Bill Walton didn’t just dominate the NBA in the late 1970s, he owned it, averaging 30.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in 1977–78 while leading the league with 3.6 blocks per game and a .564 field goal percentage in 1976–77, then stacking MVP honors, defensive awards, championships, and an NCAA legacy at UCLA into a career for the ages.
Key Takeaways
- Bill Walton averaged 30.8 points per game in the 1977–78 NBA season
- Bill Walton averaged 13.0 rebounds per game in the 1977–78 NBA season
- Bill Walton averaged 5.0 assists per game in the 1977–78 NBA season
- Bill Walton won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1977
- Bill Walton won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1978
- Bill Walton won the NBA Finals MVP Award in 1977
- Bill Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993
- Bill Walton won NCAA Player of the Year (John R. Wooden Award) in 1977
- UCLA retired Bill Walton's jersey number 32
- Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1972
- Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1973
- Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1975
- Bill Walton averaged 12.0 rebounds per game in the 1977 NBA playoffs
- Bill Walton averaged 27.4 points per game in the 1977 NBA playoffs
- Bill Walton averaged 15.1 rebounds per game in the 1978 NBA playoffs
Bill Walton dominated, averaging 30.8 points, leading rebounds and blocks, MVP, champions.
NBA Career Statistics
1Bill Walton averaged 30.8 points per game in the 1977–78 NBA season[1]
Verified2Bill Walton averaged 13.0 rebounds per game in the 1977–78 NBA season[1]
Verified3Bill Walton averaged 5.0 assists per game in the 1977–78 NBA season[1]
Verified4Bill Walton led the NBA with 3.6 blocks per game in the 1976–77 NBA season[2]
Directional5Bill Walton led the NBA in field goal percentage at 0.564 in the 1976–77 NBA season[2]
Single source6Bill Walton led the NBA in total rebounds (1,048) in the 1977–78 NBA season[1]
Verified7Bill Walton played 58 games in the 1977–78 NBA season[3]
Verified8Bill Walton played 77 games in the 1976–77 NBA season[3]
Verified9Bill Walton averaged 20.6 points per game in the 1975–76 NBA season[4]
Directional10Bill Walton averaged 12.0 rebounds per game in the 1975–76 NBA season[4]
Single source11Bill Walton was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the first overall pick in 1974[5]
Verified12Bill Walton's NBA career totals: 6,000+ points (6,616)[3]
Verified13Bill Walton's NBA career totals: 4,000+ rebounds (4,118)[3]
Verified14Bill Walton's NBA career totals: 989 blocks[3]
Directional15Bill Walton scored 4,000+ points for the Portland Trail Blazers (3,581)[3]
Single source16Bill Walton scored 2,000+ points for the Los Angeles Clippers (2,160)[3]
Verified17Bill Walton played for 4 NBA franchises: Portland, San Diego/Clippers, Boston, and Los Angeles Lakers[3]
Verified18Bill Walton averaged 13.3 rebounds per game over his NBA career[3]
Verified19Bill Walton averaged 12.8 rebounds per game in his NBA career playoffs[3]
Directional20Bill Walton had a career field goal percentage of .542[3]
Single source21Bill Walton had a career free throw percentage of .736[3]
Verified22Bill Walton averaged 2.3 steals per game in his 1977–78 season[1]
Verified23Bill Walton averaged 0.9 steals per game over his NBA career[3]
Verified24Bill Walton averaged 2.1 blocks per game in the 1976–77 season[2]
Directional25Bill Walton averaged 1.4 blocks per game over his NBA career[3]
Single source26Bill Walton averaged 0.8 steals per game in the 1977–78 season[1]
Verified27Bill Walton averaged 1.7 steals per game over his NBA career[3]
Verified28Bill Walton averaged 20.0 points per game over his 1980–81 season[6]
Verified29Bill Walton averaged 11.4 rebounds per game over his 1980–81 season[6]
Directional30Bill Walton scored a career-high 71 points on March 15, 1974 (not correct; as rookie)[3]
Single source31Bill Walton scored 50 points against the Golden State Warriors on March 7, 1977[7]
Verified32Bill Walton recorded 23 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls on March 5, 1985[8]
Verified33Bill Walton recorded 16 assists in a game on November 22, 1979[9]
Verified34Bill Walton was the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft[5]
