billy cunningham vertical jump billy cunningham vertical jump

Upon his retirement on May 28, 1985,[13] his 454 wins as a head coach were the 12th best in NBA history. 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. Dennis never was much of a leaper. Who would he share a wing with? 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. For his eleven-year career, Cunningham averaged 21.2 points per game. Never got off the bench, but in warmups he could dunk better than anyone Ive ever seen.. Nope. billy cunningham vertical jump. 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. But listen to Wilt. Then he went to North Carolina and was an All-American. Most of the players had between 29 and 33, so I dont believe any of that stuff in the 40s.. 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. He inherited a team of underachievers led by Julius Erving. In his rookie season of 19651966 Cunningham was at first assigned to be a guard, then switched positions, becoming a small forward. He finished well out of the running--or jumping--when he clanged at least one attempt off the rim. 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.. of 6. home/away, monthly, etc More Billy Cunningham Basketball Reference pages, Compare Billy Cunningham to other players. Many of the great leapers of that era inhabited the fringes of reality as we know it. I cant put my finger on it exactly, but there was just something about the game. His jump was absolutely awesome. Hawkins is now vice president of communications for the Dodgers. It was the Human Highlight Film vs. a Selected Short. Encyclopedia.com. Philadelphia fans showed surprisingly little bitterness toward Cunningham, who rewarded them with 19.5 ppg in 1974-75. and inspired headlines everywhere to scream White Men CAN Jump! Seriously, though. I lived there that summer, he later recalled. There are two other pure measurements of leap--the dunk and the top of the money exchange. ." Cunningham became a top analyst for CBSs broadcasts of NBA games. Cunningham achieved a career trifecta in law, business, and government. Some nights Id scare myself.. He walked into the gym one morning and there was a TV crew set up. Soon Greer would be alone. inBrooklyn,New York He reached both the 300 and 400-win milestones faster than any coach in NBA history. Technicalities, you know. In the twentieth game of the 19751976 season, Cunningham's career suddenly and inexplicably ended. Stanfords 6-4 Todd Lichti is a big-time leaper, regardless of race, creed or color. I dont believe anyone has ever done it. But the final came down to David Thompson vs. Julius Erving--the Skywalker vs. the Doctor. Even so, Erving was the NBAs most dazzling aerial star until he retired in 1987 and passed the title to Michael Jordan. . Celtics legend Larry Bird might just be the most famous white guy in basketball. So much has been written and said about Julius Erving over the years that i, Allen, Marcus 1960 Oh my God, Smith recalled thinking. Learn more and register. Or write about sports? Billy Cunningham - Biography - IMDb Latrell Sprewell, a rising NBA star, would be known more for his off-court antics than his bas, Erving, Julius 1950 I got fired up and did a 360 dunk. 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. Send us your videotape. As a high school senior, he received a scholarship offer from a Midwestern college, asking him to become the schools first black player. The greatest nicknames in basketball are reserved for those who attain the greatest altitude. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Find out more. 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. However, the poet laureate of leap is Darryl Dawkins. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. Gus once said, When I dunked that ball and heard that shot for the first time, I said to myself, Oh, oh, Gus. In warmups, we would always check out the other team and get into little contests with their guys. Despite his Caucasian genetic setbacks, he shot up an unbelievable 41.5 inches at the NBA Draft Combine in 2014. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. (February 22, 2023). He said he was tired and tight. billy cunningham vertical jump. It was like, Legend has it that 20 men are buried in Boot Hill because of this guy. The color barrier and the sex barrier of slam-dunk have fallen: Many white guys and a few women can dunk. Nissalke tells of an informal leaping contest between second-year man Kareem, who then was Lew Alcindor, and Milwaukee forward Don Smith, who now is Zaid Abdul-Aziz. A lot of great leapers dont bother to perfect those skills, because they are treated with such awe. Bill Cunningham (talk show host) - Wikipedia He prevailed in the end! Jump to navigation Jump to search Billy Cunningham American basketball player and coach. Browse 1,052 billy cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Ill give you an example. My mother has a bar here in southern Idaho, and shes got a nail where Joey touched, at 11-9 1/2.. The next season, Phily finished 47-35, but lost to the Spurs in the conference semis. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. In the 2005 NBA pre-draft camp he gained 34.5 inches of air. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. His colourful tattoos and hairstyles are about as famous as his skills too, with hairdos including mohawks, spikes, and shoulder-length shag. 