NBA NEWS - "Throw It Down with Bill Walton" alternate game telecast

Former NBA star Bill Walton was on two of John Wooden's title winning teams and the team that lost and broke Wooden's 7 straight NCAA tournament winning streak - (Steve Lipofsky photo)

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain exemplified how to play the game without Showtime hot-dogging. The two battled for over a decade during the 60's. Since that time no NBA center could compare to their brute talent - (Library of Congress photo) NR's All-time NBA's GREATEST TEAM

To debut on NBA League Pass in the new NBA App - The first telecast will debut Monday, Jan. 23 for the San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers game at 10 p.m. ET - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, NY USA – (NBA)

Thursday January 19, 2023

The NBA today announced the launch of "Throw it Down with Bill Walton," an alternative game telecast hosted by NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Team member and legendary broadcaster Bill Walton that will stream exclusively on NBA League Pass via the new NBA App. The first telecast will debut Monday, Jan. 23 for the San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers game at 10 p.m. ET.

"This incredible dream is the thrill, honor and privilege of a lifetime. Wow, and on the NBA's global and intergalactic platform too!" said Walton. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world. Please help me throw it down as this volcanic eruption celebrates the best of life, nature, sport, the NBA and everything else. We promise to blast through the real, imaginary and self-imposed limits of the known universe and beyond. Won't you come with me. Hold on if you can. Hold on if you dare. THROW IT DOWN, exclusively on the NBA App, where dreams become reality, where we come to grow and where the deal goes down."

Walton - a two-time NBA champion, NBA MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, Finals MVP and acclaimed Emmy Award-winning broadcaster - will call the action for a series of NBA League Pass games as he surveys the brightest stars in today's game and flashes back to his remarkable life and career.

The show - featuring special guests from across sports, music, literature, business, entertainment and beyond - will stream on select Mondays with Jason Benetti serving as the play-by-play announcer. NBA legend Julius Erving and Nike co-founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight are set to be the featured guests for the first telecast.

"Throw it Down with Bill Walton" joins a strong list of alternative game telecasts featured exclusively on the NBA App: "

NBA HooperVision - Former NBA players and hosts, including Quentin Richardson, Nate Robinson and Dorell Wright, share their unique insights on the game with a pop culture crossover.

" NBABet Stream - A weekly stream with a selection of top contributors who provide the latest betting information during live game coverage.

" NBA Strategy Stream - Fans can get deep analytics and Xs and Os through this insightful stream from Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux.

As previously announced, the new and improved NBA App is the all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team. With entirely new personalization features, the NBA App provides wall-to-wall content from every NBA game and features social-style vertical video, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to players and teams, new and existing shows and series, and access to the NBA vault for free. The NBA App - a product of NBA Digital, the league's joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports - is free to download

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

January 19, 1977 Norm Van Lier of the Chicago Bulls sank a shot measured at 84 feet in a game at San Antonio, but the Spurs still won, 115-107.

January 19, 1996 Washington’s Brent Price missed his fourth three-point field goal attempt, after extending his NBA record streak to 13 straight field goal attempts without a miss.

January 19, 1998 Los Angeles Lakers’ broadcaster Chick Hearn announced his 3,000th consecutive game. Hearn last missed a broadcast on November 20, 1965.

January 19, 2000 Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships as a player, returned to the NBA when he joined the Washington Wizards as part owner and President of Basketball Operations, overseeing all aspects of the team. Jordan has also joined Lincoln Holdings, LLC, as a partner and investor. Lincoln Holdings owns the Washington Capitals and is a minority partner in Washington Sports & Entertainment, including the Washington Wizards.