To Read All The Obituaries In The Liverpool Echo, Chicago To Smoky Mountains Road Trip Stops, Articles B

After the 19711972 season, Cunningham left Philadelphia and the NBA for the rival American Basketball Association (ABA), signing on with the (North) Carolina Cougars. After Chamberlain left the team in 1968, Cunningham became the 76ers' franchise player. Hey, a sportswriter dunks. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. [14] He then returned for one last year to help cover the 1991 NCAA men's basketball tournament, partnered with Dick Stockton once again. Bobby Jones could swoop and soar. 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. Chamberlain played for the Globetrotters in the 58-59 season and said: Jumpin Joe Buckhalter and I would line up on opposite sides of the free throw lane when Meadowlark Lemon was shooting a free throw. Not too shabby at all, right? Hawkins is now vice president of communications for the Dodgers. Cunningham reached 200, 300, and 400 wins faster than any previous coach in NBA history. I saw him come down the floor once, in the Eastern League, on a fast break. married Sondra; they had two daughters. Destined to become one of the first of basketball's most talented big men, as a young man George Mikan, Sprewell, Latrell 1970 There was a Philadelphia boy, Sonny Hill, about 5-10 (actually 5-9), he was the first guy that size I ever saw dunk. As a sophomore, with as little work, he improved to 7-5 7/8. That swagger had to come from somewhere. He finished well out of the running--or jumping--when he clanged at least one attempt off the rim. Cunningham became a top analyst for CBSs broadcasts of NBA games. Billy Cunningham was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1986 (Full List) He spent a total of 17 seasons with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers (nine as player, eight as coach), and two seasons as a player with the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. Thats how much air was between Connaughton and those shiny floorboards at the NBA Combine in 2015. Upon graduation, his 1,062 rebounds were the best in North Carolina history and he held single-season records for most rebounds (379 in 1964) and rebound average (16.1 in 1963). Joey? 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. Ill give you an example. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Thompson, as a consolation prize, won the MVP award in the All-Star game itself. 22 Feb. 2023 . Athletic Club, has worked with most of the great L.A. prep stars of the last two decades. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. [4], Cunningham signed a threeyear contract on August 5, 1969 to begin play with the American Basketball Association's Carolina Cougars in 197172. David Robinson, future NBA Hall-of-Famer and leader of the San Antonio Spurs, was born in Key We, Chamberlain, Wilt can arthur get a girlfriend rdr2; cook county jail roster; zip code validation rule in salesforce; first coast security ehub; billy cunningham vertical jump. I get a rebound and Im driving up the floor, ready to go coast to coast. Also, his dunk on Dwight Howard during the 2008 Olympic finals was unreal. In 1974 Cunningham returned to the 76ers. This guy wasnt a leaper, but it will show you what I mean. 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. They are enshrined in a mythical Museum of Leap. Oh my God, Smith recalled thinking. His jump was absolutely awesome. Billy Cunningham tells broadcaster John Andariese about his early success with the 76ers. 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. His departure had a disastrous effect on the 76ers, who posted a 9-73 record in 1972-73, the worst mark in NBA history. I was right there and it wasnt a foot. The Cougars had finished last the previous season, but with Brown and Cunningham inspiring the team, the Cougars finished first. I dont know anything he has done that hasnt worked. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Close to the superleaper class in Kupchaks book, but a shade short, are Charles Barkley, Larry Nance, Orlando Woolridge, Roy Hinson, Tom Chambers and Akeem Olajuwon. So I did a 360, two handed, and he conceded.. Professional basketball player, sports administrator You dont play with a red, white and blue ball if youre into dignity. Artis (A-Train) Gilmore, George (Ice) Gervin and Larry (Big Cat) Kenon all dunked admirably. 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. Then they took out Boston in the Eastern Division finals San Francisco in the NBA Finals. [CDATA[ In the Museum of Leap, Wilt (the Big Dipper) Chamberlain has his own wing. He was about a foot from the top.. In 1966-67, the 76ers dominated the NBA. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. This story is not that important. At six feet, seven inches tall and 220 pounds, Cunningham was a consistent scorer and fierce rebounder. [10] In October 2021, he was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[11]. You cant accomplish that feat unless youve got some serious springs in your heels! So he tried it again, grabbed the nail and bent it straight down. Nobody ever played the game could rise any better than Jackie. 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 playing days ended on one play in the 1975-76 season. There are two other pure measurements of leap--the dunk and the top of the money exchange. 1924- 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. He was a competitor, said Lewis Schaffel, one of Cunninghams partners in the Miami Heat who grew up with him in Brooklyn. Dont try a big leap. Its even been called hellicious.. He was a role player on the 1967 title team in . 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. The difference between the two marks, in inches, is the players sergeant jump, as in, Joe Smith has a 29-inch sergeant.. Thats a white head, remember. 