Kareem, Wilt, Bill Russell - Detailed Player Measurements

[CavaliersFTW]

Detailed Measurement Data.

(In order by height)

Yao Ming:
Billed Information:
FIBA:: 7-5, 276
NBA (rookie): 296
NBA: 7-6, 310
Basketball Reference: 7-6, 310
Actual Measurements:
Height: 7-5.75 (Was 7-5 in October 2002, then measured 7'5.75 in September 2004)
Wingspan: 7-5
Standing Reach: 9-7
Hand Length:10"
Playing Weight:
296 - early career
310 - mid career
276 - 2010 FIBA
Shoes: U.S. size 18

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
Billed Information:
NCAA: 7-1 3/8
Milwaukee Bucks (rookie): 7-1 1/2, 235
Basketball Reference: 7-2, 225
NBA (late career): 7-2, 267
Actual Measurements:
Height: 7-1.88 (7-1.375 UCLA, 7-1.5 rookie Bucks training camp, 7-1.625 2nd season Bucks training camp, 7-1.88 3rd season Bucks training camp)
Wingspan: 7-5
Playing Weight:
225lbs - rookie
231lbs - 2nd season
235lbs - early career
240lbs - mid career
267lbs - late career
Shoes: U.S. size 16

Wilt Chamberlain:
Billed Information:
NCAA: 7-0
Philadelphia Warriors: 7-1 1/16, 250
Basketball Reference: 7-1, 275
NBA (All teams after the Warriors): 7-1, 275
Actual Measurements:
Height: 7-1.06 (6-11.5 age 17, 7-1.06 age 23)
Wingspan: 7-8
Standing Reach: 9-6
Hand Length: 9.5"
Hand Spread: 11.5"
Playing Weight:
258 - rookie
265 - 3rd season
292 - 5th season
310 - late career
320 - maximum (training camp of 5th season)
Shoes: U.S. size 15

Shaquille O'Neal:
Billed Information:
NCAA: 7-1, 294
Orlando Magic: 7-1, 300
Basketball Reference: 7-1, 325
NBA (after Orlando): 7-1, 325
Actual Measurements:
Height: 6-11.5 (Self admission. Draftexpress lists 7-0)
Wingspan: 7-7
Standing Reach: 9-5
Hand Length: 11"
Hand Spread: 9"
Playing Weight:
280 - Freshman LSU Season
285 - Sophomore LSU Season
294 - Final LSU Season
301 - 1992 draft measurement 1
303 - 1992 draft measurement 2
315 - early career
325 - early-mid career
350 - mid-late career
368 - maximum (out of shape after an injury)
Shoes: U.S. size 22

Bill Russell:
Billed Information:
NCAA: 6-10
Olympics: 6-10
Boston Celtics: 6-9, 215
Basketball Reference: 6-9, 215
NBA : 6-10, 220
Actual Measurements:
Height: 6-9.63 (6-9 and 5/8ths, 1955 NCAA measurement)
Wingspan:7-4
Hand Length:10.5"
Playing Weight:
215 - rookie
222 - early career
230 - late career
240 - last season
Shoes: U.S. size 14

Elvin Hayes:
Billed Information:
NCAA: 6-8
Basketball Reference: 6-9, 235
NBA : 6-9, 235
Actual Measurements:
Height: 6-9.5 (6-8.5 UCLA age 19, 6-9.5 UCLA age 21)
Wingspan:7-2
Playing Weight:
240 - Junior NCAA season
235 - early NBA career
240 - majority of NBA career
Shoes: U.S. size 16

Dwight Howard:
Billed Information:
NBA (rookie): 6-11, 240
NBA (current): 6-11, 265
Basketball Reference: 6-11, 240
Actual Measurements:
Height: 6-9 (2004 draft at age 19)
Wingspan: 7-4.5
Standing Reach: 9-3.5
Playing Weight:
240 - 2004 draft measurement
265 - 3rd season weight
280 - 7th season weight
Shoes: U.S. size 18

Lebron James:
Billed Information:
NBA (rookie): 6-8, 240
NBA (current): 6-8, 250
Basketball Reference: 6-8, 240
Actual Measurements:
Height: 6-7.25 (2003 draft at age 18)
Wingspan: 7-0.25
Standing Reach: 8-10.25
Hand Length: 9"
Hand Spread: 9.25"
Playing Weight:
245 - 2003 draft measurement
266 - 9th season weight
Shoes: U.S. size 15



Discuss, compare with modern draft data:
www.draftexpress.com/measurements


:cheers:


**********************
*Will Be Updated Periodically*

[KG215]

So Russell is essentially Kevin Durant in terms of height, weight, and wingspan, right?

Kareem and Thabeet have similar measurements. Kareem was measured at 7'1.625" and weighed in the 230-265 range with a 7'5" wingspan. Thabeet was measured at 7'1.25", weighed 265 pounds and has 7'6.25" wingspan. Obviously those aren't identical but it was the closest I saw when trying to find someone who compared in all three categories.

