Bill Walton is a former basketball player who now works as a sportscaster for American television. He competed in college basketball for Coach John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins, leading them to two NCAA titles and an 88-game winning streak while winning three straight national collegiate Player of the Year awards (1972–1974).
Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977 after being picked with the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, winning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in the process. As a member of the Boston Celtics in 1986, he captured a further NBA championship. In 1993, Walton was honored by being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was selected for the 50th and 75th-anniversary teams of the NBA.
Walton had a highly successful start to his NBA career, winning the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and the NBA title with the Portland Trail Blazers, for which he was also voted Finals MVP. However, chronic foot injuries requiring various operations started to seriously hinder his professional career.
He overcome his stammer after retiring and started a second career as a sportscaster. In our prior post, we also discussed Greg Gumbel, another sports pundit.
Bill Walton’s Parents and Siblings
Walton, the son of Gloria Anne and William Theodore “Ted” Walton, was born and raised in La Mesa, California. Bruce, Cathy, and Andy were the siblings with whom he grew up. A hillside house on Colorado Avenue, directly below Lake Murray, served as the Waltons’ residence in La Mesa.
Three generations of Waltons
Source: Instagram
Ted, Walton’s father, was a social worker and music instructor, and Gloria, his mother, was a librarian. His parents were passionate about music, politics, literature, and the arts. Walton took music lessons and, despite his parents’ disinterest in athletics, he emulated his older brother Bruce, who had a preference for sports. Bruce and Bill Walton played trombone or baritone in the informal family band their father started when the Walton kids were in junior high and high school.
Into the married life of Bill
Bill Walton has been married twice. He was formerly married to Susie with whom he shares four sons. But the couple parted ways and as of now, Bill has been married to his present wife Lori Matsuoka since 1991.
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Bill Walton and Lori Matsuoka’s married life
In 1991, Bill Walton entered into marriage with Lori, his second wife, marking the beginning of a long-lasting relationship between the two. Despite their many years together, the couple never had the opportunity to have children of their own.
The decision to tie the knot came after a period of dating and getting to know each other. Prior to marrying Bill, Lori’s romantic history remains shrouded in uncertainty, as details about her previous relationships are unknown.
Unlike many other individuals who become known figures in their own right, Lori did not possess any significant level of fame or recognition before her marriage to Bill. It was only after their union that she started to attract attention and gain some public recognition.
Lori Matsuoka is a Sales Specialist
Lori Matsuoka Walton, the wife of Bill Walton, brings a wealth of professional experience as a sales and marketing specialist. Additionally, she dedicates her time and effort to maintaining an uplifting blog on BdaKiNE.com.
Lori’s blog, which encompasses a wide range of subjects, serves as a platform for her vlogs. These vlogs cover diverse topics such as music, charity, travel, animals, and other aspects of life. Beyond being a writer, Lori is also a committed philanthropist.
Her dedication to making a positive impact is evident through her active involvement in various charitable causes and her participation in numerous philanthropic endeavors. Lori’s passion for nonprofit work originated during her time as a college student. It was during this period that she had the honor of being chosen as the President of UCLA’s prestigious undergraduate service organization. This experience ignited a deep-seated desire for altruism within her.
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Even after graduating from UCLA, Lori’s connection with her alma mater remained strong. She was extended an invitation to join the leadership council and foundation board of the university, an opportunity she eagerly embraced.
Bill Walton was married to Susan Guth
Susan Guth, a communication strategist from the United States, used to be married to Bill Walton. They got married on February 24, 1979, but unfortunately, they divorced in 1989. Now, Susan Guth lives in Naples, Italy.
She takes care of the educational foundation Besides starting Indigo Village and being its president. From 2004 to 2008, Guth worked at McLean High School. Then, from December 2008 to June 2012, she worked at the CofC Department of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs, helping with promotions and technical tasks as well as editing the CofC Miscellany Literary Magazine.
From 2009 to 2012, Guth participated in the CofC Department of Communication Protege-Mentor Program to further develop her skills. From February to May 2012, she worked at Ketchum Public Relations as a Mindfire Member.
After that, from January 2013 to June 2014, she worked as an account executive at Iris Worldwide. Finally, from June 2014 to November 2014, she worked as an account executive at MWW.
Meet Bill Walton Sons
Bill Walton had four sons with his first wife, Susie. Their names are Adam, Nathan, Luke, and Christopher. Being deeply passionate about basketball, all of his sons followed in their father’s footsteps.
Luke Walton, one of Bill’s sons, pursued a career in the NBA and achieved great success. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers and played a pivotal role in helping the team win the 2009 and 2010 NBA Finals. This made Luke and Bill the first father-son duo in NBA history to both win multiple championships. Following his playing career, Luke served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors for two years.
In 2016, he was appointed as the head coach of the Lakers, a position he held until 2019. In April 2019, Luke Walton became the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Interestingly, Luke was named Maurice Lucas as a tribute to Walton’s close friend and former teammate.
Chris Walton, despite enduring persistent hip and groin issues, managed to complete his college basketball career at San Diego State University. Throughout this challenging journey, Chris received unwavering support from his father, Bill Walton. Currently, Chris is involved in real estate and specifically deals with property management.
Nate Walton, another of Bill’s sons, had a basketball career at Princeton University. After completing his undergraduate studies, he went on to pursue an MBA at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Following his education, Nate joined the workforce, combining his business acumen with his passion for basketball.
Adam Walton, the fourth son of Bill, played basketball at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California, before transferring to Pomona College and later Louisiana State University. Currently, he serves as a college assistant coach at San Diego Mesa College, where he continues to contribute to the sport he loves.
