Beijing time on the 28th
The NBA officially announced
After a long battle with cancer
Two-time NBA champion
and a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Bill Wharton
He tragically passed away on Monday local time
He was 71 years old
Yao Ming updated social media for the first time in four years
Post in memory of Bill Wharton
- "To Bill Wharton's Family: When I first entered the league, Bill was like family to me, supportive, encouraging, and giving me advice. I was seriously injured before the '08 Olympics and he was the first person I called after I woke up from surgery and he told me to stay positive and positive. Bill's greatness comes from inside and outside the Circle, and his intelligence, generosity, and optimism will always inspire me. I express my deepest condolences to Bill's family and may he rest in peace. ”
When Yao was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, Wharton was one of his three introducers.
In addition, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Magic Johnson and other celebrities have also voiced their condolences.
"It was exciting to play with my childhood idol, and together we won the 1986 championship," Bird said. Beal is one of the greatest players of all time and I'm grateful to have met him and we'll miss him dearly. ”
The Boston Celtics social media wrote: "Bill Wharton was one of the most influential players of his era. A Hall of Famer, MVP and two-time NBA champion, Wharton can do it all, with great timing, full on-court vision, and excellent fundamentals. ”
The Los Angeles Clippers directly stated that Bill Wharton is synonymous with basketball in Southern California. "As a player, he decides the game; As an announcer, he brings joy to people. No matter where he goes or what he does, he always stands out. ”
"Red Giant"
Two-time NBA champion
Bill Wharton was born in 1952 and is known as the "Red Giant" by fans.
In 1974, Wharton was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the first pick in the first round of the NBA Draft. During his 13-year NBA career, he also played for teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics. Wharton won two NBA championships in 1977 and 1986 and was named the NBA's regular season MVP in 1978.
His glittering career was eventually cut short by a foot injury. According to media statistics, Wharton played in a total of 468 games during his NBA days, averaging 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
In 1993, Wharton was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame. He was later named to the NBA 50 Anniversary and NBA 75 Anniversary (Top 50 and 75 Stars).
NBA commissioner Adam Shaw summed up his basketball career accomplishments in the best way: "Bill Wharton is unique in that his Hall of Famer redefined the center position, his unique all-around skills have made him a dominant force at UCLA and a new trend in the NBA. ”
When Yao Ming first entered the NBA, Wharton was very optimistic about him and was the first of many veteran players to stand up for Yao Ming.
After retiring from the game, Wharton devoted himself to the commentary bench and became a very popular commentator, continuing to dedicate himself to basketball.
Netizens mourned
Source: Guangzhou Daily, Oriental Sports Daily, Basketball Pioneer, @北青体育, netizen comments