Bill Walton Classic aims to honor San Diego native son, unite local hoops teams

Bill Walton is one of the most revered and beloved athletes in San Diego history. And a new annual sporting event launching this weekend aims to further cement his legacy.

The National University Bill Walton Classic, a college basketball doubleheader created to honor the departed center, holds its inaugural edition Saturday. As part of it, the San Diego State men’s basketball team will play Colorado in a nationally televised contest, followed by a game between the University of San Diego and UC San Diego women’s teams.

Both games take place at Pechanga Arena, where NBA legend Walton played with the then-San Diego Clippers early in his career after his championship seasons with UCLA. The men’s game will air on USA Network. Tickets remain available.

The Walton Classic is a fully sanctioned, official regular-season NCAA Division I basketball event, and the games will count in the standings for the participating teams.

The event was unveiled in April by Walton’s foundation and Sports San Diego, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing tourism and economic growth to the city through sporting events. The event’s title sponsor, National University, is a San Diego-based, veteran-founded nonprofit college with campuses throughout California.

“The Bill Walton Classic is meant to lift up our three Division I basketball programs, unite San Diego’s basketball community under one roof for an extraordinary day and pay tribute to a true San Diego legend and Hall of Famer,” Sports San Diego CEO Mark Neville said.

The basketball games are planned as the culmination of three days of events planned to honor Walton, who died of cancer in May 2024 at age 71.

A memorial blood drive in his honor is planned from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday – it would have been Walton’s 74th birthday – at Grossmont Center in La Mesa, the city where Walton was born. Donors will receive a limited edition, Walton-inspired tie-dye T-shirt.

Walton, a huge Grateful Dead fan during his lifetime, was well-known for loving tie-dye. So much so, in fact, that Friday has been designated “Bill Walton Tie-Dye Day” by the San Diego City Council.

Those participating may emulate Walton by wearing tie-dye clothing while engaging in one of his favorite activities, such as bike riding and/or listening to music.

“Bill was so much more than a legendary NBA star,” Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell, who introduced the Tie-Dye Day proclamation, said. “He was a proud native San Diegan, a devoted father and grandfather, someone who brought an incredible amount of joy and energy into every room he entered.”

“Bill loved San Diego and San Diego loved Bill,” she added.

Also on Friday, the Electric Waste Band, a Grateful Dead cover act that Walton had a musical partnership with, performs at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach as part of an event from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. billed as “Bill Walton Happy Hour.” 

Tickets are $45, with proceeds benefiting the Bill Walton Foundation.

“This special gathering will bring together friends, fans and the San Diego community to honor Bill’s infectious spirit, passion for life and deep love for our city,” the foundation said in a statement about the “Happy Hour” event.

Four prominent college coaches also stepped up this week, uniting to donate $8,000 each to fund a scholarship in Walton’s name, so that the total, $32,000, would be reflect Walton’s number, 32. Fans may donate $32 to the cause as well; it will fund a scholarship for homeless youth.

The three days of proceedings culminate with Saturday’s basketball games, which are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

“The events,” Sports San Diego said, “reflect Bill’s unmistakable spirit, generosity and love for the city he called home.”