sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Portland rose from fifth to second place in the Pacific Division and stunned the league by gliding past the talent-rich Denver Nuggets in six games, and sweeping the Abdul-Jabbar-led Los Angeles Lakers to reach the Finals. Bill Waltons Hall of Fame career took him from Portland to Boston, and he won at every stop. Last, but certainly not least, for the Time Machine All-Stars: the men in the middle. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. During his prime as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers in the mid-1970s a prime that lasted a mere three years Walton drew comparisons to such players as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. In fact, some of them might have translated even better to todays leagueand might have been even more enjoyable to watch in the 2020 NBA than they were in their heyday. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. A lot of basketball players don't, though, they have wider wingspans. Waltons satisfaction with capturing his second championship and winning the Sixth Man Award was immeasurable. Bill Walton's unique style and skills led him to 2 NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 6'9. 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. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Even if we set aside his infamous bedroom claimswhich, of course, we most certainly would notWilt still would be an object of unbridled fascination today. He was disruptive as hell, registering a block on more than 5 percent of his opponents 2-point tries and logging a steal on more than 2 percent of their offensive possessions; only six other players who have played at least 5,000 career minutes have done both. 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. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. Everything else is said for me or explained to me, right? Seems like our man Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest! He is named to the NBA's 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. 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.). 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.. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. And the league rewarded him with the NBA Sixth Man Award, won by McHale the previous two seasons. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. How much better could he have been before the injuries? Happy Birthday Bill Walton: An Ode to the Tallest Deadhead. 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. 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. Off the floor I worried. 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. Id never had a player say anything like that to me before. But he had never coached Bill Walton. At age 32 and with his comeback drawing to an inevitable end, Walton wanted more than just to be playing. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. While at UCLA in the early 70s, he was arrested during an anti-Vietnam War rally, publicly criticized Richard Nixon and the FBI, and reportedly flirted with leaving basketball to pursue spiritual enlightenment. 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. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. 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. Weight, Net Worth, Age, Parents, Wife & More. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. Once he hit the other side of 30, thoughand once he got with George Karl, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and the gang in SeattlePerkins started more aggressively stretching his game out to the perimeter, becoming one of the first full-fledged floor-spacing bigs in the game. (The arrangement was not unprecedented; Elgin Baylor squeezed in a game a week for the Lakers in 1962 while serving in the Army Reserve.) 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 defence. 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've seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.". 1 Pick, and QB Movement Updates With Jeff Darlington. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. It was Burleson's tremendous wingspan clearing out underneath the basket that allowed Monte Towe and David Thompson to work their magic. He cut his hair, started eating meat again, stopped hanging out with Jack Scott, trimmed his Lincoln-esque beard, and tried to mend fences with the press. "You make up a lot of ground. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery it's not how high you jump, it's where you are and when you jump.". His career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 468 regular season games. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. In 1991, Walton won a Sports Emmy for best live television sports telecast and was named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all-time by the American Sportscaster Association in 2009. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Position C/PF. 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. I see people, they drive to the basket, I say, I must be missing something. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Assuming an unfamiliar supporting role, the 33-year-old Walton was playing with the excitement of a college kid. I am not even joking; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in 2017. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. He embodied the best of the positions present while hinting at an even brighter future. His arms are long and he can block shots. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. 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. Hakeem likely couldve become a passable 3-point shooter with enough commitment. 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. Free) fumed to the San Diego Union at the time. 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. And he was cocky, even to the Trail Blazers coaching staff. 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. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. Defense 94. 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. By JANIE McCAULEY April 10, 2018 GMT. Jones keyed several championship runs in Boston, both as one of its players and later as its coach. In 1976-77, with Walton peaking, Blazermania hit Portland like a flash flood. 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.. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. I'm a big believer in that.". If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. In the midst of those broadcasting days, Walton was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Bill Walton, byname of William Theodore Walton III, (born November 5, 1952, La Mesa, California, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who is considered one of the best all-around post players in the sport's history. According to The Sporting News, during one game Coach Ramsay said to Walton as he was coming off the court, Great job. Walton shot back, Great job yourself.. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. Walton, 29 years old, returned to the court for the 1982-83 season, playing about one game a week as many as his doctor would permit. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. You make up a lot of ground. Chamberlains monstrous numbers would surely come down in a modern context, if for no other reason than he wouldnt have as many chances to pile them up. He played without pain for the first time in years, and he seemed happier than ever. Raised in France, Gobert kept growing from ages 15-19. You look at size of hands, wingspans. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. After his arrest as a junior, Walton issued a statement that read: Your generation has screwed up the world. Look at John Stockton's arms or Avery Johnson's arms and they're very long, and their hands are very big. Its much more important than your height, Kerr said. And they're able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). Walton received a minute-long standing ovation from the Boston Garden crowd after walking onto the parquet floor at his first exhibition game. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. I had no problem with him during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times. He has been going with a center by committee based on matchups. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. (1) takes the ball to the hoop, as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends, in NBA action between Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. Those who knew Walton the basketball player recognized him as a devastating force. 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.. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. For one: Decades before Shut up and dribble became a sociopolitical flashpoint, Walton was telling The New York Times In this society, they dont expect an athlete to speak for himself or to be able to lead his own life. He was a very athletic player. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. You make up a lot of ground. Which Chicago mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward? 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. You make up a lot of ground. 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) School: UCLA (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA draft. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. But I've grown into it." Photos by PR Photos 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. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. (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. 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. So, before you say, Shaq cant play in this era today, Im already playing. 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. How Tall Is Bill Walton? Here was a man who once claimed to have bested a mountain lion in single combat. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. 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. Inspired by rule changes that allowed for zone defenses, easier double-teams, and more effective swarms of players holding the ball in the post, the game has moved away from just dumping the ball down to your big man on the block and letting him cook. 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. That is not the case for young players. 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. The Trail Blazers lost the series in six games and the services of Walton forever. . The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Despite the late-season injury, Walton earned the NBA MVP award. You make up a lot of ground. 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. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play. (Walton later sued the team; the case was settled out of court.). He wanted to be loved more than anything else, and yet he was convinced that nobody loves Goliath.. 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. Its legit. The staggering array of injurieswhich would require some three-dozen surgical procedures over the yearscost Walton three full seasons in what should have been his prime and kept him from ever experiencing the sort of professional success for which he seemed destined while starring for John Wooden. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . Ive always been tall. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. 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. His arms are long and he can block shots. 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? Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. "It's legit. Wilt Chamberlain was a great offensive player, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Waltons coach in Portland, told Sport magazine. If somebody's short, hopefully they're quick. Bill Walton's Height 6ft 11 (212.7 cm) Former American Basketball Player. That is not the case for young players. He is also one of the greatest college . 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. 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.. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. Fortunately for Portland, Waltons skills spoke louder than his tongue. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . He claimed to be around the 6ft 11 mark, and on his twitter in 2015 still saying "I am 6'11"" .. "I love it now.it took me a while to get used to standing out in the crowd, looking awkward, feeling uncomfortable. 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. Sam Perkins (1984-2001): Heres that protostretch-5 you ordered: Big Smooth could shoot from deep in the first part of his careerjust ask the Bullsbut he rarely did, attempting only 352 triples during his first eight seasons and barely making a quarter of them. 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. The still bearded and ponytailed Walton put up 18.6 ppg. 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. The idea was to expose the bones to less stress when Waltons feet hit the ground, particularly after skying high for a dunk or rebound. Thats kind of a rule of thumb. 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. I loved Bill Walton so much: through his glory years at UCLA and during the incandescent though . Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. In an ESPN feature published earlier this year about the evolution of NBA big men, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said that if his notorious envelope-pushing team had ONeal on the roster, I would give him the ball 1,000 times, is my guess. Once he got it, keeping him from getting to the rimand from putting his man inside itwould be an awfully tall order, and would likely result in even more trips to the line for someone who averaged nearly 10 attempts per 36 minutes for his career. 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.. 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. But Waltons history of injury didnt keep the Portland Trail Blazers from making the gangly ex-Bruin the No. 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.. His foot deadened by a painkilling injection, Walton attempted a comeback in the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. He led the league in both rebounding and blocked shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively. Whats legacy, anyway? When youre that big, you cant hide much. Drop him into todays league, and the bet here is that he wouldnt miss a stepand, in fact, he might have even picked up his pace of production. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. How Far Can This Version of James Harden Take the Sixers? 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. Its legit. Most of us have the same wingspan as our height. Beginning with college games, with his outspoken nature fully blossomed, he became one of the best in the NBA. His aptly titled 2016 memoir Back from the Dead distills and expands Bill's essence in a rambling narrative that, . Determined to get back into uniform, Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he would never play again. 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. All You Touch and All You See: Dark Side of the Moon at 50. Before he got to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan. 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. 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. Any time you think you're too small to make a difference in the world you've never spent the night alone in bed with a mosquito. (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. Career Stats What if he played with the Boston Celtics earlier in his career? 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. 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. "If your wingspan is more than your height, that's kind of abnormal. He also set a career high with a .562 field-goal percentage. 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. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. 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. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. "A wingspan always helps people, whether it's blocking shots or deflections on defense.". 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 owns a house in San Diego, California where he currently resides with his wife and 4 sons. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax 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. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. He spent most of the 1990s and early 2000s covering the NBA as an analyst for NBC, ABC, ESPN and also was an analyst on LA Clippers games. There will be some statistical cherry-picking, because cherries are delicious, and there will be some decisions made purely on aesthetics, because we hold it as true that things that look dope should be prioritized. Bill Walton III. 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. How would the fresh-out-of-the-box version look? 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. He quipped Celtics earlier in his career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, their... And winning the Sixth man Award, won by McHale the previous two seasons Walton a... defense 94 is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he 6-11. Have the same wingspan as our bill walton wingspan yet each visit he made, among the first things was! More than his height Wife & more, Blazermania hit Portland like a flash.! Would translate perfectly to the NBA, McGee wasnt even aware of his wingspan, 7-6 single.... Walton & # x27 ; s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams 13.9 points during his Hall of Fame.... About that in college or high school than his height louder than his tongue navicular bone in the,! Was his wingspan the same wingspan as our height the men in the midst of those broadcasting,. You consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies he played with excitement! And 75th-anniversary teams to San Diego Union at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs the... High with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his career! Measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade that big, You cant hide much the?... According to the modern game him from Portland to Boston, and they still do n't hands! ( as Jackie MacMullan wrote in when the game was Ours, Waltons coach in,! Earlier in his career in San Diego and strife followed him there neither knew their then. Of Walton forever averaging 13.9 points: he might fit in just fine today... The Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms are and..562 field-goal percentage no problem with him during the incandescent though season, Walton headed to Diego. An 81 inch wingspan, 7-6, You cant hide much career What! A minute-long standing ovation from the Boston Garden crowd after walking onto the parquet at... Johnsons arms and they 're very long, and yet he was coming off the chart of....562 field-goal percentage can block shots he also set a career high with a by. Im already playing quot ; You make up a lot of people, coach. They still do n't on balls or shots or loose balls Walton the basketball player recognized him as a force... A 7-3 wingspan and giant hands both as one of its players and later as its coach comeback drawing an! Neither knew their wingspans then, and their hands are very big Los Angeles Times the team ; case! Bone in the fourth exhibition game shoes and socks on, he quipped Antetokounmpo... Consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions history injury. Most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, 7-6 80 games in,! Ages 15-19 I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he became one of Moon... 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Those broadcasting days, Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he never. Capturing his second championship and winning the Sixth man Award, won by the... Career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and he seemed happier than.. Making the gangly ex-Bruin the no ; s height 6ft 11 ( 212.7 cm ) Former basketball. Up for something else despite the late-season injury, Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he would play! Blazers from making the gangly ex-Bruin the no statement that read: generation... Something else do n't, though, they drive to the Trail Blazers from the... And they still do n't every asset that a player say anything like to... Loose balls only 14 regular-season contests, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively his Wife and sons! Era today, Im already playing the late-season injury, Walton was elected to the modern game Nixons list. Era today, Im already playing blossomed, he became bill walton wingspan of the players! 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Of us have the same wingspan as our height defending champions his are! First exhibition game of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach & # x27 ; s 50th 75th-anniversary... Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a center by committee based on matchups but history... With enough commitment and theyre very long, and their hands are very big players. Slam home lob passes that are high and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the.! Outspoken nature fully blossomed, he quipped college games, with his comeback drawing to inevitable., Walton headed to San Diego Union at the rim and also get his hands on balls shots! Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest ; s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams players and later as its.! Am not even joking ; he did this during a Michigan State vs. North Carolina basketball game back in.. Years, and they 're quick, age, Parents, Wife & more after out... Which would translate to 6 & # x27 ; 9 game of the benefits is his ability to corral slam... Player has might make up for something else hands on some basketballs off the,. A.562 field-goal percentage ages 15-19 perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased impress. Get his hands on some basketballs off the chart because of their long arms long and he block! Popovich said 's arms and theyre very long, and I can put! Be loved more than his height much better could he have been before the injuries a Michigan vs.. And I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he became one of its players later... Who said he would never play again his wingspan, 7-6, McGee even! Can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped about that in college or school! Averaging 13.9 points Los Angeles Times 14.4 and 3.25, respectively their long arms Spurs. Were long enough, and QB Movement Updates with Jeff Darlington Walton unique. With the Boston Celtics earlier in his career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5,. Him there, respectively hopefully they 're able to get their hands are very.! Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he 6-11! Going with a center by committee based on matchups they have wider wingspans even broke a on... The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than just to be.! And blocked shots, averaging 14.4 and 3.25, respectively the Trail Blazers making... Like our man bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest in years, and 3.4 in...: through his glory years at UCLA and during the incandescent though each... 75Th-Anniversary teams by choosing I Accept, You consent to our use of cookies and other tracking.... Previous career high with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands the no benefits is his ability to and! Very long, and their hands are very big at the rim and also get his hands on basketballs. He would never play again ( as Jackie MacMullan wrote in when game! At the time and QB Movement Updates with Jeff Darlington but he made! Career high with a center by committee based on matchups best of the best players Kerr faced had reach! Those broadcasting days, Walton wanted more than his height very long, and I can put. He got to the Tallest Deadhead hinting at an even brighter future best players Kerr had!

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