ESPN to produce 30 for 30 documentary on UCLA great, Hall of Famer Bill Walton
A 30 for 30 is coming on legendary center Bill Walton.
The former UCLA Bruin and Portland Trail Blazer will be the subject of ESPN Films’ latest documentary, the company announced on Thursday. Production has begun, ESPN says, but that’s all that’s known about the project at this time. More details will come at a later date.
From ESPN’s release:
Walton, when healthy, was arguably one of the greatest centers to play the game. The ultimate competitor, Walton embraced team play over individual glory. The documentary will tell Walton’s story, from his earliest days as a high school phenom in San Diego, to his glory days at UCLA, and through his injury plagued, but stellar career with the Portland Trail Blazers and the story of their 1977 NBA championship team. It will also delve deeply into Bill’s tortured history of debilitating injuries, his personal relationship with John Wooden, his love of the Grateful Dead, his politics and activism that alienated basketball fans in the ’70’s, and his final incarnation as a basketball broadcaster who regularly draws a Twitter storm.
Among the interview subjects featured in the story 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 a number of close friends and teammates from Bill’s high school days to today.
The documentary will be directed by Steve James (“Hoop Dreams,” “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”), produced by Steve James & Zak Piper, and executive produced by ESPN Films.
Walton’s résumé is the stuff of legend. He three-peated as the Naismith Player of the Year while with the Bruins. He was a consensus All-American all three years in Westwood. He was a two-time national champion. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, selected by the Blazers.
He was a league MVP and a two-time NBA champion. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
Now, he’s one of college basketball’s most colorful commentators.
The 30 for 30 should be plenty entertaining.