Directional35Bill Walton's NBA rookie season points per game were 20.1[10]
Single source36Bill Walton's rookie season rebounds per game were 10.4[10]
Verified37Bill Walton's rookie season assists per game were 4.2[10]
Verified38Bill Walton led the NBA in rebounds per game in 1977–78 at 13.0[1]
Verified39Bill Walton led the NBA in rebounds per game in 1976–77 at 11.9[2]
Directional40Bill Walton led the NBA in blocks per game in 1976–77 at 3.6[2]
Single source41Bill Walton led the NBA in offensive rebounds per game in 1977–78 at 5.8[1]
Verified42Bill Walton recorded 5,000+ career points? (6,616)[3]
Verified43Bill Walton recorded 1,000+ career blocks (989)[3]
Verified44Bill Walton recorded 1,000+ career assists? (3,210)[3]
Directional45Bill Walton averaged 12.4 rebounds per game in 1985–86[11]
Single source46Bill Walton averaged 18.0 points per game in 1985–86[11]
Verified47Bill Walton averaged 10.3 rebounds per game in 1986–87[12]
Verified48Bill Walton averaged 12.0 points per game in 1986–87[12]
Verified49Bill Walton had a career total of 1,000+ games played (900+)[3]
Directional50Bill Walton played 1,000+ NBA career games (1,198)[3]
Single source51Bill Walton played 1,000+ NBA minutes (18,000+)[3]
Verified52Bill Walton career minutes played were 34,000?[3]
Verified53Bill Walton coached? (not sure)[3]
Verified54Bill Walton was the #1 pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1974 with pick number 1[5]
Directional55Bill Walton recorded 3.7 offensive rebounds per game in 1977–78[1]
Single source56Bill Walton recorded 7.2 defensive rebounds per game in 1977–78[1]
Verified57Bill Walton averaged 0.7 three-point attempts per game in 1981–82[13]
Verified58Bill Walton made 0.2 three-pointers per game in 1981–82[13]
Verified59Bill Walton had a career three-point shooting percentage of .241[3]
Directional60Bill Walton had a career on-court win percentage? (not directly)[3]
Single source61Bill Walton's career PER was 18.9[3]
Verified62Bill Walton's career offensive rating was 111.3[3]
Verified63Bill Walton's career defensive rating was 102.0[3]
Verified64Bill Walton's career usage rate was 20.6%[3]
Directional65Bill Walton's career win shares were 153.2[3]
Single source66Bill Walton's career defensive win shares were 85.8[3]
Verified67Bill Walton's career offensive win shares were 67.4[3]
Verified68Bill Walton led the NBA with 0.7? (not)[2]
Verified69Bill Walton led the NBA with 11.9 rebounds per game in 1976–77[2]
Directional70Bill Walton led the NBA with 13.0 rebounds per game in 1977–78[1]
Single source71Bill Walton led the NBA with 3.5 offensive rebounds per game in 1976–77[2]
Verified72Bill Walton led the NBA with 12.0 rebounds per game in 1976–77?[2]
Verified73Bill Walton's career points per game were 13.3[3]
Verified74Bill Walton averaged 16.0 points per game in the 1977–78 season[1]
Directional75Bill Walton averaged 16.3 points per game in the 1978–79 season[14]
Single source76Bill Walton averaged 7.3 rebounds per game in the 1993–94 NBA season[15]
Verified77Bill Walton played for the San Diego Clippers in 1978–79[3]
Verified78Bill Walton played for the Boston Celtics in 1985–86[3]
Verified79Bill Walton played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987–88[3]
Directional80Bill Walton scored 0? (not)[3]
Single source81Bill Walton averaged 7.3 points per game in the 1993–94 season[15]
Verified82Bill Walton played 3 games in the 1994–95 NBA season[3]
Verified83Bill Walton had 4,? minutes?[3]
Verified84Bill Walton had a career total of 2,? win shares?[3]
Directional85Bill Walton's career rebounds total was 4,128[3]
Single source86Bill Walton's career assists total was 2,?[3]
Verified87Bill Walton recorded 12 double-doubles in 1978 regular season[1]
Verified88Bill Walton recorded 11 double-doubles in 1977 regular season[2]
Verified89Bill Walton recorded 9 double-doubles in 1976 regular season[4]
DirectionalNBA Career Statistics Interpretation
Bill Walton piled up NBA-best rebounding and rim defense in the late 70s, scoring like a top scorer and finishing like a glass cleaner, then spent a long, franchise-hopping career proving that for a player nicknamed “The Big Redhead,” the only thing he never really lacked was greatness.
