How a shy, stuttering kid from La Mesa became one of basketball’s greatest players

The Walton Brothers’ Basketball-Football Championship Legacy

A skinny kid with a stutter grew up on Colorado Avenue in La Mesa and changed basketball forever.

Born in 1952, Bill Walton found his safe place on the court at Helix High School. His big brother Bruce, a 300-pound giant, stood guard.

When foes got rough, Bruce got even rougher. Bill then set records that still stand today – 78. 3% shooting and 825 rebounds in his senior year.

After high school, he won 142 straight games through college. Later, the brothers made history as the only siblings to play in both the Super Bowl and NBA Finals.

Old Town La Mesa now honors its hometown hero with a bronze plaque where his remarkable journey began.

A Stuttering Boy Found His Voice on the Basketball Court

Bill Walton was born November 5, 1952, on Colorado Avenue in La Mesa, California. The skinny kid stuttered so badly he often couldn’t talk at all.

Basketball became his safe place at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School under coach Frank “Rocky” Graciano. Though his parents cared little about sports, Bill followed his older brother Bruce into athletics.

On the court, his body could express what his mouth couldn’t. The game gave him confidence when words failed him.

Big Brother Bruce Became Bill’s Personal Bodyguard

At Helix High School from 1966 to 1970, Bill played alongside his older brother Bruce, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound powerhouse.

Bruce protected Bill against rough opponents. He also played football before going to UCLA and later getting picked by the Dallas Cowboys.

Coach Gordon Nash had a system: when someone got too physical with Bill, Nash would nod at Bruce. Bruce then waited for the refs to look away before throwing an elbow, sending a clear message.

His Senior Year Shooting Percentage Still Stands Unbeaten

In his last year at Helix in 1969-70, Bill put up unreal numbers. He made 384 of 490 shots for a 78.3 percent accuracy rate.

This shooting percentage remains the national high school record 50+ years later.

He scored 29 points per game while grabbing 825 rebounds that season. Those 825 boards still hold as a California state record and rank third nationally.

His average of 25 rebounds per game ranks seventh in high school basketball history.

Helix Went Undefeated in Walton’s Final High School Season

Bill led the Helix Highlanders to back-to-back California championships in 1969 and 1970.

After going 29-2 in his junior year, the team hit perfect status with a 33-0 record during his senior season. UCLA assistant coach Denny Crum called him the best high school player he ever saw.

This run included 49 straight wins across his two varsity seasons. In the 1970 championship game, Walton scored 50 points, a school record that still stands today.

The Cowboys Drafted Bruce While Bill Dominated College

Bruce Walton went to UCLA on a football scholarship, joining a year before Bill. He started 32 straight games as an offensive tackle for the Bruins.

The Dallas Cowboys picked Bruce in the fifth round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He played for the Cowboys from 1973 to 1975, mostly on special teams and as a backup.

Bruce played in Super Bowl X in January 1976, though the Cowboys lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-17.

His UCLA Career Started With a Perfect Freshman Season

Bill joined UCLA in 1970 to play under coach John Wooden. He scored 18.1 points per game with 68.6 percent shooting on the freshman team.

NCAA rules stopped freshmen from playing varsity basketball, so Walton spent his first year on the freshman team.

He led that squad to a perfect 20-0 record in 1970-71. The varsity team won the NCAA championship that same year, building buzz for Walton’s move to the main team.

The Bruins Crushed Everyone During His First Varsity Season

Bill took over as starting center for the 1971-72 season as a sophomore.

UCLA went 30-0 to win the national championship, pushing their winning streak to 45 straight games. He earned First Team All-American honors and won NCAA Player of the Year as a sophomore.

The Bruins scored over 100 points in each of their first seven games that season. They beat opponents by 30.3 points per game, an NCAA record that still stands today.

His Championship Game Performance Rewrote the Record Books

UCLA finished a second straight 30-0 season in 1972-73, becoming the only school ever with back-to-back perfect seasons.

Their winning streak hit 75 games after this perfect run.

In the 1973 NCAA championship game against Memphis State, Bill created the greatest performance in title game history.

He made 21 of 22 shots and scored 44 points, records that still stand. He won his second straight NCAA Player of the Year award.

Notre Dame Finally Ended the Historic 88-Game Streak

The UCLA winning streak reached 88 straight games by January 1974. Bill played with a back brace after breaking two bones in his spine a week earlier.

UCLA built a 17-point lead over Notre Dame at halftime on January 19, 1974. The Irish fought back, making six shots in a row in the final minutes.

Dwight Clay hit the go-ahead jumper with 29 seconds left, giving Notre Dame a 71-70 win. Bill missed a 12-foot shot in the final seconds.

His Personal Winning Streak Reached an Astonishing 142 Games

From midway through his junior year at Helix until midway through his senior year at UCLA, Bill’s teams won 142 consecutive games.

This remarkable personal streak included wins from Helix High School, the UCLA freshman team, and the UCLA varsity squad.

The streak spanned nearly five years without a single defeat. Bill graduated from UCLA in 1974 with an 86-4 record over his three varsity seasons.

This 142-game personal winning streak stands as one of the most remarkable records in basketball history.

The Walton Brothers Made Sports History Together

The Portland Trail Blazers selected Bill first overall in the 1974 NBA Draft. He led Portland to the NBA championship in 1977, earning Finals MVP honors along the way.

Bill won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in the 1978 season with Portland.

He captured his second NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986, adding Sixth Man Award honors to his trophy case.

With Bruce playing in Super Bowl X and Bill winning multiple NBA championships, the Walton brothers became the only siblings in history to play in both the Super Bowl and NBA Finals.

Visiting Old Town La Mesa, California

You can explore Bill Walton’s La Mesa roots by walking the Village Walk of Fame on La Mesa Boulevard between Spring and 4th Street, where sidewalk plaques are free to view anytime.

Check out Helix High School at 7323 University Avenue to see their trophy case near the gym entrance, or schedule a campus tour through their website.

The Bill Walton Gymnasium at Boys & Girls Clubs honors the basketball legend at 7600 Junior High Drive.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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