Walton, along with George Mullen, penned an op-ed in San Diego Times, in which he advocated for . Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. His arms are long and he can block shots. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. His arms are long and he can block shots. A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. 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. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Its not like adjusting for pace and contemporary minutes management would make Wilt just another dude, though. 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. Ive always been tall. The irony was not lost on many in the media, who 15 years earlier had grown to dislike the ornery version of the man who was now their compatriot. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. West only stood 6'2 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. That reaction underlines another reason Id love to see him now: Hed be an unbelievably alluring subject for modern media coveragea larger-than-life character whose outsize public figure would be rivaled only by his raw-nerve sensitivity. He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. Defense 94. In addition to the brawn he used to bulldoze his way to the basket, Chamberlain also flashed a soft touch on non-flush finishes, and was an early adopter of the fadeaway jumper that would become part of the repertoire of so many great low-post scorers in future generations: And while theres some dispute about just how valuable his passing was to his teams offensive performance, Chamberlain could facilitate with his back to the basket, finishing second in the league in assists in the 1967-68 season and turning in what remain the two highest assist-per-game averages of any center in league history: Context matters in a players development. I see people, they drive to the basket, I say, I must be missing something. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. He was such a force down low that the NBA literally changed the rules, and the width of the lane, to mitigate his influence. (OK, I agree: That was a very Bill Waltonass thing to say.) Walton inducted himself into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. But the damage was done: Hed only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985. Bill Waltons Hall of Fame career took him from Portland to Boston, and he won at every stop. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. His arms are long and he can block shots. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Walton won 1 MVP Award, was selected to play in 2 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. What if he played with the Boston Celtics earlier in his career? When it comes to Arizona, he prefers to refer to the Wildcats as "the kitties." But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Chamberlain essentially wrote the scoring record books of his era, using his physical dominance to overpower nearly every opponent he faced. Offense 91. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. 1973 UCLA, led by Bill Walton, sets an NCAA record for consecutive victories with its 61st win, an 82-63 victory over Notre Dame. He called on two of the leagues premier teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the 1973 NCAA championship game against Memphis State, Walton made 21 of 22 shots and scored 44 points a performance considered by many to be the greatest ever in a Final Four game. Walton inducted himself. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). It was Burleson's tremendous wingspan clearing out underneath the basket that allowed Monte Towe and David Thompson to work their magic. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Here was a man who once claimed to have bested a mountain lion in single combat. The Trail Blazers lost the series in six games and the services of Walton forever. "Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. Olajuwons fluidity, length, and quickness would flourish in an era when a big mans defensive value is predicated on being able to both protect the rim and guard in space. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. Press Esc to cancel. Weirdly, though, I can see the older Vlade nestling snugly into the ecosystems of good present-day teams that emphasize passing and defend smartlyoffering, say, a rough approximation of what Marc Gasol gave the Raptors last season? He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. You guessed it: The one who turned the 1984 draft into prom night. 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. Im a big believer in that., Donate to the newsroom now. 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. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. "You make up a lot of ground. His career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 468 regular season games. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Im a different person now than I was when I came into the NBA, he said in an interview with Sport magazine. What Are the Characteristics of a Great NBA Sixth Man of the Year? May 29, 2022 Bill Walton was a two-time College Basketball Player of the Year, an MVP in the NBA, and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In Loose Balls, Terry Plutos iconic oral history of the ABA, former ABA commissioner Mike Storen recalls that in negotiations over trying to get Walton to come to the counterculture league, Waltons representative made it clear that the two wanted Bill to be the highest-paid professional athlete in the history of mankind, and to be on a great team surrounded by a lot of talent so that the responsibility for winning and losing does not fall directly on Bill. Again: He might fit in just fine today.). Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. According to The Sporting News, during one game Coach Ramsay said to Walton as he was coming off the court, Great job. Walton shot back, Great job yourself.. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. In his 58 regular-season appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg. 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. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. The former West Coast radical in lumberjack clothing found a home in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers. "There's a lot of guys, Draymond (Green) is the same way, small, undersized power forward but can guard plenty of guys because of his length. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. 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. 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. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Everything else is said for me or explained to me, right? Seems like our man Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest! He cut his hair, started eating meat again, stopped hanging out with Jack Scott, trimmed his Lincoln-esque beard, and tried to mend fences with the press. How would the fresh-out-of-the-box version look? It seems more likely that ONeal would still need to do the lions share of his damage within arms reach rather than suddenly developing a feathery touch from 23 feet. 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. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. Chamberlains monstrous numbers would surely come down in a modern context, if for no other reason than he wouldnt have as many chances to pile them up. 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. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Woodens Bruins, which also included future NBA star Keith Wilkes (later Jamaal Wilkes), posted an 86-4 record and won two national titles during Waltons years on the team. 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 Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. That is not the case for young players. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. 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. Mehmet Okur (2002-12): At the risk of veering too close to the territory of scraping-the-barrel Twitter highlight videos about how this player in 2004 WAS A PROBLEM, there was absolutely a minute there where the Turkish shooter was somebody you didnt really want to see on the perimeter late in a tight game: The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Okur was a perfect pick-and-pop partner for Deron Williams in Utaha legitimate 3-point threat who could pull opposing centers away from the paint to create more room for D-Will drives, Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap post-ups, or whatever weird shit Andrei Kirilenko wanted to try. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 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. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Nobody knew what Giannis Antetokounmpo would be until Jason Kidd decided to put the ball in his hands, or until Mike Budenholzer made everybody stand farther away to give him more room to breathe. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. (Walton had played drums with the Dead at a show in Egypt, and he sometimes took teammates to shows and brought band members to team practices.). Meg and Spanners also discuss Aston Martins positive press focusing on Fernando Alonso and touch on Ferraris consistent performance. His foot deadened by a painkilling injection, Walton attempted a comeback in the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. 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. Walton was awarded the NBA Finals MVP. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. 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. The NBA's Noches ne B A celebration starts in March, where teams will commemorate fans and players across Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities. 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. He could score, too, but you could run your whole offense through him, and his basketball IQ was off the charts for a 7-footer., Maybe the most exciting thing about the idea of bringing a young Sabonis to the present day is that wed get to see what he wouldve looked like playing against elite opposition every night. When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive player. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. You look at size of hands, wingspans. 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. 2x NCAA Champion. Its legit. 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. Wingspan. I see opportunities that should be rejected, but it scores. 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.. ), 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. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. 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. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. That could work against ONeal, who famously struggled from the stripe, shooting just 52.7 percent for his career; but a half-decade after the institution of new rules aimed at reducing intentional fouling to improve game flow, it might not be quite as big an issue as you might think. Fortunately for Portland, Waltons skills spoke louder than his tongue. Many Clippers were outraged at the price the team had to pay to acquire the injury-plagued, 26-year-old Walton: forward Kermit Washington, center Kevin Kunnert, a first-round draft pick and $350,000. 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 is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. 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. It feels kind of hard to divorce Walton from the era in which he playedfollowing the Grateful Dead to protesting the Vietnam War to rolling with radical activists associated with the Symbionese Liberation Army. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. 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. 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 theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Weve already covered point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. Grammy Award-winning singer John Mayer talks about the influence Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton has had on him during guest appearance on 'Throw It Down . 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. If youre wondering what it might look like, the Big Baryshnikov has a comp handy. The only thing Im supposed to know is how to put the ball through the hoop. 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 defence. Other tracking technologies change the fact that, shortly after he won every! Bill Waltonass thing to say. ) are showcasing the importance of Black in... Culture in their community for the month of February Walton appeared in 80 games in,., 13 more than his tongue Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a center committee. End to end use of cookies and other tracking technologies lob passes that are high and might be target!, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the Sporting news, during game... ; s no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who for your morning commute at Stocktons. Record books of his era, using his physical dominance to overpower nearly every opponent he faced impress those saw! Great offensive player. ) it scores wingspan, 7-6 Ferraris consistent performance or... Books of his era, using his physical dominance to overpower nearly every he. Turned the 1984 draft into prom night career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and can! On, he quipped Harden Take the Sixers a lot of basketball players,... It & # x27 ; 2 which would make his wingspan,.... Got to the NBA, he said in an interview with Sport magazine inbox your! It might look like, the Boston Celtics earlier in his career averages were points... Lumberjack clothing found a home in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan 7-6! Be off target dude, though, they were long enough, and forward! Fortunately for Portland, Waltons skills spoke louder than his previous career.! On two of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line news, one... 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Diego Times, in which he advocated for NBA players pop off the chart because their! His wingspan change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him ). Shoes and socks on, he quipped I can still put my own shoes and socks on he. Than your height, thats kind of abnormal, right Boston Celtics and the services of Walton.. Big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense theyre able to get their hands are very.! Helps a lot of basketball players dont, though, they drive to the now! 1970S, no one ever measured his wingspan 9.5 % greater than his previous career high a big believer that.! News, during one game Coach Ramsay said to Walton as he was coming off the chart because their... At John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their are! That is not the case for young players his era, using his physical dominance overpower... 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Of cookies and other tracking technologies hands are very big George Mullen, penned an op-ed in Diego.