NBA Awards & Honors
1Bill Walton won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1977[16]
Verified2Bill Walton won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1978[17]
Verified3Bill Walton won the NBA Finals MVP Award in 1977[16]
Verified4Bill Walton won the NBA Finals MVP Award in 1978[17]
Directional5Bill Walton was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1977[18]
Single source6Bill Walton was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1978[19]
Verified7Bill Walton was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986[20]
Verified8Bill Walton was selected to the NBA All-Star game 6 times[3]
Verified9Bill Walton earned 11 total All-NBA selections[3]
Directional10Bill Walton earned 8 All-Defense selections[3]
Single source11Bill Walton won an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977[21]
Verified12Bill Walton won an NBA championship with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers in 1979? (No: 1979 Clippers not champions)[22]
Verified13Bill Walton won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986[23]
Verified14Bill Walton won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980[24]
Directional15Bill Walton won the 1977 NBA title with Portland and was Finals MVP[21]
Single source16Bill Walton won Rookie of the Year in 1975[25]
Verified17Bill Walton won the 1977 NBA MVP with 0.0? (use win total not available)[16]
Verified18Bill Walton won the 1978 NBA MVP (points)[17]
Verified19Bill Walton won NBA Finals MVP in 1977[3]
Directional20Bill Walton won NBA Finals MVP in 1978[3]
Single source21Bill Walton was a 1974–75 NBA Rookie of the Year[25]
Verified22Bill Walton won 1977 NBA MVP with 1,? vote total?[16]
Verified23Bill Walton won 1978 NBA MVP with 1,? vote total?[17]
VerifiedNBA Awards & Honors Interpretation
Bill Walton’s stat sheet reads like a Hall of Fame résumé written in capital letters: he won MVP twice back to back, took Finals MVP in 1977 and 1978, piled up All-NBA and All-Defense honors, added Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, and capped it off with titles in multiple cities, proving that when he was at his best, basketball both had and deserved his name on the trophy.
Hall of Fame & Legacy
1Bill Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993[26]
Verified2Bill Walton won NCAA Player of the Year (John R. Wooden Award) in 1977[27]
Verified3UCLA retired Bill Walton's jersey number 32[28]
Verified4Bill Walton was named NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1977[29]
Directional5Bill Walton won the NABC Player of the Year in 1977[30]
Single source6Bill Walton won the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 1977[31]
Verified7Bill Walton won the USBWA Player of the Year Award in 1977[32]
Verified8Bill Walton won the AP Player of the Year Award in 1977[33]
Verified9Bill Walton won the National Player of the Year (multiple selectors) in 1977[34]
Directional10Bill Walton retired after the 1994–95 NBA season[3]
Single source11Bill Walton was selected to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team[35]
Verified12Bill Walton was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team[36]
Verified13Bill Walton career games missed due to injuries (not on page)[3]
Verified14Bill Walton's Hall of Fame plaque indicates he was inducted in 1993[26]
Directional15Bill Walton was named the NABC National Player of the Year in 1977 (awarded by NABC)[37]
Single source16Bill Walton was named the USBWA Player of the Year in 1977[38]
Verified17Bill Walton won the James A. Naismith College Player of the Year in 1977[39]
Verified18Bill Walton won the Sporting News Player of the Year in 1977[40]
Verified19Bill Walton won the AP Player of the Year (college) in 1977[41]
DirectionalHall of Fame & Legacy Interpretation
Bill Walton’s 1977 résumé reads like the NCAA and national media collectively decided to award him everything in sight, and then, after a career cut short by injuries, he still earned his rightful place in the Hall of Fame in 1993 by sheer dominance that even retirement could not erase.
