Then, in February,. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. 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. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. 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. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. 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. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. 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. A lot of basketball players don't, though, they have wider wingspans. He acted as a half-court offensive hub from the elbows and out of the post; as the last line of defense on the other end, he was an ace shot-blocker and defensive rebounder who looked for every opportunity to trigger a fast break and an easy bucket within the flow of the game. 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. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. If were going to wonder how Wilt Chamberlain would look in the 2020 NBA, we must also consider what the present might hold for Wilt Chamberneezy. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. Bill Walton's Height 6ft 11 (212.7 cm) Former American Basketball Player. He was a very athletic player. Hed need to be as adept as ever at bursting past defenders with one-dribble power moves, spinning away from them to elevate for alley-oops, and rim-running in transition. Walton played in 55 games in 1983-84 and 67 in 1984-85, while the Clippers won 30 and 31 games, respectively. 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. 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. Celtics faithful would have plenty more to cheer about during what would become a dream season for the Celtics and the aging Walton. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. 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. The Celtics' legendary playmaker is the only person in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year in a career. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . Washington Bullets, with his ability to grab rebounds and find open outlets under the floor, or the non-selfish ways of Bill Walton when playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. 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? Rewards Domination Rewards. 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. That is not the case for young players. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. I think hed do just fine now, too. 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. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. Then, in February, after a 113-92 trouncing of Philadelphia, Walton was forced to the sideline with an injured left foot. I'm a big believer in that.". And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. 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. 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 was such a force down low that the NBA literally changed the rules, and the width of the lane, to mitigate his influence. He didnt often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. "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. The Walton-led Blazers rampaged through their first 60 games with a 50-10 record. During the season he was hampered only by a broken nose, the 13th of his 13-year career. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? Wingspan. 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 mind reels at all the possibilitiesand at all the vitriol his burner accounts might unleash. 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. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. 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. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. 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. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. Walton inducted himself. NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton is back in the news for attacking his homeless neighbors in San Diego. 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. 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? Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. "You make up a lot of ground. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. After Game 2, X-rays showed that the navicular bone below Waltons left ankle was broken. There was no denying Waltons success in the media realm, though. 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. Waltons combative relationship with the press further sullied his image. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. I was born tall, he said. Position: Center. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. This is not intended to be a definitive, inarguable list, or a scientifically rigorous exercise. He played without pain for the first time in years, and he seemed happier than ever. 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. At his peak he averaged 18.6/14.4/3.6 with 52% shooting and was the best player on a championship team. 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. In 2012, he became a college basketball analyst for Pac-12 games on ESPN. But whats the legacy of the blockbuster album? Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. His arms are long and he can block shots. 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. Portland's entire offense ran through him because he was such an exceptional passer for a center and he was a terrific defensive anchor. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. He is also one of the greatest college . I had no problem with him during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. Here was a man who once claimed to have bested a mountain lion in single combat. (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. 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 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. 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. 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. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. 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. Oops. As Lakers teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jerry West put it in his autobiography, West by West: Wilt was very self-conscious about his size and strength and he was reluctant to be viewed as a villain. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. Bill Walton was one of the best-passing big men in NBA history, able to facilitate championship-caliber offense. 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. The NBA's Noches ne B A celebration starts in March, where teams will commemorate fans and players across Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. 13Th of his 13-year career Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 a! Was one of the 1979-80 season and played only 14 regular-season contests averaging... 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