One of the more recent players on this list, Chris Birdman Anderson is known for his celebratory arm flapping and his intriguing tattoos. Cunningham played with visible enthusiasm. When I was a freshman, I fooled around with shooting free throws this way: For some reason, I thought you had to stay within the top half of that free-throw circle, so I would step back to just inside the top of the circle, take off from behind the line and dunk. 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. Browse 310 billy_cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Injuries limited Cunningham to only 32 games in 1973-74, but he still averaged 20.5 ppg. It was so good that Cunningham, a future Hall of Famer, came off the bench. snoop dogg zodiac chart New Lab; kaplan children's furniture; is there quicksand in georgia; Carolina lost to the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division rinals, but Cunninghams regular-season performance earned him the ABA MVP. A few of the big-time leapers did make it--Jumpin Johnny Green, Pogo Joe Caldwell and Tommy (the Hawk) Hawkins, who was a Laker rookie when the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960. It takes a lot more to get people excited now, said Chris Wallace, editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. "I don't know anything he has done that hasn't worked," said the Orlando, Florida, executive Pat Williams. My mother has a bar here in southern Idaho, and shes got a nail where Joey touched, at 11-9 1/2.. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. White is a regular at Hawk games and a fan of Wilkins. Browse 1,052 billy cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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.. Actually he was a 62% free throw shooter, which is poor except in comparison to his 51% as a pro. The greatest leaper I ever saw was Jackie. He also became an NBA broadcaster on national television and later a part-owner of the Miami Heat. He was a high school superstar. According to a warrant for Morrow's arrest, he's facing charges of assault by strangulation, second-degree kidnapping and communicating threats. Who would he share a wing with? Judging by a still shot the DukeMBB videographer took during the testing, Williamson cleared a vertical leap mark of 40 inches. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Before his senior year, White happened to work out with some Atlanta Hawks players and they went to coach Richie Guerin with tales of this amazing leaper. The next season, Phily finished 47-35, but lost to the Spurs in the conference semis. ." About a year ago, I was in a playground game with some black guys. After the 19711972 season, Cunningham left Philadelphia and the NBA for the rival American Basketball Association (ABA), signing on with the (North) Carolina Cougars. The following season, with the ABAs future in jeopardy, Cunningham returned to the 76ers. Its even been called hellicious.. Many of the great leapers of that era inhabited the fringes of reality as we know it. Join our linker program. Another oft-told legend has Jackie on defense. 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. 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. Part of Dr. Js legend is the same as the mystique of a gunfighter coming into town, Costas said. Encyclopedia.com. Billy Cunningham was a standout scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers. Billy Cunningham was born in New York on June 3, 1943. "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") City, and a member of the Parade Magazine All-America Team. 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. Griffin was born of half Afro-Haitian descent and half Caucasian. Cunningham also set a single-game North Carolina record with 48 points against Tulane on December 10, 1964. 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.. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cunningham-william-john-billy. Stanford's 6-4 Todd Lichti is a big-time leaper, regardless of race, creed or color. He was a No. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. Lets add Billy Hoyle as an honourary #16 to this list, shall we? We played Portland in the last game of the season. He was called the Kangaroo Kid for his prodigious leaping ability. Ive never felt another feeling like it, being able to go up in the air, over someone much bigger, and stay up there. "Cunningham Quits; Loughery Dropped,", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Billy_Cunningham&oldid=1135516255, 3-year letter winner (in his day, freshmen were ineligible for, His number 32 jersey is retired by the Philadelphia 76ers; however, he allowed it to be worn by, This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 03:41. William John "Billy" Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. Current Grand Canyon Antelopes coach and the Phoenix Suns favourite former shooting guard/small forward is an NBA All Star, an Olympian, and World Team member. Not too shabby at all, right? And the problem these days is inflation. They took about 10 jumps each. (2000). Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Very tall players are seldom recognized as great leapers. Pretty darn safe. Even so, Erving was the NBAs most dazzling aerial star until he retired in 1987 and passed the title to Michael Jordan. Find out more. Philadelphia won 62 games the next season, but the Celtics upset the 76ers in the playoffs. The next year he exploded for 24.8 points per game and 12.8 rebounds and he was named a first-team All-Star. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [9] In 1996, Cunningham was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary. Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. There have been--and are--very good white jumpers. Now an NBA journeyman, Dawkins came into the NBA in 1975, straight out of high school, billed as the center of the future. He was so good, Red Auerbach saw him play in a schoolyard game and invited him to camp with the Celtics. My sergeant was higher than Jordans. So I did a 360, two handed, and he conceded.. Showing all 5 items. Unlike Thompson, a huge star at North Carolina State, Dr. J kind of sneaked up on the basketball world. Trenkle had heard of the Gus Johnson nail, so when the Southern Idaho team was passing through Moscow on a trip, he ordered the bus driver to stop outside the Corner Club, and he took Joey inside. Somebody done gotcha. But man, that was sweet music. 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. Soon Greer would be alone. 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. He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. Technicalities, you know. I get a rebound and Im driving up the floor, ready to go coast to coast. Billy Cunningham wasn't nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid because he had a pouch. The Hawks favorite flight story, like many stories of that era, features Chamberlain as a foil. 