But the winning wasnt over. As an owner and commentator, he also made a favorable impression. An American-Israeli boy who was actually born in Taiwan, this dude was THIS CLOSE to entering the Slam Dunk competition in 2009, but was passed over for the Portland Trail Blazers Rudy Fernandez. Really, though, hed have to in order to make it look like he belonged there among all the African American bball greats. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ZbxZ3AJWWjyZL0HXDpABwVdW.7p3rtLrWMEsK2FPL0A-86400-0"}; Celtics legend Larry Bird might just be the most famous white guy in basketball. He became a three-time NBA champion, three-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year, three-time Three-Point Shootout Champion, and two-time member of the 50-40-90 club. Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. Somebody done gotcha. But man, that was sweet music. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Stanfords 6-4 Todd Lichti is a big-time leaper, regardless of race, creed or color. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Then an All-Star. inBrooklyn,New York Not only could he dunk, but he had a serious white boy swagger. All rights reserved. Keith had a 32. And he made it to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with a career that reads like a how-to book for legends. billy cunningham vertical jump - oumi-castle.net Jackie took off, jumped over Normans head and dunked the ball.. The next year he exploded for 24.8 points per game and 12.8 rebounds and he was named a first-team All-Star. Instead he went to Georgia as a white player and was a so-so power forward. Cunningham became a playground regular, a gym rat, and a high school star, leading Erasmus Hall to the New York City Championship in 1961. A person who is a poor leaper is said to have white mans disease. White guys use the expression, black guys use it, mostly in a spirit of good fun. Dont try a big leap. Uh oh! Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Mitch Kupchak witnessed a similar jump-off among 6-4 David Thompson, 6-9 Marvin Barnes and 7-4 Tom Burleson. Home Depot Is Selling A Giant 89-Pound Crab Statue For $1,500. Dunk-off of the Network Superstars? Hailing from Argentina and a family chock full of ball players, Ginobili uses his signature Euro Step to fake out the defense and get him where he needs to go. Many have speculated about the reasons behind this phenomenon. In todays semifinals, folks, well see Gary (Up in the Airy) Coleman vs. Bea (the Flea) Arthur, and Jumpin Johnny Carson vs. Pogo Stick Peter Jennings. He played nine seasons for the Baltimore Bullets, beginning in 63, and he died last year. People swear he cleared it by a foot, said Fred Trenkle, Southern Idahos basketball coach. It looked like the half-court line was around a mile and a half away, Cunningham said. There is a tavern called the Corner Club, in Moscow, Ida. He said he was tired and tight. There is no full-length biography of Cunningham, but he is mentioned in most authoritative histories of basketball and in several magazine and online profiles. He averaged 24.1 ppg (fourth best in the league) and 6.3 apg (fifth best), leading the Cougars to a 57-27 record, tops in the ABAs Eastern Division. But he was over by a good six to eight inches. married Sondra; they had two daughters. Cunningham left CBS Sports the following season to join the Miami Heat expansion franchise as a minority owner; he ultimately sold his interest of the Heat on August 12, 1994. [6] He announced on June 15, 1972, that he was going to play with the Cougars beginning with the upcoming season at press conferences in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina which occurred almost simultaneous to the Sixers' introduction of Roy Rubin as its new head coach.[7]. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Billy can jump up to 29-31 inches (vertical leap). He may be the greatest leaper of all time. Browse 1,052 billy cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Think about Steve Nash and the beautiful game he played: flawless passes, sinking 90.4% of his free throws, point guard skills on point every time. As a freshman he went out for the track team, worked out a total of 10 hours, then high-jumped 7-3 7/8. In 1974 Cunningham returned to the 76ers. Other notable dunks include his shot on the Sonics seriously ticked off Robert Reid, and another on the Knicks flabbergasted Patrick Ewing. Ive never felt another feeling like it, being able to go up in the air, over someone much bigger, and stay up there. Dunk is cheap. He would perform a reverse dunk-dunk with two balls. Terrell Owens Gets Into Fight Outside CVS. Also, his dunk on Dwight Howard during the 2008 Olympic finals was unreal. Chamberlain played for the Globetrotters in the 58-59 season and said: Jumpin Joe Buckhalter and I would line up on opposite sides of the free throw lane when Meadowlark Lemon was shooting a free throw. Free, Darryl Dawkins and Bobby Jones. At (one NBA tryout camp), where we had a strong cross section of draftees, the highest was 36 1/2 inches. Dawkins named it, Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robinzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham, Bam, Glass Breaker, I Am Jam.. It was an effort, but I could do it., There is no documented proof of a man ever taking off from behind the free-throw line, 15 feet from the backboard, and dunking. We Have Fusion Energy! The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Hey, a sportswriter dunks. "We just helped knock on doors and pull people out of their homes last night. Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft, NBA Debut: October 16, 1965▪ABA Debut: October 12, 1972, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1986 (Full List), More Billy Cunningham pages at Sports Reference. It is near the University of Idaho campus, where the legendary Gus Johnson once played. Billy Cunningham was a standout scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Position: Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. They were trying to touch the top of the board, Nissalke said. One of the more recent players on this list, Chris Birdman Anderson is known for his celebratory arm flapping and his intriguing tattoos. Rosters Cut,", "1978 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers", Goldaper, Sam. Effortless, absolutely effortless.. Geraldo Rivera is standing by. In 1972-73, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the American Basketball Association and he scored 18 points in the ABA All-Star Game. So I did a 360, two handed, and he conceded.. Against Tulane University on 10 December 1964, he set a UNC record by scoring forty-eight points. American basketball player The only other thing in life I couldnt comprehend was looking at the moon and knowing there were men walking on it.. Professional basketball player He came on back to Harlem. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. Who would he share a wing with? In fact, he set the record for most blocks and field goal percentage in a season at his high school, Linganore High in Mt. He cant quite jump out of the gym, but he has come close to jumping out of a bar or two. He led Philadelphia to the playoffs in every year as coach, and advanced to the NBA Finals 3 times, in the 197980, 198182 and 198283 seasons. Many of the legendary leapers of that era didnt play NBA ball because all they could do was leap. Last season, there were 5,757 NBA dunks by 246 players. No. They were a winning team the next two seasons but could not repeat as champions, and Cunningham retired after the 19841985 season. These are true royalty: Sir Jamalot, Sir Slam, the Prince of Midair. They are enshrined in a mythical Museum of Leap. Ginoblili is 39 years old and recently won a jump ball against the 22-year-old Nerlens Noel, who has a good five inches on the Argentinian-Italian. But who has seen him? . Chris Wallace, the college talent scout, said: I dont believe measurements. I see kids in the eighth grade, kids 5-11, dunking behind their heads, said Rod Thorn, former National Basketball Assn. Shoots: Contending that the Cougars had reneged on paying the remaining $80,000 of a $125,000 signing bonus due on May 15, 1970, he reversed himself and signed a fouryear, $950,000 contract extension to stay with the 76ers through 197475 on July 15, 1970. (2000). Why isnt this guy in the hall of fame yet? Hes earned a list of nicknames, including LaVine The Machine as well as being part of the Bounce Brothers duo with Minnesota Timerwolves teammate Andrew Wiggins. I have seen everybody, Hill said. How does Zion "only" have a vertical jump of 40.5 inches when - reddit Known as "The Kangaroo Kid," he won an NBA Championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967, then coached the team to another championship in 1983. Averaging 14.3 points per game, Cunningham was named to the league's All-Rookie team. RotoWire names five under-the-radar players who could add value to your rosters as we approach fantasy playoffs. His man takes him into the key, gives a head fake and sends Jackie skyward. He spent several years as one of the owners of the Miami Heat and the team quickly became a contender. As a rookie in 1965-66, he pulled down 7.5 rpg, scored 14.3 ppg and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Encyclopedia.com. You cant accomplish that feat unless youve got some serious springs in your heels! If accurate, that would have put him as the 10th-highest max vertical leaper (not standing, but with a short running start) in the NBA Draft, just behind Grayson Allen's number of 40.5 inches. We know he was born in New Bern, N.C., grew up (and flew up) in Brooklyn, attended Virginia Union, then played several years for the Harlem Globetrotters and in the old Eastern League. Connie Hawkins, another of the elite leapers of that era, was blackballed from the NBA because of involvement with gamblers when he was in college. Wilt Chamberlain claims that his sergeant, during his prime, was 46 to 48 inches, easy. Of course, Wilt also claims he once averaged 50 points for an entire NBA season, so his credibility is suspect. and inspired headlines everywhere to scream White Men CAN Jump! Seriously, though. The following season Philadelphia won sixty-two games and the Eastern Division title but lost to the Celtics in the playoffs. Before the game, English and I went back and forth. "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") After that season, Cunningham jumped from the NBA to the ABA with the Carolina Cougars. He told me, Sonny, no. . In the far-up Land of Leap, the unit of currency is the dunk. The color barrier and the sex barrier of slam-dunk have fallen: Many white guys and a few women can dunk. [8] During his tenure, the team featured Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving. He said he was afraid he would cut himself. Or write about sports? Joe Vanilla Sky Alexander has restless, jumpy feet that propel him way up to block shots and confound his opponents. "The beauty part of playing basketball," he once said, "is that your mind is occupied with playing basketball and nothing else, and you're having fun.". The two teams waged a court battle, each claiming the rights to Cunningham, but the new league won. I get a rebound and Im driving up the floor, ready to go coast to coast. He was never even charged with wrongdoing, but the NBA ban stuck until Connies lawyers broke it down in 1969, when the Hawk was 27 and well past his swooping prime. That's because like many players expected to be picked very high in the draft, they do not attend the Draft Combine or its measurements. Some may say that getting off the ground quickly is more important than how much height you get, but its a safe bet that these same people cant match Alexanders pre-draft 38.5 inch max vertical. Pretty darn safe. Anybodv can win the lottery.. Upload media Wikipedia. Select from premium Billy Cunningham 76ers of the highest quality. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. They annihilated the opposition all season and finished with a 68-13 record. Theres no greater feeling than going up in a crowd, over guys a foot taller., Tommy (the Hawk) Hawkins said: If you can think about Peter Pan, thats the feeling. City, and a member of the Parade Magazine All-America Team. Detroits Adrian Dantley, 6-foot-4, and Clevelands Phil Hubbard, 6-8, were the only front-court starters to go through the season dunkless. He once grabbed a record 27 rebounds in a game vs. Clemson on February 16, 1963. Professional basketball player the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. In the 197374 season, Cunningham and the Cougars finished third in the Eastern Division and lost again to the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division semifinals. He had tested thousands of Navy pilots during the war, and he said Griffiths was the highest he ever measured.. Cunningham had just snared a defensive rebound and was dribbling to the Sixers free-throw line when, as he later recounted, his knee just exploded. No one had touched him, although Alfred Butch Beard was given a foul on the play. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? If thats not impressive enough for you, he also played on two NBA championship teams and later coached the Philadelphia 76ers for eight seasons. Injuries limited Cunningham to only 32 games in 1973-74, but he still averaged 20.5 ppg. Throughout his life, Cunningham excelled at all aspects of the game he loved. There was a guard from Harlem named Rabbit. The Philadelphia team Cunningham inherited featured Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Doug Collins, Lloyd B. The following is a list of the NBA's All-Time Top 50 Team: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Archibald, Paul Arizin, Charles Barkley, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Billy Cunningham, Dave DeBusschere . He finally got a pro tryout with the Utah Stars of the ABA at 25, but by then his fabulous springs were sprung. I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. His colourful tattoos and hairstyles are about as famous as his skills too, with hairdos including mohawks, spikes, and shoulder-length shag. He was a role player on the 1967 title team in . Category:Billy Cunningham - Wikimedia Commons Some nights Id scare myself.. Its a feeling of power and freedom Ive never gotten from anything else. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Has Joey Johnson simply outleaped the game of basketball? With an average height of 64, Arizin had fantastic ball handling skills, played a mean defense, and had some seriously bouncy feet. There have been--and are--very good white jumpers. Billy Cunningham was born in Brooklyn, New York. So much has been written and said about Julius Erving over the years that i, Allen, Marcus 1960 NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, Brooks suspended after receiving 16th technical foul, Grizzlies' Clarke (torn achilles) out indefinitely, Ja will be away from team for 'at least' 2 games, Ex-NBA player Morrow facing assault charges, Durant passes 'Big O' for 13th in career points, NBA Fantasy: Under-the-radar additions for playoffs. Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. One day he received a call from Zev Buffman, who needed a well-known basketball personality to help secure an NBA franchise for Miami. Thats a mouthful. William John Cunningham (The Kangaroo Kid, Kang, Billy C) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Left 6-6, 210lb (198cm, 95kg) . You dont play with a red, white and blue ball if youre into dignity. //]]>. Keith Smart always reported he had a 44. People think, mistakenly in most cases, that they could hit a baseball, Costas says. In Cunninghams debut year the team went 55-27 and won the Atlantic Division before losing to eventual-champion Washington in the Eastern Conference finals. He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. Now, as radio's "Voice of the Common Man," Bill merges all his knowledge, along with his distinguished guests to enrich the minds of his loyal and participative audience. Patterson, who recently resigned as Arizona States coach, said that Johnson is really an impact player, but not consistently good and solid. Since joining the NBA in the 2002-03 season, this guy has achieved dozens of honours and awards, including three MVP award shares and a spot playing in two All-Star games. But listen to Wilt. 1936-1999 He would replace the injured and aging Luke Jackson as the starting power forward of the team, and averaged 24.8 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game during the 196869 season while leading the 76ers to 55 wins. Well find out next season. I won the unofficial NBA slam dunk title that season, said White, who now sells heavy equipment in Georgia. Billy Cunningham (Billy; The Kangaroo Kid) Position: Forward 6-6 , 210lb (198cm, 95kg) School: North Carolina (Men) Draft: Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA draft SUMMARY Career G 69 PTS 24.8 TRB 15.4 AST - FG% 47.3 FT% 62.8 Cunningham Overview More Cunningham Pages More Cunningham pages at Sports Reference