The league revealed on Monday that Walton succumbed to cancer following a prolonged struggle with the illness. NBA commissioner Adam Silver recalled him as "truly one of a kind."

Walton gained renown for his illustrious college basketball tenure in California, as well as for triumphing over a stutter to forge a prosperous broadcasting path. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-11, he commanded the center position for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball team from 1971 to 1974.

During his tenure, Walton guided the Bruins to two championship triumphs and an impressive 88-game winning streak. He was subsequently chosen as the top overall draft pick in 1974 by the Portland Trail Blazers, marking the inception of his NBA professional journey.

Walton steered the Blazers to their inaugural NBA championship victory in 1977, securing the esteemed Most Valuable Player accolade for that season. Nearly a decade later, he clinched his second NBA title, this time with the Boston Celtics.

In a statement released on Monday, NBA commissioner Mr. Silver remarked that Walton was recognised within the league for his "unique all-around skills". "Being a Hall of Fame player, he refined the centre position," Silver added.

Walton's professional tenure spanned a mere 468 games and was curtailed by persistent foot injuries. However, his basketball odyssey did not conclude there. He proceeded to transition into a distinguished and vibrant Emmy Award-winning commentator for the sport.

He accomplished this feat despite grappling with a significant stutter throughout his formative years. "In life, being so self-conscious, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can't talk at all. I was incredibly shy and never said a word," Walton told radio host John Canzano in 2017.

"Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. It's become my greatest accomplishment of my life and everybody else's biggest nightmare." Walton was enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. His wife and four sons, including Luke Walton, who once played in the NBA and currently holds the position of assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, remain his legacy.