The Philadelphia 76ers star was a consistent scorer throughout his heyday in the 1960s and '70s. These are not necessarily great basketball players, understand, but their ability to jump has made them objects of something much deeper than profound respect. As a rebounder and jump shooter he averaged 18.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg. He holds the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history of .698 (only Phil Jackson is ahead of him). Ridiculous, but it has been done, by a kid youve probably never heard of, unless you started reading this story at the end. Sunday Nights with Bill Cunningham can be heard every Sunday on over 300 radio stations across the United States. Billy Cunningham was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1986 (Full List) 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. Can you do that? He was named Most Valuable Player in the ABA. 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. 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. 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. Legends abound of the truly great leapers who could touch the top of the board. See, for example, Jan Hubbard, ed., The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, 3d ed. The schools former coach, Frank McGuire, was the one who had recruited Cunningham, which left Smith with a prize recruit he had never seen. Joe Clarke, founder and president of the South-Central L.A. Midway through the previous season the club had acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the San Francisco Warriors, and in his first full campaign with the Sixers, he helped them to the Eastern Division title. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. Find Billy Cunningham 76ers stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. In his UNC career, he scored 1,709 points (24.8 points per game), and grabbed 1,062 rebounds (15.4 rebounds per game). If we were to honor dunkers as we honor actors, Doc would be given a statuette for his body of work. In his second season with Carolina, Cunningham was hampered by injuries, but he still managed a 20.5 average in 32 games. Julius, Gus (Johnson), Pogo Joe Caldwell. 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 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 didnt make no difference to him.. [9] In 1996, Cunningham was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary. They are enshrined in a mythical Museum of Leap. for once. He was a role player on the 1967 title team in . And Dirk Nowitzki who no doubt has walls plastered top to bottom with awards and achievements. As a player and then a coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, he was part of two NBA championship teams. Encyclopedia.com. His show was not heard during the summer months, when WLW broadcasts Cincinnati Reds baseball games. Claims of sergeants in the mid- and high 40s are common. But with a leaper, everybody instantly knows they couldnt do it, that only the tiniest fraction of humans can jump that high.. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 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. Billy Cunningham. His jump was absolutely awesome. Somebody done gotcha. But man, that was sweet music. His entire head and neck were above the rim. His show is on the air from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. What type of shoes did Billy Cunningham wear? Lift up an arm and hop once or twice to get a feel for how far away the rim is. Cunningham was a member of the powerful 1967 Sixers championship team, which also featured Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Luke Jackson. Joey? My mother has a bar here in southern Idaho, and shes got a nail where Joey touched, at 11-9 1/2.. 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. There is a tavern called the Corner Club, in Moscow, Ida. Part of Dr. Js legend is the same as the mystique of a gunfighter coming into town, Costas said. The two teams waged a court battle, each claiming the rights to Cunningham, but the new league won. Not only could he walk, but he was also an All-ACC selection three times and a two-time All-American. Billy Cunningham - Basketball-Reference.com The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Billy Cunningham 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). Shoots: Basketball Player Billy Cunningham's Net Worth, Wife, and Bio It looked like the half-court line was around a mile and a half away, Cunningham said. His man takes him into the key, gives a head fake and sends Jackie skyward. Not too shabby at all, right? During a game in 1963 against Clemson University, he grabbed a record twenty-seven rebounds. 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. When they were not taking everything off, the dancing was more alluring. William John Cunningham (The Kangaroo Kid, Kang, Billy C) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Left 6-6, 210lb (198cm, 95kg) . But listen to Wilt. The difference between the two marks, in inches, is the players sergeant jump, as in, Joe Smith has a 29-inch sergeant.. The soaring flight of the great leaper is amazing, even to himself. 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. Watch even half of any of his highlight reels and youll understand why he made this list. 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. There was a Philadelphia boy, Sonny Hill, about 5-10 (actually 5-9), he was the first guy that size I ever saw dunk. 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. Fiery and volatile, he would pace the sidelines, driving his team relentlessly. [4], Cunningham signed a threeyear contract on August 5, 1969 to begin play with the American Basketball Association's Carolina Cougars in 197172. But he was over by a good six to eight inches. Thats how much air was between Connaughton and those shiny floorboards at the NBA Combine in 2015. 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. 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. Send us your videotape. Athletics are in this guys genes; daddy Rick Barry produced a total of four bball loving sons. All rights reserved. Joey is 6-3, with average-length arms and legs, and incredibly unaverage spring. Well find out next season. Dont try a big leap. Marcus Allen was born on March 26, 1960, to Harold and Gwen Allen in San Diego, CA. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Billy Cunningham found success as a coach in the NBA after his playing days were through. Cunningham played with visible enthusiasm. Billy Cunningham wasn't nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid because he had a pouch. 