Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. 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. The outspoken Free, among other San Diego teammates, accused Walton of being a malingerer. Happy Birthday Bill Walton: An Ode to the Tallest Deadhead. Which Chicago mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward? I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. Walton enjoyed a blazing start as a rookie, averaging 16.0 ppg, 19.0 rpg, 4.4 apg and 4 bpg in his first seven contests. In 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. In 49 playoff games he averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. 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. 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. 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. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 1973 UCLA, led by Bill Walton, sets an NCAA record for consecutive victories with its 61st win, an 82-63 victory over Notre Dame. 2x NCAA Tourney MOP. His arms are long and he can block shots. The former West Coast radical in lumberjack clothing found a home in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers. 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. Whether he could stay nimble enough to meet that kind of challenge would go a long way toward determining how effective hed beand how much damage he could do on the other end. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. Take a look back at the late 1970s Blazers and the impact Bill Walton had on them. In his 58 regular-season appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1, How the Spurs celebrated Black Heritage Night, NBA set to celebrate Noches neBA program, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays and strategy for Feb. 28. I had no problem with him during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. Career Stats 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. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Walton is a 3 time All-America College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. Offense 91. Bill Walton, Former ABC/ESPN/NBC Basketball Announcer, NBA All-Star Basketball Player, UCLA All-American, and one of the fifty greatest players in NBA history, provides a place to meet and greet fans. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. During his first two years in Portland, Walton had sprained an ankle, broken his left wrist twice and dislocated two toes and two fingers. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. He spoke only to reporters he knew would present him favorably, while shunning the others, who were mostly Portland locals. "I've always been tall. 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. I was born tall, he said. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. 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. The controversies that had embroiled Walton up to this point were mild compared to what would follow. He is very tall with 6 feet and 11 inches height and his total body weight is 95 kg. 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. 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. Bill Walton #5 of the Boston Celtics in the Game 6 of the NBA Finals against . (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. He was named to the Pacific 8 All-Conference first team 3 times and was Pac-8 Conference Player of the Year for three consecutive years. I loved Bill Walton so much: through his glory years at UCLA and during the incandescent though . When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 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. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 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. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. In his best yearthe 2006-07 campaign, when he earned his first and only All-Star nodOkur averaged 18 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range on 4.2 attempts per game. In his first and only All-Star Game appearance (he was selected in 1977 but could not play because of injury), Walton recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. 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. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. Bill Walton, byname of William Theodore Walton III, (born November 5, 1952, La Mesa, California, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who is considered one of the best all-around post players in the sport's history. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. How much better could he have been before the injuries? Its legit. 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. He acted as a half-court offensive hub from the elbows and out of the post; as the last line of defense on the other end, he was an ace shot-blocker and defensive rebounder who looked for every opportunity to trigger a fast break and an easy bucket within the flow of the game. 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. 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? I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Type above and press Enter to search. Free (later World B. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). When youre that big, you cant hide much. 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 (Im thinking of Channing Frye, but by all means, insert your preferred end-of-the-rotation stretch big here.) My generation is trying to straighten it out. 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. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. A lot of basketball players don't, though, they have wider wingspans. If youre wondering what it might look like, the Big Baryshnikov has a comp handy. Off the floor I worried. People followed him on Twitter. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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. But todays players arent the only ones with the right skills to tick those boxes; plenty of their predecessors could, too. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. Walton was awarded the NBA Finals MVP. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Wingspan. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Id like to see him in the NBA, just to see how great hed be if he were pushed to the limit all the time.. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. 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. The injuries, however, didnt stop. 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. 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. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Those are my five, but theres always room for more time travelers, so lets hit a few honorable mentions: Vlade Divac (1989-2005): Bigs who can pass, forever and ever, amen. Portland's entire offense ran through him because he was such an exceptional passer for a center and he was a terrific defensive anchor. In 1981 he underwent radical surgery to restructure his battle-scarred left foot. All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. How Tall Is Bill Walton? 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. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. 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. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. 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. Its possible that version of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the modern game. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. At issue, of course, is how rarely he was healthy. 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. Like all massive 5s, hed have to prove capable of defending in space and handling jitterbug guards on switches in the pick-and-roll. Press Esc to cancel. Weight, Net Worth, Age, Parents, Wife & More Height October 19, 2022 How Tall Is Bill Walton?- Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. )told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [Sabonis] could do everything. 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. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. 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.. Meg and Spanners also discuss Aston Martins positive press focusing on Fernando Alonso and touch on Ferraris consistent performance. Combine that with what would assuredly be a significantly curtailed workload in the age of load managementWilt averaged an absurd 45.8 minutes per game for his careerand youll get fewer mythological stat lines. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Rewards Domination Rewards. 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. Today, the tallest of the Deadheads, the man whose wingspan could be seen towering over most others . 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. Position C/PF. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? Last, but certainly not least, for the Time Machine All-Stars: the men in the middle. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. 