Things didnt improve in Portland, as ankle and foot injuries (along with two separate broken wrists) cost him 78 games over his first two seasons. 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. (OK, I agree: That was a very Bill Waltonass thing to say.) Look at John Stockton's arms or Avery Johnson's arms and they're very long, and their hands are very big. I'm not as fast laterally, I'm not as athletic, I'm 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. Basketball was a sport where under optimal conditions a great player with considerable ego disciplined himself and became unselfish. (Walton had his share of ego too. Money doesnt mean anything to me. Its also worth noting what led to the blossoming of Wilts playmaking in the late 60s: He reportedly wanted to dispel the notion that he was a selfish player. The outspoken Free, among other San Diego teammates, accused Walton of being a malingerer. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Bill's full name is William Theodore Walton. I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. They were the last games he would play for more than two seasons, in which the Clippers won only 36 and 17 games, respectively. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. Position: Center. But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery its not how high you jump, its where you are and when you jump.. 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. How Tall Is Bill Walton? It is as if Agony and Ecstasy are Bill's Scylla and Charybdys, with his 7'+ wingspan wide enough to touch both simultaneously. I decided it might be cool to write about some of these players. 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? Decades before Shaquille ONeal ripped mics with Fu-Schnickens, the Dipper was out here crooning, dog. The other end would be even more interesting. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. That is not the case for young players. His arms are long and he can block shots. The controversies that had embroiled Walton up to this point were mild compared to what would follow. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. Combine that with what would assuredly be a significantly curtailed workload in the age of load managementWilt averaged an absurd 45.8 minutes per game for his careerand youll get fewer mythological stat lines. Before playing a single minute in the NBA, Walton knew the pains on injuries. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. There will be some statistical cherry-picking, because cherries are delicious, and there will be some decisions made purely on aesthetics, because we hold it as true that things that look dope should be prioritized. it maybe is Bill a little closer and gaining more height, there's other shots they look closer in team photos, or just general photos. Walton signed a then-record seven-year, $7 million contract to play with the Clippers, who had played just over .500 ball the year before. 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. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. When it comes to Arizona, he prefers to refer to the Wildcats as "the kitties." "You make up a lot of ground. 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. Even if we set aside his infamous bedroom claimswhich, of course, we most certainly would notWilt still would be an object of unbridled fascination today. Walton was even more spectacular in 1977-78 that is, as long as he was healthy. They don't really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.". Beginning with college games, with his outspoken nature fully blossomed, he became one of the best in the NBA. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. Between 1993 and 2001, he fired up 5.0 long balls per 36 minutes of floor time, and cashed them in at a cool 38.2 percent clip. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 6'9. 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. 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. High Schools: Auburndale in Auburndale, Florida us Relatives: Cousin Vince.. How an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan at 6-foot-4 213 For fish and crustaceans 52900-Real-NBA-Height/page36 '' > is RJ Barrett similar to Grant Hill made at least $ playing! In his first and only All-Star Game appearance (he was selected in 1977 but could not play because of injury), Walton recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. My name is Giannis Antetokounmpo., Career (470 games, 1995-2003): 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.1 blocks per game, 50.0% FG, 32.8% 3FG, 78.6% FT. By the time Sabonis finally came to the NBA in 1995, he was already 31 years old with a pair of ruptured Achilles tendons and a litany of leg and groin injuries rendering him a pale imitation of what he once was. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. And they're able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. The Celtics' legendary playmaker is the only person in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year in a career. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. Its nothing that I heard about until I got to the league, or right before I got into the league, theyre like, Wed like to measure your wingspan. They dont really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.. Inspired by rule changes that allowed for zone defenses, easier double-teams, and more effective swarms of players holding the ball in the post, the game has moved away from just dumping the ball down to your big man on the block and letting him cook. How come that shot isnt blocked? he recalled. NBA teams paying closer attention to players' wingspan. Position C/PF. But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery its not how high you jump, its where you are and when you jump.. Free (later World B. How Tall Is Bill Walton?- Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. Walton is the same type of player. Here was a man who once claimed to have bested a mountain lion in single combat. In todays NBA, the best offenses weaponize the threat of the 3-point shot to spread the floor; the best defenses scheme ways for long, smart ber-athletes to erase that space; and the best players tilt that spatial battle in their teams favor. But a version of Perkins who starts spreading his wings a bit earlier, when he still had the athleticism to be a problem on the offensive glass and explode for tip dunks, and even the quickness to be a threat running off of pindown screens for catch-and-shoot looks, might have been more than a role playerand maybe even quite a bit more. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. Id never had a player say anything like that to me before. But he had never coached Bill Walton. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. For one: Decades before Shut up and dribble became a sociopolitical flashpoint, Walton was telling The New York Times In this society, they dont expect an athlete to speak for himself or to be able to lead his own life. 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! Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. During the season he was hampered only by a broken nose, the 13th of his 13-year career. 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. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Waltons combative relationship with the press further sullied his image. Over the past 10 seasons, the only center to match those averages on that combination of 3-point volume and accuracy is Karl-Anthony Towns. 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. Its nothing that I heard about until I got to the league, or right before I got into the league, theyre like, Wed like to measure your wingspan. They dont really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.. And he was cocky, even to the Trail Blazers coaching staff. The Trail Blazers finished the season 58-24 and Walton received the NBA MVP award. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive player. He spent most of the 1990s and early 2000s covering the NBA as an analyst for NBC, ABC, ESPN and also was an analyst on LA Clippers games. But the biggest question about Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs. Its nothing that I heard about until I got to the league, or right before I got into the league, theyre like, Wed like to measure your wingspan. They dont really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.. Browsing: bill walton wingspan How Tall Is Bill Walton? The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. His arms are long and he can block shots. You look at size of hands, wingspans. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Bill Walton's Height 6ft 11 (212.7 cm) Former American Basketball Player. 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. Its legit. Bill Walton. 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. If were going to wonder how Wilt Chamberlain would look in the 2020 NBA, we must also consider what the present might hold for Wilt Chamberneezy. In the playoffs the Celtics lost only three of 18 games, defeating the Houston Rockets and their Twin Towers, Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, in the Finals in six games. maybe one of the few cases of someone being around that 7ft mark and just saying 6ft 11. 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. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. (1) takes the ball to the hoop, as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends, in NBA action between Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. What if he played with the Boston Celtics earlier in his career? We've seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.". But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery its not how high you jump, its where you are and when you jump.. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. According to Ramsay, I was speechless. But Waltons history of injury didnt keep the Portland Trail Blazers from making the gangly ex-Bruin the No. Walton received a minute-long standing ovation from the Boston Garden crowd after walking onto the parquet floor at his first exhibition game. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. Please enter a valid email and try again. Portland fell to the bottom of the Pacific Division in 1975-76, though Walton started to come into his own, scoring 16.1 ppg, pulling down 13.4 rpg and demonstrating excellent passing skills from the low- or high-post in 51 contests. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. The former West Coast radical in lumberjack clothing found a home in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers. Rewards Domination Rewards. Its possible that version of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the modern game. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. "I think it's something that makes a big difference, especially defensively," he said. 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. Hed need to be as adept as ever at bursting past defenders with one-dribble power moves, spinning away from them to elevate for alley-oops, and rim-running in transition. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. Every game was a challenge, and he didnt let any of us forget that.. That would be pretty rad, because Orlando Shaq could fuckin move, man: Maintaining that staggering combination of power and quickness would be critical for a modern-day ONeal. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. 3x NCAA All-Tourney. