How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? Career Stats Defense 94. Waltons career-long struggle with injury and pain began even before he achieved fame at UCLA. He had the athleticism of Kareem, and he could shoot the 3-point shot. In the midst of those broadcasting days, Walton was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. The other end would be even more interesting. 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.. At the top of his form, Walton scored, passed, intimidated, hustled, and played the role of leader with the best centers of his day. His arms are long and he can block shots. 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. 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. The explosive Russell Westbrook is 6-3, with a wingspan of 6-8, which helps him be one of the best rebounding guards in history. Bill Walton's Height 6ft 11 (212.7 cm) Former American Basketball Player. You make up a lot of ground. The only thing Im supposed to know is how to put the ball through the hoop. 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. 1 Pick, and QB Movement Updates With Jeff Darlington. In Loose Balls, Terry Plutos iconic oral history of the ABA, former ABA commissioner Mike Storen recalls that in negotiations over trying to get Walton to come to the counterculture league, Waltons representative made it clear that the two wanted Bill to be the highest-paid professional athlete in the history of mankind, and to be on a great team surrounded by a lot of talent so that the responsibility for winning and losing does not fall directly on Bill. Again: He might fit in just fine today.). The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. 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. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. In his prime, Hakeem seemed capable of covering half the court by himself, assessing threats and snuffing them out with unnerving efficiency. I was with the Boston Celtics when Russell came into the league, Lakers Coach Bill Sharman told the Los Angeles Times. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. Then, in February, after a 113-92 trouncing of Philadelphia, Walton was forced to the sideline with an injured left foot. 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. Waltons satisfaction with capturing his second championship and winning the Sixth Man Award was immeasurable. Walton inducted himself About Us 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. Oops. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. That is not the case for young players. He acquired Walton by sending popular forward Cedric Maxwell to the Clippers along with a first-round draft pick. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. it's like your wingspan . 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. 3x NCAA All-Region. In one game he scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. 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. 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. I would actually love to play in this NBA, he told Jackie MacMullan and Kirk Goldsberry. (Im thinking of Channing Frye, but by all means, insert your preferred end-of-the-rotation stretch big here.) 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. 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. The irony was not lost on many in the media, who 15 years earlier had grown to dislike the ornery version of the man who was now their compatriot. It cant buy happiness, and I just want to be happy., Many who knew Walton, including Wooden himself, felt the young center was too susceptible to fringe ideas. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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 wanted to be loved more than anything else, and yet he was convinced that nobody loves Goliath.. You make up a lot of ground. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. 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. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. I think its something that makes a big difference, especially defensively, he said. Like all massive 5s, hed have to prove capable of defending in space and handling jitterbug guards on switches in the pick-and-roll. You look at size of hands, wingspans. The operation worked. 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. When it comes to Arizona, he prefers to refer to the Wildcats as "the kitties." His arms are long and he can block shots. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. You make up a lot of ground. How would the fresh-out-of-the-box version look? 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. 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. 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 . 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. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. 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. 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. Browsing: bill walton wingspan How Tall Is Bill Walton? 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. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Position: Center. 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 would need to stay trim and explosive enough to cover a ton of ground, because you can bet that every modern offense would make it Job No. Walton is the same type of player. When he was healthy, Walton had few peers. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. 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. That is not the case for young players. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. I see people, they drive to the basket, I say, I must be missing something. 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. What if he stayed healthy? 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. Walton inducted himself. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. He didn't often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. After Game 2, X-rays showed that the navicular bone below Waltons left ankle was broken. The outspoken Free, among other San Diego teammates, accused Walton of being a malingerer. While playing only 19.3 minutes per contest, he averaged 7.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.33 bpg. Then came what many felt was the death knell of Waltons career. Despite the late-season injury, Walton earned the NBA MVP award. The other? He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. K.C. 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. He was named to both the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. 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