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. The color barrier and the sex barrier of slam-dunk have fallen: Many white guys and a few women can dunk. In those days, didnt nobody dunk but Wilt Chamberlain, so Sonny was an absolute marvel.. 1 in everyones heart and myths is Jumpin Jackie Jackson, also known as Sidecar Jackson. In 1969-70, Cunningham averaged a career-best 26.1 points, fourth-highest in the league behind Jerry West, Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Elvin Hayes. It's like walking on air. He played nine seasons for the Baltimore Bullets, beginning in 63, and he died last year. Someone would put a quarter up and Id snatch it down. In the NBA, where everyone can dunk--you wouldnt even want to rule out David Stern--there are really only a few top guns. The ABA wasnt about dignity, it was about style. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Position: Legends abound of the truly great leapers who could touch the top of the board. [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. He was with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers for 17 years . In fact, his hockey-head-ish hair might even be as famous as his dunk. There was a guard from Harlem named Rabbit. A fabulous collegian and pro player Cunningham shot to stardom when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1966. Chamberlain was asked, werent there any great leapers of the white persuasion? In the 2005 NBA pre-draft camp he gained 34.5 inches of air. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ZbxZ3AJWWjyZL0HXDpABwVdW.7p3rtLrWMEsK2FPL0A-86400-0"}; Its a rush, a thrill, said the Elevator from Decatur. The rim was two inches low. Join our linker program. 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. Ill give you an example. People think, mistakenly in most cases, that they could hit a baseball, Costas says. High School and became known as the Kangaroo Kid for his impressive jumping ability. 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. 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. "We just helped knock on doors and pull people out of their homes last night. Legends profile: Billy Cunningham | NBA.com He cant quite jump out of the gym, but he has come close to jumping out of a bar or two. When Joey was a high school senior, Clarke took his Watts Magicians to Mesa, Ariz., for a prep tournament. 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. American basketball player Joe Vanilla Sky Alexander has restless, jumpy feet that propel him way up to block shots and confound his opponents. Category:Billy Cunningham - Wikimedia Commons He was six or eight inches away. I got fired up and did a 360 dunk. So goes the popular assumption. 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. After this historic 2015 event, Twitter lit up with the hashtag #WhiteMenCanJump (the up in lit up is so well placed, right?). During his eight seasons as the coach of the 76ers, Philadelphia won 454 regular season games and lost 196. He said he was tired and tight. It sure did make me feel good inside.. No. 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. 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. Billy Cunningham. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. I won the unofficial NBA slam dunk title that season, said White, who now sells heavy equipment in Georgia. Most of these leapers are black, and in the late 50s and early 60s, the NBA still had unofficial quotas, and only eight or nine teams. 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. Thats the outer space were dealing with today, the sky above the hoop, the rare air inhabited by only a select group of humans, the legendary leapers. Find Billy Cunningham 76ers stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. When you think about Billys life, it is amazing, former Philadelphia 76er executive and then-Orlando Magic senior executive vice president Pat Williams told New Miami magazine in 1992. Billy Cunningham - Popular Bio Top 15 NBA Players Who Prove That White Men CAN Jump, The sun even shines on a dog's a** some days. I lived there that summer, he later recalled. But with a leaper, everybody instantly knows they couldnt do it, that only the tiniest fraction of humans can jump that high.. Hawkins is now vice president of communications for the Dodgers. Weary of the NBA lifestyle, Cunningham retired. 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,. At Carolina, he was reunited with the coach Larry Brown, who had been a UNC teammate. The soaring flight of the great leaper is amazing, even to himself. Manigault, for instance, developed an addiction to heroin, stole to get it, did time in two prisons. He was in the gym in Mesa one afternoon, in street clothes and basketball shoes. Billy Cunningham - Biography - IMDb Then we ask him to jump and we mark the highest point he touched. After that season, Cunningham jumped from the NBA to the ABA with the Carolina Cougars. Cunningham could not even crack the starting lineupwhich . Not a great deal is known about Jackie, which is good, because nothing dims a legend faster than facts. In his rookie season of 19651966 Cunningham was at first assigned to be a guard, then switched positions, becoming a small forward. Most of the players had between 29 and 33, so I dont believe any of that stuff in the 40s.. Free, Darryl Dawkins and Bobby Jones. Do you have a sports website? Why not simply whip out a tape measure and measure the leapers leaps, take the guesswork out of whos the greatest? He finished well out of the running--or jumping--when he clanged at least one attempt off the rim. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Jackie stays in the air and the ref calls a three-second violation. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The following season, the Sixers finished behind Boston in the standings and were upset by the New Jersey Nets in the first round. // billy cunningham vertical jump. The most frequent flyers? Billy Cunningham was drafted by Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft. I was right there and it wasnt a foot. 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. This is where we get into sword-and-stone mythology. Data Provided By As a freshman he went out for the track team, worked out a total of 10 hours, then high-jumped 7-3 7/8. This guy wasnt a leaper, but it will show you what I mean. . The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. home/away, monthly, etc More Billy Cunningham Basketball Reference pages, Compare Billy Cunningham to other players. Though he portrayed a large woman in "You have to Walk it like you talk it or You'll Lose that Beat" (1971), he is best known as an American former professional basketball player and coach.
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