On Wednesday night, legendary announcer Ralph Lawler called the final game of his career. The Los Angeles Clippers managed a 143-137 win over the Utah Jazz in Lawler's last game, and while the Clippers are headed to the postseason, Lawler's career is over.
The long-time Clippers play-by-play man is beloved by all in the organization and will be missed. But in his 40 seasons, Lawler's best friend was never a member of the Clippers organization. Instead, he was often opposing the team. Via Johan Buva of The Athletic (subscription required).
“My real thoughts about Bill [Walton] are that he’s the best friend I’ve ever had, and there are a bunch of people that would say that. He’s got probably 100 best friends because that’s just the nature of the man. He’s the most generous human being I’ve known since my father passed. He is an extraordinary man. People hear all the hyperbole and stuff that he does as part of his routine as a broadcaster and think he’s just this big, goofy guy. He is a great man. More of a Hall of Famer as a man than he was a player.”
Walton just wrapped up his third season coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, but it might have been his last. The former NBA forward is on the hot seat after a disappointing year, and recent reports have linked him to the Sacramento Kings' coaching vacancy.
But Lawler and Walton go way back. In Buva's piece, Lawler describes an impromptu rafting trip that Walton invited him on more than a decade ago. The two bonded during the trip and have been close friends ever since.
Walton's Lakers went just 37-45 and missed the playoffs entirely in LeBron James's first season in Los Angeles. The Clippers, on the other hand, snatched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and will take on the first-seed Golden State Warriors in the first round.
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