The Maui Invitational honors Bill Walton with a touching courtside tribute

On By Littum

The 2024 Maui Invitational tipped off Monday, marking the first tournament played since the passing of Bill Walton. The legend is synonymous with the invitation, so it comes as no surprise that they decided to honor him all week.

They draped a Hawaiian shirt on a chair with a maile lei on top. A t-shirt with Walton’s last name in tropical colors laid on the seat of the chair as well.

It looked like something he would wear if he called the games during the week.

This isn’t the only time Walton has been honored as a 2024 invitational tip. ESPN hyped the tournament by compiling a video of his greatest hits called the Maui Invitational. His former colleagues, Seth Greenberg and Seth Farnham took a moment after Memphis–UConn overtime to talk about what he meant to them and everyone he came in contact with UCLA legend.

Greenberg called him a “national treasure.” After all, there weren’t many speakers who wanted to eat a cupcake with the light on – and also eat the candle. It was just one of the many quirks that came with watching a broadcast narrated by Walton and his partner, Dave Pasch.

“I mean, think about it, we’re talking about what he’s done here at ESPN,” Greenberg said Monday. “… That guy was an incredible player. One of the smartest people I’ve ever been around. I used to joke with him, he knew more about nothing than anyone I’ve ever been around. But he gave up always his heart. Like he was the most genuine real person you could ever be around.

“Obviously, he’s deeply missed and way too soon. But a great, great human being who happened to be one of the greatest college basketball players to ever play.”

Farnham, another UCLA alum, followed up Greenberg’s comments by recalling a letter he received from Walton after he finished his senior season. Walton gave him life advice that he still remembers to this day. Farnham has the letter framed in his home.

“Bill Walton didn’t have to do that,” Farnham said. “But what he did was he saw anybody who wore that uniform, whether you were an American like Bill was and one of the best, that you were part of a family and part of something special .”

He went on to say that Walton had a unique ability to touch every person he came in contact with – and fans could see that during his broadcasting career.