1943 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. I said to myself, Ive got to try. I angled to the right. In 1965, Cunningham joined the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. "Shue Ousted, Cunningham Named; N.B.A. He did prefer ball to hockey, after all. Another oft-told legend has Jackie on defense. Most of these leapers were from the inner city, where they suffered from overexposure to drugs and underexposure to formal education. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy) Cunningham, her stepdaughter and her fiance all jumped into action. Some have called the team the greatest of all time. He is still the winningest coach in Sixers history. Yes, he married a former judge. Dawkins named it, Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robinzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham, Bam, Glass Breaker, I Am Jam.. 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. He was finished as a player. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. After this historic 2015 event, Twitter lit up with the hashtag #WhiteMenCanJump (the up in lit up is so well placed, right?). us, High School: He scored 16,310 points and pulled down nearly 8,000 rebounds. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. In 1966-67, the 76ers dominated the NBA. Thats a white head, remember. He inherited a team of underachievers led by Julius Erving. And despite the proliferation of dunkers, there is a very elite group of leapers. He was a No. As a freshman he went out for the track team, worked out a total of 10 hours, then high-jumped 7-3 7/8. Throughout his life, Cunningham excelled at all aspects of the game he loved. 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. billy cunningham vertical jump. Ervings early obscurity helped make him famous. 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. Billy can jump up to 29-31 inches (vertical leap). I loved it instantly." They annihilated the opposition all season and finished with a 68-13 record. Moral of this story: dont count the white guys out of this sport just yet. Keith had a 32. Join our linker program. I loved it instantly.. Dunk is cheap. He ran to the nearest school, three blocks away, and started shooting baskets. Who would he share a wing with? We present them here for purely educational purposes. This guy that was also selected for the MLB draft, spent time with the Orioles, and pitched an impressive 96 mph. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. There. At (one NBA tryout camp), where we had a strong cross section of draftees, the highest was 36 1/2 inches. He was a tough, intense, competitive player who used his intelligence as much as his physical talents. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Cunningham also set a single-game North Carolina record with 48 points against Tulane on December 10, 1964. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. The color barrier and the sex barrier of slam-dunk have fallen: Many white guys and a few women can dunk. Gus once said, When I dunked that ball and heard that shot for the first time, I said to myself, Oh, oh, Gus. 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. He was called the Kangaroo Kid for his prodigious leaping ability. Stand underneath a basketball hoop, a regulation 10-footer. If youre looking for scale, thats taller than most baby elephants. This guy wasnt a leaper, but it will show you what I mean. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") We Have Fusion Energy! I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. But the final came down to David Thompson vs. Julius Erving--the Skywalker vs. the Doctor. 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. why did michael jackson wrote heal the world; lionel richie las vegas 2022 Professional basketball player After Chamberlain left the team in 1968, Cunningham became the 76ers' franchise player. In the division finals, however, Philadelphia fell to Boston. Billy Cunningham was born in Brooklyn, New York. Billy Cunningham - IMDb 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. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. And that performance in Denver was the national coming-out party for Dr. J, the godfather of dunk. That swagger had to come from somewhere. He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. The Hawks favorite flight story, like many stories of that era, features Chamberlain as a foil. Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. In his final season, he was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. The single-game high was eight, by Drexler, against the Lakers. Thats about the height of the average 4-year-old. That Sixers team has since been hailed as the greatest ever assembled. Billy Cunningham was a standout scorer for the Philadelphia 76ers. Dean Smith, the new coach at the University of North Carolina, was not as impressed, at least not immediately. Clutch West, with his awe-inspiring 60-foot shot in the 1970 NBA Final. All the teams did that. I told him Id read he had a 44. 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. 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. 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. billy cunningham vertical jump - polucon.com He spent several years as one of the owners of the Miami Heat and the team quickly became a contender. Brooks will serve his 1-game suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies visit the Clippers. Billy Cunningham was born in the Parkville section of Brooklyn, New York. Then an All-Star. Cunningham arrived in Chapel Hill just as Dean Smith was taking over as the head basketball coach of the UNC Tar Heels. Theyve run like the wind, ducked like a water fowl, flown like jet planes, and scored more points than Cassanova in a disco. billy cunningham vertical jump - ingenioemprendedor.com In 1997 Cunningham became the expert commentator for the CBS television network's coverage of NBA games. 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. His departure had a disastrous effect. Unlike Thompson, a huge star at North Carolina State, Dr. J kind of sneaked up on the basketball world. Airy, Maryland. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Injuries limited Cunningham to only 32 games in 1973-74, but he still averaged 20.5 ppg. Many have speculated about the reasons behind this phenomenon. Robinson, David 1965 Do you have a sports website? Among his numerous career achievements, he was named to the 1966 All-Rookie Team and three All-NBA First Teams. Yes, 44. William John "Billy" Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. Billy Cunningham Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Earl Manigault was another fabulous flyer off the Eastern blacktop in the late 50s and early 60s. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. 44 is only four inches less than the NBAs all-time record by His Airness, Michael Jordan, and also by Darrell Griffith. Jackie took off, jumped over Normans head and dunked the ball.. 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. The team finished 42-40 and was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. Dont send letters, leapers. Now an NBA journeyman, Dawkins came into the NBA in 1975, straight out of high school, billed as the center of the future. Youd go up, arch your back, and go up even higher. Never got off the bench, but in warmups he could dunk better than anyone Ive ever seen.. As an owner and commentator, he also made a favorable impression. Professional basketball player, sports administrator These are professional men: Dr. J, Dr. Dunkenstein, Dr. Jam. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Hes sought advice from Tim Duncan on how to be a great leader and win with his team. Hed shoot it short and Joe and I would leap up and shake hands over the basket.. (b. inBrooklyn,New York 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. Do you have a sports website? The following season, with the ABAs future in jeopardy, Cunningham returned to the 76ers. I used to dunk on that basket. 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. The Leaping Legends of Basketball : Some of The Names Will Jump Out at That Feb. 8, the ABA trotted out its five best slammers. [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. Rosters Cut,", "1978 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers", Goldaper, Sam. Chris Wallace, the college talent scout, said: I dont believe measurements. > Archive 75: Billy Cunningham| 75 Stories: Billy Cunningham. Date of birth: 3 June 1943 . White started five games, but was mostly a mop-up guy, then was injured and finished his career in a pro league in Mexico. In The Finals, however, Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin Magic Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes and the Lakers were too much. After that season, Cunningham jumped from the NBA to the ABA with the Carolina Cougars. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. As a high school senior, he received a scholarship offer from a Midwestern college, asking him to become the schools first black player. Cunningham led the league in steals with 216 and was fourth in scoring with a 24.1 points-per-game average. In the NBA, where everyone can dunk--you wouldnt even want to rule out David Stern--there are really only a few top guns. Judging by a still shot the DukeMBB videographer took during the testing, Williamson cleared a vertical leap mark of 40 inches. His standing vertical was 37.5 inches. On December 20, 1970, Cunningham scored 31 points and grabbed a career-high 27 rebounds en route to a 134132 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. It sure did make me feel good inside.. The ONLY white man. 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. 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. That said, you can see his leaping ability when he takes off. Theyll all be going through and over their mountainous opponents in no time! 1 draft choice. "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. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. I asked Kareem if he ever did, and he could jump a little bit. can arthur get a girlfriend rdr2; cook county jail roster; zip code validation rule in salesforce; first coast security ehub; billy cunningham vertical jump. After playing for Philadelphia from 1965 to 1972, he signed a free agent contract with the ABA's . . billy cunningham vertical jump - mail.edtna-erca.org He finished well out of the running--or jumping--when he clanged at least one attempt off the rim. In 1976-77, the season before Cunningham took the helm, the Sixers reached The Finals, only to fall to the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. 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. He was a consummate team player, and he used the same unifying concept and enthusiasm to become a successful head coach. So he tried it again, grabbed the nail and bent it straight down. Last season, there were 5,757 NBA dunks by 246 players. Cunningham would never play again. The new generation of jumpers, ushered in by Julius Erving, has pushed the dunk to new artistic heights. Cunningham became a playground regular, a gym rat, and a high school star, leading Erasmus Hall to the New York City Championship in 1961. Some of them were pretty damn eccentric. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. [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]. Cunningham, William John ("Billy") | Encyclopedia.com Uh oh! He came on back to Harlem. Small Forward and Power Forward If you give bonus points for obscurity and mystery, it would be Joey Johnson, younger brother of Celtic guard Dennis. All rights reserved. Cunningham could not even crack the starting lineupwhich . He didnt just score, he scored OVER people, including all 68 of Plastic Man Stacey Augmon. In a way the injury made things easy for me, he added. . [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. "I never had to agonize over that decision all athletes face" about when to retire. The greatest nicknames in basketball are reserved for those who attain the greatest altitude. Then he went to North Carolina and was an All-American. You dont play with a red, white and blue ball if youre into dignity. He got kudos for his smooth-sounding, incisive work with the play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton. 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,. There have been--and are--very good white jumpers. Billy Cunningham weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. He had wide shoulders--he was built like Orlando (Woolridge), 6-7 or 6-8. Cunningham was subsequently replaced on CBS by Hubie Brown, but would return to CBS to help fill in during the 1990 NBA Playoffs, partnered with Verne Lundquist. billy cunningham vertical jump - epcorcentre.org Someone would put a quarter up and Id snatch it down. 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. snoop dogg zodiac chart New Lab; kaplan children's furniture; is there quicksand in georgia; Can the old Elevator still ascend? With Malone in the middle, and Erving, Bobby Jones, Cheeks and Andrew Toney all playing key roles, the 76ers went 65-17 and blew through the Atlantic Division. 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. 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. Now they take everything off and it takes a lot more to get people excited..