Hall of Fame forward Chet Walker, a seven-time All-Star known as “The Jet” for his speed, has died at the age of 84, the NBA announced.
A member of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor, Walker was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1962 NBA Draft and followed the team when it moved to Philadelphia to become the 76ers. He was part of the 1966-67 team that won a record 68 regular season games and ended the Boston Celtics’ eight-year championship streak. Walker averaged 19.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game that season for a team that also included Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, and Billy Cunningham.
In 1969, the Sixers traded Walker to the Bulls. Walker became an integral part of the early Bulls team along with Bob Love, Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier.
In his 13-year career, Walker averaged 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Among the 1962 draft class, only John Havlicek had more winning shares than Walker.
Walker, who went to high school in Benton Harbor, Michigan, before attending Bradley University, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
The Bulls unveiled their first ring earlier this year. Along with Walker in the top tier were Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson, Artis Gilmore, Johnny Kerr, Dick Klein, Jerry Krause, Toni Kukoc, Tex Winter, and Love and Sloan.
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”