Well find out next season. The other measurement of leap is the money exchange at the top of the backboard, which is exactly 13 feet above the floor and three feet above the rim. His departure had a disastrous effect on the 76ers, who posted a 9-73 record in 1972-73, the worst mark in NBA history. Celtics legend Larry Bird might just be the most famous white guy in basketball. He played 80 games, primarily as a sixth man, while averaging 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Ervings early obscurity helped make him famous. Julius, Gus (Johnson), Pogo Joe Caldwell. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Every time Gus slam-dunked at home, the recorded sound of a rifle shot would whistle through the arena. After that season, Cunningham jumped from the NBA to the ABA with the Carolina Cougars. William John "Billy" Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. These are two very, very different kinds of feathered friends. He was a No. Browse 1,052 billy cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Cunningham could not even crack the starting lineupwhich included Wilt Chamberlain, Chet Walker, Lucious Jackson, Hal Greer, and Wally Jonesbut he averaged 18.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game coming off the bench. [9] In 1996, Cunningham was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary. One dunking dinosaur who could fly and play was Gus Johnson, a 6-6 hipster-forward who had a gold star implanted in a front tooth. White is a regular at Hawk games and a fan of Wilkins. In his basketball uniform and shoes, with a short, unmeasured run-up, he soared over seven feet. can arthur get a girlfriend rdr2; cook county jail roster; zip code validation rule in salesforce; first coast security ehub; billy cunningham vertical jump. . And Dirk Nowitzki who no doubt has walls plastered top to bottom with awards and achievements. Imagine yourself lifting off the blacktop, up and up, until you can reach into the air far above the rim. . Or write about sports? Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. 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. It is. Cunningham, though, tore up the ABA. In The Finals, however, Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin Magic Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes and the Lakers were too much. Cunningham reached 200, 300, and 400 wins faster than any previous coach in NBA history. Hed shoot it short and Joe and I would leap up and shake hands over the basket.. See, for example, Jan Hubbard, ed., The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, 3d ed. The two teams waged a court battle, each claiming the rights to Cunningham, but the new league won. I went back a few hours later with a tape measure. Cade Cunningham Vertical Jump Height. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cunningham-william-john-billy, "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") In 1976-77, the season before Cunningham took the helm, the Sixers reached The Finals, only to fall to the Portland Trail Blazers. Philadelphia switched Cunningham to small forward, a position that allowed him to use his tenacity and jumping ability around the boards. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Detroits Adrian Dantley, 6-foot-4, and Clevelands Phil Hubbard, 6-8, were the only front-court starters to go through the season dunkless. Joey made the trip but was nursing a hip pointer, so he couldnt suit up. Dont try a big leap. 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. We played Portland in the last game of the season. Weary of the NBA lifestyle, Cunningham retired. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. A lot of great leapers dont bother to perfect those skills, because they are treated with such awe. Nobody ever played the game could rise any better than Jackie. Billy Cunningham averaged 21.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Thunder Dan has more than made friends with the rim and earned his name! Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York, Draft: Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. In 1967, he teamed with fellow Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA title. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The 6-2 product of the Harlem slums could dunk, catch the ball with his opposite hand and dunk it again, all in the same leap. 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. Oh my God, Smith recalled thinking. And the problem these days is inflation. Patterson, who recently resigned as Arizona States coach, said that Johnson is really an impact player, but not consistently good and solid. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ZbxZ3AJWWjyZL0HXDpABwVdW.7p3rtLrWMEsK2FPL0A-86400-0"}; Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Hes one of only a handful of white guys to even make it to the Slam Dunk Competition, and hes rumoured to have reached a vertical jump of 39 inches. And he played it constantly. 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. They couldnt, of course, because those things are so much harder than they look. 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. Instant green. After that season, Cunningham jumped from the NBA to the ABA with the Carolina Cougars. Do you have a blog? In Madison Square Garden, he got a standing ovation for his warmup dunks. Right now Johnson is red-shirting at ASU. for once. ." Billy Cunningham was born in New York on June 3, 1943. Also, his dunk on Dwight Howard during the 2008 Olympic finals was unreal. Cunningham hit for 18.