(As Jackie MacMullan wrote in When the Game Was Ours, Waltons one regret was that he never made Nixons enemies list.) Some things about Big Red, though, would translate perfectly to the modern game. Plus, a Salt Lake City Recap. At the top of his form, Walton scored, passed, intimidated, hustled, and played the role of leader with the best centers of his day. "You make up a lot of ground. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. 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. While playing only 19.3 minutes per contest, he averaged 7.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.33 bpg. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. Walton won 1 MVP Award, was selected to play in 2 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. 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. I was born tall, he said. 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. Waltons career-long struggle with injury and pain began even before he achieved fame at UCLA. Walton is the same type of player. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. He wanted to be loved more than anything else, and yet he was convinced that nobody loves Goliath.. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. 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. 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. When youre that big, you cant hide much. 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. Off the floor I worried. Eight Questions Ahead of The Mandalorian Season 3, From Grogus Force prowess to Dins and Bo-Katans Darksaber designs to Gideons future, here are the key considerations ahead of Mandos long-awaited return, LeBrons Injury Ends the Lakers Surge Before It Could Even Begin, Just when it seemed like things were clicking into place for Los Angeles, LeBron James suffered a foot injury that will sideline him for the most important stretch of the Lakers season. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. 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. The mind reels at all the possibilitiesand at all the vitriol his burner accounts might unleash. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. The injuries, however, didnt stop. I was born tall, he said. 2x NCAA Champion. Ive always been tall. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. 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. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Hakeem likely couldve become a passable 3-point shooter with enough commitment. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. 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. 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.. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. It destroys the team, the Clippers Lloyd B. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. 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. He had the skills of Larry Bird and Pete Maravich. Type above and press Enter to search. 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. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. Assuming an unfamiliar supporting role, the 33-year-old Walton was playing with the excitement of a college kid. In the midst of those broadcasting days, Walton was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He played without pain for the first time in years, and he seemed happier than ever. Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. )told Grantlands Jonathan Abrams back in 2011, [Sabonis] could do everything. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. They were the last games he would play for more than two seasons, in which the Clippers won only 36 and 17 games, respectively. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. "Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. After achieving superstardom playing for John Woodens powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early 70s and winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, Walton was destined to become an NBA legend. "I've always been tall. 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. I do think, though, that hed probably become an even more useful piece to deploy in a spread-it-out-and-bomb-away offense and that, on occasion, yes, he might even be construed as A Problem. 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. That would be pretty rad, because Orlando Shaq could fuckin move, man: Maintaining that staggering combination of power and quickness would be critical for a modern-day ONeal. 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. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. Id never had a player say anything like that to me before. But he had never coached Bill Walton. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. Weight, Net Worth, Age, Parents, Wife & More. I think hed do just fine now, too. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. K.C. But the damage was done: Hed only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985. 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.. 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. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. 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.. Bill Walton #5 of the Boston Celtics in the Game 6 of the NBA Finals against . Bill's full name is William Theodore Walton. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. 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. He led the league in both rebounding and blocked shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively. He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. It is as if Agony and Ecstasy are Bill's Scylla and Charybdys, with his 7'+ wingspan wide enough to touch both simultaneously. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. 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.. 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) School: UCLA (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA draft. Weve gone position by position over the past few weeks, aiming to pass some of our seemingly endless downtime by remembering some kick-ass players in a fun thought experiment. 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. A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. 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. He was such a force down low that the NBA literally changed the rules, and the width of the lane, to mitigate his influence. Walton is a 3 time All-America College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. 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. How much better could he have been before the injuries? Whats legacy, anyway? Portland's entire offense ran through him because he was such an exceptional passer for a center and he was a terrific defensive anchor. How Tall Is Bill Walton?- Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. 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. I see people, they drive to the basket, I say, I must be missing something. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. 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. 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. 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. I see opportunities that should be rejected, but it scores. 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. > Archive 75: Bill Walton| 75 Stories: Bill Walton. Walton once again had the chance to play for a world champion, and his childhood hopes of playing for the Celtics were realized. TV Schedule Home Bio Walton Gallery Wooden News Speaking Grateful Dead Duane Roth Best of Recently Book List Latest News TV Schedule PDF 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. 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