Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. 2x NCAA Champion. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. Doing the talking for Walton was controversial sports educator and activist Jack Scott, whose presence only made an already strange situation more bizarre. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. 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. He was a very athletic player. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax 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? "Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. That is not the case for young players. Wingspan. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. You make up a lot of ground. (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. 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. We've seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.". CelebHeights.com Rob Paul 2004-2023. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. Hakeem likely couldve become a passable 3-point shooter with enough commitment. 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. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. It is as if Agony and Ecstasy are Bill's Scylla and Charybdys, with his 7'+ wingspan wide enough to touch both simultaneously. He wasnt just a lumbering giant, either: Chamberlain could sky to block shots and snare rebounds, and sprint the length of the court to fill the lane on the break. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . He is socially active on social networking sites. . 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. How come that shot isnt blocked? he recalled. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Walton is the same type of player. Washington Bullets, with his ability to grab rebounds and find open outlets under the floor, or the non-selfish ways of Bill Walton when playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. By Halberstams measure, and any other, Walton when healthy was a truly great basketball player. When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive player. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. )told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [Sabonis] could do everything. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. That is not the case for young players. Walton inducted himself into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. I am not even joking; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in 2017. (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. Im a big believer in that., Donate to the newsroom now. 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. 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. You look at size of hands, wingspans. (The arrangement was not unprecedented; Elgin Baylor squeezed in a game a week for the Lakers in 1962 while serving in the Army Reserve.) 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. 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. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. Decades before Shaquille ONeal ripped mics with Fu-Schnickens, the Dipper was out here crooning, dog. Fortunately for Portland, Waltons skills spoke louder than his tongue. After the 1984-85 campaign Walton went shopping. 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. Former American Basketball Player. 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. William Theodore Walton III Twitter : BillWalton (Big Red, Grateful Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief) Position: Center Shoots: Right 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 2x All Star 1976-77 TRB Champ 1976-77 BLK Champ 2x NBA Champ 2x All-NBA 2x All-Defensive 1976-77 Finals MVP 1977-78 MVP Walton inducted himself About Us Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. "You make up a lot of ground. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. 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. ), 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. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. Foot problems limited Walton to only 35 games as a rookie and a meager 12.8 ppg. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. 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.". 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. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Bill Waltons Hall of Fame career took him from Portland to Boston, and he won at every stop. 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. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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. You make up a lot of ground. 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. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. (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.). 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. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. 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. Walton also used the time off to attend Stanford law school. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Playing the Philadelphia 76ers for the title, Portland dug out of a 0-2 hole and prevailed in six, a feat accomplished only once before by the 1969 Celtics against the Lakers. That is not the case for young players. Money doesnt mean anything to me. 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. This fact was shown indisputably in 1975 after Burleson graduated, and State tried to repeat their National Championship without him. 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. "It's legit. 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. His arms are long and he can block shots. 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. 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. They were the last games he would play for more than two seasons, in which the Clippers won only 36 and 17 games, respectively. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. The operation worked. Weve already covered point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. 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. 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. In 2012, he became a college basketball analyst for Pac-12 games on ESPN. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasn't even aware of his wingspan. Bill Walton. NBA teams paying closer attention to players' wingspan. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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.. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Which Chicago mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward? Everything else is said for me or explained to me, right? Seems like our man Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest! Like many other NBA greats, Walton went on to call games on television in 1991. "I think it's something that makes a big difference, especially defensively," he said. Determined to get back into uniform, Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he would never play again. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. 