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg. He stood below the basket, no run, just jumped straight up with his arms at his sides, flipped his head sideways and dunked his cap.. Geraldo Rivera is standing by. Since his slamming days in the NBA, hes continued with the sport as a scout, director, analyst, commentator, and even vice president of player personnel. Skywalker, Helicopter, Elevator, Clyde the Glide, Air Jordan, the Hawk, Rodan, Pogo Joe, Honeycomb, Sidecar, the Big Dipper, the Human Highlight Film, Sky King, Kangaroo Kid. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. inBrooklyn,New York He was a tough, intense, competitive player who used his intelligence as much as his physical talents. Among his numerous career achievements, he was named to the 1966 All-Rookie Team and three All-NBA First Teams. It was the Human Highlight Film vs. a Selected Short. A sample: In Your Face Disgrace, Sexophonic Turbo Delight, Hammer of Thor, and Yo Mamma. And despite the proliferation of dunkers, there is a very elite group of leapers. Top 15 NBA Players Who Prove That White Men CAN Jump - TheSportster White, also known as the Elevator from Decatur, made the NBA all-time all-warmup team that one season. Not a great deal is known about Jackie, which is good, because nothing dims a legend faster than facts. Rosters Cut,", "1978 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers", Goldaper, Sam. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. Billy Cunningham attended Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York and UNC. . However, none of the other basketball-playing Barry brothers Scooter, Jon, and Drew - can claim to be the only white man in history to win the Slam Dunk contest, though. In his second season with Carolina, Cunningham was hampered by injuries, but he still managed a 20.5 average in 32 games. After Chamberlain left the team in 1968, Cunningham became the 76ers' franchise player. In 1966-67, the 76ers dominated the NBA. Biography. Despite his Caucasian genetic setbacks, he shot up an unbelievable 41.5 inches at the NBA Draft Combine in 2014. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Cunningham in the first round of the 1965 NBA Draft, figuring the 6-foot-6 bony and mobile player would be a guard. Lets add Billy Hoyle as an honourary #16 to this list, shall we? billy cunningham vertical jump - mail.edtna-erca.org After the 19711972 season, Cunningham left Philadelphia and the NBA for the rival American Basketball Association (ABA), signing on with the (North) Carolina Cougars. He was so good, Red Auerbach saw him play in a schoolyard game and invited him to camp with the Celtics. Cunningham attended Erasmus Hall As Cunningham was adjusting to the professional game, the 76ers were becoming a powerhouse. Eight players dunked in triple figures: Barkley of Philadelphia, 188; Jordan of Chicago, 156; Otis Thorpe of Golden State, 150; Pat Ewing of the Knicks, 146; Karl Malone of Utah, 142; Drexler of Portland, 130; Wilkins of Atlanta, 126, and Olajuwon of Houston, 118. Do you have a sports website? Dont send letters, leapers. He was elected to the Hall of Fame the following year. These guys more than held their own in a sport where they were absolutely a minority. Other notable dunks include his shot on the Sonics seriously ticked off Robert Reid, and another on the Knicks flabbergasted Patrick Ewing. An influential figure on the game at large, Julius Erving won a 1983 NBA title in Philadelphia and was the face of the ABA as well. billy cunningham vertical jump - quraneducator.com William John Cunningham (born June 3, 1943) is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid for his leaping and record-setting rebounding abilities. The next year he exploded for 24.8 points per game and 12.8 rebounds and he was named a first-team All-Star. Home Depot Is Selling A Giant 89-Pound Crab Statue For $1,500. It was so much air that it tied young Pat for the spot of second-highest vertical leap recorded up to that point. Billy can jump up to 29-31 inches (vertical leap). No discussion of legendary leapers is complete without heated debate. His jump was absolutely awesome. His show is on the air from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. What type of shoes did Billy Cunningham wear? The most frequent flyers? I could. Ill give you an example. It doesnt take a detective to see these were obviously a foreshadowing of plays to come. Shoots: 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. Soon Greer would be alone. Billy Cunningham Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth Lift up an arm and hop once or twice to get a feel for how far away the rim is. home/away, monthly, etc More Billy Cunningham Basketball Reference pages, Compare Billy Cunningham to other players. And some colleges and pro teams were not ready to take chances on what went along with those guys. Now thats something to brag about at Sunday family dinners. Some have called the team the greatest of all time. Keith Smart always reported he had a 44. For his college career he averaged 24.8 points per game and set a school record with 1,062 rebounds. He said he was afraid he would cut himself. With the exception of Chamberlain, Dr. J was the first superleaper who was also a superstar NBA player, and the first big-time player to exploit the dunk as an art form at the pro level. He didnt just score, he scored OVER people, including all 68 of Plastic Man Stacey Augmon. Though he portrayed a large woman in "You have to Walk it like . He inherited a team of underachievers led by Julius Erving. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") No question, the mystique of the superleaper remains. In the 19661967 season the 76ers were a powerhouse, winning sixty-eight against only thirteen losses and beating the Boston Celtics and San Francisco in the playoffs to win the championship. I got fired up and did a 360 dunk. In the 19701971 season he again was an All-Star starter and finished ninth in the NBA with 23.0 points per game. //]]>. You cant accomplish that feat unless youve got some serious springs in your heels! He did prefer ball to hockey, after all. At halftime of one Southern Idaho game, Joey was pursuaded to give a brief high-jump demonstration. [8] For his career, he scored 16,310 points, grabbed 7,981 rebounds, and recorded 3,305 assists in both the NBA and the ABA. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. He succeeded Gene Shue as head coach of the 24 76ers on November 4, 1977. Uh oh! If the Land of Leap had a national holiday, it would be Feb. 8, the anniversary of the legendary 1976 ABA All-Star games first--and last--slam dunk contest. Then he transferred to Arizona State, clashed with then-coach Steve Patterson and wound up quitting the team. His entire head and neck were above the rim. Cunningham joined the broadcast team for CBS in the 197677 season, often paired with Brent Musburger, leaving after the season ended to coach the 76ers. The next season, Phily finished 47-35, but lost to the Spurs in the conference semis. Mike Conley, who is 6-2 and a triple jumper, won the Foot Locker Slam Dunk Contest last weekend, with 6-2 Raider receiver Tim Brown finishing third and swimmer Matt Biondi in the top five. Joey? Its not just his personality that gets attention, though; hes been an NBA Champion in 2013, participated in the Slam Dunk Contest twice, and his vertical leap measures in at a not-too-shabby 37 inches. Tom Nissalke, an assistant coach at Milwaukee when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came into the league, and later head coach of the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, says he always had his players measured, and the best sergeant he ever saw was a 35, by Darrell Griffith as a rookie. Dennis never was much of a leaper. And there was a dog. Legends profile: Billy Cunningham | NBA.com In 1996 he was voted one of the top fifty players at the NBA's fiftieth anniversary. Its almost like you were floating, like there was no such thing as gravity. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. When Cunningham got off the bus in Chapel Hill in the fall of 1961, he was all skin and bones, a freckle-faced redhead with a clumsy, pigeon-toed gait. The Doc won it with a long run, a leap from two inches inside the free throw line and a dramatic, powerful windmill slam. Billy Cunningham - Wikipedia Billy Cunningham played fiercely, coached intensely, and won frequently. Officially, his nickname originated from a 2002 summer league in Salt Lake City, where other players commented on his jumps and grabs, saying he could fly like a bird. Dont get him confused with Larry Bird though. The 76ers lost to the Lakers in 1980 and 1982, but after acquiring Moses Malone, they finally got past the Lakers in 1983, winning the franchise's third (and most recent) NBA Championship as part of a 121 playoff run. He was All-ACC, the ACC Player of the Year, and an All-American in college, later named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the fifty best players in Atlantic Coast Conference history. 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. 1924- Effortless, absolutely effortless.. Bill Cunningham | Premiere Networks It was those antsy feet that made him unstoppable, resulting in his inclusion on 10 All-Star Games, achieving the 1952 All-Star Game MVP, and nabbing 5 MVP Award shares. 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. The man waits and waits for Jackie to start coming down, but waits too long. snoop dogg zodiac chart New Lab; kaplan children's furniture; is there quicksand in georgia; He also became an NBA broadcaster on national television and later a part-owner of the Miami Heat. As a rebounder and jump shooter he averaged 18.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg. Media in category "Billy Cunningham" The following 5 files are in this category, out of 5 total. Bobby Jones could swoop and soar. These are true royalty: Sir Jamalot, Sir Slam, the Prince of Midair. So much has been written and said about Julius Erving over the years that i, Allen, Marcus 1960 billy cunningham vertical jump - polucon.com Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. On 6 May 1986 Cunningham was elected into the NBA Hall of Fame, as one of its ten initial inductees. American basketball player What happens when you put stilts on kangaroo? Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Family (1) Overview (3) Born: June 3, 1943 in New York, USA: Birth Name: William John Cunningham: Height: 6' 7" (2.01 m) Mini Bio (1) William John "Billy" Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. He told me, Sonny, no. . After three days, Rabbit said to Red, One of us is gonna have to go., Red said, What do you mean? Rabbit said, Either get rid of Bob Cousy or get rid of me. If youre looking for scale, thats taller than most baby elephants. Do you have a blog? Some are best at soaring up for a three-pointer, some rock at the jump shots, some can perform slam dunks like nobodys business, and they all work their butts off to prove that they belong in this black mans sport. Joey is 6-3, with average-length arms and legs, and incredibly unaverage spring. If thats not impressive enough for you, he also played on two NBA championship teams and later coached the Philadelphia 76ers for eight seasons. Encyclopedia.com. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Billy Cunningham. By the time Dr. J got to the NBA, in 1976 at the age of 26, more than 25% of his leg spring--by his estimate--was shot. In Game 2 of the 1967 NBA Finals, Cunningham scored 28 points during a 126-95 win over the San Francisco Warriors.[3]. I see kids in the eighth grade, kids 5-11, dunking behind their heads, said Rod Thorn, former National Basketball Assn. Billy Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. In his UNC career, he scored 1,709 points (24.8 points per game), and grabbed 1,062 rebounds (15.4 rebounds per game). A lot of them, you have to understand, werent able to get into college, Chamberlain said. My sergeant was higher than Jordans. This guy couldshoot AND dunk. These are professional men: Dr. J, Dr. Dunkenstein, Dr. Jam. I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. 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. Back when he played for the Phillies, they had him dribbling alongside Wilt The Stilt Chamberlain for two seasons, and when Chamberlain left in 69, the 76ers had a Kangaroo as their star. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. He came up with four: Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb and Clyde (the Glide) Drexler. 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. These are not necessarily great basketball players, understand, but their ability to jump has made them objects of something much deeper than profound respect. 22 Feb. 2023 . As a professional he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, an NBA All-Star, All-NBA First and Second Team, an ABA All-Star, All-ABA First Team, and the ABA Most Valuable Player. Okay, so LaVine is technically not 100% Caucasian. He was finished as a player. He cant even walk.. Unlike Thompson, a huge star at North Carolina State, Dr. J kind of sneaked up on the basketball world. us, High School: Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. . The white guys listed below are heroes of the basketball world. They were like jazz musicians in sneakers. Yep. Billy Cunningham 76ers Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Its a rush, a thrill, said the Elevator from Decatur. The college boys are no doubt wide eyed and gape-mouthed when they meet this coach for the first time. Some nights, when your legs were really there and you had total command, you felt nobody was going to get any higher than you were. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. The legendary player and coach was named the ABA MVP for the 1972-73 season. The obvious question is, why didnt more of these guys play in the NBA? Free, Darryl Dawkins and Bobby Jones. It's a move in which a player drives past a defender by stepping one way and then quickly taking a big lateral step in the other direction, and its become pretty popular. Joe Clarke, founder and president of the South-Central L.A. We ask the player to stand next to a wall, flat-footed, one arm stretched to its maximum, and mark the apex of his fingers. "I never had to agonize over that decision all athletes face" about when to retire. It sure did make me feel good inside.. [15], For other people named William Cunningham, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, List of National Basketball Association single-game playoff scoring leaders, "The Rumble: AN OFF-THE-BALL LOOK AT YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS CELEBRITIES", "Philadelphia 76ers 134 - Portland Trail Blazers 132", Goldaper, Sam. A fiery coach, Cunningham stalked the sidelines with the best of them. The Cougars' attempt to file an injunction against him was denied in United States District Court on September 24, 1971. He was a role player on the 1967 title team in . Find out more. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. Keith had a 32. He inherited a team of underachievers led by Julius Erving. When Joey was a high school senior, Clarke took his Watts Magicians to Mesa, Ariz., for a prep tournament. Hes said to be the greatest white dunker in all of basketball history. During the post-season, the Cougars defeated the New York Nets in five games in the Eastern Division Semifinals to advance to the Eastern Division Finals. Watch even half of any of his highlight reels and youll understand why he made this list. They asked him to show how high he could jump, so with no warmup of any kind, in his school clothes, Joey stood there, jumped up and put his chin on the rim. The greatest jumper today? Herb White was moved to write a poem about an eagle that had lost its ability to soar. 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. He is six feet seven inches tall. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Join our linker program. There. Joey averaged 19.5 points at Southern Idaho and led the team to a national junior college title. If youve got a good imagination, imagine yourself wearing a baseball cap, and leaping so high, arms at your side, that you flick your head sideways and dunk your cap.

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