Bill Walton
The Catalyst
Ideas with a spark, energy, range and the ability to start things.
Bill Walton is a celebrated former basketball player known for his impactful career and vibrant personality. This interview reveals his leadership style as one that sparks change and motivates others through his passion for sports and life.
“Absolutely. Oh, yes. So I had my, we had nothing growing up, David, but we had everything because I had books. Parents love me more than they cared about themselves. And I had a bicycle, a skateboard, and a basketball. And so I could get around town on my bike and on my skateboard and carrying my basketball.”
“So that's what Marty told me. He said, he said, Billy, you got to slow it down. You got to slow your thought process down. You have to develop the control of your mind, ultimately the control of your mouth by chewing gum and developing the strength.”
“Absolutely. First time I got in the game, I just showed up. I had no idea. I just followed my older brother Bruce, who was playing for Rocky. And I said, Bruce, where are you going? The bus is going to take us over. He said, no, no, man. I'm going to play ball today. So I followed Bruce down to the gym. And I went and sat on the bench.”
“Well, in basketball, it's the ultimate entrepreneurial situation. It's if you can play, you know, you're going to get into that game. And so I mean, no, I was playing with these guys. But they were professionals and I always played up. I love to play up. I love the speed game.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Best of The Axe Files: Bill Walton
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