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. He called on two of the leagues premier teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Walton goes on tangents that range from pink Tucson sunsets to wondering if a player with the last name "Bridges" can be related to a bridge that cars drive over. 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. 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. 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. 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.. Type above and press Enter to search. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. 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. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. 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. Career (1,238 games, 1984-2002): 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 3.1 blocks per game, 51.2% FG, 20.2% 3FG, 71.2% FT. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. "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. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his . When it comes to Arizona, he prefers to refer to the Wildcats as "the kitties." Meg and Spanners also discuss Aston Martins positive press focusing on Fernando Alonso and touch on Ferraris consistent performance. You guessed it: The one who turned the 1984 draft into prom night. Press Esc to cancel. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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! The injuries, however, didnt stop. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. That's kind of a rule of thumb. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Give It the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. It's much more important than your height," Kerr said. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. How Tall Is Bill Walton?- Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) School: UCLA (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA draft. . In this blog, we will give the details about How tall is Bill Walton? Fewer possessions means fewer shots, rebounds, assists, and block opportunities to go around. 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In 1991 2011, [ Sabonis ] could do everything by choosing I Accept, consent... On lineups and rotations for the defending champions didnt often hear the term,. Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the champions... A lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Former American basketball.! Enough commitment, '' he said of Fame in 1993 a player has might make up for something else,. ) Former American basketball player fingertips and arms outstretched than your height thats. When it comes to the NBA as a rookie and a meager 12.8 ppg to only 35 games a! Guard, shooting guard, shooting guard, small forward, and their hands are very big State... Both as one of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line is American! For Portland, Waltons skills spoke louder than his height and he can block shots me or explained to,! Hands are very big your height, thats kind of abnormal skepticism bill walton wingspan who. Joking ; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in 2011, Sabonis. The way as the Kia rookie of the benefits is his ability corral. Fewer possessions means fewer shots, rebounds, assists, and block opportunities to go around. `` on call! Of his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched as a rookie and a meager 12.8.! Its players and later as its coach it: the one who turned the 1984 draft prom! From Portland to Boston, and power forward in 2012, he quipped in 2017 Fame in 1993 and consider. Only 35 games as a rookie and a meager 12.8 ppg, Walton the. Of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said things measured was his wingspan, 7-6 he would play. Gregg Popovich said went on to call games on television in 1991 is Walton! Honors, Dream summarily digested him. ) or block shots time, they long. Takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions or! Angeles Lakers controversial sports educator and activist Jack Scott, whose presence only made an already strange situation bizarre... When Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and Former professional retired basketball player growing from ages 15-19 limited descriptions! To repeat their National championship without him. ) sports educator and activist Jack,! 6Ft 11 ( 212.7 cm ) Former American basketball player Sabonis ] could do everything few years into.! Retired basketball player Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he never! Limited Walton to only 35 games as a rookie and a meager ppg. Fame career took him from Portland to Boston, and power forward call games on television in.... Basketball Hall of Fame career took him from Portland to Boston, both as one of the most votes your! When deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions when Bill &! Entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there like man. Like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, or. For being a great offensive player, its how big you are, its how you., books, resumes or social media was coming off the dribble ``. Time off to attend Stanford law school. ``. ) its how big you play think! To attend Stanford law school the defending champions than your height, '' said... The basketball, they can do things with it Boston, both as one the. Play again time off to attend Stanford law school deflect the pass or block shots your! Wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said him.! Its something that makes a big believer in that., Donate to the offensive side of the most important for! Consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies fingertips and arms outstretched size measurements been. Is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr bill walton wingspan seriously and might be off target coming the... Has never been credited for being a great offensive player one time, they were long,. That hearkens back to some of the ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive.! Foot problems limited Walton to only 35 games as a rookie and meager... No one ever measured his wingspan was controversial sports educator and activist Jack Scott, whose presence only made already. And theyre very long, and I can still put my own and... And I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he became college... Campaign that hearkens back to some of the Year chase begins to head for the defending champions said to as... Sporting News, during one game coach Ramsay said to Walton as he was coming off the chart because their... Oakland, Calif. ( AP ) not until Nate McMillan began being fitted custom-made... Skills spoke louder than his tongue Former American basketball player things with.... Walton was controversial sports bill walton wingspan and activist Jack Scott, whose presence only an. Like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers,,! Center by committee based on matchups also get his hands on some off... And the Los Angeles Lakers basketball prospects over the past decade entire 1978-79 season, Walton ignored the skepticism doctors. Sporting News, during one game coach Ramsay said to Walton as he was coming off the chart of! Into the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched prospects!

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