Celtics pay tribute to 1986 champion Bill Walton before Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Of the 515 men to play for the Celtics, Bill Walton will forever be remembered as one of one

As a Celtic, Bill overcame years of debilitating injuries, regained his zest for the game, and helped guide the team to its 16th NBA championship in 1986. Walton, the Hall of Fame basketball visionary as a player and broadcaster, died on Monday at the age of 64.

Bill Walton, an NBA Hall of Famer who played a key role on the 1986 Boston Celtics championship team, died on Monday at the age of 64

Bill Walton, a Hall of Fame center who authored a career that was triumphant and tragic as well as unforgettable, died Monday at age 64. Walton had been battling cancer for several years.

Walton's death was first reported by ESPN. The Celtics confirmed Walton's death in a statement released Monday afternoon.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Walton," the Celtics said in a statement. "Bill was a true champion and a great ambassador for the game of basketball. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him."

Walton was a two-time NBA champion, winning titles with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and the Celtics in 1986. He was also a five-time NBA All-Star and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1978.

Walton's career was marked by both brilliance and adversity. He was one of the most talented and versatile big men in NBA history, but he was also plagued by injuries throughout his career.

Walton retired from the NBA in 1990, but he remained active in the game as a broadcaster. He was a longtime analyst for NBC and ESPN, and he was also a writer for Sports Illustrated.

Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.