The Boston Celtics 1986 NBA Championship banner now hangs proudly from the rafters at the Boston Garden, a symbol of pure, unadulterated transcendence on the court. That 1985/86 season, man, it left an indelible mark on everyone who witnessed it. But you know what? That whole incredible run, that championship glory, it all really kicked off with one crazy, desperate move: getting Bill Walton onto the squad. As Walton himself put it after joining, “When I came here, I knew the basketball would be good. I did not know how good it would be.” And good it was.
From L.A. Misery to Boston’s Call
Can you even imagine what Bill Walton went through before landing in Boston? The guy spent “six brutally long, painful, lonely, disastrous years on the Clippers” out in L.A. Talk about a rough stretch! He was relatively healthy, sure, but the Clippers were going absolutely nowhere, rocket sled style. The dude just wanted out, desperately wanting it to be fun again. Who wouldn’t after that kind of grind? So, he makes his first call, reaches out to Jerry West. And what does West say? He turns Walton down flat! West, according to Walton, told him, “I’ve seen your feet, I don’t want any part of them.” Can you believe that? The man’s feet were apparently a dealbreaker. But hey, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?
Larry Bird’s “Go Get Him” Moment
With West slamming the door, Walton’s second choice was Boston. And talk about timing! When Walton finally got ahold of Red Auerbach, the legendary coach was actually in a meeting with Larry Bird. Walton spills his guts, saying he wants to join the team. What does Bird, one of the greatest to ever play, immediately say? “Go get him.” That’s all Red needed to hear! Then came the “odious task” of negotiating with Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Turns out, Walton’s request was perfectly timed because Cedric Maxwell was on his way out. Red had wanted Max back in Boston to check out his injured knee, but Cedric’s agent straight up said no, claiming Max was busy building a house. Red’s curt response? “Who’s paying for the house?” Classic Red. But Sterling, being Sterling, he wanted concessions, not from Red, but directly from Walton. In a move that clearly shows how weak the player’s union was back then, Sterling basically forced Bill Walton to give up all the deferred compensation he was owed just to make the deal happen. Sterling reportedly told Walton, “I owe you a fortune in deferred compensation, if you want to make this deal go down and you go to Boston you’ve got to leave every di…” and the story cuts off there!
That’s how this incredible 1986 Celtics team, the one whose banner now flies high, truly came together. It was a wild, desperate gamble that absolutely paid off for Boston that season. The sheer impact of that one acquisition, sparked by a player looking for a second chance and a legendary team seizing an opportunity, shows you how one pivotal decision can lead to championship history. What a story, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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