Rick Carlisle shares his thoughts on the passing of Bill Walton | VIDEO
Carlisle spent nine minutes before Game 4 reflecting on the life of Bill Walton — winning a championship, getting an assist on the first date with his wife, and texting during the playoffs.
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle met with reporters on Monday before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, just like he does before each game.
He shared that Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) would be out for the second game in a row, and clarified that their play design at the end of Game 3 was crafted by assistant coach Jenny Boucek.
Then, he spent the next nine minutes remembering former teammate and friend Bill Walton, who passed away earlier in the day following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Carlisle and Walton were teammates in Boston from 1985-87 — the final two years of Walton’s playing career. They won the 1986 NBA championship together.
The memories and stories shared are worth the watch.
The Highlights
Carlisle touched on his ongoing group text with members of the Celtics’ 1986 title team. “Some of the memories are beyond priceless.”
He had been receiving a lot of texts from Walton throughout the playoff run — so Carlisle read some of those notes to the players during their pre-game walkthrough “just so they could realize the impact that they’re having on people all around basketball. Bill really likes our team, liked the way we played.”
Carlisle said he had Walton to thank for a big assist in his marriage to Donna. Their first date was at a Grateful Dead show in Washington DC and Walton helped get them backstage passes. “Just go to the back door, ask for Dennis McNally and tell him you’re Rick Carlisle from the Boston Celtics — and everything will be just fine,” Walton instructed him.
“He defiantly competed for every moment in life to be the greatest it could possibly be,” he said.
Rick talked with Luke Walton for a few minutes today.
“There will never be another,” Carlisle added.
On how Walton’s arrival to Boston was a game-changer.