Looks like Shaq (7'1" 303 and 7'7" wingspan) was pretty close to Wilt just a little heavier.

[Jotaro Durant]

what about the only size that matter:milton




their hands

[CavaliersFTW]

So Russell is essentially Kevin Durant in terms of height, weight, and wingspan, right?

Wingspan is about the same but I'd bet money Russell is the taller of the two (not by much though). Durant measured 6'9 in the draft, same height as Dwight Howard (same wingspan too). Andre Iguadala met Bill Russell and commented that he was surprised at Russell's size, he said Russell is taller than Dwight Howard. Durant could have grown, but I think his lankyness, and the fact that he chose to be listed barefoot (where as everyone else has an inflated list height) throws peoples judgement off about his actual height. If he grew a full inch i'd be surprised, I wouldn't be surprised if he grew some sort of fractions of an inch though, he was what, 19 in the draft?

[CavaliersFTW]

So Russell is essentially Kevin Durant in terms of height, weight, and wingspan, right?

Kareem and Thabeet have similar measurements. Kareem was measured at 7'1.625" and weighed in the 230-265 range with a 7'5" wingspan. Thabeet was measured at 7'1.25", weighed 265 pounds and has 7'6.25" wingspan. Obviously those aren't identical but it was the closest I saw when trying to find someone who compared in all three categories.

Looks like Shaq (7'1" 303 and 7'7" wingspan) was pretty close to Wilt just a little heavier.

I should point out data that is from longer than 5-8 years ago is subject to being rounded on draftexpress.com. Shaq's height at the actual time of the draft was measured twice. Once at 7-0.63 and a 2nd time at 7-0.88. They rounded that up to 7-1. That's splitting hairs though, but I figured I'd give the precise number seeing as how I used such decimals for Kareem and Wilt lol. Shaq was the next Wilt in terms of freakish size + freakish agility/strength

[KG215]

Wingspan is about the same but I'd bet money Russell is the taller of the two (not by much though). Durant measured 6'9 in the draft, same height as Dwight Howard (same wingspan too). Andre Iguadala met Bill Russell and commented that he was surprised at Russell's size, he said Russell is taller than Dwight Howard. Durant could have grown, but I think his lankyness, and the fact that he chose to be listed barefoot (where as everyone else has an inflated list height) throws peoples judgement off about his actual height. If he grew a full inch i'd be surprised, I wouldn't be surprised if he grew some sort of fractions of an inch though, he was what, 19 in the draft?

I remember seeing Russell standing next to KG a few times at various Celtic games and what not (think it was the year they won the championship) and thought Russell looked like he might be just as tall as KG. Of course it's hard to judge something like that on TV because of camera angles and what not.

But yeah, KD was 19 when he got drafted. He might be close to 6'10" barefoot and 6'11"ish in shoes.

[Rake2204]

Is there a way you could throw your sources out there for each measurement? As in, where did you find the NCAA measurements, Olympics, etc.? I find this topic to be potentially interesting, I just want to know how legitimate the numbers are.

[CavaliersFTW]

Is there a way you could throw your sources out there for each measurement? As in, where did you find the NCAA measurements, Olympics, etc.? I find this topic to be potentially interesting, I just want to know how legitimate the numbers are.

Yes as stated in the post I will soon - I'm at work right now lol, my sources are bookmarked or stored on my hdd at home - I'll upload and link sources for all the measurements and "billed" information.

[CavaliersFTW]

what about the only size that matter:milton




their hands

:lol

Well, I have Wilt's hand size, and part of Russell's hand size included in the measurements. Kareem's don't exist as far as I know, so maybe he was ashamed...

[KG215]

I should point out data that is from longer than 5-8 years ago is subject to being rounded on draftexpress.com. Shaq's height at the actual time of the draft was measured twice. Once at 7-0.63 and a 2nd time at 7-0.88. They rounded that up to 7-1. That's splitting hairs though, but I figured I'd give the precise number seeing as how I used such decimals for Kareem and Wilt lol. Shaq was the next Wilt in terms of freakish size + freakish agility/strength

I'm only 24 so I vaguely remember Shaq's Orlando years but I remember enough to know he was an athletic freak for someone his size. I'm not saying he was as athletically freakish as Wilt but, for a 7'1" 300 pound dude, Shaq was surprisingly quick and agile to go along with some nice hops when he was younger. I think he tends to get remember more for his Lakers years where he relied on his immense size and strength to just back his man down in the post.

[CavaliersFTW]

I'm only 24 so I vaguely remember Shaq's Orlando years but I remember enough to know he was an athletic freak for someone his size. I'm not saying he was as athletically freakish as Wilt but, for a 7'1" 300 pound dude, Shaq was surprisingly quick and agile to go along with some nice hops when he was younger. I think he tends to get remember more for his Lakers years where he relied on his immense size and strength to just back his man down in the post.

Shaq was def Wilt-esq in terms of his mobility when he was 300 and under - prob didn't have the stamina, but he had that same "moves like he's a normal sized person" on a scary-sized body. He did get too heavy afterward his early Orlando years but watch footage of his NCAA and rookie season - remarkably gifted Wilt-esq athleticism+size combo.

