Chet Walker, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, died at age 84.
The seven-time All-Star — who also was a member of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor — won an NBA championship with the Wilt Chamberlain-led Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and played 13 seasons in the NBA.
The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker’s death, according to NBA.com.
Chet Walker waits to be interviewed at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. on Sept. 6, 2012. APThe 76ers, Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also extended their condolences on social media on Saturday.
Walker, nicknamed “The Jet,” was part of Chicago’s inaugural class for its Ring of Honor in January.
“His skill, dedication and contributions to the game made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball and the city of Chicago,” the Bulls said in a statement on Saturday.
“Chet Walker will forever be remembered as a true Chicago Bulls icon.”
The 76ers said Walker “made a profound impact” on Philadelphia and the NBA.
The 6-foot-7 forward, a Mississippi native, went to high school in Benton Harbor, Michigan before joining Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he was a two-time All-American who helped lead the Braves to an NIT championship in 1960.
The Bulls’ Chet Walker, facing his former team, looks to make a move on the 76ers’
Jim Washington during a game in 1969. APWhen Walker graduated in 1962, he was the school’s all-time leading scorer, and his No. 31 jersey was retired in 1976.
Today, his 1,975 career points ranks fourth on the Braves all-time scoring list, but he still leads the school in career double-doubles with 54.
Walker was drafted in the second round of the 1962 NBA draft by Syracuse as a 22-year-old and played with the Nationals during the 1962-63 season before the team relocated to Philadelphia and became the 76ers the following season.
Chet Walker of the Philadelphia 76ers. Getty ImagesWalker, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2012, played with the 76ers for six seasons (1963-1969) before joining the Bulls for six seasons (1969-1975).
He scored 18,831 points and grabbed 7,314 rebounds in his 1,032-game career, an average of 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
During the 76ers’ championship season, Walker, who played with Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham and Hal Grer, was a key part of that deep title-winning team that went 68-13 during the regular season.
They eliminated Cincinnati and Boston in the playoffs before defeating Rick Barry and San Francisco for the 1967 NBA title.
He was a three-time All-Star before being traded to Chicago in 1969 and made the All-Star team four more times after the deal.
While Walker was in Chicago, he teamed with Bob Love to give the Bulls a strong 1-2 scoring punch, but they were never able to reach the NBA Finals together.
Love averaged 25.8 points and Walker averaged 22 per game when the Bulls went 57-25 during the 1971-72 season, but they were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
— with AP
