What if he played with the Boston Celtics earlier in his career? Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. Its like you went through MyCareer in NBA 2K and decided to never let any teammates rack up a single box score statisticonly it actually happened in real life, and it went on for about a decade and a half. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. 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. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. His arms are long and he can block shots. 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. During his 13 years in the league, he played in only 44 percent of regular-season contests and left the game with a modest 13.3 scoring average. (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. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. ), People dont understand that when he was younger, Sabonis was a perimeter player and he played facing the basket, longtime NBA coach George Karl, who had gotten an up-close look at him during two stints coaching in Europe, told Abrams. In 2012, he became a college basketball analyst for Pac-12 games on ESPN. Type above and press Enter to search. The only thing Im supposed to know is how to put the ball through the hoop. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. 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. It's no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Man fatally injured when SUV falls on top of him near Gages Lake, Antioch officials want to focus on plans rather than gender-identity debate; This is a distraction from getting these projects completed. 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. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. That is not the case for young players. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. He had the athleticism of Kareem, and he could shoot the 3-point shot. In his 58 regular-season appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. He was right then; he blocked four or more shots four times in his first six NBA games, led the league in blocks three times, and still tops the all-time leaderboard in swats nearly 20 years after his retirement. 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. What if he stayed healthy? Needless to say, Hakeem could hang. Decades before Shaquille ONeal ripped mics with Fu-Schnickens, the Dipper was out here crooning, dog. 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. 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. 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. Free (later World B. He acquired Walton by sending popular forward Cedric Maxwell to the Clippers along with a first-round draft pick. With one of the strongest lineups in NBA history, Boston steamrolled through the regular season, compiling a 67-15 record. Walton is the same type of player. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player award while playing for the defending NBA champion Trail Blazers in 1977-78. 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. This would still play: At 7-foot-1 with a reported 7-foot-8 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing reach, having starred at both 250 pounds as a lithe rookie and a muscular 300-plus pounds during his latter years with the Lakers, Chamberlain had more than enough size, length, and strength to challenge even the burliest modern bigs. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. 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. 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. His arms are long and he can block shots. Wingspan. Glass Onion Brought Knives Out to the Next Level. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. Bill Walton. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. 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. I am not even joking; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in 2017. 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. Bill Walton was a lifelong stutterer until receiving some speech tips and guidance from Hall of Fame broadcaster and Syracuse University track legend Marty Glickman. 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. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. He left the game with 6,215 points (13.3 ppg), 4,923 rebounds (10.5 rpg), and a .521 shooting percentage in 468 regular-season contests. Walton was awarded the NBA Finals MVP. The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. 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. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. Everything else is said for me or explained to me, right? Seems like our man Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest! When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. They were the last games he would play for more than two seasons, in which the Clippers won only 36 and 17 games, respectively. Oops. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. 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. Waltons career-long struggle with injury and pain began even before he achieved fame at UCLA. 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. All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. 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. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. 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. In the 1973 NCAA championship game against Memphis State, Walton made 21 of 22 shots and scored 44 points a performance considered by many to be the greatest ever in a Final Four game. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. 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. 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. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. Bill's full name is William Theodore Walton. 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. 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. Walton signed a then-record seven-year, $7 million contract to play with the Clippers, who had played just over .500 ball the year before. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. 1 to play a stretch-5 against him to try to draw him out of the middle and keep him from walling off the paint, or run dozens of pick-and-rolls aimed at getting him switched onto guards and forcing him to defend in space. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? The other? The still bearded and ponytailed Walton put up 18.6 ppg. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. He claimed to be around the 6ft 11 mark, and on his twitter in 2015 still saying, it's a strange oneI do think he could look near 7ft, but maybe he really did measure under it and simply rounded off to 6ft 11 rather than up to the 7ft. After Game 2, X-rays showed that the navicular bone below Waltons left ankle was broken. By Halberstams measure, and any other, Walton when healthy was a truly great basketball player. 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. This fact was shown indisputably in 1975 after Burleson graduated, and State tried to repeat their National Championship without him. You make up a lot of ground. 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. When youre that big, you cant hide much. In the playoffs the Celtics lost only three of 18 games, defeating the Houston Rockets and their Twin Towers, Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, in the Finals in six games. 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. It destroys the team, the Clippers Lloyd B. While playing only 19.3 minutes per contest, he averaged 7.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.33 bpg. How Tall Is Bill Walton? Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Waltons satisfaction with capturing his second championship and winning the Sixth Man Award was immeasurable. . The wingspan sure helps a lot of people," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . After the 1984-85 campaign Walton went shopping. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. He is socially active on social networking sites. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. 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. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. 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. During his first two years in Portland, Walton had sprained an ankle, broken his left wrist twice and dislocated two toes and two fingers. Im a big believer in that., Donate to the newsroom now. Walton inducted himself About Us 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. At age 34, Walton retired after playing 10 games of the 1986-87 season. 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. 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. 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. From 2005, when he became a full-time starter for Jerry Sloan, through 2010, when he suffered the ruptured left Achilles tendon that would effectively end his career, Okur shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per 36 minutes; put him alongside a pick-and-roll maestro point guard now, and hed likely double that. 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