[Psileas]

So, Russell's hand length was actually 1 inch bigger than Wilt's? That's intersting to know. I know Russell had long hands, but would estimate to be vice-versa (around 1 inch advantage for Wilt).

[BlueandGold]

So Wilt had the highest wing-span ever? I can't think of anyone else who would be close to that except maybe Ralph Sampson or some obscure draft bust player who ended up riding the bench/getting played out of the league.

[CavaliersFTW]

So, Russell's hand length was actually 1 inch bigger than Wilt's? That's intersting to know. I know Russell had long hands, but would estimate to be vice-versa (around 1 inch advantage for Wilt).

I was very surprised at his hand length too, but inversely Wilt's hands were exceptionally wide. Based on footage it looks like Wilt could palm the ball better than just about anyone, including Russell

[CavaliersFTW]

So Wilt had the highest wing-span ever? I can't think of anyone else who would be close to that except maybe Ralph Sampson or some obscure draft bust player who ended up riding the bench/getting played out of the league.

Sampson is allegedly only about 7'1 and change in height, based on other people who played against him from that era - and I don't believe his wingspan ever stood out. Manute Bol had a wider wingspan though, can't remember what number it was but I think it was close to 8 feet

[Psileas]

So Wilt had the highest wing-span ever? I can't think of anyone else who would be close to that except maybe Ralph Sampson or some obscure draft bust player who ended up riding the bench/getting played out of the league.

No, I remember having read that Manute Bol had a wingspan of 8'4. He's definitely #1, and it's probably not close to #2 (it's much more interesting to me to know who #2 was).

[Psileas]

Scratch that, Bol is actually given at 8'6 or 102 inches.

[CavaliersFTW]

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-12-15/sports/1992350169_1_shaquille-oneal-wilt-oneal-is-averaging
http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/BE051863/young-wilt-chamberlain-displays-hands
(Russell's hand length measurement comes from the research done by the author of the book "The Rivalry")



Shaq's got long fingers and long palms, but short thumbs.
Shaq's Right Hand Measurement:
11 inches long
9 inches wide.
http://thelaunchblog.com/wp-content/uploads/shaq-superman-tattoo.jpg




No Width Measurement. Length is almost the same as Shaq's.
10.5 inches long
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j3ywLkHfqvI/T3FlcFeIlLI/AAAAAAAADVc/TWSZ--dV0mU/s400/Russell%2520hands.jpg





Wilt's got very stout, broad hands in comparison to both of these guys. I notice he palms the ball far far more often, and more confidently and securely than Russ or Shaq (almost anyone really). I'm guessing that hand spread is more beneficial for palming vs hand length, could be that he just has stronger hands though.
Wilt's Right Hand Measurement:
9.5 inches long
11.5 inches wide
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I3l7sTXDwhU/T3FlUEHiEtI/AAAAAAAADVU/HYX_jxrwmgM/s800/wilt%2520hands%25201.jpg








Wilt's hand width and Shaq's and Russell's hand length's are virtually unmatched on www.draftexpress.com/measurements

[PTB Fan]

Brilliant research as always.

[LoneyROY7]

Hand measurements?

:coleman:

[CavaliersFTW]

Hand measurements?

:coleman:

You entered a thread titled "Detailed Player Measurements"

:biggums:

[CavaliersFTW]

Bill Russell weight progression:
cited

rookie - 215lbs
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sAExcTZfCEM/T3HtSlUN_1I/AAAAAAAADV8/U9wNyxLwG0A/s400/russrookie.jpg


1963-64 - 222lbs
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mD0jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xJsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4512,5529906&dq=bill+russell+pounds&hl=en
http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/history/legends/bill-russell/bill-russell-608.jpg


1967-68 - 230lbs
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z-Y_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=16MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5473,5999902&dq=wayne+embry+weight&hl=en
http://www.nba.com/celtics/photos/bill-russell-reed-block300400.jpg
1968 season, Russell blocks 245lb Willis Reed


1968-69 - 240lbs
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gGJGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ligNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2285,3812877&dq=bill+russell+pounds&hl=en
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-A0UbbxHqsso/T3HpDljgG-I/AAAAAAAADVs/7KrTdMUKgHU/s400/Bill%25201969%252C%2520230-245lbs.jpg
1969 season, Russell in the post against 255lb Wayne Embry.


For comparison:

***215lbs is the rookie weight of Kevin Durant***
www.draftexpress.com/measurements

***David Robinson was 226lbs in the 1988 Olympics***
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59884817.html?dids=59884817:59884817&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+21%2C+1988&author=MARK+HEISLER&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=U.S.+Olympic+Men's+Basketball+Trials+The+Real +David+Robinson+Surfaces+Again&pqatl=google

***240lbs is the rookie weight of Dwight Howard***
www.draftexpress.com/measurements

[KG215]

Speaking of hand measurements, I was just looking down the database list on DraftExpress and a couple jumped out at me.

