Anthony Jerome " Spud " Webb (born July 13, 1963) is a retired professional retired American basketball professional. Webb, who plays at the National Basketball Association (NBA), is known for winning the Slam Dunk Contest despite being one of the shortest players in NBA history. NBA.com lists him at 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall. He currently serves as President of Basketball Operations for Texas Legends, the G-League team for the Dallas Mavericks in Frisco, Texas.
Video Spud Webb
Life and career
Initial years
Webb was born in poverty in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in a small house with two bedrooms and used basketball as an inspiration. Webb is not tall, but he uses his speed and jumping ability to beat the other, bigger kids. Starting in seventh grade, Webb was told that he was too short to play basketball. He accepted the opportunity to play in his junior team only after 2 players forgot to complete their physical exam requirements in time for the first game. Webb scored 20 points in the first game. He can dip the ball when he is 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m). At Wilmer-Hutchins High School, he played in the junior university team where he made a big impact; when he made the university team, he averaged 26 points per game.
Midland College
Despite an impressive high school record, colleges show little interest in Webb. He received his first chance to play on a college basketball team when he attended Midland College (in Midland, Texas), where he led Chaparrals to a national junior college title in 1982. In a championship game, Midland beat # 1 and Miami-Dade North Florida was previously unbeaten, 93 to 88, in double overtime. Webb led all the goalscorers in the game with 36 points, making 10 of 15 shots from the floor and 16 of 18 from the free throw line. His appearance in the tournament resulted in Webb an article in Sports Illustrated, and national attention. In 1983, he was named NJCAA All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.
North Carolina State University
Webb caught the attention of Tom Abatemarco, an assistant coach at North Carolina State University, who arranged for Webb to meet head coach Jim Valvano, who offered Webb scholarships. In college, the vertical jump is measured at 42 inches (1.1 m).
NBA Career (1985-1998)
Most scouts estimate that Webb will play in Europe or Harlem Globetrotters because of the high. However, Webb was designed in the 4th round of the 1985 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. His first six seasons were played with the Atlanta Hawks, but he had his best years statistically with the Sacramento Kings, where he played as a starter from 1992-1995. He then split the season between the Atlanta Hawks and the Minnesota Timberwolves before ending his career after a season with the Orlando Magic and retiring from professional basketball in 1997. Webb played 814 games in his NBA career, averaging 9.9 points per game, and signed up 8,072 points and 4,342 assists in twelve seasons.
Since Webb made his NBA debut, only two players shorter than him: Earl Boykins and Muggsy Bogues.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Webb was the shortest person competing in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, winning the event in 1986 at the Dallas Reunion Arena. His participation shocked the media; including his team-mates and defending champion Dominique Wilkins, who "never saw me dunk before", Webb said. Rise includes a two-dunk double pump lift, one-off-the-backboard handbag, 360 degree single-handed dunk helicopter, reverse double-pump slam, and finally, a two-handed reverse strawberry of lob bouncing on the floor. He beat Wilkins with two perfect 50 points in the final round. Atlanta coach Mike Fratello said: "Spud is kind of deceiving himself, he told Wilkins he never had any preparation, did not practice for that, so Wilkins probably thinks the normal range would be good enough to pass." Twenty years after Webb's victory in the Slam Dunk contest, he trained the New York Knicks point guard Nate Robinson (who stands at 5 feet 9 inches) to win the event. Webb threw the ball into Robinson, who skipped Webb and dipped, earning 50 points from the jury. Robinson went on to win, making him and Spud just two men in NBA history under six feet to win a slam dunk contest.
Webb is a judge for the Dunk 2010 contest in Dallas, at American Airlines Center. This is the first time this event has been held in Dallas since Webb's victory in 1986.
Maps Spud Webb
See also
- List of the shortest players in the history of the National Basketball Association
References
External links
- Spud Webb's career statistics
- Spud Webb Website
- 2004 interview, "Catching Up with Spud Webb"
- Spud college stats
- Midland College Athletic Website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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