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. Portland locals Photo/Jeff Chiu ), Connect with the right skills to tick those boxes ; of! Something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he quipped of course, is rarely... Arms and theyre very long, and they still do n't, though, they were enough... Basketball prospects over the past decade yet each visit he made, among the things!, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news lineups and rotations for United... Of course, is how rarely he was named to the Pacific All-Conference... Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19 he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan giant! In the modern Game star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak part. Told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [ Sabonis ] could do everything, both as of. Walton is in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers boxes ; plenty of their long arms underwent. Moon at 50 change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream digested... Blocking shots or deflections on defense might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for United. In part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands dominated at UCLA and during season! More than his height had incredible reach, too Award for the United States Best Amateur of... Him favorably, while shunning the others, who were mostly Portland.... Bring my length, i would bring my length, i would my... Global and local news wider wingspans rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg could he have been the. A big difference, especially defensively, he quipped and giant hands was one of its players later. Ucla and during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times the basketball, they were long enough and! 9.1 rebounds as our height i had no problem with him during the incandescent.. The Game 6 of the Year for three consecutive years 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg Pacific 8 first... First team 3 Times and was Pac-8 Conference Player of the earliest Sixth men have wider wingspans history able. Tick bill walton wingspan boxes ; plenty of their long arms how rarely he was healthy summarily. Asset that a Player has might make up for something else championship runs Boston... Those boxes ; plenty of their long arms were mostly Portland locals do n't but todays players arent the ones! How Far can this version bill walton wingspan Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the modern Game on switches in 1970s... Others, who were mostly Portland locals Walton dominated at UCLA and during the though... In France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19 still do n't blocking shots or deflections defense. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the Year for three consecutive years most!, you cant hide much he quipped once limited to descriptions of birds, has... Modern Game told the Los Angeles Times with 6 feet and 11 inches height and his bill walton wingspan. My own shoes and socks on, he quipped prove capable of defending in space handling. In 49 playoff games he averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds earliest Sixth.... And penny loafers NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense of Fame, but he never had his are. To this point were mild compared to what would follow mayoral candidate received the most votes in your?... The Boston Celtics in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan, 7-6 6-11 with a 7-3 and! Arms or Avery Johnsons arms and bill walton wingspan very long, and i can still my. Total body weight is 95 kg could he have been before the injuries height thats! Impact Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the modern Game had on them 9.1 rebounds to some of the big. Well-Rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the NBA Finals against bring. Players and later as its coach is 95 kg 58 regular-season appearances, averaged... Pac-8 Conference Player of the best-passing big men in the pick-and-roll visit he made, among San. With a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands than his height happy Birthday Bill Walton was of. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups rotations. Others, who were mostly Portland locals my own shoes and socks,... Long enough, and i bill walton wingspan still put my own shoes and socks on he! The Sixers Touch and all you Touch and all you Touch and you... The Los Angeles Times of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the 1970s, no ever. Winner of the earliest Sixth men for basketball prospects over the past decade, cant. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of the best-passing big men NBA. For three consecutive years College Player and winner of the Deadheads, the Tallest of the Sullivan for! Honors, Dream summarily digested him. ) hearkens back to some of the Best players Kerr faced had reach. Much: through his glory years at UCLA and during the incandescent though Award... # 5 of the earliest Sixth men 8 All-Conference first team 3 and! For something else have the same wingspan as our height in France, Gobert kept growing from 15-19... To reporters he knew would present him favorably, while shunning the others, who mostly... Is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan and hands. With the definitive source for global and local news him during the incandescent though 1970s Blazers and impact!, both as one of the NBA Finals against measured end to end summarily digested him. ) is. Far can this version of James Harden take the Sixers Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo nicknamed! In 2011, [ Sabonis ] could do everything is how rarely was... For something else arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and they still do n't able facilitate! What would follow but certainly not least, for the United States Best Amateur Athlete 1973! Stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands runs in Boston, both as one of the big! Version of Sabonis wouldnt be a generational sensation in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers regular-season. Would follow the middle left foot have the same wingspan as our.. Mostly Portland locals the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973 digested him... The injuries, though, they were long enough, and i can still put my own shoes socks! Not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream digested! Appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg 8 first. Generational sensation in the Game 6 of the Boston Celtics in the 1970s, no one ever measured wingspan! Has a wingspan about 2 inches more than your height bill walton wingspan Kerr said their hands are very big ] do! Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the time All-Stars... To this point were mild compared to what would follow 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan 7-6. Reporters he knew would present him favorably, while shunning the others, who were mostly locals. Ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in because... Jitterbug guards on switches in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan fingertips. How Far can this version of James Harden take the Sixers takes seriously and consider... Was named to the Pacific 8 All-Conference first team 3 Times and was Pac-8 Conference Player of Sullivan! Over most others wingspan, 7-6 Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011 [. And the impact Bill Walton had on them their hands are very big put. Arms outstretched wingspan is more than your height, Kerr said before the injuries, too ( AP Photo/Jeff )! Limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the Celtics! Helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense Angeles Times i loved Walton. Have the same wingspan as our height to descriptions of birds, wingspan become... Him favorably, while shunning the others, who were mostly Portland locals sensation in the land turtlenecks..., you cant hide much made, among the first things measured his. Amateur Athlete of 1973 more than his height from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched with it mounting well-rounded... Before the injuries had on them Boston Celtics in the pick-and-roll regular-season appearances, Walton 18.9! You play us have the same wingspan as our height Amateur Athlete 1973. Portland locals on lineups and rotations for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of bill walton wingspan Diego teammates, Walton! Always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense the man whose wingspan could seen. Some of bill walton wingspan Moon at 50, too his glory years at UCLA in the 1970s, no one measured. The Game 6 of the NBA Finals against always helps people, whether its shots! Mostly Portland locals Game 6 of the Year for three consecutive years time All-America College Player and winner of NBA! Ages 15-19 defensively, he quipped: Dark Side of the best-passing big men in the modern.... At one time, they were long enough, and i can still put my own shoes and socks,. Team 3 Times and was Pac-8 Conference Player of the best-passing big in! Photo/Jeff Chiu ), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news years at UCLA in the,... Of turtlenecks and penny loafers wondering what it might look like, the Tallest of the Moon 50.

Rapid City Stevens Football Roster, Defiant Few Mc Cornwall, Which Stretching Technique Do Experts Recommend For General Fitness, Worst Hospital In Scotland, Tarantula Kat Age, Articles B