Bill Walton's Auction Is A Long, Strange Trip Through His Life

Forbes

11-06-2025

Former basketball player and sportscaster Bill Walton, who passed away last year, gestures after ... More throwing the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game in 2019. The Walton family is auctioning his possessions and donating a portion of the funds to the UC San Diego Health Center. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez, File)
The auction of Bill Walton's personal memorabilia is nearing its end and in the words of the basketball great, if you have a bid, throw it down.
Artifacts from Walton's days as one of the game's all-time best players, mementos from his road to greatness and, of course, treats from his long, strange trip following the Grateful Dead, are among the nearly 300 items being presented by Hunt Auctions.
Walton, who won two titles in the NBA and at UCLA, passed away last year after a battle with cancer.
Bill Walton (5) of the Boston Celtics goes up to block the shot of Paul Pressey (25) of the ... More Milwaukee Bucks during an 1986 game. Walton won the NBA title that season with the Celtics. (Photo by Focus)
"On behalf of the entire Walton family, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Hunt Auctions for its meticulous care in organizing Bill's possessions,'' said Lori Walton, his widow.
The treasure drove of Walton items is just that. Everything from the first rim he aimed for at his La Mesa, Calif., home to his Helix High School letterman's jacket.
Many items from Bill Walton's run to the NBA title with the Portland Trail Blazers, are available ... More through his auction of personal items.
From his UCLA stint as the leader of the Walton Gang, there are his NCAA champion rings, watches, awards, game-worn jerseys and shoes.
Walton also won NBA championships with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics and both of those title runs are well-represented.
Among the momentos are his uniforms, signed basketballs and even the Wallace Park shirt Walton made famous when wearing it during the Trail Blazers' 1977 championship parade.
Walton, a prolific reader and letter-writer, has signed replies and notes from the likes of John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Cousy and Rick Barry.
Music was among the things Walton embraced with the same zest as he did sports and literture. A son of a trumpet player, Walton's love of the Grateful Dead, and others, is found with his various souvenirs.
Bill Walton attends the Grateful Dead concert at California State University at Dominguez Hills in ... More 1990 in Carson, Calif. (Photo by)
Bids are open on the iconic Father Time outfits he wore at the Grateful Dead's New Year Eve's shows, his collection of tie-dyed T-shirts, a framed collage collection of backstage passes, jackets, signed photos, posters and two custom-made, Grateful Dead-theme bikes.
Other groups that Walton obtained autographed items from include Fleetwood Mac, Chicago and Pearl Jam.
Among the auction's benefactors is the University of California San Diego Health Center. It was there that Walton had an operation that allowed him to regain his mobility.
'In 2008, Bill underwent life-saving back surgery at UC San Diego Health, and he credits his surgeon, Dr. Steven Garfin, for his remarkable recovery,'' Lori Walton said. "In honor of Dr. Garfin, we are donating a portion of the auction proceeds to UC San Diego Health.''
Bids remain open through Thursday at huntauctions.com.
'The items in the auction held immense sentimental value for Bill,'' Lori Walton said. 'We are hopeful that they find loving homes where they will be cherished just as much as Bill did.