Corey Joseph at 6'3" (in shoes) has a hand length of 10.25 inches.
Olu Ashaolu (still in college) at 6'6" has a hand length of 11.25 inches.

Kawhi Leonard at 6'7" has some big hands too: 9.75" long and 11.25 inches wide.

[CavaliersFTW]

Just added Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard to the original post for direct comparison - Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain both have the most complete set of measurements

[PTB Fan]

Great work once again.

[Shade8780]

Just added Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard to the original post for direct comparison - Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain both have the most complete set of measurements
When was Shaq at his maximum? What year, like?

[magnax1]

I think Wilt's standing reach might be a bit high. Russell and Wilt both said in interviews that Russell had an equal or longer standing reach then Wilt despite him being shorter.

[CavaliersFTW]

I think Wilt's standing reach might be a bit high. Russell and Wilt both said in interviews that Russell had an equal or longer standing reach then Wilt despite him being shorter.

You might be mistaking Russell for Thurmond, I've personally never seen that interview you speak of but if they have said that, and you have a link i'd like to watch it. As a 6'11.5" 17 year old he's almost capable of touching the rim flat-footed (In his Chuck Taylors... shoes that won't even prop you up)

KU is the source for his standing reach, and that number is oft-cited by others which I can link tonight. It is well within reason given all his other measurements, and in today's shoes he'd probably register as a 9'7 standing reach - which would be exactly what one would expect based on other peoples measurements at www.draftexpress.com

Any implication that Russell has a 9'6 standing reach is what'd be hard to believe. Maximum reach maybe, but standing doesn't sound right.

http://phillysportsfanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wilt-chamberlain-50611580.jpg

[magnax1]

You might be mistaking Russell for Thurmond, I've personally never seen that interview you speak of but if they have said that, and you have a link i'd like to watch it. As a 6'11.5" 17 year old he's almost capable of touching the rim flat-footed (In his Chuck Taylors... shoes that won't even prop you up)

KU is the source for his standing reach, and that number is oft-cited by others which I can link tonight. It is well within reason given all his other measurements, and in today's shoes he'd probably register as a 9'7 standing reach - which would be exactly what one would expect based on other peoples measurements at www.draftexpress.com

Any implication that Russell has a 9'6 standing reach is what'd be hard to believe. Maximum reach maybe, but standing doesn't sound right.

http://phillysportsfanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wilt-chamberlain-50611580.jpg
Well thats what he said. I probably won't be able the interview because I don't even remember what the original subject was, but I've heard it said a couple of times so I don't really doubt it.

[CavaliersFTW]

Well thats what he said. I probably won't be able the interview because I don't even remember what the original subject was, but I've heard it said a couple of times so I don't really doubt it.

Well go ahead and believe that - but it doesn't make Wilt's any less than 9'6, which is cite-able

[dyna]

Olajuwom, Ewing, Robinson, Yao, Bynum??

[CavaliersFTW]

Olajuwom, Ewing, Robinson, Yao, Bynum??


David Robinson measured 7-0 and 226lbs for the 1989 Olympics, despite at the time being listed as 7-1 235

Yao Ming according to the rockets was measured to have a 7-5 wingspan and a 9-7 standing reach (probably in shoes). Fiba lists him at 226cm, they do not measure in shoes which makes his height 7-4.97 (well... basically, 7-5)

[I]"Bynum was quite possibly the biggest snub for the physicals at the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp, but has really put up some impressive numbers for a player of his size in his private workouts. “I measured out at 7’0

[CavaliersFTW]

"about 10" from wrist to fingertip" for Yao Mings hand length, NY times so that's another great detailed measurement for Yao.

Also, for anyone curious, found MJ's hand length from the knoxville news sentinal "9 3/4" from palm to middle finger". His hands are like Wilt's though, they are built very broad, and based on the measurements so far I'm almost positive that broad hands >>> long hands in terms of palming strength

Wayne Embry, oddly enough, had his hand width measurement published in a 1989 NYT article. "12 inches thumb to pinky"

Embry is a 60's player who was an all-star a few times but otherwise wouldn't be well known today. I've always noticed in pictures that he had a monstrous set of mits and that measurement seems absolutely plausible. He was ~6-8 barefoot, and 255lbs, no other data on him though
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-osflaHfAlVo/T1SRl7bkBdI/AAAAAAAADNI/K5gbpDMIbME/s640/big%2520hand%2520embry.jpg

[Pointguard]

Great work, much appreciated!

[Shade8780]

Could you do Charles Barkley? Btw, great work. Thanks.

[Dragonyeuw]

Interesting that Wilt's hand length wasn't that big for his height.

