Tributes pour in following basketball Hall of Famer Chet Walker's death

Chet "The Jet" Walker died on 8th June 2024, leading to an outpouring of grief from the sports world as former teams paid tribute to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Bulls, where Walker spent the second half of his career, released a touching statement on X (formerly Twitter), writing, "His skill, dedication and contributions to the game made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball and the city of Chicago, Chet Walker will forever be remembered as a true Chicago Bulls icon."

Sam Smith, writing for NBA Media, noted Walker's impressive off-court resume, writing, "he was one of the pioneers of the NBA labor movement that over league defiance gained free agency while being one of the early bullheaded warriors against injustice which helped bring about the modern NBA."

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The official X account of the Basketball Hall of Fame posted on X, "The Hall of Fame mourns the passing of Chet Walker. His contributions to the 76ers and the Bulls made him a 7-time All-Star and league champion. His free-throw accuracy was unparalleled and his memory will live on at the Hall."

Boston Globe writer Bob Ryan also took to X to memorialise Walker, writing, "RIP Chet Walker. You ain’t been up-faked until you’ve been up-faked by Chet “The Jet” Walker."

Chet Walker is memorialised a legend in basketball history, read on to learn more about his career on and off the basketball court.

Chet Walker, a former member of the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers, has died aged 82, according to a statement by the National Basketball Players Association.

Walker was known as “The Jet” during his playing days, Walker was drafted by the 76ers in 1962.

According to ESPN, Walker was a key member of the 1966-67 Sixers side that set a new record for games won, with 68. Walker, playing alongside Wilt Chamberlin, averaged 19.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

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That season also saw the Sixers win the NBA Finals, beating the San Francisco Warriors 4-2, per ESPN.

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The Sixers were quick to release a statement in tribute of Walker, the Philadelphia team wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Affectionately nicknamed 'The Jet,' Walker made a profound impact in our city & within our League. Our condolences go out to the Walker family & their friends.”

Following his time in Philadelphia, Walker moved to the Chicago Bulls. The team released a statement following the news of his death. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chet Walker, a legendary figure in our team's history.”

The Bulls’ statement continued, saying Walker, “left an indelible mark on the court and in the hearts of fans.” The team also wrote, “His skill, dedication and contributions to the game made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball and the city of Chicago.”

Walker had to wait until 2012 to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, an honor few could disagree with following his seven All-Star appearances during his career.

Following his career on the court, Walker moved into the world of film and TV production, winning an Emmy for his work on the 1989 TV series “A Mother’s Courage” per the New York Times.

Walker also wrote a member describing his experiences growing up in a still-segregated America. The book, titled, “Long Time Coming: A Black Athlete's Coming-of-Age in America”, was released in 1995.

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