The team finished 42-40 and was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. "Rubin Quits L. I. U. to Pilot 76ers,", Goldaper, Sam. and inspired headlines everywhere to scream White Men CAN Jump! Seriously, though. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. He holds the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history of .698 (only Phil Jackson is ahead of him). He would get up in the air and spread those wings, hed be swoopin. inBrooklyn,New York In 1966 Cunningham Billy Cunningham of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a jump shot against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1968 at the Boston Garden in Boston,. But with a leaper, everybody instantly knows they couldnt do it, that only the tiniest fraction of humans can jump that high.. It sure did make me feel good inside.. Technicalities, you know. Whats unfortunate is that most people regard the great leapers as being only the short guys who could dunk, said the 7-1 1/16 Chamberlain. billy cunningham vertical jump us, High School: Rosters Cut,", "1978 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers", Goldaper, Sam. Until recently, nobody ever tried to keep track of dunks on any league-wide scale. When Dominique (the Human Highlight Film) Wilkins was in college, a 5-9 laundry man named Leroy Nowells would saunter into the Georgia gym and match slams with Wilkins. His shooting skills may be what he is best remembered for, but his vertical leaps were nothing to sneeze at: he made 28 inches on more than one occasion. He told me, Sonny, no. . That said, you can see his leaping ability when he takes off. 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. He finished well out of the running--or jumping--when he clanged at least one attempt off the rim. In 1997 Cunningham became the expert commentator for the CBS television network's coverage of NBA games. ." I said to myself, Ive got to try. I angled to the right. His fame began while he was playing at St. Rose of Lima and later Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn,[1] where he was the MVP in the Brooklyn League in 1961. During a game in 1963 against Clemson University, he grabbed a record twenty-seven rebounds. 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. Cade Cunningham Vertical Jump - Height, Weight, Wingspan, Draft & Stats star and now the leagues vice president of operations. 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. I went back a few hours later with a tape measure. Position: [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. Wed been on the bus eight hours by then, Trenkle said. Philadelphia then became a member of the leagues elite. Lets add Billy Hoyle as an honourary #16 to this list, shall we? The soaring flight of the great leaper is amazing, even to himself. As if this wasnt impressive enough, it was during a practice with the LA Lakers about a month after the Combine that he flew up 46 inches, creating a new pre-draft record. The University of North Carolina (UNC) coach Frank McGuire convinced Cunningham to enroll there. We Have Fusion Energy! Instant green. He was a tough, intense, competitive player who used his intelligence as much as his physical talents. Airy, Maryland. He was all but unknown at the University of Massachusetts, then played five seasons in the semi-secret ABA. The players who fly through this thin air are not simply remembered by hoop fans. Billy Cunningham played fiercely, coached intensely, and won frequently. If you give bonus points for obscurity and mystery, it would be Joey Johnson, younger brother of Celtic guard Dennis. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. Thats a mouthful. A commitment to the basic fundamentals of any game lead to progress, growth, and success. "I can't put my finger on it exactly, but there was just something about the game. After that season, he earned the first of what would be three straight All-NBA First Team selections. There. I also think, in Joeys case, he gets up so high it hurts his shooting technique., Clarke said: When other players were shooting jump shots in their back yards, Joey was practicing dunks.. CREATIVE. 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. The Cougars' attempt to file an injunction against him was denied in United States District Court on September 24, 1971. Well find out next season. I made a left turn at the baseline, flew under the basket to the other side, put it through his arms, and dunked it with two hands over my head. Find Billy Cunningham 76ers stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. He finally got a pro tryout with the Utah Stars of the ABA at 25, but by then his fabulous springs were sprung. Join our linker program. Billy Cunningham weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. Ive never felt another feeling like it, being able to go up in the air, over someone much bigger, and stay up there. The next season, Phily finished 47-35, but lost to the Spurs in the conference semis. In his first playoff appearance, he led the Sixers to a 4-game sweep against the Knicks,[12] before bowing down to the Bullets in six games. Sura strutted and slammed his stuff in both the 1997 Slam Dunk Competition and the All Star Weekend, and his jumps were recorded to be about 39 inches. For his eleven-year career, Cunningham averaged 21.2 points per game. On 6 May 1986 Cunningham was elected into the NBA Hall of Fame, as one of its ten initial inductees. Billy Cunningham College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com To think that we can thank a bunch of sweaty dancers for this fundamental basketball maneuver. billy cunningham vertical jump - polucon.com Billy Cunningham averaged 21.