ESPN is set to produce a documentary about a beloved Bruins basketball player with a personality to match his stature.
Production has begun on a 30 for 30 documentary centered on Bill Walton, ESPN Films announced Thursday. The film about the former UCLA men’s basketball star will be directed by Steve James, who has made documentaries such as ‘Hoop Dreams’ (1994), ‘America to Me’ (2018) and another film by the 30 for 30 series, “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” (2010).
The documentary will tell the story of Walton from his early days in high school in San Diego to his career at UCLA, his NBA years and his life as a commentator and media personality.
Walton spent the start of his brief NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, winning the 1977 NBA Championship and 1978 MVP with the franchise. Walton’s injury-plagued journey with the Trail Blazers will likely be touched on in the film, as will his resurgence as the sixth man of the year with the 1986 NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, the dominating college career Walton curated at Westwood still puts him at the top of many lists of the best college basketball players of all time.
Walton has won three National Player of the Year awards and two NCAA titles and has played a key role in the nation’s premier program. During his three seasons and 87 games with the Bruins, Walton averaged 20.3 points, 15.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, which was more than enough to make him the No. 1 in the 1974 NBA Draft.
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Walton’s distinct personality should also be the focus of the documentary. From his love of the Earth and his unique broadcasting style to his relationship with former UCLA coach John Wooden and his interest in music and politics, 30 for 30 has many corners of Walton’s world in which dip.
In a press release, ESPN announced a group of names who will be interviewed for the project. Among those listed are Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Artis Gilmore, World B. Free, Robert Parish, Jim Gray, Luke Walton, Jamal Wilkes, Brent Musburger, Bob Ryan and several other key figures who have been close to Walton for the past 69 years.
The eighth 30 for 30 movie ever produced was “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks” in 2009, and it was the first to center on a former Bruin. “Arthur and Jonnie” told the story of former UCLA tennis player and Wimbledon champion Arthur Ashe and was released in 2013.
Walton will now join Miller and Ashe as a major figure on the show, breaking the nearly decade-long gap between stories told about the Bruins by ESPN Films.
ESPN has yet to reveal any further details regarding the film’s production, including a release date.
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