[NumberSix]

Wilt Chamberlain:
Billed Information:
NCAA: 7-0
Philadelphia Warriors: 7-1 1/16, 250
Basketball Reference: 7-1, 275
NBA (All teams after the Warriors): 7-1, 275
Actual Measurements:
Height: 7-1.06 (6-11.5 age 17, 7-1.06 age 23)
Wingspan: 7-8
Standing Reach: 9-6
Hand Length: 9.5"
Hand Spread: 11.5"
Playing Weight:
258 - rookie
265 - 3rd season
292 - 5th season
275 - mid career
285 - mid-late career
300 - late career
320 - maximum (training camp of 5th season)
Shoes: U.S. size 15
Damn. 7'1 Wilt has the same shoe size as 6'3.75 Dwyane Wade?

[CavaliersFTW]

[/B]
Damn. 7'1 Wilt has the same shoe size as 6'3.75 Dwyane Wade?

If that's Wade's shoe size, than yes, he does :D

[CavaliersFTW]

Interesting that Wilt's hand length wasn't that big for his height.

Wilt's hands just seem short in comparison to guys with quite freakishly long hands like Russell or Shaq. His hands are actually a good length, it's his hand width+length that sets him apart from the pack. In footage he waves the ball around with a very firm grip like it's nothing but a grapefruit in a manner that neither Russell nor Shaq displayed. 9.5 x 11.5 is a larger surface area than Shaq's 11 x 9 hands

[CavaliersFTW]

I might add Lebron James to the front page list, I'm getting some measurements of him that you can't find on draft express

9" hand length
9.25" hand width

nba.com says shoe size 14
official cavsgroup facebook says size 15
the internet is slathered with size 16

and I have some of his weigh ins at various points of his career

[Pointguard]

I might add Lebron James to the front page list, I'm getting some measurements of him that you can't find on draft express

9" hand length
9.25" hand width

nba.com says shoe size 14
official cavsgroup facebook says size 15
the internet is slathered with size 16

and I have some of his weigh ins at various points of his career
Never thought much of his wing span. Probably like the average person's.

[CavaliersFTW]

Never thought much of his wing span. Probably like the average person's.
His 7'0.25 wingspan and the rest of his measurements are on draftexpress.com/measurements

[jlip]

"about 10" from wrist to fingertip" for Yao Mings hand length, NY times so that's another great detailed measurement for Yao.

Also, for anyone curious, found MJ's hand length from the knoxville news sentinal "9 3/4" from palm to middle finger". His hands are like Wilt's though, they are built very broad, and based on the measurements so far I'm almost positive that broad hands >>> long hands in terms of palming strength

Wayne Embry, oddly enough, had his hand width measurement published in a 1989 NYT article. "12 inches thumb to pinky"

Embry is a 60's player who was an all-star a few times but otherwise wouldn't be well known today. I've always noticed in pictures that he had a monstrous set of mits and that measurement seems absolutely plausible. He was ~6-8 barefoot, and 255lbs, no other data on him though
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-osflaHfAlVo/T1SRl7bkBdI/AAAAAAAADNI/K5gbpDMIbME/s640/big%2520hand%2520embry.jpg

Wayne Embry palming the ball (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLBXoFJ05ew#t=14m45s) in game.

[La Frescobaldi]

It'd be fun to see Jordan's hand size, or Dr. J or Connie Hawkins... those guys had enormous hands and that was part of the reason why they were able to make such amazing drives!!

Wilt Chamberlain always argued that standing reach should be the true NBA measurement, and sometimes gave the example of Nate Thurmond having about a 4 or 5 inch higher reach than Wilt did. I remember him talking about it on TV and there might be a youtube clip of him talking about it

Edit ~ that picture of Embry reminds me of one time after he went to the Celtics and he played really pretty much limited but powerful minutes as center. He had guarded Chamberlain for years and knew as much as anybody what you had to endure.... so anyhow Bill Russell had a genius for figuring out what was happening, he put Wayne at Center and put himself at forward guarding Chet Walker.

Anyhow on this particular play the ball clanged off the rim and Embry got the rebound by reaching OVER Luke Jackson's shoulder and palmed the top of the ball as it was flying away from him.

Luke (who was destined imo to be one of the greatest ever before his injury sadly wrecked his career) lost complete vision of the ball and did a full 360 trying to find it lol



Bill Russell's arms were astounding they just seemed to get longer and longers as the game went on until it looked like he was looming from sideline to sideline!! Guy had such a presence it was incredible!!

Bill going after the ball:

http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/img/m/MrFantastic.jpg

[La Frescobaldi]

"about 10" from wrist to fingertip" for Yao Mings hand length, NY times so that's another great detailed measurement for Yao.

Also, for anyone curious, found MJ's hand length from the knoxville news sentinal "9 3/4" from palm to middle finger". His hands are like Wilt's though, they are built very broad, and based on the measurements so far I'm almost positive that broad hands >>> long hands in terms of palming strength

Wayne Embry, oddly enough, had his hand width measurement published in a 1989 NYT article. "12 inches thumb to pinky"

Embry is a 60's player who was an all-star a few times but otherwise wouldn't be well known today. I've always noticed in pictures that he had a monstrous set of mits and that measurement seems absolutely plausible. He was ~6-8 barefoot, and 255lbs, no other data on him though
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-osflaHfAlVo/T1SRl7bkBdI/AAAAAAAADNI/K5gbpDMIbME/s640/big%2520hand%2520embry.jpg

#15 there is Hall of Famer Tommy Heinsohn I don't really remember him playing, just an image of him running out onto the court - but he was by all accounts one of the greatest players of his era, Rookie of the Year, and really the Celtic's main scoring force in the front court. My older friends were always talking about how lucky those Celtics teams were because Hondo Havlicek turned out to be even better than Tommy was.
They really were a dream team, each position had one of the top 5 NBA players of their day, and in those days before free agency there was no possibility of another team beating them.

