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. Its like you went through MyCareer in NBA 2K and decided to never let any teammates rack up a single box score statisticonly it actually happened in real life, and it went on for about a decade and a half. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. If somebody's short, hopefully they're quick. I had no problem with him during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times. Im a different person now than I was when I came into the NBA, he said in an interview with Sport magazine. "It's not how big you are, it's how big you play. The idea was to expose the bones to less stress when Waltons feet hit the ground, particularly after skying high for a dunk or rebound. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. 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. Despite the late-season injury, Walton earned the NBA MVP award. West only stood 6'2 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. He stayed in shape by playing beach volleyball and tennis and by cycling sometimes with Grateful Dead drummer and close friend Mickey Hart. 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. So, before you say, Shaq cant play in this era today, Im already playing. 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. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Offense 91. 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. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. 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.. 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. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. 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. Foot problems limited Walton to only 35 games as a rookie and a meager 12.8 ppg. Press Esc to cancel. What Are the Characteristics of a Great NBA Sixth Man of the Year? Former American Basketball Player. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. I was born tall," he said. He wanted to be winning. Both Walton and the Clippers improved over the next two years. You make up a lot of ground. 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. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . "Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. A two-time NBA champion, Bill Walton could do it all -- and often did -- throughout an injury-plagued career. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. 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. 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. 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. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his . He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. Rewards Domination Rewards. 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. 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. He was already in America, having come over from Nigeria to enroll at the University of Houston, and he went to a Rockets game. His aptly titled 2016 memoir Back from the Dead distills and expands Bill's essence in a rambling narrative that, . Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Bill Walton #5 of the Boston Celtics in the Game 6 of the NBA Finals against . Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Position: Center. He didn't often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. 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. 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. 3x NCAA All-Tourney. Oops. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. 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. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. 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. 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. Determined to get back into uniform, Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he would never play again. Weight, Net Worth, Age, Parents, Wife & More. Walton is the same type of player. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. Its not like adjusting for pace and contemporary minutes management would make Wilt just another dude, though. Center Bill Walton played 10 seasons for 3 teams. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. NFL Player Damar Hamlin in Critical Condition after Collapsing on Field, Legendary Designer Vivienne Westwood Dies Aged 81, 10 Female IAS Officers who can inspire us. Off the floor I worried. Id never had a player say anything like that to me before. But he had never coached Bill Walton. 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.. Even if a contemporary Dream never stretched all the way out, though, we already know the best way to unleash him as a menace in a modern offense. (OK, I agree: That was a very Bill Waltonass thing to say.) 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 is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. The operation worked. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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 Trail Blazers lost the series in six games and the services of Walton forever. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. 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. Every game was a challenge, and he didnt let any of us forget that.. A contemporary Walton would be free to act as the rising tide to lift all boats, to invert the offense and sling the ball around to the open man, and to hunt playmaking opportunities at least as often as he did his own shot. Ive always been tall. Happy Birthday Bill Walton: An Ode to the Tallest Deadhead. 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.. 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. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. 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. 3x NCAA All-Region. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. But the damage was done: Hed only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985. 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. A steady vet who knows his role on defense, whos good in the locker room, and whose heart wont start racing in the postseason would make an awful lot of money sticking around these days. 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. 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? 2x NCAA Tourney MOP. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. You look at size of hands, wingspans. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. 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. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. 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. The still bearded and ponytailed Walton put up 18.6 ppg. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax After his arrest as a junior, Walton issued a statement that read: Your generation has screwed up the world. Walton refractured the navicular bone in the fourth exhibition game of the 1979-80 season and played only 14 regular-season contests, averaging 13.9 points. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. 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. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Walton played in 55 games in 1983-84 and 67 in 1984-85, while the Clippers won 30 and 31 games, respectively. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. 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. The staggering array of injurieswhich would require some three-dozen surgical procedures over the yearscost Walton three full seasons in what should have been his prime and kept him from ever experiencing the sort of professional success for which he seemed destined while starring for John Wooden. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. 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. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. "At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on," he quipped. 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. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. "It's nothing that I heard about until I got to the league, or right before I got into the league, they're like, 'We'd like to measure your wingspan.' 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. Of the career move, John Wooden observed to the Los Angeles Times, This just proves, you never know.. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Im a big believer in that., Donate to the newsroom now. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. It destroys the team, the Clippers Lloyd B. I would bring a little bit more physicality. Money doesnt mean anything to me. 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. Bill Walton owns a house in San Diego, California where he currently resides with his wife and 4 sons. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. How Tall Is Bill Walton? I was with the Boston Celtics when Russell came into the league, Lakers Coach Bill Sharman told the Los Angeles Times. He left the game with 6,215 points (13.3 ppg), 4,923 rebounds (10.5 rpg), and a .521 shooting percentage in 468 regular-season contests. 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. I decided it might be cool to write about some of these players. He could pass and run the floor, dribble. 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. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. 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.. Praise came quickly. 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. In The Breaks of the Gamean all-time great sports book not about the triumphs of the 1976-77 Trail Blazers team that Walton led to a championship, but rather about how things fell apart, for Walton and for the organizationthe great David Halberstam described a truly great basketball player as not necessarily someone who scored a lot of points; a truly great basketball player is someone of exceptional talent and self-discipline who could make his teammates better. Walton emerged as the MVP of the Finals, overshadowing the electrifying Dr. Its possible that version of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the modern game. 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. Walton received a minute-long standing ovation from the Boston Garden crowd after walking onto the parquet floor at his first exhibition game. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. "You make up a lot of ground. The lower body injuries turned catastrophic late in the 1977-78 season, when Walton, already dealing with right foot pain, suffered a sprained left ankle that sidelined him for weeks. By JANIE McCAULEY April 10, 2018 GMT. It was Burleson's tremendous wingspan clearing out underneath the basket that allowed Monte Towe and David Thompson to work their magic. 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