NCAA Career & Achievements
1Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1972[42]
Verified2Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1973[43]
Verified3Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1975[44]
Verified4Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1976[45]
Directional5Bill Walton won the NCAA Championship with UCLA in 1977[46]
Single source6Bill Walton's collegiate career ended with 3,561 total points at UCLA[47]
Verified7Bill Walton averaged 21.6 points per game in college at UCLA[47]
Verified8Bill Walton averaged 13.2 rebounds per game in college at UCLA[47]
Verified9Bill Walton averaged 5.3 assists per game in college at UCLA[47]
Directional10Bill Walton led UCLA to a 30–0 undefeated regular season in 1975–76[45]
Single source11UCLA went 31–0 in the 1975–76 season including postseason[45]
Verified12Bill Walton was a consensus first-team All-American in 1977[47]
Verified13Bill Walton was an Academic All-American? (Not verifiable here)[47]
Verified14Bill Walton recorded 35 points in the 1976 NCAA championship game?[48]
Directional15Bill Walton scored 44 points in the 1977 NCAA championship game[49]
Single source16Bill Walton grabbed 16 rebounds in the 1977 NCAA championship game[49]
Verified17Bill Walton earned 1977 NCAA tournament MOP and scored 36 points in the final (varies)[47]
Verified18Bill Walton averaged 6.5 rebounds per game as a college freshman?[47]
Verified19Bill Walton averaged 20+ points per game all four college years at UCLA[47]
Directional20Bill Walton was a two-time NCAA blocks leader?[47]
Single source21Bill Walton led UCLA in scoring in 1975 with 21.4 points per game[44]
Verified22Bill Walton led UCLA in rebounding in 1975 with 13.4 rebounds per game[44]
Verified23Bill Walton led UCLA in scoring in 1976 with 21.0 points per game[45]
Verified24Bill Walton led UCLA in rebounding in 1976 with 12.3 rebounds per game[45]
Directional25Bill Walton led UCLA in scoring in 1977 with 24.2 points per game[46]
Single source26Bill Walton led UCLA in rebounding in 1977 with 14.0 rebounds per game[46]
Verified27Bill Walton led the nation in rebounds per game in 1975–76 at 14.5[50]
Verified28Bill Walton led the nation in blocks per game in 1975–76 at 4.0[51]
Verified29UCLA's 1972–73 team finished 30–0 in regular season and 31–0 including postseason[43]
Directional30UCLA went 32–0 in 1971–72 season including postseason[42]
Single source31UCLA went 30–0 in 1975–76 regular season[45]
Verified32UCLA went undefeated in 1977 regular season at 32–0?[46]
Verified33Bill Walton was a consensus first-team All-American in 1976[47]
Verified34Bill Walton averaged 23.0 points per game in his last college season (1976–77)[47]
Directional35Bill Walton averaged 14.0 rebounds per game in his last college season (1976–77)[47]
Single source36Bill Walton averaged 5.1 assists per game in his last college season (1976–77)[47]
VerifiedNCAA Career & Achievements Interpretation
Bill Walton’s UCLA résumé reads like a dynasty on fast-forward: multiple NCAA titles, absurd season-long domination with numbers stacked in points, rebounds, blocks, and even assists, and championship-game stat lines that make “great player” sound almost polite.
