Barack Obama drops emotional message about Bill Walton's passing

Former President Barack Obama is surely mourning right now.

It's no secret that America's 44th president really enjoys a good game of basketball, and one of the greatest to ever play the game has passed away.

Basketball legend Bill Walton was 71 years old when he passed away on May 27.

"Bill Walton was one of the greatest basketball players of all time – a champion at every level and the embodiment of unselfish team play. He was also a wonderful spirit full of curiosity, humor, and kindness. We are poorer for his passing, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family," Obama said.

Whether or not you agree with Obama's politics, there's no questioning that he was right about this.

In college, Bill Walton earned THREE consecutive Player of the Year awards. In the NBA, he led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Championship in 1977 and was named the MVP of the entire league in 1978.

Walton would go on to win his second championship as part of arguably the greatest basketball team ever assembled, the 1985-1986 Boston Celtics.