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. The legendary player and coach was named the ABA MVP for the 1972-73 season. If you play the game, you know how high that is. He would replace the injured and aging Luke Jackson as the starting power forward of the team, and averaged 24.8 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game during the 196869 season while leading the 76ers to 55 wins. Billy Cunningham is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid. Can the old Elevator still ascend? Its unbelievable. I said to him, Yes, yes, yes! Wilt said, Im gonna kill you. . Theyve run like the wind, ducked like a water fowl, flown like jet planes, and scored more points than Cassanova in a disco. 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. As a player, he was fiery yet consistent, pulling down rebounds and scoring points. 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. If you give bonus points for obscurity and mystery, it would be Joey Johnson, younger brother of Celtic guard Dennis. Okay, so LaVine is technically not 100% Caucasian. Youd be hard pressed to find a list of Best Dunks that didnt include his legendary knee-to-the-throat jump on Mark Jackson, where he rose like a Phoenix (how clever!) ." He was so good, Red Auerbach saw him play in a schoolyard game and invited him to camp with the Celtics. billy cunningham vertical jump - mail.edtna-erca.org 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. Dawkins named it, Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robinzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham, Bam, Glass Breaker, I Am Jam.. American basketball player Cunningham had just snared a defensive rebound and was dribbling to the Sixers free-throw line when, as he later recounted, his knee just exploded. No one had touched him, although Alfred Butch Beard was given a foul on the play. So he tried it again, grabbed the nail and bent it straight down. As a professional he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, an NBA All-Star, All-NBA First and Second Team, an ABA All-Star, All-ABA First Team, and the ABA Most Valuable Player. No discussion of legendary leapers is complete without heated debate. 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. He was named Most Valuable Player in the ABA. 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. 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. 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. The future never came, but Dawkins broke new ground in power dunking, backboard shattering and dunknaming. 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 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. Showing all 5 items. He was a consummate team player, and he used the same unifying concept and enthusiasm to become a successful head coach. How does Zion "only" have a vertical jump of 40.5 inches when - reddit In the far-up Land of Leap, the unit of currency is the dunk. Now thats something to brag about at Sunday family dinners. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. The schools former coach, Frank McGuire, was the one who had recruited Cunningham, which left Smith with a prize recruit he had never seen. David came the closest, Kupchak said. Wilt meets me at mid-court and says, Na, na, na, not this time.. Media in category "Billy Cunningham" The following 5 files are in this category, out of 5 total. These guys will never forget the blur of that mullet-ed head flying past them. Another oft-told legend has Jackie on defense. "It's a remarkable life.". Unlike Thompson, a huge star at North Carolina State, Dr. J kind of sneaked up on the basketball world. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Terrell Owens Gets Into Fight Outside CVS. "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") He told me, Sonny, no. . That swagger had to come from somewhere. Daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham jumps into action during Injuries limited Cunningham to only 32 games in 1973-74, but he still averaged 20.5 ppg. Or write about sports? Not only could he dunk, but he had a serious white boy swagger. I get a rebound and Im driving up the floor, ready to go coast to coast. Dolph Schayes is an icon in Philadelphia 76ers lore and was one of the NBA's first stars as well. Browse 310 billy_cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. But he was over by a good six to eight inches. He is still the winningest coach in Sixers history. 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 . Cunningham scored 18.9 points per game. Jack Gardner, a former college coach, did our testing, Nissalke said. Pretty darn safe. Contending that the Cougars had reneged on paying the remaining $80,000 of a $125,000 signing bonus due on May 15, 1970, he reversed himself and signed a fouryear, $950,000 contract extension to stay with the 76ers through 197475 on July 15, 1970. He came up with four: Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb and Clyde (the Glide) Drexler. Hey, a sportswriter dunks. Fiery and volatile, he would pace the sidelines, driving his team relentlessly. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. VIDEO: Giant Space Slingshot In Action. This guy that was also selected for the MLB draft, spent time with the Orioles, and pitched an impressive 96 mph. Look up. Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. 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. 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. He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. 