NBA Legend Bill Walton's Career Advice: 'You Cannot Finish Unless You Start'
The sports icon was on "GMA" to discuss "Back From the Dead," his new memoir.
— -- Former NBA superstar and ESPN analyst Bill Walton joined “Good Morning America” to talk about his new memoir, "Back From the Dead: Searching for the Sound, Shining the Light, and Throwing it Down."
He opened up to ABC News’ Robin Roberts about how he came back from a catastrophic spinal injury, how his service dog rescued him, lessons he learned from coach John Wooden at UCLA, playing in the NBA with the Trailblazers, Clippers and Celtics and his successful career as an ESPN broadcaster.
Walton even offered some advice to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Will Allen, who asked for advice about starting a new career after professional sports.
“You’ve had a successful career after sports. What was your number one tip and advice you would give other professional athletes starting a career?,” Allen asked Walton.
“Chase your dream. Make your dream your job. And make your job your life,” Walton replied. “You cannot finish unless you start. Get in the game, do not wait for the game of life to fall in your lap. Chase it down, just jump right in. You’re going to fail, you’re going to make mistakes, risk and failure are all part of it."
He continued: “And when all else fails, when it’s all just totally lost, just call Robin [Roberts],” he laughed. “She’s been there. She’s been through everything. She has built her life from the ground up. She is the daughter of a Tuskegee Airmen. Coming here, the health challenges, building it all. You’re going to fail, you’re going to stumble, what you have to do is get back up and get going, right away. Jump back on that bike when you crash. Jump back into the game of life, jump back into business and always call Robin.”
"Back From the Dead: Searching for the Sound, Shining the Light, and Throwing it Down" is in bookstores now.