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NBA Draft: Each team’s greatest draft pick of all-time

By Daniel Lubofsky

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers /

Greatest draft pick in Portland Trail Blazers history: Bill Walton

The NBA has seen a plethora of phenomenal players come to realize their full potential en route to statuses as eternal legends. Unfortunately, they’ve also seen a number of promising careers cut short due to repeated injury. One of the older and maybe less recognizable sob stories is that of Bill Walton.

Luckily for the hulking big man, things weren’t always bad for the former No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers. The first four years of his career saw Walton dominate like few others, blessed with traditional inside moves and passing gifts not normally seen within a man of his stature.

He averaged 17.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in just over 33 minutes a night spanned over 209 games. He was a handful in the post you simply couldn’t double-team for his ability to find the open man both cutting to the rim and spacing the court out on the perimeter.

Walton would lead the Trail Blazers to their first and only NBA championship in 1977 with a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. He was named Finals MVP for his efforts in averaging an astonishing 18.5, 19.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.7 blocks over the six-game series.

Just two years after that magical title run, foot issues would limit Walton to just 14 games over the next four seasons, three of which were missed entirely. By the time he returned for the 1982-83 season with the San Diego Clippers, he was still a productive player. He’d even go on to win another championship up in Boston in 1985-86, but it was clear the stardom he once clearly showed early in his career had been swept away.

Walton still managed to do enough to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame, but it’s hard not to imagine how his career would’ve played out without the injuries. Like so many after him, he could’ve asserted himself among the true all-time greats of the game. Now, all we can do is marvel at those early years and do our best to conjure up a world where his lower body never betrayed him.

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