I used to dunk on that basket. His colourful tattoos and hairstyles are about as famous as his skills too, with hairdos including mohawks, spikes, and shoulder-length shag. If we were to honor dunkers as we honor actors, Doc would be given a statuette for his body of work. Billy Cunningham found success as a coach in the NBA after his playing days were through. "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.". Joey didnt even have his shoes laced, Clarke said. 3 June 1943 in Brooklyn, New York ), professional basketball player known for his vertical leap who was a top scorer and rebounder in the 1960s and 1970s, and who later became a winning coach, television commentator, and team owner. Unlike Thompson, a huge star at North Carolina State, Dr. J kind of sneaked up on the basketball world. It was the Human Highlight Film vs. a Selected Short. Billy Cunningham - IMDb 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. He was twice named an All-American during his collegiate years. 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. Knowing he was inexperienced, Cunningham assembled a group of veteran ex-coaches as assistants, including Chuck Daly, who later to become head coach of the Detroit Pistons. Youre entering another world up there. Actually he was a 62% free throw shooter, which is poor except in comparison to his 51% as a pro. But the final came down to David Thompson vs. Julius Erving--the Skywalker vs. the Doctor. The next year he exploded for 24.8 points per game and 12.8 rebounds and he was named a first-team All-Star. Youre just up there and nobody else can get up there., David (Skywalker) Thompson said: Sometimes Id surprise myself. Known as 'The Kangaroo Kid,' Billy Cunningham was a high-flying scorer who won an NBA title as a player and coach with the 76ers. Not a great deal is known about Jackie, which is good, because nothing dims a legend faster than facts. Cunningham arrived in Chapel Hill just as Dean Smith was taking over as the head basketball coach of the UNC Tar Heels. I dont believe anyone has ever done it. This guy wasnt a leaper, but it will show you what I mean. Dawkins claimed to have come from the planet Lovetron, he called himself Chocolate Thunder and Zandokan the Mad Dunker, and he named his dunks. 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. "It's a remarkable life.". After Chamberlain left the team in 1968, Cunningham became the 76ers' franchise player. I said to him, Yes, yes, yes! Wilt said, Im gonna kill you. . 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. In his UNC career, he scored 1,709 points (24.8 points per game), and grabbed 1,062 rebounds (15.4 rebounds per game). For three days, Rabbit put on a show like theyve never seen before. He said he was afraid he would cut himself. Nope. These are not necessarily great basketball players, understand, but their ability to jump has made them objects of something much deeper than profound respect. 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. Who would he share a wing with? Lift up an arm and hop once or twice to get a feel for how far away the rim is. Here's a number: 44 inches. After the 197374 season, Cunningham returned to the 76ers, where he played until torn knee cartilage and ligaments ended his career as an active player early in the 197576 season. Jackie took off, jumped over Normans head and dunked the ball.. It's like walking on air. Brooks will serve his 1-game suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies visit the Clippers. He says it came by accident, that in his early days they often played on dance floors, which were often slippery, so he started jumping to avoid sliding and faceplanting. Born: June 3, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York us College: UNC High School: Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York Draft: Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft In 1974 Cunningham returned to the 76ers. Even back in his Florida State days, where he was ACC Rookie of the year for the 1991-92 season, it was obvious that he loved to run, jump, and make friends with the rim. They are enshrined in a mythical Museum of Leap. 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. Joey? Julius, Gus (Johnson), Pogo Joe Caldwell. Top 15 NBA Players Who Prove That White Men CAN Jump, The sun even shines on a dog's a** some days. He was discovered. In our museum of hoop flight, there is a special wing for the charter members, the dinosaurs of dunk. Billy Cunningham Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images 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. No man, I dont believe, has been up that far., With Chamberlain over 50--years of age, not points per game--Nissalke feels safe in saying, That would be the ultimate challenge: Bet any amount of money, and you wouldnt find anyone who could come close to the top of the board.. Lets add Billy Hoyle as an honourary #16 to this list, shall we? Robinson, David 1965 Cunningham began his second basketball career on Nov. 4, 1977, when he was hired to replace Gene Shue at the Sixers helm. Gus once said, When I dunked that ball and heard that shot for the first time, I said to myself, Oh, oh, Gus. It looked like the half-court line was around a mile and a half away, Cunningham said. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Billy Cunningham Pitchin Paul is credited as being one of the first basketball players to ever use the jump shot. He scored 16,310 points and pulled down nearly 8,000 rebounds. Its unbelievable. 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. Philadelphia went 47-35, second in the newly formed Atlantic Division, but was ousted again in the first round of the playoffs. A fairly average 65 Sura fit in among the other players on the court, but he set himself apart with his gorgeous dunking abilities. Many of the great leapers of that era inhabited the fringes of reality as we know it. In 1966 Cunningham I was phoning the Charlotte Hornets to reach David (Skywalker) Thompson, who now works in the teams front office, when a female secretary said: Ive only seen two players who did things that I watched and I didnt believe--David, and Michael Jordan. 