He got kudos for his smooth-sounding, incisive work with the play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton. A lot of great leapers dont bother to perfect those skills, because they are treated with such awe. I defy anyone to say they took change off the top of the backboard, Chamberlain said. 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. And the man has pulled out some pretty crazy surprise dunks. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. As a rebounder and jump shooter he averaged 18.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Then he transferred to Arizona State, clashed with then-coach Steve Patterson and wound up quitting the team. Joey didnt even have his shoes laced, Clarke said. Upload media Wikipedia. Stanfords 6-4 Todd Lichti is a big-time leaper, regardless of race, creed or color. Is Billy Cunningham married? [8] During his tenure, the team featured Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving. [9] In 1996, Cunningham was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary. With an average height of 64, Arizin had fantastic ball handling skills, played a mean defense, and had some seriously bouncy feet. The following is a list of the NBA's All-Time Top 50 Team: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Archibald, Paul Arizin, Charles Barkley, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Billy Cunningham, Dave DeBusschere . . . 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. William John Cunningham (The Kangaroo Kid, Kang, Billy C) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Left 6-6, 210lb (198cm, 95kg) . RotoWire names five under-the-radar players who could add value to your rosters as we approach fantasy playoffs. At Carolina, he was reunited with the coach Larry Brown, who had been a UNC teammate. Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft, NBA Debut: October 16, 1965▪ABA Debut: October 12, 1972, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1986 (Full List), More Billy Cunningham pages at Sports Reference. In Madison Square Garden, he got a standing ovation for his warmup dunks. The 1984-85 season, Cunninghams last as coach, featured the addition of rookie Charles Barkley to the team. 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. 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. 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. Billy Cunningham wasnt nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid because he had a pouch. Professional basketball player They were a winning team the next two seasons but could not repeat as champions, and Cunningham retired after the 19841985 season. He didnt just score, he scored OVER people, including all 68 of Plastic Man Stacey Augmon. I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. home/away, monthly, etc More Billy Cunningham Basketball Reference pages, Compare Billy Cunningham to other players. 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. Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York, Draft: Anybodv can win the lottery.. Cunningham grew up in Brooklyn and on his fifth birthday he received a basketball. If you play the game, you know how high that is. During his playing career, he was a 4-time All-Star and 3-time All-NBA First Team selection. "I lived there that summer," he later recalled. Artis (A-Train) Gilmore, George (Ice) Gervin and Larry (Big Cat) Kenon all dunked admirably. 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 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Some of the guys started dunking. Seniors Are Getting Freaking And A New Loofah Code Lets Everyone Know. Many have speculated about the reasons behind this phenomenon. I dont believe anyone has ever done it. Encyclopedia.com. The team finished 42-40 and was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. Cunningham became a top analyst for CBSs broadcasts of NBA games. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Effortless, absolutely effortless.. His departure had a disastrous effect. The University of North Carolina (UNC) coach Frank McGuire convinced Cunningham to enroll there. CUNNINGHAM, William John ("Billy") ( b. // Archive 75: Billy Cunningham| 75 Stories: Billy Cunningham. For three days, Rabbit put on a show like theyve never seen before. In the exhibition season he was assigned to bring the ball up the court against Bostons K.C. Though he portrayed a large woman in "You have to Walk it like . 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. 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. The man waits and waits for Jackie to start coming down, but waits too long. He told me, Sonny, no. . After three days, Rabbit said to Red, One of us is gonna have to go., Red said, What do you mean? Rabbit said, Either get rid of Bob Cousy or get rid of me. After Chamberlain left the team in 1968, Cunningham became the 76ers' franchise player. 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. During a game in 1963 against Clemson University, he grabbed a record twenty-seven rebounds. At Southern Idaho, the legend grew. Billy Cunningham attended Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York and UNC. Cunningham would never play again. Celtics legend Larry Bird might just be the most famous white guy in basketball. 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. White started five games, but was mostly a mop-up guy, then was injured and finished his career in a pro league in Mexico. The next season, Phily finished 47-35, but lost to the Spurs in the conference semis. Chris Wallace, the college talent scout, said: I dont believe measurements. He played nine seasons for the Baltimore Bullets, beginning in 63, and he died last year. His daddy was also a professional ball player, which means his skill and confidence are ate least somewhat genetic. Clutch West, with his awe-inspiring 60-foot shot in the 1970 NBA Final. A fabulous collegian and pro player Cunningham shot to stardom when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1966. Billy Cunningham, Actor: You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat. Can the old Elevator still ascend? Dolph Schayes is an icon in Philadelphia 76ers lore and was one of the NBA's first stars as well. Pretty darn safe. Encyclopedia.com. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. 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. Earl Manigault was another fabulous flyer off the Eastern blacktop in the late 50s and early 60s. Select from premium Billy Cunningham 76ers of the highest quality. Bobby Jones could swoop and soar. During one game he went THROUGH and OVER the 77 Manute Bol of the Golden State Warriors to ALMOST score. According to a warrant for Morrow's arrest, he's facing charges of assault by strangulation, second-degree kidnapping and communicating threats.