UCLA x Grateful Dead Bill Walton Corduroy Snapback Hat

Bill Walton, UCLA legend, basketball icon, and the ultimate Deadhead, lived at the intersection of fast breaks and free-flowing jams. While leading the Bruins to back-to-back national championships under John Wooden, Walton was just as dialed into Jerry Garcia’s guitar solos as he was to his own skyhook. UCLA and the Grateful Dead weren’t just two of his passions—they were intertwined. He famously skipped class to catch Dead shows, blasting their music from his dorm, and drawing inspiration from their improvisational, team-first approach to fuel his own game. The Dead’s philosophy—constant evolution, unshakable chemistry, and joy in the journey—mirrored Wooden’s flow, teamwork, and playing the right way.

Walton didn’t just love the Dead; he lived and breathed them, attending over 1000 shows and developing a close relationship with the band. He traveled to Egypt in 1978 to see their legendary Pyramids concert, wrote liner notes for their live albums, and even introduced his Boston Celtics teammates to the magic of a Dead show—where Jerry Garcia, spotting Larry Bird in the crowd, simply told him, “Larry, this is what we do.”

In many ways, Walton embodied what the Dead stood for: pushing boundaries, embracing the moment, and building something bigger than yourself. Whether dancing, arms in the air, at a show or leading a fast break at Pauley Pavilion, he was proof that sports, music, and a love for the journey could all exist in perfect harmony.

The official Class Trip x UCLA Bill Walton tribute collection is our way of celebrating the legend himself, with a portion of proceeds going to support the LA Fire Recovery Efforts, continuing his legacy of joy, connection, and giving back.

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