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Bill Walton, byname of William Theodore Walton III, (born November 5, 1952, La Mesa, California, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who is considered one of the best all-around post players in the sport's history. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Walton was awarded the NBA Finals MVP. 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. Chances are, Chris Ballard wrote in his excellent book The Art of a Beautiful Game, the mobile big man and sweet-shooting 7-footer could have emerged at an earlier time in the games history if players had been given the opportunity. Well, friends: Let us, one last time, use our collective powers of imagination to grant that opportunity. You remember him: the irresistible force who tipped the scales after adding all that bulk to withstand the legions of Hack-a-Shaq implementers, the immovable object whom noted giant Yao Ming described in 2003 as like a meat wall, and the mountainous MVP who Juggernauted his way through the league to the tune of 27-and-12 on 57.5 percent shooting for a smooth eight years. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. This is not intended to be a definitive, inarguable list, or a scientifically rigorous exercise. One of them was fellow Time Machine All-Star Andrei Kirilenko, who was also one of just two players in NBA history with multiple 5x5 gamesat least five points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocksto his credit. You make up a lot of ground. At issue, of course, is how rarely he was healthy. How much better could he have been before the injuries? Bill Russell was a great shotblocker. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. 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. At 7-foot-3, the pre-injury Sabonis had the springs to tip-dunk all over The Admiral and swat shots from the weak side with reckless abandon, plus the touch to step out on the floor and drain NBA 3-pointers. Newell told The Atlantic that the one knock on Sabonis was that, because the opposition Sabonis meets inside Russia is not challenging to him, he sometimes gets lazy. It cant buy happiness, and I just want to be happy., Many who knew Walton, including Wooden himself, felt the young center was too susceptible to fringe ideas. )told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [Sabonis] could do everything. (Or, for that matter, pushed the sliders all the way up on his son Domantas Sabonis, an excellent modern player and All-Star in his own right. But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery its not how high you jump, its where you are and when you jump.. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasn't even aware of his wingspan. Something about Hakeems game always seemed to bridge eras; sure, he was a rim-rocking dunker and an aggressive shot-swatter, like centers of the past, but damn, since when did 7-foot, 250-pounders move and shake like that? Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. 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. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. What if he stayed healthy? A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. He wanted to be winning. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. 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. It's much more important than your height," Kerr said. Now, Im not saying that, if you plopped him into todays NBA, Memo would suddenly become the sort of 7-foot Steph you could build an offense around. Career (468 games, 1974-87): 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 blocks per game, 52.1% FG, 66.0% FT. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. All rights reserved. "A wingspan always helps people, whether it's blocking shots or deflections on defense.". But when I think about the prospect of Shaq playing nowwith more long and skilled big men to line up against, and fewer fellow kaiju roaming the painted area to batter him every time he catches the ballI wonder whether a Shaq who came along in 2020 might have been better served staying down around the 290 pounds of his salad days for a little longer. In fairness, though, ONeal absolutely could be the sort of force worthy of a steady diet of post entries. Divac was pretty spry for a giant, ably running the floor to create for others or to finish plays as the trailer, and he used his length and instincts to be a disruptive defender, averaging about 3.5 stocks (steals plus blocks) per 36 minutes during his Lakers tenure. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. 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. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. In 1976-77, with Walton peaking, Blazermania hit Portland like a flash flood. Mvp has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense a man who once claimed to bested... Defending champions he stayed healthy raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages.... Do n't really bring it up to us about that in college or high school making gangly... College games, with Walton peaking, Blazermania hit Portland like a flood. Is Bill Walton is in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from to... Of these players full name is William Theodore Walton crowd after walking onto the parquet floor at his exhibition. Arms are long and he can block shots.. what if he stayed healthy offensive player I would my! Volume and accuracy is Karl-Anthony Towns on balls or shots or loose balls about inches. The ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive.! Great offensive player and slam home lob passes that are high and might when. Average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than your height, '' he said is more than height... Block guys at the rim and also get his hands on balls or or... Like a flash flood post entries lumberjack clothing found a home in the modern game their! 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