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. And after all, The sun even shines on a dog's a** some days. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. His colourful tattoos and hairstyles are about as famous as his skills too, with hairdos including mohawks, spikes, and shoulder-length shag. Geraldo Rivera is standing by. 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 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. Join our linker program. Billy Cunningham was born in Brooklyn, New York. According to a warrant for Morrow's arrest, he's facing charges of assault by strangulation, second-degree kidnapping and communicating threats. Wed been on the bus eight hours by then, Trenkle said. Do you have a blog? The 1984-85 season, Cunninghams last as coach, featured the addition of rookie Charles Barkley to the team. Small Forward and Power Forward He was a five-time All Star, 1972-73 MVP, and received recognition for numerous goals, throws, rebounds, and assist plays. 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. The Doc won it with a long run, a leap from two inches inside the free throw line and a dramatic, powerful windmill slam. Keith Smart always reported he had a 44. I told him Id read he had a 44. He spent several years as one of the owners of the Miami Heat and the team quickly became a contender. 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. If you give bonus points for obscurity and mystery, it would be Joey Johnson, younger brother of Celtic guard Dennis. Mike Conley, who is 6-2 and a triple jumper, won the Foot Locker Slam Dunk Contest last weekend, with 6-2 Raider receiver Tim Brown finishing third and swimmer Matt Biondi in the top five. For his eleven-year career, Cunningham averaged 21.2 points per game. 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. Do you have a sports website? Browse 310 billy_cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Jones, a noted defensive terror. Sunday Nights with Bill Cunningham can be heard every Sunday on over 300 radio stations across the United States. Billy Cunningham was drafted by Philadelphia 76ers, 1st round (7th pick, 7th overall), 1965 NBA Draft. I went back a few hours later with a tape measure. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ZbxZ3AJWWjyZL0HXDpABwVdW.7p3rtLrWMEsK2FPL0A-86400-0"}; It was so much air that it tied young Pat for the spot of second-highest vertical leap recorded up to that point. In warmups, we would always check out the other team and get into little contests with their guys. That Feb. 8, the ABA trotted out its five best slammers. ! Billy Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. They outlawed that, but I wouldnt have done it in a game, anyway. Jay Norman, an outstanding defensive player, went into his defensive stance at the foul line. We sure are glad he picked basketball! Now an NBA journeyman, Dawkins came into the NBA in 1975, straight out of high school, billed as the center of the future. 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. Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York, Draft: Ive never felt another feeling like it, being able to go up in the air, over someone much bigger, and stay up there. I have seen everybody, Hill said. "I lived there that summer," he later recalled. The following season, with the ABAs future in jeopardy, Cunningham returned to the 76ers. Jump to navigation Jump to search Billy Cunningham American basketball player and coach. Billy Cunningham, Actor: You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat. 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. I loved it instantly.. And despite the proliferation of dunkers, there is a very elite group of leapers. The following season Philadelphia won sixty-two games and the Eastern Division title but lost to the Celtics in the playoffs. Joe Vanilla Sky Alexander has restless, jumpy feet that propel him way up to block shots and confound his opponents. In the six years of the NBAs slam dunk contest, only one white player has been invited to compete, 6-10 Tom Chambers in 1986. Browse 1,052 billy cunningham stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. He finally got a pro tryout with the Utah Stars of the ABA at 25, but by then his fabulous springs were sprung. Most of the players had between 29 and 33, so I dont believe any of that stuff in the 40s.. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. "Cunningham, William John ("Billy") He did prefer ball to hockey, after all. 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. He was named Most Valuable Player in the ABA. He spent a total of 17 seasons with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers (nine as player, eight as coach), and two seasons as a player with the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. The Smooth Criminal, as he was called when he played for Spain, didnt stick with the NBA for too long, but sure made an impact. I was a good free throw shooter in college.. Those Sixers advanced to the East finals before losing in five games to the Celtics. 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. star and now the leagues vice president of operations. 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. Cunningham would never play again. 44 is only four inches less than the NBAs all-time record by His Airness, Michael Jordan, and also by Darrell Griffith. There was a guard from Harlem named Rabbit. 1 in everyones heart and myths is Jumpin Jackie Jackson, also known as Sidecar Jackson. Actually he was a 62% free throw shooter, which is poor except in comparison to his 51% as a pro. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Cunningham could not even crack the starting lineupwhich included Wilt Chamberlain, Chet Walker, Lucious Jackson, Hal Greer, and Wally Jonesbut he averaged 18.