By Jonah Sharf
On May 23, 1978, Portland big man Bill Walton was named NBA MVP, despite playing just 58 games due to foot injuries. He would help the Blazers to a 50-10 record before being shut down for the rest of the season. Walton averaged 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game. Walton would miss the entirety of the next season, play 14 games in the 79-80 season, and miss the next two full seasons. Walton would win two NBA titles in his career, one as the Finals MVP with Portland in 1977, and one as a role player on the 1986 Boston Celtics. Despite his struggles with injuries during his NBA career, Walton was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in in 1993, due to his NBA and college career at UCLA.