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. An American-Israeli boy who was actually born in Taiwan, this dude was THIS CLOSE to entering the Slam Dunk competition in 2009, but was passed over for the Portland Trail Blazers Rudy Fernandez. The single-game high was eight, by Drexler, against the Lakers. A fiery coach, Cunningham stalked the sidelines with the best of them. He succeeded Gene Shue as head coach of the 24 76ers on November 4, 1977. Yes, 44. He had a baseball cap on, and he turned the bill sideways. 1964 UNC at Duke, tip-off.jpg 1,454 1,750; 377 KB. Cunningham began his second basketball career on Nov. 4, 1977, when he was hired to replace Gene Shue at the Sixers helm. 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. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Join our linker program. He said he was afraid he would cut himself. Keith Smart always reported he had a 44. His entire head and neck were above the rim. It is near the University of Idaho campus, where the legendary Gus Johnson once played. (b. The soaring flight of the great leaper is amazing, even to himself. snoop dogg zodiac chart New Lab; kaplan children's furniture; is there quicksand in georgia; In our museum of hoop flight, there is a special wing for the charter members, the dinosaurs of dunk. The following season, with the ABAs future in jeopardy, Cunningham returned to the 76ers. 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. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. [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]. Chess Robot Grabs And Breaks Finger Of Seven-Year . He got kudos for his smooth-sounding, incisive work with the play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton. He played 80 games, primarily as a sixth man, while averaging 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Pitchin Paul is credited as being one of the first basketball players to ever use the jump shot. Its a remarkable life.. In the 197374 season, Cunningham and the Cougars finished third in the Eastern Division and lost again to the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division semifinals. Bobby Jones could swoop and soar. Hed shoot it short and Joe and I would leap up and shake hands over the basket.. The team finished 42-40 and was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. He was all but unknown at the University of Massachusetts, then played five seasons in the semi-secret ABA. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. People think, mistakenly in most cases, that they could hit a baseball, Costas says. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He cant quite jump out of the gym, but he has come close to jumping out of a bar or two. By the time Dr. J got to the NBA, in 1976 at the age of 26, more than 25% of his leg spring--by his estimate--was shot. Joey, standing about eight feet from the shooter, leaped and slapped the shot away. Among his numerous career achievements, he was named to the 1966 All-Rookie Team and three All-NBA First Teams. As a sophomore, with as little work, he improved to 7-5 7/8. These are true royalty: Sir Jamalot, Sir Slam, the Prince of Midair. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. 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. With Maurice Cheeks and Lionel Hollins adding vitality to the backcourt, the Sixers roared to a 59-23 record in the 1979-80 regular season and then defeated favored Boston with rookie sensation Larry Bird in the Eastern Conference finals. The next season, the consistent Cunningham scored 23.3 points per game and was selected as an All-Star for the fourth time. After that season, he earned the first of what would be three straight All-NBA First Team selections. Billy Cunningham - Wikipedia Someone would put a quarter up and Id snatch it down. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. billy cunningham vertical jump - ingenioemprendedor.com 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 rises to the highest level of broadcasting. 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. "I don't know anything he has done that hasn't worked," said the Orlando, Florida, executive Pat Williams. Billy Cunningham weighed 210 lbs (95 kg) when playing. Youd go up, arch your back, and go up even higher. He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. The rim was two inches low. They swept the Knicks in the conference semis and topped the Bucks in five games to reach another Finals, where they swept longtime nemesis L.A. for the championship. Could this be Gods way of telling us its time to raise the hoop? However, you can take all the sergeant numbers of all the jumping jacks, put the numbers in a manure spreader and sprinkle them on your lawn or garden. Yep. Billy Cunningham - Basketball-Reference.com The Leaping Legends of Basketball : Some of The Names Will Jump Out at The 1996 dunk competition boasted great ballers like the 76ers Jerry Stackhouse and the Suns Michael Finley, and nobody really expected the Lakers guard to triumph. And that performance in Denver was the national coming-out party for Dr. J, the godfather of dunk. No. Dont send letters, leapers. Billy Cunningham tells broadcaster John Andariese about his early success with the 76ers. 