This isn’t the only time Walton has been honored as a 2024 invitee. ESPN hyped the tournament by putting together a video of his biggest hits, the Maui Invitational. His former colleagues Seth Greenberg and Seth Farnham took a moment after the Memphis–UConn overtime game to speak about what he meant to them and everyone who came into contact with him UCLA legend.

Greenberg called him a “national treasure.” After all, not many announcers would eat a cupcake with the candle still burning – and eat the candle too. That was just one of the many oddities that came with watching a broadcast narrated by Walton and his partner, Dave Pasch.

“I mean, think about it, we’re talking about what he did here at ESPN,” Greenberg said Monday. “… That man was an incredible player. One of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I always joked with him, he didn’t know more about anything than anyone around me. But he always gave up his heart. Like he was the most genuine person you could ever be with.

‘He is clearly missed dearly and far too soon. But a great, great human being who happened to be one of the best college basketball players to ever play.

Farnham, a fellow UCLA alum, followed up Greenberg’s comments by recalling a letter he received from Walton after finishing his senior season. Walton gave him life advice that he still remembers to this day. Farnham has the letter framed in his home.

“Bill Walton didn’t have to do that,” Farnham said. “But what he did was he saw everyone who wore that uniform, whether you were an All-American like Bill and one of the best, that you were part of a family and part of something special.”

He went on to say that Walton had a unique ability to touch everyone he came into contact with – and fans could see that throughout his broadcasting career.