ESPN honors late Bill Walton with colorful tribute before Maui Invitational

ESPN posted a humorous video tribute to the late Bill Walton ahead of the Maui Invitational’s tip-off Monday, showing some of his colorful adventures at past tournaments.

Let’s just say the network had plenty of material to work with for the video.

Walton, who died May 27 at age 71, was legendary for his antics and carefree lifestyle, and judging by the video, Hawaii offered him plenty of fun adventures as he covered past Maui Invitationals for ESPN. The video shows him doing almost anything a tourist can do in the Aloha State. There is video of Walton performing native dances, paddling in an outrigger canoe, buried in the sand on the beach, and appearing to swim with giant tortoises… you get the idea. The only thing missing was a Grateful Dead soundtrack.

As the 2024 Maui Invitational tips off across ESPN platforms, we remember beloved college basketball analyst and iconic NBA player, the late Bill Walton@MauiInv | #MauiHoops pic.twitter.com/fwXzhDjD33

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) 25 November 2024

The video ends with Walton relaxing in a spa and contentedly saying, “I love Maui.”

The tournament tipped Monday afternoon at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui. The eight-team field is loaded this year, with three AP Top 5 teams – back-to-back national champions UConn, currently ranked No. 2, along with Auburn (No. 4) and Iowa State (No. 5). Traditional powers North Carolina and Michigan State are present along with Memphis, Dayton and Colorado.

Walton covered a lot during his previous visits to Maui. His presence is sorely missed on basketball broadcasts.

(ESPN)