Cassidy Hubarth/Twitter
While talking about the impact of the late Bill Walton, Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle revealed he owes his marriage to his former teammate.
The NBA on Monday announced that Walton died as a result of a “prolonged battle with cancer.” Walton, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever, was 71.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/fdlty5X3F5
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 27, 2024
Before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Carlisle spoke to the media to honor his late friend and teammate. The two won a championship together with the Celtics in 1986.
That friendship even led to Carlisle marrying his wife Donna. According to the coach, Walton helped him get into a Grateful Dead concert for the pair’s first date.
“My first date was to a Dead show in Washington, D.C.,” Carlisle said, “and I called Bill and I said, ‘Look, I got a date with a girl that I think is pretty cool. I’d love to go to the Dead show at the Capital Centre. I don’t have any tickets. Can you help?””
Walton told him to just go to the backdoor of the venue, ask for a specific person, and introduce himself as “Rick Carlisle from the Boston Celtics.”
“‘You’ll be just fine,’” Carlisle recalled Walton telling him.
Rick Carlisle on the passing of Bill Walton and a great story on how he helped him on his first date with his now wife. pic.twitter.com/iCw5yQ1fBw
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) May 27, 2024
To Carlisle’s surprise, it actually worked.
“I walked back up the loading dock ramp with two all-access laminates,” the coach said. “One said Bill Walton and one said Susie Walton.
“So we were set up for the show and we were actually on stage watching the show; and during the break, we just kinda wandered into the back and just opened up the door and ended up sitting down with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Mickey Hart for about 15 minutes, just [chatting]. It was an unbelievable night. Obviously, it’s a good first date.”
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]