ESPN has announced that it will expand its 30 for 30 documentary series yet again. This time around, the network will produce a film about the life and career of Bill Walton. Directed by Hoop Dreams filmmaker Steve James, the film will feature interviews with Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and several other NBA legends.
“The documentary will tell Walton’s story, from his earliest days as a high school phenom in San Diego, to his glory days at UCLA, and through his injury-plagued, but stellar career with the Portland Trail Blazers and the story of their 1977 NBA championship team. It will also delve deeply into Bill’s tortured history of debilitating injuries, his personal relationship with John Wooden, his love of the Grateful Dead, his politics and activism that alienated basketball fans in the ’70s, and his final incarnation as a basketball broadcaster who regularly draws a Twitter storm,” ESPN stated in a recent press release.
Bill Walton’s career is the latest piece of basketball history to be highlighted through the 30 for 30 series. This summer, ESPN has spotlighted the 1996 U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team and AND1 through its popular documentary series. The fifth volume of 30 for 30 documentaries also told the story of Maya Moore’s decision to step away from the WNBA to pursue criminal justice advocacy work.
At this time, it is unclear when Bill Walton’s ESPN documentary will debut. Stay tuned for more details as production continues.
