Pregame warmups were his showtime. For his eleven-year career, Cunningham averaged 21.2 points per game. Then we ask him to jump and we mark the highest point he touched. All rights reserved. A fiery coach, Cunningham stalked the sidelines with the best of them. Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. 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. [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. Billy Cunningham averaged 21.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. 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. What time is Billy Cunningham's Sunday night show on? 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. Unlike Thompson, a huge star at North Carolina State, Dr. J kind of sneaked up on the basketball world. Hed shoot it short and Joe and I would leap up and shake hands over the basket.. Joey? Jones, a noted defensive terror. Yep. Moral of this story: dont count the white guys out of this sport just yet. 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. "Shue Ousted, Cunningham Named; N.B.A. He spent several years as one of the owners of the Miami Heat and the team quickly became a contender. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. In 1967, he teamed with fellow Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA title. He also had a famously difficult childhood and came from very humble beginnings; it was his hometown of French Lick, Indiana, that inspired the nickname The Hick from French Lick. He was determined not to let his tiny hometown or his troubled family life hold him back though, and instead remained hardworking and classy until the end of his career. In Game 2 of the 1967 NBA Finals, Cunningham scored 28 points during a 126-95 win over the San Francisco Warriors.[3]. 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. The Grizzlies say their star guard will be away from the team for 'at least' the next 2 games. Can the old Elevator still ascend? No. Cunningham achieved a career trifecta in law, business, and government. Ill give you an example. Billy Cunningham. 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. 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. 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. His jersey number "32" was later retired by Philadelphia. He said he was tired and tight. The next season, Phily finished 47-35, but lost to the Spurs in the conference semis. They outlawed that, but I wouldnt have done it in a game, anyway. 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. Date of birth: 3 June 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). Encyclopedia.com. He ran to the nearest school, three blocks away, and started shooting baskets. He was named Most Valuable Player in the ABA. But listen to Wilt. Among his numerous career achievements, he was named to the 1966 All-Rookie Team and three All-NBA First Teams. Another oft-told legend has Jackie on defense. He holds the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history of .698 (only Phil Jackson is ahead of him). He was a consummate team player, and he used the same unifying concept and enthusiasm to become a successful head coach. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Fiery and volatile, he would pace the sidelines, driving his team relentlessly. Cunningham was part of a group that helped to secure an NBA franchise for Miami in the late 1980s. Thunder Dan has more than made friends with the rim and earned his name! The following season, the Sixers finished behind Boston in the standings and were upset by the New Jersey Nets in the first round. As a player and then a coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, he was part of two NBA championship teams. The Philadelphia 76ers star was a consistent scorer throughout his heyday in the 1960s and '70s. June 12, 2022 . Stand underneath a basketball hoop, a regulation 10-footer. 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. Billy Cunningham was drafted by Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft. He recorded 14 triple doubles in the NBA and 5 in the ABA, good for 43rd all-time in the NBA and 5th in the ABA. They drove a new nail in for Joey, measured it at 11-7 1/2. In warmups, we would always check out the other team and get into little contests with their guys. 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. If they play the game far above the rim, it is because they are tall. People swear he cleared it by a foot, said Fred Trenkle, Southern Idahos basketball coach. While he was dribbling down the court, his knee exploded. He reached both the 300 and 400-win milestones faster than any coach in NBA history. Keith had a 32. Mitch Kupchak witnessed a similar jump-off among 6-4 David Thompson, 6-9 Marvin Barnes and 7-4 Tom Burleson. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. 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. Dunk is cheap. 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. Do you have a blog? Since joining the NBA in the 2002-03 season, this guy has achieved dozens of honours and awards, including three MVP award shares and a spot playing in two All-Star games. Posted by; Date June 12, 2022; Comments . He was called the Kangaroo Kid for his prodigious leaping ability. That said, you can see his leaping ability when he takes off. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. Billy Cunningham. There was a Philadelphia boy, Sonny Hill, about 5-10 (actually 5-9), he was the first guy that size I ever saw dunk. He was with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers for 17 years . When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. 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. Thompson, as a consolation prize, won the MVP award in the All-Star game itself. As an owner and commentator, he also made a favorable impression. Youre just up there and nobody else can get up there., David (Skywalker) Thompson said: Sometimes Id surprise myself. A lot of young men soar into the NBA but are quickly weighted down by injuries and the 82-game grind, such as Darrell (Dr. Dunkenstein) Griffith of the Utah Jazz. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. A person who is a poor leaper is said to have white mans disease. White guys use the expression, black guys use it, mostly in a spirit of good fun. Even so, Erving was the NBAs most dazzling aerial star until he retired in 1987 and passed the title to Michael Jordan. At six feet, seven inches tall and 220 pounds, Cunningham was a consistent scorer and fierce rebounder. In the far-up Land of Leap, the unit of currency is the dunk. As a rebounder and jump shooter he averaged 18.