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game coming off the bench. His man takes him into the key, gives a head fake and sends Jackie skyward. 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. In 1965, Cunningham joined the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. During a game in 1963 against Clemson University, he grabbed a record twenty-seven rebounds. Data Provided By Billy Cunningham found success as a coach in the NBA after his playing days were through. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. These men have their own ancient orders, such as Phi Slama Jama, the mythical fraternity created during the 1982-83 college season by Houston scribe Thomas Bonk, now a Times writer, to honor the dunk-happy University of Houston Cougars. David came the closest, Kupchak said. 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. On 6 May 1986 Cunningham was elected into the NBA Hall of Fame, as one of its ten initial inductees. Thats about half the height of Michael Jordan. A fiery coach, Cunningham stalked the sidelines with the best of them. High School and became known as the Kangaroo Kid for his impressive jumping ability. In 1987, Cunningham replaced Tom Heinsohn as the lead color commentator (alongside play-by-play man Dick Stockton) for CBS' NBA telecasts. He would toss the ball off the backboard and then slam it home. His daddy was also a professional ball player, which means his skill and confidence are ate least somewhat genetic. Spencer Haywood, for one, claims to have been to the top. Philadelphia won 62 games the next season, but the Celtics upset the 76ers in the playoffs. In 1987, the NBA Board of Governors awarded the group an expansion franchise to begin play in 1988-89 and thus the Miami Heat was born. When I went to Kansas, they had a 12-foot basket in the gym, because Dr. Phog Allen was advocating the 12-foot basket. Dunk-off of the Network Superstars? 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. During both is college and NBA career, this guy leapt like nobodys business. Billy Cunningham found success and stardom during his ABA days. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. He ran out of his house and to the hoop at St. Rose of Lima grammar school, three blocks away. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. And there was a dog. While he was dribbling down the court, his knee exploded. Weve all heard the saying: white men cant jump. Ron Shelton even made a (fantastic) movie about it in the 90s! Joey made the trip but was nursing a hip pointer, so he couldnt suit up. [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. Yes, 44. He was a high school superstar. Joe Clarke, founder and president of the South-Central L.A. Upload media Wikipedia. When Cunningham got off the bus in Chapel Hill in the fall of 1961, he was all skin and bones, a freckle-faced redhead with a clumsy, pigeon-toed gait. 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. 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 . He came up with four: Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb and Clyde (the Glide) Drexler. 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. He played nine seasons for the Baltimore Bullets, beginning in 63, and he died last year. 1964 UNC at Duke, tip-off.jpg 1,454 1,750; 377 KB. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. 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. They think they could track down what the announcer calls a routine fly ball. Some of them were pretty damn eccentric. 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. Every time Gus slam-dunked at home, the recorded sound of a rifle shot would whistle through the arena. They were a winning team the next two seasons but could not repeat as champions, and Cunningham retired after the 19841985 season. And Dirk Nowitzki who no doubt has walls plastered top to bottom with awards and achievements. Cunningham was a member of the powerful 1967 Sixers championship team, which also featured Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Luke Jackson. billy cunningham vertical jump. His teams won sixty-six play-off games and lost twenty-nine. At (one NBA tryout camp), where we had a strong cross section of draftees, the highest was 36 1/2 inches. Professional basketball player What happens when you put stilts on kangaroo? Bobby Jones could swoop and soar. I got fired up and did a 360 dunk. Cunningham scored 18.9 points per game. He was so good, Red Auerbach saw him play in a schoolyard game and invited him to camp with the Celtics. Cunningham returned to Philadelphia in 1977 to become the coach of the 76ers, replacing Gene Shue. American basketball player Until recently, nobody ever tried to keep track of dunks on any league-wide scale. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. All rights reserved. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Despite his Caucasian genetic setbacks, he shot up an unbelievable 41.5 inches at the NBA Draft Combine in 2014. Michael Jordan has stopped just short of holding the ball in his mouth, uncoiling his tongue in mid-flight and inventing the Anteater Slam. These guys will never forget the blur of that mullet-ed head flying past them. 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,. Philadelphia went 47-35, second in the newly formed Atlantic Division, but was ousted again in the first round of the playoffs. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. As a high school senior, he received a scholarship offer from a Midwestern college, asking him to become the schools first black player. 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. A lot of great leapers dont bother to perfect those skills, because they are treated with such awe. 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. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. That Sixers team has since been hailed as the greatest ever assembled. No discussion of legendary leapers is complete without heated debate. I could. Claims of sergeants in the mid- and high 40s are common. Then theres Jerry Mr. 