Portland theater screening ‘rare’ basketball documentary in honor of Bill Walton

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Paying tribute to former Portland Trail Blazer and NBA champion Bill Walton, the Hollywood Theatre in Portland is screening a “rare” documentary featuring “The Big Redhead” and his time with the Blazers.

The theater is screening the 1978 documentary “Fast Break,” featuring “candid Walton moments” including a bike ride along the Oregon coast, a basketball camp in Warm Springs, and footage from the 1977 NBA championship.

The screening, Wednesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m., will be followed by a discussion with writer Larry Colton and other special guests.

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“FAST BREAK examines the 1977 Trail Blazers in a surprisingly personal and compelling fashion. Inter-cutting excerpts from the 1977 playoff/championship season, the film steps outside of the basketball court, and into the everyday lives of the Trailblazers, as well as their coach Jack Ramsey,” the Hollywood Theatre said. “FAST BREAK lets the players speak for themselves: about basketball, life and playing in Portland.”

Film curator Greg Hamiliton told KOIN 6 News, “I’ve been screening FAST BREAK independently throughout the Portland area since 2007 and have given DVD copies to Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas, Damian Lillard, Brandon Roy, Bobby Gross, Lloyd Neal and many others. [I] played it for thousands of Portland Trail Blazer fans over the years, and brought it back to remember Maurice, Jack and Bill Schonely when they passed. While I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Bill Walton, I can’t wait to gather with fellow Blazer fans and Walton friends to celebrate and remember one of the greatest players Portland has ever seen.”

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The screening comes after Walton’s death at the age of 71 following a lengthy cancer battle.

Walton played for the Trail Blazers from 1974 to 1979, including in 1977, the only year the team won the championships, and he was named NBA Finals MVP that year.

He went on to win another championship title in 1986 as a member of the Boston Celtics and in 1993 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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