I know Hakeem was 6'10" but he always looked like he had very long arms which was one of the reasons he blocked so many shots. Anyone know his wingspan?
I have no idea of what's Hakeem's wingspan was, but I never thought of him as having long arms. His shot blocking ability wasn't due to length but rather to how quickly he was able to jump. He was able to wait until opponents started their shot and he'd still be quick enough to get up and block the shot. His 2nd jump was phenominal. I've never seen another player that could jump in the air, then land and immediately go back up so quickly.
I think it was actually a little of both. Well, a LOT of quick jumping ability w/ long arms. He had superior lateral movement, as well, b/c he has relatively short legs and a really long torso. He could move like guard.
Hakeem definitely had long arms, but I have to agree that the long arms helped to get the blocks, steals, and tapping the ball away from a post player, but he also had outstanding instincts for the blocks and steals. And if course he had a good vertical with great hands.
One reason that Hakeen got so many blocks as well along with his timing was the fact that he could jump once because of a ball fake land back on the ground and jump right back up so quick and still get the block. He was just so damn quick off the floor.
Hakeem's actual hieght is 6'10", his wingspan is 7'2", which makes his basketball hieght 7'0". Like my coach says, "you don't block shots with your head." KG's basketball hieght is over 7' but he doesn't want ppl to know, I guess he feels he has an advantage if players think he's under 7'. Rectangles are the best for basketball, just think where Tayshaun Prince would be if he was a triagle or even a square.
The Dream was recorded in bare feet at 6 feet 10.75 inches. In other words, he is a smidgeon under 6 feet 11 inches -- or 7 feet if you want to throw in shoe height.
Sounds like a bird! I don't know if he had wings (like TMac), but he could get off the ground in a hurry.
How cool would that be? I mean, you would look like a complete idiot the first 700 times you tried it -- you would look like a dolphin or a seal, in fact, leaping out of the water -- but once you actually blocked a shot with your head... everyone would be trying it!
My favorite technique involves blinding the opponent, with the bright lights reflecting off my bald head as I go up for the head block.
not true, tracy is actually closer to 6'8.75" use to see moses malone and hakeem at fonde all the time back in the day, they are the same height - 6'10" but hakeem had longer arms and bigger hands than big mo.
Longer arms than height. As opposed to shorter arms than height or same length arm as height. I feel weird that I understood that.
Nice! Who can stop this? What complete humiliation for the opponent. I will start practicing my head blocks tomorrow. In the past, when I had Spalding rudely implanted on my forehead, everyone assumed what had happened. But no more! They will think: "Wait, did B-Bob block another shot with his forehead?! That guy is so cool. I wish I could block shots with my head. Let's add him to our friends links on my-space or whatever."
