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, 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. 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. 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. In one game he scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Ive always been tall. 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. You just do what Rudy Tomjanovich and Co. did in 1994 and 95: Surround him with shooters in a four-out set, and watch as he kicked the ball out of double-teams to open cutters and perimeter marksmen, or used that absolutely lethal face-up game to decimate overmatched defenders. There was no denying Waltons success in the media realm, though. After several Celtics said they liked the idea of having Walton as a teammate and as a backup for workhorses Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, Red Auerbach made the deal happen. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Walton, having lost all faith in Portlands medical team, demanded a trade, sat out the entire 1978-79 season when one wasnt granted, and left to sign with the San Diego Clippers. Bill Walton's Height 6ft 11 (212.7 cm) Former American Basketball Player. Browsing: bill walton wingspan How Tall Is Bill Walton? Celtics faithful would have plenty more to cheer about during what would become a dream season for the Celtics and the aging Walton. 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? If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. Portland fell to the bottom of the Pacific Division in 1975-76, though Walton started to come into his own, scoring 16.1 ppg, pulling down 13.4 rpg and demonstrating excellent passing skills from the low- or high-post in 51 contests. 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.. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. "You make up a lot of ground. In terms of his style of play, he was a rich man's Marc Gasol. The only thing Im supposed to know is how to put the ball through the hoop. 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. "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.' Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. I was with the Boston Celtics when Russell came into the league, Lakers Coach Bill Sharman told the Los Angeles Times. In 1981 he underwent radical surgery to restructure his battle-scarred left foot. "I think it's something that makes a big difference, especially defensively," he said. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. While at Helix High School in La Mesa, Calif., Walton broke an ankle, a leg, and several bones in his feet and underwent knee surgery. 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. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. 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.. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. LDS Church wants to light up a temple in a place that prides itself on dark skies, For husband-and-wife team, this new restaurant is the culmination of a decadeslong dream. You make up a lot of ground. The Trail Blazers lost the series in six games and the services of Walton forever. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. That is not the case for young players. His aptly titled 2016 memoir Back from the Dead distills and expands Bill's essence in a rambling narrative that, . 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. 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. Newell told The Atlantic that the one knock on Sabonis was that, because the opposition Sabonis meets inside Russia is not challenging to him, he sometimes gets lazy. 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.. For one: Decades before Shut up and dribble became a sociopolitical flashpoint, Walton was telling The New York Times In this society, they dont expect an athlete to speak for himself or to be able to lead his own life. 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. 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.. 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. 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. maybe one of the few cases of someone being around that 7ft mark and just saying 6ft 11. He returned for the Blazers postseason opener, but despite a pain-killing injection before Game 2, he couldnt continue past halftime; subsequent X-rays revealed a broken navicular bone. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. In 49 playoff games he averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. Now, Im not saying that, if you plopped him into todays NBA, Memo would suddenly become the sort of 7-foot Steph you could build an offense around. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. Rob Slater on November 5, 2015. He embodied the best of the positions present while hinting at an even brighter future. You make up a lot of ground. His arms are long and he can block shots. I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. Its legit. John Mayer on Walton's mentorship. "It's legit. That is not the case for young players. I was born tall, he said. Dude was a chiseled-from-granite gazelle with rocket boosters in his heels, a legit Defensive Player of the Year who could fit into any style or tempo. 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. In fairness, though, ONeal absolutely could be the sort of force worthy of a steady diet of post entries. 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. 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. Center Bill Walton played 10 seasons for 3 teams. 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? I see opportunities that should be rejected, but it scores. 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 wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Praise came quickly. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. Free (later World B. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. The former West Coast radical in lumberjack clothing found a home in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. 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? Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. I think hed do just fine now, too. 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. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Chamberlain essentially wrote the scoring record books of his era, using his physical dominance to overpower nearly every opponent he faced. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). (Walton later sued the team; the case was settled out of court.). In his 58 regular-season appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg. Doing the talking for Walton was controversial sports educator and activist Jack Scott, whose presence only made an already strange situation more bizarre. 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. You look at size of hands, wingspans. Walton, 29 years old, returned to the court for the 1982-83 season, playing about one game a week as many as his doctor would permit. 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. You guessed it: The one who turned the 1984 draft into prom night. Today, the tallest of the Deadheads, the man whose wingspan could be seen towering over most others . He is socially active on social networking sites. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. 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. And now, we move from Hakeem to the man he once nearly played one-on-one for $1 million put up by Taco Bell in an event promoted by Donald Trump, in what sounds like a stirring round of Some Bullshit Mad Libs but is actually a thing that almost happened: Career (1,207 games, 1992-2011): 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.3 blocks per game, 58.2% FG, 4.5% 3FG, 52.7% FT. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. 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. 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. Give It the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. 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. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. "A wingspan always helps people, whether it's blocking shots or deflections on defense.". 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. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. 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. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. Then, in February,. As the man himself put it in Basketball: A Love Story: Basketball is a symphony, and we could take that ball and become artists ourselves. Itd be cool to hear what kind of music hed make today. 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. Then came what many felt was the death knell of Waltons career. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. 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. Even so, the collection of skills at that size, with that flair, and with the athleticism to play like a point guard at 7-foot-3 would be intoxicating to watch nowa perfect fit for where the center position is, and where it could go from here. Bill's full name is William Theodore Walton. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. How Tall Is Bill Walton? They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. Career Stats Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Basketball was a sport where under optimal conditions a great player with considerable ego disciplined himself and became unselfish. (Walton had his share of ego too. 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 defence. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. People followed him on Twitter. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I was born tall, he said. )told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [Sabonis] could do everything. 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. Which Chicago mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward? 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. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? 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. 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. 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.. Later, he admitted much of his aloofness or unwillingness to talk was due to a speech impediment, which he would later receive successful therapy for. 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. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. A lot of basketball players don't, though, they have wider wingspans. While the Shaq we know bemoans the disappearance of dominant back-to-the-basket bigs, the 2020 model would need to be capable of getting his points in other ways in a league where post-ups have largely been excised from the playbook altogether. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. How Tall Is Bill Walton?- Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. 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. Bill Walton's unique style and skills led him to 2 NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career. "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. 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. 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. When he was healthy, Walton had few peers. 3x NCAA All-Tourney. How come that shot isnt blocked? he recalled. 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.. "If your wingspan is more than your height, that's kind of abnormal. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. And the league rewarded him with the NBA Sixth Man Award, won by McHale the previous two seasons. The Walton-led Blazers rampaged through their first 60 games with a 50-10 record. Walton is a 3 time All-America College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. Look at John Stockton's arms or Avery Johnson's arms and they're very long, and their hands are very big. Bill Walton owns a house in San Diego, California where he currently resides with his wife and 4 sons. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. 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. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. Walton won 1 MVP Award, was selected to play in 2 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. They were the last games he would play for more than two seasons, in which the Clippers won only 36 and 17 games, respectively. Before playing a single minute in the NBA, Walton knew the pains on injuries. 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. "You make up a lot of ground. Ive always been tall. 2x NCAA Tourney MOP. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. But I've grown into it." Photos by PR Photos When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. It was Burleson's tremendous wingspan clearing out underneath the basket that allowed Monte Towe and David Thompson to work their magic. 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 was already in America, having come over from Nigeria to enroll at the University of Houston, and he went to a Rockets game. If youre wondering what it might look like, the Big Baryshnikov has a comp handy. The Sixth Man award almost always goes to the NBAs highest-scoring bench player. He could pass and run the floor, dribble. "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. 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. During his first two years in Portland, Walton had sprained an ankle, broken his left wrist twice and dislocated two toes and two fingers. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. Walton once again had the chance to play for a world champion, and his childhood hopes of playing for the Celtics were realized. 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. Happy Birthday Bill Walton: An Ode to the Tallest Deadhead. After the 1984-85 campaign Walton went shopping. But Waltons history of injury didnt keep the Portland Trail Blazers from making the gangly ex-Bruin the No. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Like many other NBA greats, Walton went on to call games on television in 1991. With one of the strongest lineups in NBA history, Boston steamrolled through the regular season, compiling a 67-15 record. 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. 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. 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. J, who pumped in 40 points in Game 6. 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.. 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. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . There will be some statistical cherry-picking, because cherries are delicious, and there will be some decisions made purely on aesthetics, because we hold it as true that things that look dope should be prioritized. I also think Steve Kerr wouldve done horrible, unspeakable things to get someone like Vlade operating in that Andrew Bogut/Anderson Varejao/David West playmaking pivot role as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson run all those split actions, flinging passes all over the place: I dont know. (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. 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. At the top of his form, Walton scored, passed, intimidated, hustled, and played the role of leader with the best centers of his day. Finally, there is Johnny Kerr, who was . Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. 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. The injuries, however, didnt stop. 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. 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. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Meg and Spanners also discuss Aston Martins positive press focusing on Fernando Alonso and touch on Ferraris consistent performance. From Wilt the Stilt to Hakeem the Dream, we pay homage to the big men who ruled their erasbut would have been even more fun in this one. Between 1993 and 2001, he fired up 5.0 long balls per 36 minutes of floor time, and cashed them in at a cool 38.2 percent clip. All rights reserved. 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.