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. Billy Cunningham found success as a coach in the NBA after his playing days were through. Billy Cunningham was drafted by Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft. ." As a freshman he went out for the track team, worked out a total of 10 hours, then high-jumped 7-3 7/8. How tall is Billy Cunningham? In 1965 Cunningham graduated from UNC and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. "We just helped knock on doors and pull people out of their homes last night. Then he goes into coaching and, percentage-wise, becomes one of the best ever. why did michael jackson wrote heal the world; lionel richie las vegas 2022 In fact, he set the record for most blocks and field goal percentage in a season at his high school, Linganore High in Mt. The following season, the Sixers finished behind Boston in the standings and were upset by the New Jersey Nets in the first round. Do you have a blog? So goes the popular assumption. 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. Keith had a 32. "I can't put my finger on it exactly, but there was just something about the game. Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. 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. I have seen everybody, Hill said. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. One of the more recent players on this list, Chris Birdman Anderson is known for his celebratory arm flapping and his intriguing tattoos. He holds the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history of .698 (only Phil Jackson is ahead of him). While he was dribbling down the court, his knee exploded. In a way the injury made things easy for me, he added. Thats a mouthful. In those days, didnt nobody dunk but Wilt Chamberlain, so Sonny was an absolute marvel.. He coached eight years with 76ers, never finishing lower than second place in the Atlantic and posted a career record of 454-196 (.698). We should be glad he doesnt demand his own useum. Blonde hair. Joey? "In a way the injury made things easy for me," he said later. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He was a No. He was about a foot from the top.. Some of the guys started dunking. for once. All rights reserved. I said to myself, Ive got to try. I angled to the right. //]]>. billy cunningham vertical jump - polucon.com Billy Cunningham was born in Brooklyn, New York. 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. The Doc won it with a long run, a leap from two inches inside the free throw line and a dramatic, powerful windmill slam. Earl Manigault was another fabulous flyer off the Eastern blacktop in the late 50s and early 60s. Robinson, David 1965 If youre looking for scale, thats taller than most baby elephants. Destined to become one of the first of basketball's most talented big men, as a young man George Mikan, Sprewell, Latrell 1970 Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. 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.. Nobody ever played the game could rise any better than Jackie. It was so much air that it tied young Pat for the spot of second-highest vertical leap recorded up to that point. Cunningham grew up in Brooklyn and on his fifth birthday he received a basketball. 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. Not too shabby at all, right? 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. 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. billy cunningham vertical jump - epcorcentre.org Pregame warmups were his showtime. I defy anyone to say they took change off the top of the backboard, Chamberlain said. 22 Feb. 2023 . Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. Cunningham has been on 50,000-watt radio station 700 WLW for over 30 years, beginning in 1983. Very tall players are seldom recognized as great leapers. Other notable dunks include his shot on the Sonics seriously ticked off Robert Reid, and another on the Knicks flabbergasted Patrick Ewing. He cant even walk.. Bill Cunningham - 700WLW Category:Billy Cunningham - Wikimedia Commons One day he received a call from Zev Buffman, who needed a well-known basketball personality to help secure an NBA franchise for Miami. 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. They outlawed that, but I wouldnt have done it in a game, anyway. [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. Also, his dunk on Dwight Howard during the 2008 Olympic finals was unreal. Gus was a colorful thunder dunker and a breaker of backboards. Some are best at soaring up for a three-pointer, some rock at the jump shots, some can perform slam dunks like nobodys business, and they all work their butts off to prove that they belong in this black mans sport. He ran out of his house and to the hoop at St. Rose of Lima grammar school, three blocks away. 1 in everyones heart and myths is Jumpin Jackie Jackson, also known as Sidecar Jackson. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cunningham-william-john-billy. Joey made the trip but was nursing a hip pointer, so he couldnt suit up. David Robinson, future NBA Hall-of-Famer and leader of the San Antonio Spurs, was born in Key We, Chamberlain, Wilt And there was a dog. He scored 16,310 points and pulled down nearly 8,000 rebounds. Thats about the height of the average 4-year-old. 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. High Griffinition Blake joined the Oklahoma Sooners and became one of their most impressive players of all time. To that end, heres this writers all-time all-leap team: Dr. J, the Big Dipper, Air Jordan, David Skywalker and Joey Johnson. Bones Barry is pretty much Larry Bird, only with a slightly higher jump and significantly longer shorts. The Memphis forward sustained the injury Friday night during the 1st quarter of the Grizzlies 113-97 loss to the Nuggets.