bill walton wingspan

He also set a career high with a .562 field-goal percentage. > Archive 75: Bill Walton| 75 Stories: Bill Walton. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. The controversies that had embroiled Walton up to this point were mild compared to what would follow. 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. In fairness, though, ONeal absolutely could be the sort of force worthy of a steady diet of post entries. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. 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. Fewer possessions means fewer shots, rebounds, assists, and block opportunities to go around. Its like someone died in the family.. 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.. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. May 29, 2022 Bill Walton was a two-time College Basketball Player of the Year, an MVP in the NBA, and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. It seems more likely that ONeal would still need to do the lions share of his damage within arms reach rather than suddenly developing a feathery touch from 23 feet. 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. 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. 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. 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. Bill Walton #5 of the Boston Celtics in the Game 6 of the NBA Finals against . A two-time NBA champion, Bill Walton could do it all -- and often did -- throughout an injury-plagued career. 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? You guessed it: The one who turned the 1984 draft into prom night. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. He could pass and run the floor, dribble. Im not as fast laterally, Im not as athletic, Im not as quick as guys up and down but I think I make up for it with my length, said Durant, a defensive player of the year candidate. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. 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. 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. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. 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. Then, in February, after a 113-92 trouncing of Philadelphia, Walton was forced to the sideline with an injured left foot. 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. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. 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 has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. 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. But when he was right man, was he right: At his peakthe 1976-77 season in which the Blazers won the title, and the 1977-78 campaign in which Portland was 50-10 when Walton broke his foot (he won MVP that year despite missing the final 22 games)Walton averaged 24.9 points, 18.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 3.8 blocks per 100 possessions. (Im thinking of Channing Frye, but by all means, insert your preferred end-of-the-rotation stretch big here.) Defense 94. Give a young Wilt a steady diet of reps as a creator in the half court and more space to work with, and who knows what alternate pathways to dominance might open? When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. Glass Onion Brought Knives Out to the Next Level. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. After years of trying and failing to conquer his free throw shooting demons, Chamberlain found success with underhand, granny-style shootinghe went 28-for-32 from the line that way in his 100-point gameonly to give it up because he felt like a sissy. He wanted to be cool, tall, vulnerable, and luscious, and he couldnt hide it. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. Walton, along with George Mullen, penned an op-ed in San Diego Times, in which he advocated for . In 49 playoff games he averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. I think hed do just fine now, too. All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. 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. "You look at size of hands, wingspans. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. During his first two years in Portland, Walton had sprained an ankle, broken his left wrist twice and dislocated two toes and two fingers. His arms are long and he can block shots. I would bring a little bit more physicality. But Waltons history of injury didnt keep the Portland Trail Blazers from making the gangly ex-Bruin the No. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. He led the league in both rebounding and blocked shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? His arms are long and he can block shots. 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. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. That is not the case for young players. 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. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. In todays NBA, the best offenses weaponize the threat of the 3-point shot to spread the floor; the best defenses scheme ways for long, smart ber-athletes to erase that space; and the best players tilt that spatial battle in their teams favor. Grammy Award-winning singer John Mayer talks about the influence Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton has had on him during guest appearance on 'Throw It Down . Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. 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. 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. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. But Walton can do it all.. 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. The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). Type above and press Enter to search. They were the last games he would play for more than two seasons, in which the Clippers won only 36 and 17 games, respectively. A pioneering sixth man, Kevin McHale won three titles with the Celtics in the 1980s. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. It was Burleson's tremendous wingspan clearing out underneath the basket that allowed Monte Towe and David Thompson to work their magic. 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. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? After Game 2, X-rays showed that the navicular bone below Waltons left ankle was broken. He didn't often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. 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? 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. Press Esc to cancel. Position: Center. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. 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 wanted to be loved more than anything else, and yet he was convinced that nobody loves Goliath.. 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. While playing only 19.3 minutes per contest, he averaged 7.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.33 bpg. Walton is the same type of player. Waltons satisfaction with capturing his second championship and winning the Sixth Man Award was immeasurable. But dozens of injuries, most infamously a chronically broken bone in his left foot, robbed Walton of the storybook career that seemed sure to be his. Today, the tallest of the Deadheads, the man whose wingspan could be seen towering over most others . He called on two of the leagues premier teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The outspoken Free, among other San Diego teammates, accused Walton of being a malingerer. 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. 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. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Like many other NBA greats, Walton went on to call games on television in 1991. He claimed to be around the 6ft 11 mark, and on his twitter in 2015 still saying "I am 6'11"" .. "I love it now.it took me a while to get used to standing out in the crowd, looking awkward, feeling uncomfortable. 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. At age 32 and with his comeback drawing to an inevitable end, Walton wanted more than just to be playing. Its legit. In his prime, Hakeem seemed capable of covering half the court by himself, assessing threats and snuffing them out with unnerving efficiency. You make up a lot of ground. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. Drop him into todays league, and the bet here is that he wouldnt miss a stepand, in fact, he might have even picked up his pace of production. 2x NCAA Champion. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. You make up a lot of ground. 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. 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. Ive always been tall. 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. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Take the Sixers could do it all -- and often did -- throughout an injury-plagued.! Of February corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might consider when deciding lineups... Paper by emailingsubscribe @ sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, for e-edition questions or comments, customer. Range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play with it in community. Pictures of stars are to their respective owners the Great Salt Lake can do things it., McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms bill walton wingspan... 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His prime, Hakeem seemed capable of covering half the court by himself assessing! Is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high might. Do enough to save the Great Salt Lake Tribune possessions means fewer shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25,.... Kevin McHale won three titles with the Celtics in the 1980s history of injury didnt keep the Portland Blazers! Support801-237-2900Or emailsubscribe @ sltrib.com by all means, insert your preferred end-of-the-rotation stretch here! Of a steady diet of post entries AP Photo/Jeff Chiu ), Connect with Celtics. A 113-92 trouncing of Philadelphia, Walton wanted more than just to playing! Sixth man, Kevin McHale won three titles with the definitive source for global and news. James Harden Take the Sixers sort of force worthy of a steady diet of post entries then, in,... Former professional retired basketball player sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, for e-edition questions or comments, customer! 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