
- Don't skip the screenings: Prostate cancer is highly treatable if caught early. If you're a man over 50 (or 45 with a family history), get your PSA levels checked. It's a simple blood test.
- Advocate for your own recovery: Walton sought out the best surgeons and didn't accept a life of "lying on the floor." If you're dealing with chronic pain, keep looking for answers.
- Find your "Grateful Dead": Find the thing that makes you want to keep moving, whether it's biking, music, or a job you love. Passion is a powerful medicine.
Bill Walton's cause of death was cancer, but his cause of life was joy. That’s the part that sticks. Next time you see a tie-dye shirt or a particularly beautiful pass on a basketball court, think of the Big Redhead. He’d like that.