Pacers coach Rick Carlisle recalls touching story about Bill Walton

Bill was one of a kind.

As the basketball community mourns the loss of UCLA Bruins legend Bill Walton, a flood of admiration and stories have emerged.

This week, Indiana Pacers head coach and Celtic teammate of Walton, Rick Carlisle, recalled a story of how the Grateful Dead super fan Walton helped him prepare for his first date in 1987.

“Our first date was to a Dead show in D.C., and I called Bill and said, ‘Look, Bill, I got a date with a girl who’s pretty cool. I’d love to go to the Dead show. I don’t have any tickets. Could you help?'”

Carlisle continued with a smile, “He said, ‘Go to the back door and ask for Dennis McElhaney. Tell him you’re Rick Carlisle from the Boston Celtics, and everything will be just fine.”

Walton was correct. Carlisle’s first date was with his future wife, Donna Nobile, and another example of how the iconic UCLA Bruin touched and improved the lives of everyone he met.