Before injuries cut his career short, Bill Walton was considered one of the most dominant and versatile centers of his generation. He was known for his laid-back demeanor and unconventional habits during his time with the Portland Trailblazers. One of those habits included riding a bike to every home game.
He'd consistently average a double-double through the first four seasons of his career and made the Blazers relevant for the first time in its franchise's history, capping it off by winning a title in the 1976-1977 season.
The Blazers win their first championship in franchise history
Under the guidance of coach Jack Ramsay, the Blazers finished the 1976-77 regular season with one of the best records in the league. In the NBA Finals, the Blazers faced the Philadelphia 76ers, a team led by Julius Erving.
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Blazers stormed back to win four straight games, clinching the championship in six games. Walton's performance was pivotal in the series, averaging 18.5 points, 19 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, earning him Finals MVP.
Bill Walton could only think about his bike during the team's championship parade
As the city of Portland went into a frenzy, the championship parade was something everyone was excited for. However, once it finally happened, Walton's mind was elsewhere. Earlier in the day, Walton arrived at the parade on his bike. However, in the chaos of the festivities, his bike had gone missing. When it was his turn to give a speech, everyone was shocked to hear what he had to say.
“To the guy who took my bike down at the start of this whole thing, please bring it back. Because at some point, I'm going to have to get home,” Walton said.
Whether Walton ever got his bike back remains a mystery. But given his success and the lucrative contracts of NBA stars, it's safe to assume he had no trouble buying a new one. Still, that moment at the parade became legendary. It's now a story Blazers fans will never forget about the man who brought the city its first NBA championship.
It was a reminder that even in the face of great achievements, sometimes it's the personal things that matter most.
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