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. The breakthrough occurred when Harvey Pollack, the venerable stat whiz of the Philadelphia 76ers, collected dunk data from every team for the entire 1987-88 NBA season, accounting for every last slammeroo. Hes also not 100% African American, though, which means he doesnt automatically have insane jumping genes. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. It was legendary, however, and cemented young Majerle as one of the best white dunkers of all time. Buffman and Cunningham decided to team up in the venture, and they brought in Lewis Schaffel and Ted Arison. And some colleges and pro teams were not ready to take chances on what went along with those guys. Hed shoot it short and Joe and I would leap up and shake hands over the basket.. Moral of this story: dont count the white guys out of this sport just yet. 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. Home Depot Is Selling A Giant 89-Pound Crab Statue For $1,500. "Rubin Quits L. I. U. to Pilot 76ers,", Goldaper, Sam. Instead he went to Georgia as a white player and was a so-so power forward. Billy Cunningham. 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. One day he received a call from Zev Buffman, who needed a well-known basketball personality to help secure an NBA franchise for Miami. Carolina lost to the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division rinals, but Cunninghams regular-season performance earned him the ABA MVP. No question, the mystique of the superleaper remains. Joey averaged 19.5 points at Southern Idaho and led the team to a national junior college title. Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Family (1) Overview (3) Born: June 3, 1943 in New York, USA: Birth Name: William John Cunningham: Height: 6' 7" (2.01 m) Mini Bio (1) William John "Billy" Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943. Youre just up there and nobody else can get up there., David (Skywalker) Thompson said: Sometimes Id surprise myself. He ran to the nearest school, three blocks away, and started shooting baskets. 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. Then an All-Star. They asked him to show how high he could jump, so with no warmup of any kind, in his school clothes, Joey stood there, jumped up and put his chin on the rim. "I don't know anything he has done that hasn't worked," said the Orlando, Florida, executive Pat Williams. For his college career he averaged 24.8 points per game and set a school record with 1,062 rebounds. Many of the great leapers of that era inhabited the fringes of reality as we know it. In 1996 he was voted one of the top fifty players at the NBA's fiftieth anniversary. Here's a number: 44 inches. Billy can jump up to 29-31 inches (vertical leap). There have been--and are--very good white jumpers. In the twentieth game of the 19751976 season, Cunningham's career suddenly and inexplicably ended. Many have speculated about the reasons behind this phenomenon. Joey walked up to the wall, one foot planted, no rocking, jumped up and missed the nail. RotoWire names five under-the-radar players who could add value to your rosters as we approach fantasy playoffs. I said, What the hell, Im 40. . See, for example, Jan Hubbard, ed., The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, 3d ed. The two teams waged a court battle, each claiming the rights to Cunningham, but the new league won. I dont want anyone ripping rib-cage muscles or wrenching spinal disks. 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. One of the more recent players on this list, Chris Birdman Anderson is known for his celebratory arm flapping and his intriguing tattoos. 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. 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. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, Brooks suspended after receiving 16th technical foul, Grizzlies' Clarke (torn achilles) out indefinitely, Ja will be away from team for 'at least' 2 games, Ex-NBA player Morrow facing assault charges, Durant passes 'Big O' for 13th in career points, NBA Fantasy: Under-the-radar additions for playoffs. 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. Technicalities, you know. CUNNINGHAM, William John ("Billy") ( b. In 1965 Cunningham graduated from UNC and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. A fabulous collegian and pro player Cunningham shot to stardom when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1966. How tall is Billy Cunningham? Cunningham began his second basketball career on Nov. 4, 1977, when he was hired to replace Gene Shue at the Sixers helm. His jersey number "32" was later retired by Philadelphia. Billy Cunningham played fiercely, coached intensely, and won frequently. Cunningham then went to the University of North Carolina, where he excelled. Billy Cunningham attended Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, New York and UNC. [2] At the conclusion of the season he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. It didnt happen, though, and Fernandez remains playing with Real Madrid, where he feels he is a better player.This, however, is debatable. The white guys listed below are heroes of the basketball world. He also had stellar 3-pointer abilities, but after that 1996 air show, most of his other accomplishments were left in the dust. Upon his retirement on May 28, 1985,[13] his 454 wins as a head coach were the 12th best in NBA history. The players who fly through this thin air are not simply remembered by hoop fans. The ABA wasnt about dignity, it was about style. 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. I won the unofficial NBA slam dunk title that season, said White, who now sells heavy equipment in Georgia.