That could work against ONeal, who famously struggled from the stripe, shooting just 52.7 percent for his career; but a half-decade after the institution of new rules aimed at reducing intentional fouling to improve game flow, it might not be quite as big an issue as you might think. Like all massive 5s, hed have to prove capable of defending in space and handling jitterbug guards on switches in the pick-and-roll. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Height 6'11" (210cm) Wingspan 7'3" (220cm) Weight 210 lbs (95 kg) Team Portland Trail Blazers. 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. Whats legacy, anyway? 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. Free) fumed to the San Diego Union at the time. They don't really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.". He was named to both the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. By JANIE McCAULEY April 10, 2018 GMT. Its not how big you are, its how big you play. 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. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. (Walton had played drums with the Dead at a show in Egypt, and he sometimes took teammates to shows and brought band members to team practices.). He wanted to be winning. 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. Extremely intelligent but besides that, he has tremendous basketball instinct.. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. I'm not as fast laterally, I'm not as athletic, I'm 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. Walton had a bulging medical file before he even reached collegehe suffered multiple lower leg fractures and underwent knee surgery while still in high schooland struggled through broken bones in his spine and knee tendinitis at UCLA, resulting in another knee surgery before he joined the Blazers. At his peak he averaged 18.6/14.4/3.6 with 52% shooting and was the best player on a championship team. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. He didn't often hear the term wingspan, finally understanding how special his measurement is when he got to the NBA. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. But Walton can do it all.. You look at size of hands, wingspans. Look at John Stockton's arms or Avery Johnson's arms and they're very long, and their hands are very big. 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.. 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. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. The injuries, however, didnt stop. 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. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. 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? 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. 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. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. 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. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. That is not the case for young players. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. I was born tall, he said. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. I would bring my length, I would bring my athleticness. 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. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. Something went wrong. 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. Former American Basketball Player. 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? West was known for his extremely quick jump shot, and when coupled with his length, it formed one of the deadliest jump shots in NBA history. I decided it might be cool to write about some of these players. We've seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.". Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey also react to the announcement that the fourth season of HBOs Succession will be the final one, Justin and Micah return to discuss some of the things theyve caught up with over the past few weeks, including You, Tr, and Hogwarts Legacy, Jason also discusses Brandon Miller and Alabama NFL draft prospects with Charlie Potter, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Time Machine All-Stars: Five Centers Who Would Have Dominated 2020. Weve already covered point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. He stayed in shape by playing beach volleyball and tennis and by cycling sometimes with Grateful Dead drummer and close friend Mickey Hart. 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. He was a very athletic player. 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.. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. He went home elatednot because of all the skill, pageantry, and aerial artistry he just witnessed, but because even as an undergraduate just barely getting his feet wet in the game, he wasnt too impressed with the future competition. (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. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasn't even aware of his wingspan. But todays players arent the only ones with the right skills to tick those boxes; plenty of their predecessors could, too. But I've grown into it." Photos by PR Photos 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. 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. 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. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. After his arrest as a junior, Walton issued a statement that read: Your generation has screwed up the world. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 3x NCAA All-Region. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. 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. He is named to the NBA's 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. Walton won 1 MVP Award, was selected to play in 2 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. . He acquired Walton by sending popular forward Cedric Maxwell to the Clippers along with a first-round draft pick. He was such a force down low that the NBA literally changed the rules, and the width of the lane, to mitigate his influence. 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. 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. The former MVP has adapted and evolved to become an excellent conductor of Phillys offense. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. 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. Rian Johnson faced the biggest writing challenges of any of the five nominees, but the director managed to perfectly thread the needle, ensuring that Glass Onion felt unique but still delighted the fans of its predecessor, some dispute about just how valuable his passing was, two highest assist-per-game averages of any center in league history, reportedly wanted to dispel the notion that he was a selfish player, 50 percent between 16 feet and the arc during the 1998-99 season, what Rudy Tomjanovich and Co. did in 1994 and 95, fellow Time Machine All-Star Andrei Kirilenko, bemoans the disappearance of dominant back-to-the-basket bigs, largely been excised from the playbook altogether, the institution of new rules aimed at reducing intentional fouling, told Jackie MacMullan and Kirk Goldsberry, gold-medal game of the 1986 FIBA World Championship, the semifinals of the 1988 Summer Olympics, having lost all faith in Portlands medical team, demanded a trade, 3.5 stocks (steals plus blocks) per 36 minutes during his Lakers tenure, what Marc Gasol gave the Raptors last season, 352 triples during his first eight seasons, 5.0 long balls per 36 minutes of floor time, 38.7 percent from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per 36 minutes, the sort of 7-foot Steph you could build an offense around, Time Machine All-Stars: Five Power Forwards Who Would Have Dominated 2020, Malcolm Brogdon Is a Throwbackand DeservingCandidate for Sixth Man of the Year, The Surging Knicks, Zombie Heat, and a Bizarre College Hoops Season With Ariel Helwani, Mike Schur, Kevin OConnor, and Tate Frazier. 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