When Height Becomes a Tall Tale

[boutons_]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/sports/basketball/22score.html

[Red Hawk #21]

Good examples of this are Chris Paul who is listed as 6'0 but is really 5'11, Speedy Claxton who was listed as 5'11 in his San Antonio days but is now listed as 6'1. And Ben Gordon who is listed as 6'3 but in reality is 6'1.

When I was in High school I played basketball for my team and in my freshman year I was 5'10 but I was listed as 6'0. I eventually grew to 6'1 by senior year though.

[duncan228]

We know Duncan got smaller. :lol

He was listed as 7' so the Spurs could play up the "Twin Towers" angle, after Robinson retired Duncan asked the Spurs to list him at his "real" height, 6'11". It's been said that he's not quite that tall either.

[mystargtr34]

Its actually pretty encouragin i guess for younger guys...knowing that it isnt really a giants league so to speak ...

But its not really height as much that sets apart top NBA players as it is wing span and standing reach...

Most of these guys that are say 6'5" without shoes... having wingspans and standing reaches of the average 6'8" or 6'9" guy...

You dont block shots and shoot with the top of your head.

[KidCongo]

We know Duncan got smaller. :lol

He was listed as 7' so the Spurs could play up the "Twin Towers" angle, after Robinson retired Duncan asked the Spurs to list him at his "real" height, 6'11". It's been said that he's not quite that tall either.

There was a picture of TD, Dirk and Yao at All-Star weekend. Duncan looked sort of small compared to them.

[mystargtr34]

There was a picture of TD, Dirk and Yao at All-Star weekend. Duncan looked sort of small compared to them.

Alot of picturs look different to me in terms of players height... but i would say Dirk has a fraction of an inch on Duncan... even thoug Dirk isnt really 7 feet...

But Duncan plays alot bigger... id say he probly has a 2 or 3 inch standing reach advantage... hes got some of the longest arms in the league.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

yeah all that matters is Duncan's arms which make up for his vertical....also , Duncan slouches doesn't he?

But its not really height as much that sets apart top NBA players as it is wing span and standing reach...


Its actually pretty encouragin i guess for younger guys...knowing that it isnt really a giants league so to speak ...

Most of these guys that are say 6'5" without shoes... having wingspans and standing reaches of the average 6'8" or 6'9" guy...

You dont block shots and shoot with the top of your head.
Height is all relative anyway...besides the PG's, they're still all fucking giant.
Like Michael Jordan being 6'5 really makes that much of a difference by the time you're talking 6'4 + height.
MJ may not have been 6'6 also had bigger hands than every other guard.
Charles Barkley played like he was 6'10.

Seems like the other attributes to their body types, balances out the basic "height" assumptions when regarding the NBA.

The only one I think that has been "underrated" for size weight and height is Lebron.

[dirk4mvp]

I think T-Mac is taller than 6'8". Maybe it's just because he's so skinny, but he looks taller.

[Red Hawk #21]

I think T-Mac is taller than 6'8". Maybe it's just because he's so skinny, but he looks taller.

I remember once I saw T-mac give Carlos boozer a hug and when they hugged T-mac actually looked taller than Boozer. And Boozer is a freaking PF.:wow

[duncan228]

yeah all that matters is Duncan's arms which make up for his vertical....also , Duncan slouches doesn't he?

Duncan does slouch. :lol Anytime he's next to the 7 footers he always seems more than an inch smaller then them.

I agree that his long arms make up for anything he's missing in height when he's rebounding.

[duncan228]

There was a picture of TD, Dirk and Yao at All-Star weekend. Duncan looked sort of small compared to them.

He does, but in the second pic he looks pretty close to Dirk. I do think it's the slouching. :lol

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/all%20star/allstar08-1.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/all%20star/allstar0810.jpg

[mystargtr34]

Lol Dirk has some wikid lifts in that first photo... he looks about 4 inches shorter than Yao and about 4 inches bigger than Duncan.

[Tully365]

The best example in this draft is Beasley. He was actually measured at 6'7" in bare feet and 6'8.25" in sneakers, but most of the mock drafts still list him at 6'10" and a few at 6'9". I haven't seen a single one that lists him at his true height, with or without shoes...

[mystargtr34]

Well he should probably be listed at 6'8".

Either way... his standing reach came in at 8'11', which is what most 6'10" guys in the league have so hes not really undersized for the 4 spot.