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Billy Cunningham. The color barrier and the sex barrier of slam-dunk have fallen: Many white guys and a few women can dunk. Who would he share a wing with? 1924- In 1961, his senior year, Cunningham led his team to the city championship and was a high school All-American. Billy Cunningham was born in Brooklyn, New York. And the man has pulled out some pretty crazy surprise dunks. He was a role player on the 1967 title team in . Jerry West could get up. Clutch West, with his awe-inspiring 60-foot shot in the 1970 NBA Final. He was twice named an All-American during his collegiate years. Almost always the feat involves money--claims that the player could grab a dollar bill off the top of the board, or could pluck off a quarter and leave two dimes and a nickel change. Stand underneath a basketball hoop, a regulation 10-footer. All rights reserved. My perception is, with players that rely on their jumping ability, they reach a certain level of competition where their fundamental skills have to kick in, they have to become a basketball player, he said. After playing for Philadelphia from 1965 to 1972, he signed a free agent contract with the ABA's . Upon his retirement on May 28, 1985,[13] his 454 wins as a head coach were the 12th best in NBA history. Left, Born: Ive got the videotape to prove it., Karl Kleinkopf, who coached the Southern Idaho track team for nine years, said: Theres absolutely no doubt Joey could be an eight-foot high jumper by 1992. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Professional football player 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. I said to him, Yes, yes, yes! Wilt said, Im gonna kill you. . No. Do you have a blog? He was six or eight inches away. The new generation of jumpers, ushered in by Julius Erving, has pushed the dunk to new artistic heights. Griffin has been one of the most electrifying dunkers in the NBA for the past eight years. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. In the twentieth game of the 19751976 season, Cunningham's career suddenly and inexplicably ended. Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. Yes, he married a former judge. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. In fact, he made so much of an impact that his NBA departure in 2012 made heads spin, and rumours that he might return to the US last year were eagerly believed. It looked like the half-court line was around a mile and a half away, Cunningham said. Category:Billy Cunningham - Wikimedia Commons His playing days ended on one play in the 1975-76 season. His man takes him into the key, gives a head fake and sends Jackie skyward. Billy Cunningham was a standout scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers. It was so much air that it tied young Pat for the spot of second-highest vertical leap recorded up to that point. Jackie Jacksons all-around game, by most accounts, was only fair. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. "I don't know anything he has done that hasn't worked," said the Orlando, Florida, executive Pat Williams. A sample: In Your Face Disgrace, Sexophonic Turbo Delight, Hammer of Thor, and Yo Mamma. If they play the game far above the rim, it is because they are tall. why did michael jackson wrote heal the world; lionel richie las vegas 2022 And the problem these days is inflation. But who has seen him? . I loved it instantly." Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny OFFICIAL TRAILER! [4], Cunningham signed a threeyear contract on August 5, 1969 to begin play with the American Basketball Association's Carolina Cougars in 197172. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. David came the closest, Kupchak said. A fiery coach, Cunningham stalked the sidelines with the best of them. The Cougars had finished last the previous season, but with Brown and Cunningham inspiring the team, the Cougars finished first. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. In 1987, Cunningham replaced Tom Heinsohn as the lead color commentator (alongside play-by-play man Dick Stockton) for CBS' NBA telecasts. He said he was tired and tight. There have been--and are--very good white jumpers. Still, the thrill is not all gone. This guys been compared to celebrated center-man Dwight Howard for his max vertical, and to NBA/Olympic legend Oscar Robertson for his triple-doubles. To that end, heres this writers all-time all-leap team: Dr. J, the Big Dipper, Air Jordan, David Skywalker and Joey Johnson. Do you have a blog? In his UNC career, he scored 1,709 points (24.8 points per game), and grabbed 1,062 rebounds (15.4 rebounds per game). Encyclopedia.com. Lift up an arm and hop once or twice to get a feel for how far away the rim is. It didnt make no difference to him.. [10] In October 2021, he was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[11]. His list of honors continued in 1986 when he was elected to the Hall of Fame, in 1990 when he was one of the 10 initial inductees to the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and in 1996, he was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. 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. Some of them were pretty damn eccentric. Moral of this story: dont count the white guys out of this sport just yet. Said Trenkle: He can take the ball with his right hand, go up, put it between his legs and dunk it behind his head with his left hand. Still, the Sixers finished 34-48, only the second losing season of Cunninghams career. Right now Johnson is red-shirting at ASU. The future never came, but Dawkins broke new ground in power dunking, backboard shattering and dunknaming. Very easily.. I asked Kareem if he ever did, and he could jump a little bit. Find out more. The college boys are no doubt wide eyed and gape-mouthed when they meet this coach for the first time. Ridiculous, but it has been done, by a kid youve probably never heard of, unless you started reading this story at the end. Every time Gus slam-dunked at home, the recorded sound of a rifle shot would whistle through the arena. Billy Cunningham was born in New York on June 3, 1943. Draft: Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA draft, More Cunningham pages at Sports Reference, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. The mystery leaper was--and is--Herb White, 6-foot-2, eyes of blue, from Decatur, Ga. As with most leaping legends, Herbs aerial reputation often preceded him. He was a consummate team player, and he used the same unifying concept and enthusiasm to become a successful head coach. In his second season with Carolina, Cunningham was hampered by injuries, but he still managed a 20.5 average in 32 games. 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 They couldnt, of course, because those things are so much harder than they look. Theyve run like the wind, ducked like a water fowl, flown like jet planes, and scored more points than Cassanova in a disco. Joe Clarke, founder and president of the South-Central L.A. amc gremlin for sale washington state billy cunningham vertical jump. He was an NBA champion both as a player (1967) and as a coach (1983). Learn more and register. 