Some of the guys I knew that were a few years older have said that the NBA would never have survived the early 60s if Chamberlain had not showed up, simply because the outcome was never in doubt except when he was playing.

The only way another team could have beat the 8-peat Celtics was if they took every other All-Star and made a single team out of them.

[NumberSix]

I might add Lebron James to the front page list, I'm getting some measurements of him that you can't find on draft express

9" hand length
9.25" hand width

nba.com says shoe size 14
official cavsgroup facebook says size 15
the internet is slathered with size 16

and I have some of his weigh ins at various points of his career
I actually have seen a pair of LeBron 8 V1 PE's that he wore in some games last season, and they indeed were size 16.

His normal shoe size is 15, but for in game use where your feet are taped up and double socked, you need to go up a size.

[CavaliersFTW]

I actually have seen a pair of LeBron 8 V1 PE's that he wore in some games last season, and they indeed were size 16.

His normal shoe size is 15, but for in game use where your feet are taped up and double socked, you need to go up a size.

good point

[CavaliersFTW]

It'd be fun to see Jordan's hand size, or Dr. J or Connie Hawkins... those guys had enormous hands and that was part of the reason why they were able to make such amazing drives!![/B]
http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/img/m/MrFantastic.jpg

9 3/4" long, haven't found the width yet

[CavaliersFTW]

Could you do Charles Barkley? Btw, great work. Thanks.

I'll keep him in mind to start looking, I might not find much on him it's usually only the "impressive" specimens that people go out of their way to take detailed measurements of. Some of the older era players don't even get measured (Hakeem, Ewing, Ralph Sampson) - Sampson outright refused when pressured for it (because he's virtually the same height as Kareem, if not a smidge shorter, he isn't 7'4). But if IIRC Barkley's precise height was 6'4 7/8 (or maybe it was 5/8) for the '92 Olympics. There's a popular pic of him being arrested that people like to use to suggest otherwise but that is him in whatever shoes he was wearing - barefoot he's very often cited to be right around 6'5

[Lebron23]

Very informative thread. By the way Russell was measured at 6'9.5" without shoes.

[Lebron23]

I wish that in the 2012 Olympics. Team USA will measure the players height, weight, and wingspan.

[CavaliersFTW]

Very informative thread. By the way Russell was measured at 6'9.5" without shoes.

Thanks, do you have a source? I always like to bookmark or take note of sources

[Lebron23]

Thanks, do you have a source? I always like to bookmark or take note of sources


http://grove.ufl.edu/~cwarner/century/Russell.html

[Lebron23]

Why do the NBA players inflated or over billed there players height? This ain't professional wrestling. In our country 70-80% of the players listed height are without shoes measurement.

You have 5'11" Derek Fisher being listed at 6'1"
You have 6'1.5" Derrick Rose being listed at 6'3"

[CavaliersFTW]

Why do the NBA players inflated or over billed there players height? This ain't professional wrestling. In our country 70-80% of the players listed height are without shoes measurement.

You have 5'11" Derek Fisher being listed at 6'1"
You have 6'1.5" Derrick Rose being listed at 6'3"

Because money talks + when it first was happening they easily got away with it w/o anyone ever knowing.

In the 1960's nobody had any reasons whatsoever to inflate a players height unless it was to intimidate maybe, but even that didn't really do anything because in the small league everybody knew how tall you were once they played you - there really wasn't a benefit to being "taller" on paper.

Then you have the transition period into the 1980's when the NBA was expanding and superstars of a new media age were being drafted. When contracts were getting into the millions, shit got real. A guy who is big is worth more than a guy who is not. Hence, ~6'7.5 Magic became 6'9 and ~7'1.5 Ralph Sampson became 7'4. It was at it's most ridiculous in those 1980's years because there was really no draft data or anybody around to force those guys to be measured. Once those pro's went into international competition though, a the majority were getting exposed as overbilled. At the time, an alraedy (billed) 7'1 235 David Robinson was measured 7'0 and 226 by a suspicious 1989 Olympic committee. And after '92 exposed most of the dream-teams inflated measurements it was pretty much an exposed thing at that point. The league's, and colleges excuses for allowing players to be billed this way is "well that's their height in shoes"... And the league has stuck to that lame excuse ever since despite the fact that it is total B.S. because Dwight Howard for example, was 6'10.25 in his shoes, and got listed 6'11 anyways. And players come into draft camps deliberately wearing larger shoes than they'll play in anyways. And not every player even does that some (it's rare) actually list barefoot like how the NBA used to do it before it became big market. It's dumb, I agree, but that's what they want to do I guess - basically any player pretty much picks his own height as long as it is within ~2 inches of his actual height.