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. He was an incredible shot blocker. Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. I could. Jackie Jacksons all-around game, by most accounts, was only fair. With a dad who played basketball center for Northwestern Oklahoma University, and a childhood that included playing baseball, football, AND hoops, Blake Griffin was destined for greatness. In the exhibition season he was assigned to bring the ball up the court against Bostons K.C. Billy Cunningham - Wikipedia Its a rush, a thrill, said the Elevator from Decatur. 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. Thats a white head, remember. As a player and then a coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, he was part of two NBA championship teams. Dunk is cheap. Joey made the trip but was nursing a hip pointer, so he couldnt suit up. star and now the leagues vice president of operations. They annihilated the opposition all season and finished with a 68-13 record. They couldnt, of course, because those things are so much harder than they look. It didnt happen, though, and Fernandez remains playing with Real Madrid, where he feels he is a better player.This, however, is debatable. Michael Jordan has stopped just short of holding the ball in his mouth, uncoiling his tongue in mid-flight and inventing the Anteater Slam. The rim was two inches low. Billy Cunningham Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth With Maurice Cheeks and Lionel Hollins adding vitality to the backcourt, the Sixers roared to a 59-23 record in the 1979-80 regular season and then defeated favored Boston with rookie sensation Larry Bird in the Eastern Conference finals. 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. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Top 15 NBA Players Who Prove That White Men CAN Jump - TheSportster 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. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. 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. Anybodv can win the lottery, 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. Encyclopedia.com. I never had to agonize over that decision all athletes face.. He didnt just score, he scored OVER people, including all 68 of Plastic Man Stacey Augmon. The Doc won it with a long run, a leap from two inches inside the free throw line and a dramatic, powerful windmill slam. How in the world can this kid play ball? He rises to the highest level of broadcasting. Bones Barry is pretty much Larry Bird, only with a slightly higher jump and significantly longer shorts. In 1966-67, the 76ers dominated the NBA. 1924- I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. Boston kept Philadelphia out of The 1981 Finals, but the Sixers roared back to the 1982 before falling to the Lakers again. Jay Norman, an outstanding defensive player, went into his defensive stance at the foul line. In fact, his hockey-head-ish hair might even be as famous as his dunk. Judging by a still shot the DukeMBB videographer took during the testing, Williamson cleared a vertical leap mark of 40 inches. His entire head and neck were above the rim. He finished well out of the running--or jumping--when he clanged at least one attempt off the rim. After the 19711972 season, Cunningham left Philadelphia and the NBA for the rival American Basketball Association (ABA), signing on with the (North) Carolina Cougars. ." Moral of this story: dont count the white guys out of this sport just yet. Manigault, for instance, developed an addiction to heroin, stole to get it, did time in two prisons. Yep. They outlawed that, but I wouldnt have done it in a game, anyway. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. One of the more recent players on this list, Chris Birdman Anderson is known for his celebratory arm flapping and his intriguing tattoos. 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. Youd go up, arch your back, and go up even higher. The Smooth Criminal, as he was called when he played for Spain, didnt stick with the NBA for too long, but sure made an impact. Cunningham achieved a career trifecta in law, business, and government. Hed shoot it short and Joe and I would leap up and shake hands over the basket.. Seniors Are Getting Freaking And A New Loofah Code Lets Everyone Know. Still, the thrill is not all gone. Stand underneath a basketball hoop, a regulation 10-footer. Billy Cunningham played fiercely, coached intensely, and won frequently. billy cunningham vertical jump - mail.edtna-erca.org Athletic Club, has worked with most of the great L.A. prep stars of the last two decades. Another oft-told legend has Jackie on defense. Averaging 14.3 points per game, Cunningham was named to the league's All-Rookie team. He was a No. 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. It is near the University of Idaho campus, where the legendary Gus Johnson once played. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Oh my God, Smith recalled thinking. His standing vertical was 37.5 inches. Hes set records for leading the NBA in dunks during his very first year playing pro. He was a tough, intense, competitive player who used his intelligence as much as his physical talents. Ive never felt another feeling like it, being able to go up in the air, over someone much bigger, and stay up there. 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. These guys will never forget the blur of that mullet-ed head flying past them. I mean, what next? 22 Feb. 2023
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