NBA

“The team was looking for a way to honor him tonight.”

Playing in the first NBA Finals since the death of Bill Walton, the Celtics honored the member of the 1986 championship team in several ways prior to and during Game 1.

Boston players donned special Walton-themed “shooting shirts” during warmups. The shirts bore tie dye writing in a reference to the Hall of Fame center (a favorite style of his as a Grateful Dead fan).

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the move prior to warmups:

“The team was looking for a way to honor him tonight, and in addition to a pregame moment, the players will be wearing a special Bill Walton shooting shirt,” Silver explained.

As Silver alluded to, Boston also held a pregame moment of silence and tribute video for Walton. His family was in attendance.

In addition to the shooting shirts, Celtics players will wear arm bands with Walton’s name throughout the finals.

Walton died in late May at the age of 71 after a fight with cancer. A star at both the college and professional levels of basketball, he won two NCAA Championships and two NBA titles.

Beyond his play on the court, Walton was known for his distinct and charismatic personality, endearing him to multiple generations of basketball fans.

Here’s the Celtics statement on Walton’s passing:

“Bill Walton was one of the most consequential players of his era. A Hall of Famer, Most Valuable Player, and two-time NBA Champion, Walton could do it all, possessing great timing, complete vision of the floor, excellent fundamentals, and was of one of the greatest passing big men in league history. He derived great joy from basketball and music, and deeply cherished his moments with teammates and friends. As a Celtic, Bill overcame years of debilitating injuries, regained his zest for the game, and helped guide the 1986 Boston Celtics championship with both his play and his spirit. The Boston Celtics celebrate Bill’s wonderful life and legacy, and send their deepest sympathies to the Walton family.”