[Lebron23]

Because money talks + when it first was happening they easily got away with it w/o anyone ever knowing.

In the 1960's nobody had any reasons whatsoever to inflate a players height unless it was to intimidate maybe, but even that didn't really do anything because in the small league everybody knew how tall you were once they played you - there really wasn't a benefit to being "taller" on paper.

Then you have the transition period into the 1980's when the NBA was expanding and superstars of a new media age were being drafted. When contracts were getting into the millions, shit got real. A guy who is big is worth more than a guy who is not. Hence, ~6'7.5 Magic became 6'9 and ~7'1.5 Ralph Sampson became 7'4. It was at it's most ridiculous in those 1980's years because there was really no draft data or anybody around to force those guys to be measured. Once those pro's went into international competition though, a the majority were getting exposed as overbilled. At the time, an alraedy (billed) 7'1 235 David Robinson was measured 7'0 and 226 by a suspicious 1989 Olympic committee. And after '92 exposed most of the dream-teams inflated measurements it was pretty much an exposed thing at that point. The league's, and colleges excuses for allowing players to be billed this way is "well that's their height in shoes"... And the league has stuck to that lame excuse ever since despite the fact that it is total B.S. because Dwight Howard for example, was 6'10.25 in his shoes, and got listed 6'11 anyways. And players come into draft camps deliberately wearing larger shoes than they'll play in anyways. And not every player even does that some (it's rare) actually list barefoot like how the NBA used to do it before it became big market. It's dumb, I agree, but that's what they want to do I guess - basically any player pretty much picks his own height as long as it is within ~2 inches of his actual height.


Future Positive Repped. LMAO at 5'8'5'9" JJ Barea who claimed that he's 6 feet tall. 5'10" George Lopez is taller than him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqaweoL92E4

http://www.celebheights.com/s/George-Lopez-613.html

[Lebron23]

What's Wilt, Kareem, and Russell's vertical leap?

[dunksby]

What's Wilt, Kareem, and Russell's vertical leap?
56/12/8

[dunksby]

Scary how KD has got essentially the same wingspan as these guys :bowdown:

[CavaliersFTW]

What's Wilt, Kareem, and Russell's vertical leap?
Nobody measured that kind of thing with any sort of consistency (therefore accuracy) back that far. Only in the past decade can any vertical leap numbers be trusted

[CavaliersFTW]

Scary how KD has got essentially the same wingspan as these guys :bowdown:

Same as Russ and D12 basically - he's basically the same height too

[dunksby]

Same as Russ and D12 basically - he's basically the same height too
KD is 7'4"-5" from what I have heard, could be an exaggerated figure though.

[CavaliersFTW]

KD is 7'4"-5" from what I have heard, could be an exaggerated figure though.

No It's true, 7'4.5 wingspan identical to Dwight's measurement, and he was 6'9 at the draft also identical to Dwights draft measurement.

Russ was about 6'10 with a wingspan of 7'4

[dunksby]

No It's true, 7'4.5 wingspan identical to Dwight's measurement, and he was 6'9 at the draft also identical to Dwights draft measurement.

Russ was about 6'10 with a wingspan of 7'4
KD has def grown an inch or two, he looks like a legit 7 footer now, at least that's what I get from comparing him with the league's big men.

[Lebron23]

What's Bob Cousy's measurements BTW?

[CavaliersFTW]

KD has def grown an inch or two, he looks like a legit 7 footer now, at least that's what I get from comparing him with the league's big men.

Depends on who your comparing him too because keep in mind the league's "7 footers" are usually not 7 feet tall. close to 6'10 is not unreasonable. IMO he's def not near 7 foot, it just looks that way because he's the one honeset dude who chose to be listed barefoot while everyone else in the league inflates the f*ck out of their listed height

IE, he and Dwight identical measurements... Dwight listed 6'11 and KD 6'9

It really ****s with peoples minds when they try to figure out player heights by comparing photographs :lol

[CavaliersFTW]

What's Bob Cousy's measurements BTW?

All I know is that he was about 6'1 barefoot same as Steve Nash

[dunksby]

Depends on who your comparing him too because keep in mind the league's "7 footers" are usually not 7 feet tall. close to 6'10 is not unreasonable. IMO he's def not near 7 foot, it just looks that way because he's the one honeset dude who chose to be listed barefoot while everyone else in the league inflates the f*ck out of their listed height

IE, he and Dwight identical measurements... Dwight listed 6'11 and KD 6'9

It really ****s with peoples minds when they try to figure out player heights by comparing photographs :lol
Time for me to post my famous pic :lol

http://transitiongame.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/kevin-durant-marc-gasol-fiba-1.jpg

[CavaliersFTW]

Time for me to post my famous pic :lol

http://transitiongame.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/kevin-durant-marc-gasol-fiba-1.jpg
KD's got a really flat head! :lol

[Lebron23]

What's the measurements of 7'2" Artist Gilmore of the Chicago Bulls?

