At his peak he averaged 18.6/14.4/3.6 with 52% shooting and was the best player on a championship team. TV Schedule Home Bio Walton Gallery Wooden News Speaking Grateful Dead Duane Roth Best of Recently Book List Latest News TV Schedule PDF The 76ers had a chance to pull out Game 6, but both Julius Erving and George McGinnis missed medium-range shots that would have sent the game into overtime. Walton was awarded the NBA Finals MVP. So, before you say, Shaq cant play in this era today, Im already playing. LDS Church wants to light up a temple in a place that prides itself on dark skies, For husband-and-wife team, this new restaurant is the culmination of a decadeslong dream. Walton also used the time off to attend Stanford law school. That is not the case for young players. NBA legend Bill Walton co-authored a byline explaining why one plot of land outside San Diego could be a way to help end the homeless crisis in the city. According to Ramsay, I was speechless. I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. In one game he scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes. When youre that big, you cant hide much. 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) School: UCLA (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA draft. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. This is not intended to be a definitive, inarguable list, or a scientifically rigorous exercise. Id never had a player say anything like that to me before. But he had never coached Bill Walton. Any time you think youre too small to make a difference in the world youve never spent the night alone in bed with a mosquito. Rewards Domination Rewards. The only thing Im supposed to know is how to put the ball through the hoop. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. I was born tall, he said. They don't really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.". In 1991, Walton won a Sports Emmy for best live television sports telecast and was named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all-time by the American Sportscaster Association in 2009. Finally, there is Johnny Kerr, who was . Walton inducted himself. From 2005, when he became a full-time starter for Jerry Sloan, through 2010, when he suffered the ruptured left Achilles tendon that would effectively end his career, Okur shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per 36 minutes; put him alongside a pick-and-roll maestro point guard now, and hed likely double that. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. His old national teammate Sarunas Marciulionis emphasized in Basketball: A Love Story that Sabonis hadnt yet fully developed his face-up game, his 3-point shot, or his court vision before playing in Spain following the 88 Olympics, so a younger model wouldnt necessarily have resembled a more explosive version of the finished product. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . By JANIE McCAULEY April 10, 2018 GMT. (Nearly.) But a modern Wilt would profile, at minimum, as a mammoth rim protector and interior deterrent; think a thicker Rudy Gobert (a close analogue in terms of measurables) with a collegiate high jumpers hops. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. Im a big believer in that., More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball, This March 25, 2018, photo shows Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert in action during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif. From executives and scouts to coaches and analytics types, teams are paying closer attention to wingspan when considering players _ especially with what long arms can mean making a defensive impact. "It's not how big you are, it's how big you play. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Later, he admitted much of his aloofness or unwillingness to talk was due to a speech impediment, which he would later receive successful therapy for. He led the league in both rebounding and blocked shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively. I also think Steve Kerr wouldve done horrible, unspeakable things to get someone like Vlade operating in that Andrew Bogut/Anderson Varejao/David West playmaking pivot role as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson run all those split actions, flinging passes all over the place: I dont know. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). Any time you think youre too small to make a difference in the world youve never spent the night alone in bed with a mosquito. Im not as fast laterally, Im not as athletic, Im not as quick as guys up and down but I think I make up for it with my length, said Durant, a defensive player of the year candidate. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . Given his love for the spotlight, his polarizing on- and off-court presence, and his sensitivity to blowback, how would a figure as towering as Wilt Chamberlain play in the social media era? ), People dont understand that when he was younger, Sabonis was a perimeter player and he played facing the basket, longtime NBA coach George Karl, who had gotten an up-close look at him during two stints coaching in Europe, told Abrams. Its like you went through MyCareer in NBA 2K and decided to never let any teammates rack up a single box score statisticonly it actually happened in real life, and it went on for about a decade and a half. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. This would still play: At 7-foot-1 with a reported 7-foot-8 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing reach, having starred at both 250 pounds as a lithe rookie and a muscular 300-plus pounds during his latter years with the Lakers, Chamberlain had more than enough size, length, and strength to challenge even the burliest modern bigs. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. Walton had a bulging medical file before he even reached collegehe suffered multiple lower leg fractures and underwent knee surgery while still in high schooland struggled through broken bones in his spine and knee tendinitis at UCLA, resulting in another knee surgery before he joined the Blazers. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. Top NBA Duos, Bears No. And now, we move from Hakeem to the man he once nearly played one-on-one for $1 million put up by Taco Bell in an event promoted by Donald Trump, in what sounds like a stirring round of Some Bullshit Mad Libs but is actually a thing that almost happened: Career (1,207 games, 1992-2011): 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.3 blocks per game, 58.2% FG, 4.5% 3FG, 52.7% FT. Both Walton and the Clippers improved over the next two years. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his NBA career three decades ago did he understand just how far his arms reached. Decades before Shaquille ONeal ripped mics with Fu-Schnickens, the Dipper was out here crooning, dog. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Warriors 7-foot center JaVale McGee went through only a handful of pre-draft workouts for NBA teams, hardly a prized prospect after a career at Nevada. Portland won 11 more games in 1974-75 than in the previous year but failed to live up to its potential, largely because of Waltons health troubles. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. That is not the case for young players. Free (later World B. The explosive Russell Westbrook is 6-3, with a wingspan of 6-8, which helps him be one of the best rebounding guards in history. You look at size of hands, wingspans. Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP , is quick to point out that his length allows him to make up for other areas, including being far leaner than most NBA players. Money doesnt mean anything to me. Theres a lot of guys, Draymond (Green) is the same way, small, undersized power forward but can guard plenty of guys because of his length. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. Every game was a challenge, and he didnt let any of us forget that.. During his prime as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers in the mid-1970s a prime that lasted a mere three years Walton drew comparisons to such players as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday, and an extra inch of reach can lead to a blocked shot or steal that might alter a series or a season. "You're able to deflect the pass or block shots.". But the biggest question about Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax After the playoffs Walton demanded to be traded and accused Portland management with providing him poor medical treatment. He wanted to be winning. Its no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who stands 7-1 and led the NBA in blocks last season, has the longest wingspan in the league at 7 feet, 9 inches. Off the floor I worried. Washington Bullets, with his ability to grab rebounds and find open outlets under the floor, or the non-selfish ways of Bill Walton when playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. Career (1,045 games, 1959-73): 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game, 54.0% FG, 51.1% FT. No player from the past feels harder to wrap your mind around than Chamberlain. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. Yeah, I found that out once I bought my first suit, the 6-foot-5 McMillan, a 12-year pro now coaching the Pacers, said with a chuckle, realizing his arms stretched more than 3 feet each. Im a big believer in that., Donate to the newsroom now. And he was cocky, even to the Trail Blazers coaching staff. In recent seasons, Warriors high-scoring All-Star Kevin Durant has become more determined to use his 7-5 wingspan to make more of an impact on defense. People followed him on Twitter. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. He played without pain for the first time in years, and he seemed happier than ever. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. He acted as a half-court offensive hub from the elbows and out of the post; as the last line of defense on the other end, he was an ace shot-blocker and defensive rebounder who looked for every opportunity to trigger a fast break and an easy bucket within the flow of the game. I was born tall, he said. "Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. While the Shaq we know bemoans the disappearance of dominant back-to-the-basket bigs, the 2020 model would need to be capable of getting his points in other ways in a league where post-ups have largely been excised from the playbook altogether. As Bill Waltonwho knew a thing or two about how big men could dominate while still playing a team-first game (and whom well get to in a second! He didn't often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. Whether he could stay nimble enough to meet that kind of challenge would go a long way toward determining how effective hed beand how much damage he could do on the other end. With the arrival of Ramsay from the Buffalo Braves, the Blazers built a precision offense around playmaker Lionel Hollins and the awesome frontcourt of Walton and intimidating Maurice Lucas. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his . How Tall Is Bill Walton? Rian Johnson faced the biggest writing challenges of any of the five nominees, but the director managed to perfectly thread the needle, ensuring that Glass Onion felt unique but still delighted the fans of its predecessor, some dispute about just how valuable his passing was, two highest assist-per-game averages of any center in league history, reportedly wanted to dispel the notion that he was a selfish player, 50 percent between 16 feet and the arc during the 1998-99 season, what Rudy Tomjanovich and Co. did in 1994 and 95, fellow Time Machine All-Star Andrei Kirilenko, bemoans the disappearance of dominant back-to-the-basket bigs, largely been excised from the playbook altogether, the institution of new rules aimed at reducing intentional fouling, told Jackie MacMullan and Kirk Goldsberry, gold-medal game of the 1986 FIBA World Championship, the semifinals of the 1988 Summer Olympics, having lost all faith in Portlands medical team, demanded a trade, 3.5 stocks (steals plus blocks) per 36 minutes during his Lakers tenure, what Marc Gasol gave the Raptors last season, 352 triples during his first eight seasons, 5.0 long balls per 36 minutes of floor time, 38.7 percent from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per 36 minutes, the sort of 7-foot Steph you could build an offense around, Time Machine All-Stars: Five Power Forwards Who Would Have Dominated 2020, Malcolm Brogdon Is a Throwbackand DeservingCandidate for Sixth Man of the Year, The Surging Knicks, Zombie Heat, and a Bizarre College Hoops Season With Ariel Helwani, Mike Schur, Kevin OConnor, and Tate Frazier. He was disruptive as hell, registering a block on more than 5 percent of his opponents 2-point tries and logging a steal on more than 2 percent of their offensive possessions; only six other players who have played at least 5,000 career minutes have done both. . Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. J, who pumped in 40 points in Game 6. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Years before the Kevin Garnetts and Kevin Durants of the world began lying about their heights to make themselves seem smaller, Walton was reported to be 7-foot-2 but listed as 6-foot-11 [because] he didnt like the stigma of being a 7-footer. Walton didnt want to be chained to the block and forced into the same old dump it down and drop step monotony; he wanted to be free to explore the outer limits of both his skills and those of his teammates. "If your wingspan is more than your height, that's kind of abnormal. In the book Basketball: A Love Story, Olajuwon describes the first time he saw an NBA game. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1, How the Spurs celebrated Black Heritage Night, NBA set to celebrate Noches neBA program, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays and strategy for Feb. 28. And blocked shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively make up for something else players faced! 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