The Chicago Bulls (and the NBA) are mourning a Hall of Famer. Former All-Star forward Chet Walker has passed away at the age of 84.
Chet Walker By United Press International – Desert Sun, Public Domain
Walker was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals (who later became the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1963-64 season) in the 1962 draft. He was the 12th pick of the draft, which had an interesting format. The first seven picks were considered first round picks, and the eighth to 16th picks were second round picks. There were a total of 16 rounds.
Walker averaged 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in his rookie season. He was named a member of the NBA All-Rookie First Team that season. The following season, Walker averaged 17.3 points and a career-best 10.3 rebounds for the Sixers. Walker remained a key player for the Sixers, and in 1967, he and the Sixers won a championship. This was the franchise’s second championship and their first in Philadelphia. They won a championship in Syracuse in 1955. Walker averaged 19.3 points and 8.1 rebounds. Their win ended the Boston Celtics’ streak of championships. Boston won eight consecutive championships.
After playing two more seasons with the Sixers, Walker headed to Chicago. Walker really flourished in his time with Chicago. He averaged 22.0 points in back-to-back seasons, and never averaged less than 19. He also did not average less than five rebounds in those seasons. Walker was named an All-Star four times during his time with Chicago, and before that, he was an All-Star three times with Philadelphia. Walker averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in his final season (the 1974-75 season). During his time with the Bulls, Walker had an impressive 56 points in a game against the Cincinnati Royals. This was a Bulls record (for most points in a game) before Michael Jordan surpassed him. Walker had a strong career that came to an end after he was denied a $200,000 salary. He wanted to be traded or released from the Bulls and he was denied. This matter went to court due to alleged antitrust violations. He received a settlement and retired from basketball. Walker went on to produce works such as A Mother’s Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (which was based on the mother of Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas) and Muhammad Ali’s film Freedom Road. Walker received an Emmy for A Mother’s Courage. He also wrote a book called Long Time Coming: A Black Athlete’s Coming-of-Age in America
The Bulls paid respects to Walker in a statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chet Walker, a legendary figure in our team’s history. An inductee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Chet left an indelible mark on the court and in the hearts of fans. During his six seasons with the Bulls from 1969 to 1975, the team never missed the playoffs. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star and an inaugural member of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor. His skill, dedication and contributions to the game made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball and the city of Chicago.”
Walker made an impact on both the Sixers and the Bulls. He accomplished great things, and in his overall career he averaged 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. He became a Hall of Fame member in 2012, and it was a long time coming. Walker will be missed, and his legacy will continue to live on.
#ChetWalker #ChicagoBulls #NBA #HallOfFamer #AllStar #Playoffs
