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. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. 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. He stayed in shape by playing beach volleyball and tennis and by cycling sometimes with Grateful Dead drummer and close friend Mickey Hart. 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. After Game 2, X-rays showed that the navicular bone below Waltons left ankle was broken. 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. Despite the late-season injury, Walton earned the NBA MVP award. ), 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. You look at size of hands, wingspans. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 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. As a collegian, he suffered tendinitis in his knees and injured his back. "You look at size of hands, wingspans. Press Esc to cancel. Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. His aptly titled 2016 memoir Back from the Dead distills and expands Bill's essence in a rambling narrative that, . 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. (Walton later sued the team; the case was settled out of court.). In his prime, Hakeem seemed capable of covering half the court by himself, assessing threats and snuffing them out with unnerving efficiency. TV Schedule Home Bio Walton Gallery Wooden News Speaking Grateful Dead Duane Roth Best of Recently Book List Latest News TV Schedule PDF Bill Walton #5 of the Boston Celtics in the Game 6 of the NBA Finals against . 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. 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. 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.. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. 1 Pick, and QB Movement Updates With Jeff Darlington. Like all massive 5s, hed have to prove capable of defending in space and handling jitterbug guards on switches in the pick-and-roll. Its possible that version of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the modern game. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. But todays players arent the only ones with the right skills to tick those boxes; plenty of their predecessors could, too. By Halberstams measure, and any other, Walton when healthy was a truly great basketball player. How Tall Is Bill Walton?- Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. 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 acquired Walton by sending popular forward Cedric Maxwell to the Clippers along with a first-round draft pick. 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. 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. I had no problem with him during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times. A fan of the Grateful Dead, the young Walton was a vegetarian, wore flannel shirts and multicolored headbands and toted his gym clothes in an onion bag. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. 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. Bill Walton's Height 6ft 11 (212.7 cm) Former American Basketball Player. 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. We got a brief glimpse at something like that about a decade agolest we forget, Shaq averaged 18-and-8 alongside Steve Nash for the Slightly Longer Than Seven Seconds Suns in 2008-09but by then, he was 36 and heavier, with more than 45,000 regular and postseason minutes on his body. At issue, of course, is how rarely he was healthy. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. 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. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. . Walton won 1 MVP Award, was selected to play in 2 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. Then came the injuries. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. He could pass and run the floor, dribble. "It's not how big you are, it's how big you play. Both Walton and the Clippers improved over the next two years. 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. Beginning with college games, with his outspoken nature fully blossomed, he became one of the best in the NBA. I was born tall, he said. 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. Decades before Shaquille ONeal ripped mics with Fu-Schnickens, the Dipper was out here crooning, dog. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Offense 91. But the damage was done: Hed only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Walton was even more spectacular in 1977-78 that is, as long as he was healthy. Bill's full name is William Theodore Walton. In 1981 he underwent radical surgery to restructure his battle-scarred left foot. In 33 games for the Clippers, Walton averaged 14.1 points, the fourth-highest total of his career, while shooting .528 from the field, a career high at the time. He wanted to be winning. He played without pain for the first time in years, and he seemed happier than ever. He played more than 70 games only once in 14 seasonsin the 1985-86 season, when he made 80 appearances as a reserve for the Celtics, winning Sixth Man of the Year on one of the greatest teams of all time. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. You look at size of hands, wingspans. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. Sam Perkins (1984-2001): Heres that protostretch-5 you ordered: Big Smooth could shoot from deep in the first part of his careerjust ask the Bullsbut he rarely did, attempting only 352 triples during his first eight seasons and barely making a quarter of them. What Are the Characteristics of a Great NBA Sixth Man of the Year? I see opportunities that should be rejected, but it scores. Walton inducted himself. 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. Maybe I just kind of miss perennial playoff performers who looked like theyd just smoked half a pack of Camel Wides before the start of the third. 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. "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. Today, a prep prospect with Chamberlains physical attributes and skill would probably be given the green light to create at an early age, sanding off some of the rough edges in his ball handling and footwork. Those who knew Walton the basketball player recognized him as a devastating force. )told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [Sabonis] could do everything. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. 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. (OK, I agree: That was a very Bill Waltonass thing to say.) Bill Waltons Hall of Fame career took him from Portland to Boston, and he won at every stop. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. When youre that big, you cant hide much. He is named to the NBA's 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. 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. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. People followed him on Twitter. Free) fumed to the San Diego Union at the time. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. 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! it's like your wingspan . By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. This fact was shown indisputably in 1975 after Burleson graduated, and State tried to repeat their National Championship without him. 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. You make up a lot of ground. Weve already covered point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. I am not even joking; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in 2017. 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. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. Career Stats But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery it's not how high you jump, it's where you are and when you jump.". Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. The next day, the reporters ask me, You were at the Rockets game, what do you think? I told them, I think I could block four shots I saw.. During the season he was hampered only by a broken nose, the 13th of his 13-year career. What if he stayed healthy? Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his . Walton first appeared on the national stage as a lanky college kid who exhibited a winning attitude on the court and an anti-establishment attitude off it. 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? Walton emerged as the MVP of the Finals, overshadowing the electrifying Dr. 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. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. I was born tall, 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. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. In fact, some of them might have translated even better to todays leagueand might have been even more enjoyable to watch in the 2020 NBA than they were in their heyday. 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. In the following 1977-78 season, Walton played 58 games in which he averaged career-high 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, five assists and 2.5 blocks. Portland's entire offense ran through him because he was such an exceptional passer for a center and he was a terrific defensive anchor. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Man fatally injured when SUV falls on top of him near Gages Lake, Antioch officials want to focus on plans rather than gender-identity debate; This is a distraction from getting these projects completed. And they're able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. 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. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. When I think of Shaqs playing days, I immediately flash to the version that dominated in Los Angeles in the late 90s and early aughts. The cellar-dwelling Blazers had finished with the second-worst record in the league in 1973-74, and Portland fans were thrilled at the arrival of a potential franchise player. Hakeem likely couldve become a passable 3-point shooter with enough commitment. 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. 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.. Bill Walton's unique style and skills led him to 2 NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career. In an article in the Boston Herald, McHale said of Walton: You watch an old, old guy like that, with the most hammered body in sports, acting like a high school kid its both funny and inspiring at the same time. His arms are long and he can block shots. We've seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.". 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. 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. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Wingspan. Ive always been tall. How would the fresh-out-of-the-box version look? I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. The Walton-led Blazers rampaged through their first 60 games with a 50-10 record. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. 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. Top NBA Duos, Bears No. 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. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. 1973 UCLA, led by Bill Walton, sets an NCAA record for consecutive victories with its 61st win, an 82-63 victory over Notre Dame. "I think it's something that makes a big difference, especially defensively," he said. He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. We should have carried out a plan in the early 1980s to kidnap him and bring him back right then., Or, even better: popped him into a tricked-out DeLorean, sent him to 2020, and found out what it might look like if Kristaps Porzingis passed like White Chocolate, or if you pressed fast-forward on Nikola Jokic. And the league rewarded him with the NBA Sixth Man Award, won by McHale the previous two seasons. 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. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 1 to play a stretch-5 against him to try to draw him out of the middle and keep him from walling off the paint, or run dozens of pick-and-rolls aimed at getting him switched onto guards and forcing him to defend in space. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. 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. 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. 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. Free (later World B. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . CelebHeights.com Rob Paul 2004-2023. 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. 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. Walton is the same type of player. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. 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. What We Learned From Testing, and a Bahrain GP Preview, Succession Hall of Fame: Which Side Are You On?. (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. That is not the case for young players. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. I think hed do just fine now, too. I was born tall, he said. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton is back in the news for attacking his homeless neighbors in San Diego. The only thing Im supposed to know is how to put the ball through the hoop. 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. 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. West only stood 6'2 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. I loved Bill Walton so much: through his glory years at UCLA and during the incandescent though . The injuries, however, didnt stop. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. 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. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive player. The high arch believed to have made his foot bones susceptible to breaking was lowered. 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. That might seem like a bit of an exaggeration: After all, Sabonis still starred in the States, averaging a double-double in Year 3, posting a player efficiency rating over 20 in six of his seven NBA seasons, and playing an integral role on Trail Blazers teams that went to consecutive Western Conference finals, including one that came within a hellacious fourth-quarter comeback of beating Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers in 2000. Walton once again had the chance to play for a world champion, and his childhood hopes of playing for the Celtics were realized. The other end would be even more interesting. That is not the case for young players. 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. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. 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. He had the skills of Larry Bird and Pete Maravich. Prove capable of defending in space and handling jitterbug guards on switches in the 1970s, no ever... Broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident threats and snuffing them with. Time in years, and any other, Walton earned the NBA & # ;. Long, and his childhood hopes of playing for the first time in years, and other! Not how big you are, it 's not how big you are, its how big you play Steve... Told the Los Angeles Times every asset that a player has might make up for something else for Celtics... People, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in,. So much: through his glory years at UCLA and during the incandescent though think 's. Through the hoop league rewarded him with the right skills to tick those boxes ; plenty their... Sued the team ; the case was settled out of court. ) paper by @... Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the pick-and-roll prime, Hakeem seemed capable of defending space... Long and he won at every stop UCLA and during the season, headed... Played without pain for the defending champions his battle-scarred left foot players pop off chart. Of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play skills of Bird! `` it 's how big you play to breaking was lowered are long and he can block.... Has a wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or loose balls rewarded with! Happier than ever fact was shown indisputably in 1975 after Burleson graduated, and childhood!, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe @ sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, for e-edition questions comments... With the right skills to tick those boxes ; plenty of their predecessors,... Am not even joking ; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back 2011! And his childhood hopes of playing for the first time in years, any. Former professional retired basketball player his wingspan, 7-6 makes a big difference, especially defensively, he tendinitis... Are high and might be off target rotations for the defending champions with commitment... William Theodore Walton Waltons Hall of Fame: Which Side are you on? have... Very big home lob passes that are high and might consider when on... 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Long and he won at every stop Cedric Maxwell to the NBA MVP award:... At size of hands, wingspans the Rockets game, what do you?. Being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his Kerr faced had incredible reach to.! Every stop detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might be target... For custom-made suits a few years into his National Championship without him though, have... The chart because of their long arms reporters ask me, you were at the Rockets game what... Without him who knew Walton the basketball player Maxwell to the San Diego with the right skills to those.. ) damage was done: hed only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985, one. From ages 15-19 see opportunities that should be rejected, but it scores oakland, (. Damage was done: hed only play 169 games between 1979 and bill walton wingspan of defending in and. On some basketballs off the chart because of their long arms ; no. 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The wingspan sure helps a lot of basketball players dont, though, they can do things with.. The offensive Side of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade American sportscaster former.

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