[Scoooter]

I'll keep him in mind to start looking, I might not find much on him it's usually only the "impressive" specimens that people go out of their way to take detailed measurements of. Some of the older era players don't even get measured (Hakeem, Ewing, Ralph Sampson) - Sampson outright refused when pressured for it (because he's virtually the same height as Kareem, if not a smidge shorter, he isn't 7'4). But if IIRC Barkley's precise height was 6'4 7/8 (or maybe it was 5/8) for the '92 Olympics. There's a popular pic of him being arrested that people like to use to suggest otherwise but that is him in whatever shoes he was wearing - barefoot he's very often cited to be right around 6'5
Straight from the horse's mouth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDz2yGoK_xk&t=1m1s). Seems believable. :confusedshrug:

[Lebron23]

Barkley is a freak of nature. He's 5 inches shorter than your average PF in the NBA.

[jlauber]

Barkley is a freak of nature. He's 5 inches shorter than your average PF in the NBA.

Barkley played in the 60's...under the name of Elgin Baylor.

[CavaliersFTW]

What's the measurements of 7'2" Artist Gilmore of the Chicago Bulls?

Best source I've come up with said that he's "about a 1/4 inch taller than Wilt Chamberlain"

Which would make his height in the ballpark of 7 foot 1.31"

[CavaliersFTW]

Updated - order is now by height, added Lebron James

[Shade8780]

Updated - order is now by height, added Lebron James
Thanks, keep in mind about Barkley though :oldlol: :cheers: The dude's weight changed a lot and his height is unsure of.

[CavaliersFTW]

Thanks, keep in mind about Barkley though :oldlol: :cheers: The dude's weight changed a lot and his height is unsure of.

Well I can easily tell you his height, it is 6'4 7/8ths - that's straight from the 1992 Olympics because he was one of the guys on that team who got measured barefoot

[Shade8780]

Well I can easily tell you his height, it is 6'4 7/8ths - that's straight from the 1992 Olympics because he was one of the guys on that team who got measured barefoot
Oh, okay, thanks!

[Shade8780]

When was Shaq at his max weight?

[CavaliersFTW]

Oh, okay, thanks!

Scratch that, I just double checked, it's 6'4 5/8ths or 6-4.625

I got it mixed up with MJ's similar height (6'4 7/8ths)

[CavaliersFTW]

When was Shaq at his max weight?
it was while he was an LA Laker, don't remember exactly what year I can look it up later

[jlauber]

According to Wilt himself, Thurmond had a higher standing reach...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BDd7jM4zYs&t=0m47s

[Shade8780]

How much body fat does LeBron have, if he weighs 266 lbs?

[ThaRegul8r]

Bill Russell weight progression:
cited

rookie - 215lbs
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sAExcTZfCEM/T3HtSlUN_1I/AAAAAAAADV8/U9wNyxLwG0A/s400/russrookie.jpg


1963-64 - 222lbs
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mD0jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xJsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4512,5529906&dq=bill+russell+pounds&hl=en
http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/history/legends/bill-russell/bill-russell-608.jpg

I realize this is an old thread, but this came up during a search for something else, and for the sake of accuracy, this is actually talking about Connie Dierking:


For one fleeting moment, Connie Dirking was a Bill Russell, shoving his (Dierking's) 6-foot-9 frame and 222 pounds high into the air to block a shot by Wilt (The 7-Foot Stilt) Chamberlain.

The Warriors were playing Philadelphia, not Boston, so it couldn't possibly have been referring to Russell. Russell was actually 225 pounds in the '63-64 season:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GL8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2mkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3023,5106291


He weights 225 now

I happen to know that because it's relevant to a project I've been working on.

[La Frescobaldi]

I realize this is an old thread, but this came up during a search for something else, and for the sake of accuracy, this is actually talking about Connie Dierking:



The Warriors were playing Philadelphia, not Boston, so it couldn't possibly have been referring to Russell. Russell was actually 225 pounds in the '63-64 season:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GL8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2mkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3023,5106291

I happen to know that because it's relevant to a project I've been working on.

I'll always remember a little sequence Russell had against Jack Marin. Jack was a driver and a real sprinter and he raced down on a fast break Russell behind him like a wildman and Russell's hand glided over Marin's shoulder just as Jack lifted off for the hoop......... Russell blocked that shot, rattled it up against the backboard and it bounced back toward the free throw line.
Well Jack was awful quick and he snatched that ball out there about top of the key and let fly - Russell blocked it again, and some one of the Celtics got that ball. Well Jack STOLE it away and flung it up toward the hoop and once again, Russell leapt up to block the shot............. but instead he just caught it in his hand right out the air and glided down , and he just stood there and looked right at Jack Marin, with that ball under his arm.

I've had that little memory for years and years, Russell standing there for all the world like a gym teacher looking at a JV kid.... that and Jack Marin's face, just the hilarious despair!!