Ex-Nuggets star David Thompson remembers former rival, longtime friend Bill Walton as ‘great player and a great guy’ | Sports Coverage [Video]

In 1974, Bill Walton and David Thompson hooked up in one of the most memorable college basketball games ever played.

They remained friends for the next 50 years.

On Monday, Thompson was saddened to hear that Walton, the legendary former center and longtime broadcaster, had died at age 71 following a prolonged battle with cancer.

“Great player and a great guy,’’ Thompson told The Denver Gazette. “Rest in peace, big Bill.”

In 1974, Walton was a star senior attempting to lead UCLA to a third consecutive national title, and Thompson was a star junior swingman for North Carolina State. The Wolfpack upset the Bruins 80-77 in double overtime in a national semifinal in Greensboro, N.C., and two days later won the national title, 76-64 over Marquette.

“He was always respectful of our team and said nice things about us,’’ said Thompson, who went on to star for the Nuggets from 1975-82 and, like Walton, is enshrined in the …