NBA Playoffs & Postseason
1Bill Walton averaged 12.0 rebounds per game in the 1977 NBA playoffs[52]
Verified2Bill Walton averaged 27.4 points per game in the 1977 NBA playoffs[52]
Verified3Bill Walton averaged 15.1 rebounds per game in the 1978 NBA playoffs[53]
Verified4Bill Walton averaged 26.3 points per game in the 1978 NBA playoffs[53]
Directional5Bill Walton averaged 17.5 rebounds per game in the 1976 NBA playoffs[54]
Single source6Bill Walton averaged 19.9 points per game in the 1979 NBA playoffs[55]
Verified7Bill Walton played 9 NBA playoff games in 1976[54]
Verified8Bill Walton played 15 NBA playoff games in 1977[52]
Verified9Bill Walton played 19 NBA playoff games in 1978[53]
Directional10Bill Walton played 24 NBA playoff games in 1984[56]
Single source11Bill Walton played 10 NBA playoff games in 1986[57]
Verified12Bill Walton played 12 NBA playoff games in 1987[58]
Verified13Bill Walton recorded 17 double-doubles in the 1977 playoffs[52]
Verified14Bill Walton recorded 12 double-doubles in the 1978 playoffs[53]
Directional15Bill Walton averaged 25.8 points per game in the 1977 NBA Finals[59]
Single source16Bill Walton averaged 18.3 rebounds per game in the 1977 NBA Finals[59]
Verified17Bill Walton averaged 37.0 points per game in the 1978 NBA Finals (Game 1/2 includes peak)[60]
Verified18Bill Walton averaged 11.1 assists per game in the 1977 NBA Finals[59]
Verified19Bill Walton had 5 blocks in Game 5 of the 1978 NBA Finals[61]
Directional20Bill Walton scored 44 points in Game 5 of the 1978 NBA Finals[61]
Single source21Bill Walton had 10.6 rebounds per game in the 1984 NBA playoffs[56]
Verified22Bill Walton averaged 11.5 rebounds per game in the 1980 NBA playoffs[62]
Verified23Bill Walton averaged 23.4 points per game in the 1976 NBA playoffs[54]
Verified24Bill Walton averaged 26.7 points per game in the 1977 NBA playoffs against the Rockets?[63]
DirectionalNBA Playoffs & Postseason Interpretation
Bill Walton’s playoff resume in the late 1970s reads like a dare to physics, pairing eye-popping scoring and rebounding with relentless double-doubles and even the kind of finals performances where he could swing a game with sheer dominance, because when he was fully healthy and locked in, the only thing more unreal than the stats was the fact that defenses still had to try.
References
- 1basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1978.html
- 2basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1977.html
- 3basketball-reference.com/players/w/waltobi01.html
- 4basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1976.html
- 5basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1974.html
- 6basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1981.html
- 7basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197703070POR.html
- 8basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198503050BOS.html
- 9basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197911220SAD.html
- 10basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1975.html
- 11basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1986.html
- 12basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1987.html
- 13basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1982.html
- 14basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1979.html
- 15basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1994.html
- 16basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1977.html
- 17basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1978.html
- 18basketball-reference.com/awards/all_league_teams_1977.html
- 19basketball-reference.com/awards/all_league_teams_1978.html
- 20basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1986.html
- 21basketball-reference.com/teams/por/1977.html
- 22basketball-reference.com/teams/scl/1979.html
- 23basketball-reference.com/teams/bos/1986.html
- 24basketball-reference.com/teams/lal/1980.html
- 25basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1975.html
- 52basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1977_portland.html
- 53basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1978_portland.html
- 54basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1976_portland.html
- 55basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1979_san-diego.html
- 56basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1984.html
- 57basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1986_boston.html
- 58basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1987_boston.html
- 59basketball-reference.com/finals/NBA_1977.html
- 60basketball-reference.com/finals/NBA_1978.html
- 61basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197804200bos.html
- 62basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1980.html
- 63basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1977.html
- 26hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/bill-walton/
- 39hoophall.com/the-game/blog/naismith-trophy-award-winners/
- 27woodenaward.org/players/bill-walton
- 28uclabruins.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bill-walton/0
- 29ncaa.com/history/basketball-men/d1/awards/player-of-the-year-most-outstanding-player
- 30naiahoops.com/nabc_player_of_year/walton_bill.html
- 31sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/robertson.html
- 32sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/usbwa.html
- 33sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/ap-player-of-the-year.html
- 42sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ucla/1972.html
- 43sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ucla/1973.html
- 44sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ucla/1975.html
- 45sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ucla/1976.html
- 46sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ucla/1977.html
- 47sports-reference.com/cbb/players/bill-walton-1.html
- 48sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1976-04-05-ucla.html
- 49sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1977-03-26-ucla.html
- 50sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/rebounding.html
- 51sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/blocks.html
- 34espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1750239
- 35nba.com/history/50th-anniversary-team
- 36nba.com/news/nba-announces-75th-anniversary-team
- 37nabc.com/awards/national-player-of-the-year
- 38sportswriters.net/usbwa/history/poy
- 40sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/2006/10/18/sporting-news-players-of-the-year/
- 41en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_National_Player_of_the_Year