Bill Walton shared a touching story following the passing of his Trail Blazers teammate: "I named our next born son after him"
One of basketball's greatest strengths, whether played on rough city streets or in luxurious NBA arenas, is its power to unite people and create lasting friendships. This aspect often outweighs the sport itself, as the legendary Bill Walton once experienced.
The late Hall of Famer expressed this feeling when thinking about the death of his former Portland Trail Blazers teammate and close friend, Maurice Lucas. A short time after "Big Luke" passed away in October 2010, Bill shared a touching story in his memory.
"Big Luke was so important in my life that I named our next born son (Luke Walton) after him. On the day when Little Luke was born, Maurice brought over to the house an autographed action shot of himself in full rage and glory. In the photo Big Luke was going for and after it all -- like no one else ever could. Maurice signed the picture to our son that day. It said, 'To Little Luke, to make it in this world you've got to be tough, Big Luke,'" wrote Walton, per ESPN.
The duo that shocked the NBA
When "Big Lucas" joined the Trail Blazers in 1976, he teamed up with "Big Red," the number one draft pick from two years earlier. Given their nicknames, it's no surprise that they formed the team's frontcourt and did so exceptionally well, winning a championship title in their first season together. Interestingly, this was something Maurice had predicted during their very first meeting.
"He told me we were going to win the NBA Championship -- that season," recounted Walton. "He was right. He was always right."
The way the team from Oregon achieved this was remarkable. First, they swept the favored Los Angeles Lakers in the WCF, then made a historic comeback to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the NBA Finals. To this day, the 1976-77 Portland roster remains the youngest team to win a ring in league history.
An unexpected friendship
On the court, the 6'9" forward and 6'11" center were a perfect match, and their connection extended beyond the game. This was unexpected, though, as Mo wasn't well-liked in the league due to his tough-guy antics. However, Bill recognized the importance of separating the player from the person.
"He (Lucas) was a monster on the court. But he was the easiest guy to talk to about basketball, life, school or whatever. He always had great answers and was always supportive," explained "Big Red."
After the iconic duo left the franchise in 1979 and 1980, they stayed close friends. As Bill watched his son grow up, Mo acted like an uncle, doing his best to be there for Walton Jr.
"Whenever there was a big moment for little Luke, Big Luke would show up unannounced to make sure it all turned out right," the 1978 MVP remembered.
While Walton and Lucas never replicated their 1977 success with the Blazers, they gained something far more valuable: a friendship that endured for decades.
