The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce its newest inductees, the NWBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023, into the NWBA Hall of Fame. The Class of 2023 is comprised of four outstanding individuals: three Competitors and one Contributor. These inductees have had remarkable careers both on and off the court.
From Illinois, former University of Illinois player and the IBCA’s 2019 Derril Kipp Courage Award recipient, Will Waller was inducted during the April 1, 2023 ceremony held in Wichita, Kansas.
Hailing from Chicago, Will had a competitive career within the NWBA lasting over 20 years. Waller is one of the biggest, most dominant, and most consistent players of his time, and was known by friends and teammates as the “hardest working guy on the court".
Waller was a two-time NWBA Intercollegiate Division national champion with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Fighting Illini. Waller was recognized for his leadership of the Fighting Illini serving as team captain during his time. Waller earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in human resources while at Illinois.
Following college, Waller won a Division I national championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Waller helped the team win its only NWBA national championship. Waller’s presence and contributions to the Cavaliers helped elevate them to playing within NWBA Division I.
Waller’s first appearance on a U.S. Paralympic team was during the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, in which the U.S. Men captured a bronze medal. Waller helped Team USA secure gold medals at both the 1998 and 2002 IWBF World Championships, these being the last two World Championship titles that the U.S. Men have won. Waller’s contributions in 2002 were recognized by being named to the All-World Team.
Waller took an absence from Team USA due to health reasons but returned to the team at a high level in 2009. Waller served as the captain for the U.S. Men that won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Paralympics. While being a member of the U.S. Men’s team, Waller helped secure gold medals at the America’s Cup in 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2009.
Following his decorated playing career on the court, Waller has continued to make a positive impact on wheelchair basketball and the NWBA. Waller’s leadership skills and passion for the game led him to join the NWBA Board of Directors in 2016. Waller was hired as the CEO of the NWBA in 2019 and led the organization throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Waller’s dedication to the sport of wheelchair basketball along with his desire to make the sport better has inspired many members of the NWBA to follow along his path.
