In an ESPN feature published earlier this year about the evolution of NBA big men, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said that if his notorious envelope-pushing team had ONeal on the roster, I would give him the ball 1,000 times, is my guess. Once he got it, keeping him from getting to the rimand from putting his man inside itwould be an awfully tall order, and would likely result in even more trips to the line for someone who averaged nearly 10 attempts per 36 minutes for his career. Its possible that version of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the modern game. (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. 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. It destroys the team, the Clippers Lloyd B. But Waltons history of injury didnt keep the Portland Trail Blazers from making the gangly ex-Bruin the No. Doing the talking for Walton was controversial sports educator and activist Jack Scott, whose presence only made an already strange situation more bizarre. He was such a force down low that the NBA literally changed the rules, and the width of the lane, to mitigate his influence. I decided it might be cool to write about some of these players. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. 1 Pick, and QB Movement Updates With Jeff Darlington. If somebody's short, hopefully they're quick. OAKLAND, Calif. 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. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. I was with the Boston Celtics when Russell came into the league, Lakers Coach Bill Sharman told the Los Angeles Times. He could pass and run the floor, dribble. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. In 1976-77, with Walton peaking, Blazermania hit Portland like a flash flood. What We Learned From Testing, and a Bahrain GP Preview, Succession Hall of Fame: Which Side Are You On?. But the biggest question about Harden remainsand it wont be answered until the playoffs. 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. He would need to stay trim and explosive enough to cover a ton of ground, because you can bet that every modern offense would make it Job No. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. 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. I do think, though, that hed probably become an even more useful piece to deploy in a spread-it-out-and-bomb-away offense and that, on occasion, yes, he might even be construed as A Problem. Beginning with college games, with his outspoken nature fully blossomed, he became one of the best in the NBA. After several Celtics said they liked the idea of having Walton as a teammate and as a backup for workhorses Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, Red Auerbach made the deal happen. Walton inducted himself. Height 6'11" (210cm) Wingspan 7'3" (220cm) Weight 210 lbs (95 kg) Team Portland Trail Blazers. 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. But Walton can do it all.. Like many other NBA greats, Walton went on to call games on television in 1991. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands. There was no denying Waltons success in the media realm, though. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. Walton also used the time off to attend Stanford law school. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. That is not the case for young players. Walton, along with George Mullen, penned an op-ed in San Diego Times, in which he advocated for . In his prime, Hakeem seemed capable of covering half the court by himself, assessing threats and snuffing them out with unnerving efficiency. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. In 49 playoff games he averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. While at UCLA in the early 70s, he was arrested during an anti-Vietnam War rally, publicly criticized Richard Nixon and the FBI, and reportedly flirted with leaving basketball to pursue spiritual enlightenment. Meg and Spanners also discuss Aston Martins positive press focusing on Fernando Alonso and touch on Ferraris consistent performance. "You're able to deflect the pass or block shots.". 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. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. In 1981 he underwent radical surgery to restructure his battle-scarred left foot. Fewer possessions means fewer shots, rebounds, assists, and block opportunities to go around. 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. "It's legit. It's 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. When youre that big, you cant hide much. 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. Ive always been tall. Defense 94. Those are my five, but theres always room for more time travelers, so lets hit a few honorable mentions: Vlade Divac (1989-2005): Bigs who can pass, forever and ever, amen. 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. Ive always been tall. I'm a big believer in that.". Dude was a chiseled-from-granite gazelle with rocket boosters in his heels, a legit Defensive Player of the Year who could fit into any style or tempo. After years of trying and failing to conquer his free throw shooting demons, Chamberlain found success with underhand, granny-style shootinghe went 28-for-32 from the line that way in his 100-point gameonly to give it up because he felt like a sissy. He wanted to be cool, tall, vulnerable, and luscious, and he couldnt hide it. Off the floor I worried. If youre wondering what it might look like, the Big Baryshnikov has a comp handy. The other end would be even more interesting. 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. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Walton inducted himself into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. The Trail Blazers lost the series in six games and the services of Walton forever. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. I worried when he was thrown in jail with the group that took over the administration building, I worried when he stopped traffic on Wilshire Boulevard, and when he interrupted classes giving his views on the Vietnam War.. Though remembered by many for a career plagued by injuries and a personal life spiced by controversy, Bill Walton won high praise from players and coaches alike during his checkered career. