It’s been a while since Bill Walton regularly called NBA games. In recent years, he has been the hilarious thorn in Dave Pasch’s side as they work Pac-12 games for ESPN. The last time Walton did an NBA game was in 2018, when he and Pasch worked a Warriors-Blazers game while the NBA crew worked a college basketball game.
To honor longtime Clippers play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler in his final regular season game and his 40 years of service, Walton made a rare NBA appearance to reunite with Lawler and work one final game. Lawler and Walton were broadcasting partners for 13 years and Lawler was doing play-by-play when Walton played for the team.
"I'm Bill, and I'm ready to celebrate the greatness of [@Ohmeomy]'s life…"
Take it away, @BillWalton. #ThankYouRalph pic.twitter.com/l5qm2xX0LH
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 11, 2019
What we got was classic Walton as two friends worked together one final time. Even in the introduction, Walton was his exuberant self as he celebrated Lawler’s career, including yelling Lawler’s classic “Bingo” call when someone hit a three.
Fasten your seatbelts, folks.@Ohmeomy and @BillWalton are just getting started on FOX Sports Prime Ticket. #ThankYouRalph pic.twitter.com/qq6cZvPjAH
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 11, 2019
Early on, Walton gave Lawler some nice retirement gifts including an engraved bottle of Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack that Walton wanted to break out during the game. In addition, Walton gave Lawler a piece of artwork Walton commissioned on Lawler’s life and career which was titled “The Long, Strange Trip of Ralph Lawler.”
.@BillWalton came bearing gifts for @Ohmeohmy 🥃 #ThankYouRalph pic.twitter.com/AgWuqmu4Nq
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 11, 2019
Story time with @BillWalton is incredible 😆 pic.twitter.com/LRSPHxhA1r
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 11, 2019
While most of the country got the Jazz-Clippers game on ESPN (ironically, Pasch is working the ESPN broadcast), people in the LA area got a treat as Walton entertained the masses (and annoyed a few) with his nonsensical, but amusing tangents.
Oh goodness, Bill Walton is sitting in with Ralph Lawler to call his last regular season game. The old team is back together. This is going to be fun and ridiculous. 😂😂😂
— Bix (@bixin29) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/andrew_vargha/status/1116169911087161344
Bill Walton: “It’s 5-2, come on men, the fate of the known world is in the balance.”
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton and Ralph Lawler are discussing the street on which Ralph was born.
Walton made a pilgrimage there to do some homework on Ralph
— Clips Nation (@clipsnation) April 11, 2019
Oh me oh my. What a @NBA blessing. @BillWalton and @Ohmeomy on the call again. The greatest announcing team in league history. And straight out the gates we got a Kandi Man reference. pic.twitter.com/1jGZjVWtg2
— mattmoneysmith (@mattmoneysmith) April 11, 2019
Walton: "As fine a group of officials as I've ever seen".
I'm not sure I've ever heard a man in a better mood
— Clips Nation (@clipsnation) April 11, 2019
Hearing Bill Walton just say “throw it down, big man” next to Ralph just took me wayy back. Clippers nerd moment for sure
— 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚂 𝙲𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗 (@brianscullen) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton: “What’s his name again?”
Ralph Lawler: “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.”
Bill Walton: “He’s got three names? C’mon man. I’m a stutterer, you gotta keep it simple. I’m a one name guy. Like Ralph. Bill.”
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/andrew_vargha/status/1116172528781643776
“Greg Ostertag one of the pillars of the NBA” – Bill Walton
— valentin (@klutch137) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton: “Careless turnover here. Quin Snyder, I can’t believe he has not turned in his resignation in shame with the performance we’re witnessing here from these Utah Jazz.”
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/andrew_vargha/status/1116174363919675392
god I love Bill Walton
'Gobert's not playing? what happened? Did he die? Why, if he has a T in his name, you don't pronounce it?'#ClipperNation
— NBA Straya (@NbaStraya) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/jgsiegel/status/1116174735115554818
"Throw it down, big man! … Who's that?" – Bill Walton, on Montrezl Harrell
— Danny Chau (@dannychau) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton made a https://t.co/8dBV3IlTFP site, but someone claimed it, and apparently it was turned into a porn site.
The things you learn during a Bill Walton broadcast
— Clips Nation (@clipsnation) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/benshea/status/1116177488302886912
Bill Walton to Ralph Lawler: “How great it is the #Clippers have allowed Jo (Ralph's wife) to come on the road with you. And she stays in the same room as you right?"
Bill Walton is in last game commentary game ever mode, and it's tremendous.
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton has already worn three different shirts in the first half. pic.twitter.com/k99tyrWCix
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton said he's had 37 orthopedic operations and at least 25 on his ankle. Man has been through hell.
— Bun (@bunrxm) April 11, 2019
“Was that Lancaster Gordon?” Bill Walton asks about Lou Williams.
Lancaster Gordon last played for the Clippers in 1988.
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/andrew_vargha/status/1116188629531906048
https://twitter.com/AustinHedges/status/1116189194500493313
Now Bill Walton is reciting his facts about high school name changes
— Clipperholics (@ClipperholicsFS) April 11, 2019
"Is that Kyle Korver?" pic.twitter.com/4p5ulHuMvD
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) April 11, 2019
one of Ralph Lawler's catchphrases is BINGO
And for Ralph's final broadcast for the Clippers after 40 years, Bill Walton got him a bingo set 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/pwwX2hhV4S
— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton says he wore number 5 because it was one less than Bill Russell, his "all-time hero on and off the court"
— Clips Nation (@clipsnation) April 11, 2019
I assume Bill Walton is also in charge of the graphics tonight. pic.twitter.com/ZRQGmzcbdg
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
Bill Walton in the fourth quarter of Clippers play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler’s last regular season game: “We still have six minutes and 11 seconds of Ralph Lawler’s life.”
Not sure Bill totally grasps how retirement works.
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/andrew_vargha/status/1116200315496222720
Wow @BillWalton just blew my mind again.
"Is Jazz singular or plural?". 🤔🤔🤔🤔
— James Kirkland (@jamiekirkland) April 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/andrew_vargha/status/1116202887288250368
Ralph Lawler: “They’re telling us to talk about the game.”
Bill Walton -“No it’s not gonna happen, what are they gonna do fire us?”
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) April 11, 2019
Oh yeah, there was a game going on. Despite the Clippers already knowing they would be the eight seed and the Jazz would take the five, the end result didn’t change much and was just more for bragging rights. Nevertheless, the Clippers pulled through in OT and won 143-137.
While this is his final regular season game, this may not be it for Ralph Lawler. Depending on the TV schedule, he may be on the call in the playoffs as the Clippers face the Warriors. But if this is it, it has been a tremendous end to a historic career and Bill Walton showed his appreciation the only way he knew how.
