Basketball Hall of Famer and 1967 NBA champion Chet Walker dies at 84
The basketball world has lost a legend.
Chet Walker, a Basketball Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 84, the Philadelphia 76ers announced on Saturday.
Walker's NBA career spanned 13 years from 1962 to 1975. He was a seven-time All-Star before being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Affectionately nicknamed "The Jet," the 6-foot-7 forward was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the second round of the 1962 draft. Five years later, he helped lead the 76ers to the NBA championship. That 1967 team, which also featured fellow Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham, ended the eight-year championship run of the Boston Celtics.
After the 1968-69 season, Walker was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he became an integral part of the team along with Bob Love, Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier during their playoff runs. He played his final six seasons with the Chicago and became a member of the Bulls Ring of Honor.
"An inductee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Chet left an indelible mark on the court and in the hearts of fans," the Bulls said in a statement. "During his six seasons with the Bulls from 1969 to 1975, the team never missed the playoffs. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star and an inaugural member of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor. His skill, dedication and contributions to the game made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball and the city of Chicago."
Walker never missed the playoffs with any team he played for. His team reached the postseason in each of his 13 seasons and he never missed a playoff game. Over his career, he averaged 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, tallying 18,831 points in 1,032 games.
His decorated career began when he earned a basketball scholarship to Bradley University, where he was a two-time All-American and the school's all-time leading scorer.