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg. The most frequent flyers? He had a baseball cap on, and he turned the bill sideways. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ZbxZ3AJWWjyZL0HXDpABwVdW.7p3rtLrWMEsK2FPL0A-86400-0"}; Why not simply whip out a tape measure and measure the leapers leaps, take the guesswork out of whos the greatest? In 1996 he was voted one of the top fifty players at the NBA's fiftieth anniversary. Part of Dr. Js legend is the same as the mystique of a gunfighter coming into town, Costas said. [5] The reversal of that judgment in the United States Court of Appeals .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6+12 months later on April 5, 1972, meant that Cunningham was obligated to honor his Cougars contract until its expiration in October 1974. In 1965, Cunningham joined the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. 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. Detroits Adrian Dantley, 6-foot-4, and Clevelands Phil Hubbard, 6-8, were the only front-court starters to go through the season dunkless. So maybe his African American genes are a little stronger than his Caucasian ones after all? Granted, the majority of the NBAs highest flying players have been African Americans, but some of the white guys get their share of air time. 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,. 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. There. Brooks will serve his 1-game suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies visit the Clippers. And the problem these days is inflation. 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. He played nine seasons for the Baltimore Bullets, beginning in 63, and he died last year. 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. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. I mean, what next? Top 15 NBA Players Who Prove That White Men CAN Jump, The sun even shines on a dog's a** some days. When they were not taking everything off, the dancing was more alluring. Hes set records for leading the NBA in dunks during his very first year playing pro. 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. Billy Cunningham weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. Select from premium Billy Cunningham 76ers of the highest quality. The Kangaroo Kid, Kang, Billy C are nicknames for Billy Cunningham. Cunningham would later rejoin the CBS broadcast team starting with the 198586 season, again often paired with Musburger, covering both the NBA as well as NCAA men's college basketball for the network. In the NBA, where everyone can dunk--you wouldnt even want to rule out David Stern--there are really only a few top guns. 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. I used to dunk on that basket. Cunningham became a top analyst for CBSs broadcasts of NBA games. 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. Thats a white head, remember. 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. But who has seen him? . I lived there that summer, he later recalled. 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. Philadelphia fans showed surprisingly little bitterness toward Cunningham, who rewarded them with 19.5 ppg in 1974-75. What happens when you put stilts on kangaroo? Its like walking on air. 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. Cunningham began his second basketball career on Nov. 4, 1977, when he was hired to replace Gene Shue at the Sixers helm. In fact, his hockey-head-ish hair might even be as famous as his dunk. Join our linker program. He played circles around a guy named Robert Cousy. amc gremlin for sale washington state billy cunningham vertical jump. Thats a mouthful. //]]>. And that performance in Denver was the national coming-out party for Dr. J, the godfather of dunk. His entire head and neck were above the rim. Its unbelievable. 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. In the 2005 NBA pre-draft camp he gained 34.5 inches of air. Dawkins named it, Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robinzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham, Bam, Glass Breaker, I Am Jam.. If you give bonus points for obscurity and mystery, it would be Joey Johnson, younger brother of Celtic guard Dennis. Professional basketball player In a way the injury made things easy for me, he added. If that's not impressive enough for you, he also played on two NBA championship teams and later coached the Philadelphia 76ers for eight seasons. He was so good, Red Auerbach saw him play in a schoolyard game and invited him to camp with the Celtics. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. Not only could he walk, but he was also an All-ACC selection three times and a two-time All-American. David Robinson, future NBA Hall-of-Famer and leader of the San Antonio Spurs, was born in Key We, Chamberlain, Wilt 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. Philadelphia went 47-35, second in the newly formed Atlantic Division, but was ousted again in the first round of the playoffs. It was so much air that it tied young Pat for the spot of second-highest vertical leap recorded up to that point. They think they could track down what the announcer calls a routine fly ball. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. There have been--and are--very good white jumpers. 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. Cunningham has been on 50,000-watt radio station 700 WLW for over 30 years, beginning in 1983. 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. 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. One expert, Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers assistant general manager, was asked to name the games bona fide super leapers. And some colleges and pro teams were not ready to take chances on what went along with those guys. Some of the guys started dunking. He was six or eight inches away. Dawkins claimed to have come from the planet Lovetron, he called himself Chocolate Thunder and Zandokan the Mad Dunker, and he named his dunks. Soon Greer would be alone. 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.
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