Believe your eyes: Spurs Outsize LAC Bigs

[Knoxxx]

Our bigs just look considerably taller than LAC, Duncan and Splitter looked easily tallest two players on the court. So I went here and used the player name search feature to confirm:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/

Barefoot heights:

Tim Duncan 6' 11"
Tiago 6' 10.25'
Jordan 6' 9.75"
Martin 6' 8.75" (unconfirmed)
Griffin 6' 8.5"
Bonner 6' 8.5"
Diaw 6' 8"
Evans 6' 7.5"
Leonard 6' 6"
Blair 6' 5.25"

Right away, I am calling B.S. on Diaw height, he must have been 16 years old at the time. Plus we need to factor in wingspan:

Jordan 7' 6" (freakish)
Leonard 7' 3"
Evans 7' 2.5"
Blair 7' 2"
Splitter 7' 2"
Duncan 7' 2"+ (estimate)
Diaw 7' 2"+ (estimate)
Martin 7' 1" (unconfirmed)
Griffin 6' 11.25"
Bonner 6' 8.75"

So my suspicions are confirmed, we have a height and length advantage, and by my count 3 very legitimate NBA big men in Duncan-Splitter-Diaw.

One additional point of reference, I saw a article which claimed Bynum, P Gasol, and Odom had wingspans of 7' 6, 5, and 4" respectively. Don't know how true, but would explain why everyone is always raving about the Lakers' "length". My eyes tell me there that both Bynum and Gasol are 7-foot without shoes, or taller than anyone listed above. But losing sleep over matching up with those guys? Nah.

[ALVAREZ6]

Damn, Leonard is long as shit :wow. Definitely a huge advantage in this game. Height isn't everything, and that goes for offense and defense. Leonard is effectively much taller than 6'7" on defense because of his wingspan and Durant the same on offense, he can shoot over anyone.

[DJB]

LOL Bonner with the T-Rex arms.

[therealtruth]

Diaw looks closer to 6-10 in shoes and he has the long wingspan.

[spursfan1000]

Wow Leonard is a beast!

[Venti Quattro]

They also outclass Monkeyball's #1 team.

[Interrohater]

Dude, Diaw is a legit 6'8". He's absolutely no taller than that. He has a decent reach, though and he bodies his man up superbly, mitigating his lack of height.

[Fabbs]

wingspan:
Leonard 7' 3"

source?

[ALVAREZ6]

Dude, Diaw is a legit 6'8". He's absolutely no taller than that. He has a decent reach, though and he bodies his man up superbly, mitigating his lack of height.

+strong lower body.

[Knoxxx]

source?

The predraft measurements link I posted. Easiest search method is type last name only.

[Fabbs]

D'Oh thanks.
7'3" reach for 6'6" Kawhi. That is awesome. :toast

So both Leonard and Jordan are +9 above their height.
Wonder who the all time + reach above their height guy is?
I think Pippen was pretty freaky too.

[Knoxxx]

Here is a good article on what makes for a freakish wingspan, always a fun topic:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/864549-nba-basketball-what-qualifies-as-a-freakish-wingspan-in-the-league

Can't find much at all on Duncan official wingspan or standing reach. I was amazed while at a game to see Duncan easily reach up, grab the net and stretch flatfooted. That's a big boy, obviously well over 9 foot standing reach.

[Fabbs]

^^ great article.
Good to see Kawahi is already breaking the mold.

Of the eleven players with “freakish” wingspans, only one, Elton Brand, has ever made an all-star game outright—Josh Howard got elected in the 2006-07 season after Yao Ming was unable to participate due to injury.