Rick Carlisle recalls the story of Bill Walton helping him on their first date originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
Before Rick Carlisle became an NBA coach, he had a five-year playing career, including three years with the Boston Celtics. Alongside NBA legend Bill Walton, in 1986, Carlisle and the Celtics achieved the ultimate feat: becoming NBA champions.
Carlisle, now coaching the Indiana Pacers against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, took some time before Game 4 – where his team will try to avoid being swept by Boston – to talk about a fond memory he shared with Walton, who passed away Monday at 71.
“I just wanted to mention, with Walton’s passing today, how much he meant to me and so many people I’m close to,” Carlisle said. “I’ve been in a text message thread with our [Celtics] 1986 team, and some of the memories are priceless.”
Other members of the 1986 Celtics team have already paid tribute to their former teammate – including franchise legend Larry Bird – but Carlisle wanted to emphasize how Walton has always kept in touch with him, and even texted some of his players recently to help them get over a 0-3 loss in a playoff series.
“He kept in touch with me, texted me a lot during the playoffs,” Carlisle added. “I read some of their text messages to our players during our prep session before we took the court, just so they could realize the impact they were having on the people of basketball. Bill really likes our team, liked the way we played, and I have him to thank, probably, too, for being married to my wife, Donna.”
Carlisle detailed how Walton helped him have a successful first date with his now-wife, Donna. Wanting to take her to a show she didn’t have tickets for, Carlisle mentioned that he called Walton for help.
“[Walton] said, ‘Just go to the back door, ask for Dennis McNally, tell him you’re Rick Carlisle of the Boston Celtics, and everything will be fine,'” Carlisle recalled Walton’s advice with a smile.
Carlisle listened to Walton. He stopped at the back of the venue with Donna, told her to wait there – which made her question whether he still had tickets – assured her that everything would work out, and went to find McNally. They ended up with two VIP tickets in Walton’s name.
“It was an unbelievable night and it was obviously a good first date, so I’m grateful to him,” Carlisle added. “I know there’s been a lot of talk today about what he meant to the whole world – to me, he was a living, breathing event in history, just walking around… He defiantly competed for every moment of life to be the bigger than it could be – that’s the best way to describe it.”
As for Walton’s family, Carlisle confirmed that he has spoken with Walton’s son – fellow former NBA player and coach Luke Walton – and they are doing well.
“What an incredible man; there will never be another,” Carlisle said of his friend Walton.