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. In the Division Finals, the Cougars lost a tight seven-game series to the Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3. If we were to honor dunkers as we honor actors, Doc would be given a statuette for his body of work. You cant accomplish that feat unless youve got some serious springs in your heels! It's like walking on air. The greatest leaper I ever saw was Jackie. Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. One of basketball's all-time greats, Cunningham was elected to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame and honored by selection to both the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams as one of its legendary players, as well as to the ABA All-Time Team. He scored 16,310 points and pulled down nearly 8,000 rebounds. The most frequent flyers? Join our linker program. He would perform a reverse dunk-dunk with two balls. Then he went to North Carolina and was an All-American. But he was over by a good six to eight inches. 75 Stories | Billy Cunningham - YouTube Find out more. They were like jazz musicians in sneakers. The following season, with the ABAs future in jeopardy, Cunningham returned to the 76ers. Not a great deal is known about Jackie, which is good, because nothing dims a legend faster than facts. It was legendary, however, and cemented young Majerle as one of the best white dunkers of all time. Although he had never coached, he was popular in Philadelphia, and his competitiveness, toughness and intelligence seemed right for the job. Then an All-Star. Dawkins named it, Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robinzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham, Bam, Glass Breaker, I Am Jam.. They outlawed that, but I wouldnt have done it in a game, anyway. In 1987, the NBA Board of Governors awarded the group an expansion franchise to begin play in 1988-89 and thus the Miami Heat was born. 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. Cunningham grew up in Brooklyn and on his fifth birthday he received a basketball. Instead he went to Georgia as a white player and was a so-so power forward. The next season, Philly plummeted to 30-52 and missed the postseason and Cunningham (23.3 ppg, 12.2 rpg) was in the last of his four All-Star years. "I never had to agonize over that decision all athletes face" about when to retire. Nobody ever played the game could rise any better than Jackie. 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. Terrell Owens Gets Into Fight Outside CVS. A fabulous collegian and pro player Cunningham shot to stardom when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1966. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. billy cunningham vertical jump - epcorcentre.org One of the more recent players on this list, Chris Birdman Anderson is known for his celebratory arm flapping and his intriguing tattoos. In 1962, Johnson jumped and touched a spot high on the wall, and a nail was driven into the spot to commemorate the unbelievable 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.. If youre looking for scale, thats taller than most baby elephants. They annihilated the opposition all season and finished with a 68-13 record. It takes a lot more to get people excited now, said Chris Wallace, editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Ive heard stories about Jackie Jackson doing it, but Ive never seen anyone (but himself) come close., Sonny Hill, a Philadelphia leaping legend of the 60s, backs Wilt, saying, The only man thats been to the top, thats Wilt. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. 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. These guys more than held their own in a sport where they were absolutely a minority. So I did a 360, two handed, and he conceded.. Many of the legendary leapers of that era didnt play NBA ball because all they could do was leap. He came on back to Harlem. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Cunningham was part of a group that helped to secure an NBA franchise for Miami in the late 1980s. His performance in the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest was nothing less than stellar, and some say he was robbed of the chance to move to the next round. Billy Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. White, also known as the Elevator from Decatur, made the NBA all-time all-warmup team that one season. 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. 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. The difference between the two marks, in inches, is the players sergeant jump, as in, Joe Smith has a 29-inch sergeant.. Effortless, absolutely effortless.. 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. If thats not impressive enough for you, he also played on two NBA championship teams and later coached the Philadelphia 76ers for eight seasons. Other notable dunks include his shot on the Sonics seriously ticked off Robert Reid, and another on the Knicks flabbergasted Patrick Ewing. [8] During his tenure, the team featured Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving. In 1965 Cunningham graduated from UNC and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. The next season, the consistent Cunningham scored 23.3 points per game and was selected as an All-Star for the fourth time. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. The rim was two inches low. Realizing they needed a dominant big man to contain Abdul-Jabbar, Philadelphia acquired the two-time MVP (1979 and 82) Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets (Malone would win a third MVP as a Sixer in that first season in Philadelphia) before the 1982-83 season. I see kids in the eighth grade, kids 5-11, dunking behind their heads, said Rod Thorn, former National Basketball Assn. People swear he cleared it by a foot, said Fred Trenkle, Southern Idahos basketball coach. He came up with four: Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb and Clyde (the Glide) Drexler. In the exhibition season he was assigned to bring the ball up the court against Bostons K.C. His show is on the air from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. What type of shoes did Billy Cunningham wear? ." Herb was not drafted, but was invited to Hawks camp after his senior year and made the 1970-71 team as a point-guard backup and road roommate of another rookie, Pete Maravich.