Consider Kevin Love who has a standing reach of 8'10" despite being an inch taller

[Tully365]

Well he should probably be listed at 6'8".

Either way... his standing reach came in at 8'11', which is what most 6'10" guys in the league have so hes not really undersized for the 4 spot.

Consider Kevin Love who has a standing reach of 8'10" despite being an inch taller

I'm not saying anything against Beasley himself at all. It just seems funny to me that one of the most closely watched college players in the whole country has been officially measured and almost everyone refuses to change their listings on him. Especially since questions about his true size are being mentioned by scouts and front office guys.

[Tully365]

Here's a look at some of the combine results:

max. vertical leap:
Beasley: 35"
Love:35
Anthony Randolph: 35
Brook Lopez: 30.5

Lane agility:
Beasley: 11.06 secs.
Love: 11.17
Randolph 11.86
Lopez: 12.77

3/4 court sprint:
Beasley: 3.24
Love:3.22
Randolph: 3.26
Lopez: 3.57

[mystargtr34]

Yep... Kevin Love is way more athletic than anyone thought... and he said before he would surprise alot of people... so good on him.

And i think all players heights should be listed correctly but we know thats not happening.

[Spur-Addict]

If the player out performs most then i don't care, that's what it's about anyways.

[dirk4mvp]

Here's a look at some of the combine results:

max. vertical leap:
Beasley: 35"
Love:35
Anthony Randolph: 35
Brook Lopez: 30.5

Lane agility:
Beasley: 11.06 secs.
Love: 11.17
Randolph 11.86
Lopez: 12.77

3/4 court sprint:
Beasley: 3.24
Love:3.22
Randolph: 3.26
Lopez: 3.57


:wow I never would have guessed Love was just as fast and could jump just as high as Beasley

[Spur-Addict]

:wow I never would have guessed Love was just as fast and could jump just as high as Beasley

Which should bring you to the next question, how good is Michael Beasley? Would one say that Love or Beasley are better than Joe A.?

[spurms]

duncan is 6'10.5, 6'11 with shoes on, nowitzki is 6'11, 7'2 with the munsters.

[monosylab1k]

i've heard dirk is around 6'-9 1/2 without shoes.

[mavs>spurs2]

No telling, I know some players heights are more exaggerated than others. Believe it or not, some players are actually listed accurately, while most exaggerate. Some exaggerate more than others, especially Chris Paul. I had a friend who used to live in North Carolina and saw Paul plenty of times at Wake Forrest's open gym. Chris Paul is like 5ft9, maybe 5ft 10 on a good day. I've heard rumors that Jordan and Kobe are 6ft 4. The most extreme case is probably Jason Collins, I heard him say in an interview that he is barely 6ft 8 barefoot but was listed 7ft. Brandon Bass on the Mavericks isn't even 6ft 8.

[Red Hawk #21]

No telling, I know some players heights are more exaggerated than others. Believe it or not, some players are actually listed accurately, while most exaggerate. Some exaggerate more than others, especially Chris Paul. I had a friend who used to live in North Carolina and saw Paul plenty of times at Wake Forrest's open gym. Chris Paul is like 5ft9, maybe 5ft 10 on a good day. I've heard rumors that Jordan and Kobe are 6ft 4. The most extreme case is probably Jason Collins, I heard him say in an interview that he is barely 6ft 8 barefoot but was listed 7ft. Brandon Bass on the Mavericks isn't even 6ft 8.

I know chris paul exaggerates his height but I think saying he is 5 foot 9 is going too far, he's probably like 5'10 or 5'11 imo. I've seen him standing next to Tony Parker and Tony doesn't look that much taller than him.

[mavs>spurs2]

I know chris paul exaggerates his height but I think saying he is 5 foot 9 is going too far, he's probably like 5'10 or 5'11 imo. I've seen him standing next to Tony Parker and Tony doesn't look that much taller than him.

My friend is 6'0 and was a good 2-3 inches taller than him, that's all i'm sayin. Chris Paul just looks tiny out there on the court, 5ft9 wouldn't surprise me.

[Red Hawk #21]

My friend is 6'0 and was a good 2-3 inches taller than him, that's all i'm sayin. Chris Paul just looks tiny out there on the court, 5ft9 wouldn't surprise me.

Oh I see