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. 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.

President of the team between 1967 and 1968, Adams passed away in 1987; rest in peace. This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Bill Walton inducted into Hall of Fame; Adams passes