Dead & Company Honor NBA Legend Bill Walton During Sphere Las Vegas Show

Beyond his illustrious career as an NBA legend and sportscaster, Bill Walton was a huge Deadhead. The 6′ 11″ center died Monday (May 27) at age 71 after a battle with cancer, and the surviving members of the Grateful Dead paid tribute to their biggest fan during Dead & Company's Las Vegas show Sphere on Thursday (May 30).

During their performance of 1978's “Fire on the Mountain,” the Sphere screen showed a montage of photos of Walton hanging out with the band, wearing the merchandise and more. The tribute also included a stunning display of Walton's jersey number, 32, emblazoned with tie-dye and roses.

Check out the photos via Dead & Company's Instagram here.

Earlier this week, following news of Walton's death, the band paid tribute to the late athlete in an Instagram post on their Dead & Company feed, saying: “Be well, be well, we love you more than words can say. Bill was an irreplaceable strength and spirit in our family. Father Time, Rhythm Devil, the greatest deadhead of all time. Over 1000 shows and I couldn't get enough. He loved this band and we loved him.”

The post continued, “We will deeply miss our dear friend, @BillWalton. Rest in peace and may the four winds take you home safely. 🌹💀⚡️.” The post included several photos of Walton in tie-dye outfits at Dead shows over the years, including instances of him wearing elaborate, colorful suits — most notably a “Father Time” outfit for Dead appearances on the eve of New Year.