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Before playing a single minute in the NBA, Walton knew the pains on injuries. I am not even joking; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in 2017. The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. 2x NCAA Champion. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . 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. 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. 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.. "At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on," he quipped. 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. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Outside of a select few scorers who still get a bunch of low-block touches, like Joel Embiid or LaMarcus Aldridge, post-ups these days are more often a vehicle for creating catch-and-shoot 3s, or a way to attack mismatches when defenses switch themselves into a mouse in the house situation, than a main feature of an attack. You make up a lot of ground. 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. His career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 468 regular season games. 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. Position C/PF. Please enter a valid email and try again. People followed him on Twitter. Waltons combative relationship with the press further sullied his image. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. Look at John Stockton's arms or Avery Johnson's arms and they're very long, and their hands are very big. 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. Its legit. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasn't even aware of his wingspan. As Lakers teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jerry West put it in his autobiography, West by West: Wilt was very self-conscious about his size and strength and he was reluctant to be viewed as a villain. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. And the league rewarded him with the NBA Sixth Man Award, won by McHale the previous two seasons. He was right then; he blocked four or more shots four times in his first six NBA games, led the league in blocks three times, and still tops the all-time leaderboard in swats nearly 20 years after his retirement. In his 58 regular-season appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg. 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. That is not the case for young players. The former West Coast radical in lumberjack clothing found a home in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers. What Are the Characteristics of a Great NBA Sixth Man of the Year? Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. As the man himself put it in Basketball: A Love Story: Basketball is a symphony, and we could take that ball and become artists ourselves. Itd be cool to hear what kind of music hed make today. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. He spoke only to reporters he knew would present him favorably, while shunning the others, who were mostly Portland locals. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. 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. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. I was born tall, he said. 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. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. Decades before Shaquille ONeal ripped mics with Fu-Schnickens, the Dipper was out here crooning, dog. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? He claimed to be around the 6ft 11 mark, and on his twitter in 2015 still saying, it's a strange oneI do think he could look near 7ft, but maybe he really did measure under it and simply rounded off to 6ft 11 rather than up to the 7ft. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. 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. Walton enjoyed a blazing start as a rookie, averaging 16.0 ppg, 19.0 rpg, 4.4 apg and 4 bpg in his first seven contests. In his best yearthe 2006-07 campaign, when he earned his first and only All-Star nodOkur averaged 18 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range on 4.2 attempts per game. A lot of basketball players don't, though, they have wider wingspans. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. He went home elatednot because of all the skill, pageantry, and aerial artistry he just witnessed, but because even as an undergraduate just barely getting his feet wet in the game, he wasnt too impressed with the future competition. 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. Weight, Net Worth, Age, Parents, Wife & More. During his 14 seasons, according to Basketball-Reference.com, the leagues average pace never dipped below 110 possessions per 48 minutes of game time; thats a full 10 possessions per 48 faster than this past season. Still, foot problems continued to hamper the young center, and fans started wondering what the Blazers had gotten themselves into. Both Walton and the Clippers improved over the next two years. NBA teams paying closer attention to players' wingspan. 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.. His foot deadened by a painkilling injection, Walton attempted a comeback in the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. 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. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. He was named to both the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. 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. In todays game, though, with post-up play largely marginalized as teams look to work from the perimeter and attack defenses in space, would Chamberlain still be a high-volume source of offense? 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. I see people, they drive to the basket, I say, I must be missing something. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. 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. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Needless to say, Hakeem could hang. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. West was known for his extremely quick jump shot, and when coupled with his length, it formed one of the deadliest jump shots in NBA history. Walton, having lost all faith in Portlands medical team, demanded a trade, sat out the entire 1978-79 season when one wasnt granted, and left to sign with the San Diego Clippers. 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