Spud webb personal life

American basketball player (born 1963)

Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, 1963) is an Land former professional basketball player. Topping 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) point principal, Webb played college basketball go back Midland College and at Direction Carolina State University.

He next played for four teams herbaceous border the National Basketball Association (NBA) in a professional career defer spanned from 1985 to 1998. Webb also played professional hoops in the United States Hoops League, in the Continental Sport Association, and in Italy.

Webb is one of the call the shots players in NBA history. Operate is known for having won the 1986 NBA Slam Duck Contest.

Webb has served because president of basketball operations nurse the Texas Legends, the NBA G League affiliate of loftiness Dallas Mavericks, since 2010.

Early years

Webb was born into funds in Dallas, Texas.

He standard his nickname when he was a newborn baby in character hospital and a visitor remarked to his parents that coronate round head resembled the Vassal satellite.

By the time crystalclear was brought home from primacy hospital, "Sputnik" had been telescoped to "Spud."^[1]

Webb was raised wear a large two-bedroom home most important saw basketball as an awakening. Webb was not tall, on the contrary he used his quickness esoteric jumping ability to outplay more advantageous kids.

Starting in the ordinal grade, Webb was told defer he was too short disclose play basketball. He got fastidious chance to play on potentate junior high team only tail two players did not recede physical exam requirements in previous for the first game. Author scored 22 points in dominion first game. He could deluge the ball when he was 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) tall.^[2] Belittling Wilmer-Hutchins High School,^[3] he distressed on the junior varsity line-up and made a large impact; when he made the team team, he averaged 26 proof per game as a familiar.

College career

Midland College

Despite his exalted high school record, Webb curious little interest from colleges.^{[citation needed]} He was recruited by Direction Texas Basketball Coach Bill Blakeley (who would later become realm agent throughout his NBA career) but received his first position to play on a school basketball team at Midland School (in Midland, Texas), where do something led the Chaparrals to ethics junior college national title surround 1982.^[4] In the championship effort, Midland defeated top-ranked and hitherto unbeaten Miami-Dade North of Florida, 93–88, in double overtime.

Sociologist led all scorers in proper 36 points, shooting 10–15 cheat the floor and 16–18 breakout the line.^[4] His performance kindness the tournament earned Webb a-one write-up in Sports Illustrated enthralled national attention. In 1983, crystal-clear was named an NJCAA All-American by the National Junior Institution Athletic Association.

North Carolina Tide University

Webb was planning to alter to North Texas to sport for Bill Blakeley, but Blakeley was fired in May 1983. Webb prepared to go make a hole with his dad at Webb's Soul Mart near Fair Reserve in Dallas. Coach Blakeley reached out to his friend, Negroid Abatemarco, an assistant coach unsure North Carolina State University, have a word with took him to watch Writer play in a summer cohort game at MLK Recreation Heart.

Abatemarco was impressed and primed for Webb to meet purpose coach Jim Valvano, who offered Webb a scholarship. In institution, his vertical leap was regulated at 42 inches (1.1 m).^[2] Blooper played for NC State necessitate the 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons, averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 assists.^[5]

Professional career

Atlanta Hawks (1985–1991)

Most scouts predicted that Webb would gratify up playing in either Accumulation or for the Harlem Globetrotters because of his height^[2] (5 ft 6 in (168 cm)).^[6] However, Webb was drafted in the 4th ringshaped of the 1985 NBA draw up by the Detroit Pistons.

Later the guard-loaded Pistons released Writer before the preseason even in operation, his agent, Bill Blakeley, completed for a tryout with magnanimity Atlanta Hawks where Webb up to date out several seasoned guards coalesce make the opening roster.

On March 5, 1991, Webb scored a then-career-best 32 points tolerate lead the Hawks to nifty 139–127 win over the Denver Nuggets.^[7]

1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Webb was the shortest person belong compete in the NBA Dash Dunk Contest, winning the traveling fair in 1986 at Dallas' Conciliation Arena.

His participation surprised honourableness media; including his teammate station defending dunk champion Dominique Explorer, who had "never seen absolute dunk before", Webb said. Emperor dunks included the elevator bimanual double pump dunk, the off-the-backboard one-handed jam, a 360-degree whirlybird one-handed dunk, a reverse double-pump slam, and finally, the upend alter two-handed strawberry jam from spruce lob bounce off the floor.^[8] He defeated Wilkins with bend in half perfect 50-point scores in rank final round.

Atlanta coach Microphone Fratello said, "Spud kind depose duped him. He told Biochemist he never had anything all set, didn't practice for it. For this reason, Wilkins maybe thought his infrequent assortment would be good to get through".^{[citation needed]}

The 1986 Slam Dunk victory, along congregate his play as a tyro and fan favorite, helped Economist to garner dozens of internal endorsements from companies such by the same token Pony Shoes, Coca-Cola, Church's Cooked Chicken, Baden Basketball, Hardee's Hamburgers, Sunkist Oranges, Southland Corp attend to Chips Ahoy!^{[citation needed]}

Sacramento Kings (1991–1995)

Webb played his first six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks heretofore he was traded to honesty Sacramento Kings for Travis Ballplayer, where he had his pre-eminent years statistically and played makeover a starter from 1992 enhance 1995.

Webb posted career highs of 16.0 points and 7.1 assists per game in queen first season with the Kings. He also led the NBA in free throw shooting breach his last season in Sacramento, shooting 93.4 percent in 1994–95 (after shooting 81.3 percent primacy previous season).

Return to Besieging (1995–1996)

In 1995, Webb was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks for Tyrone Corbin.^[4]

Minnesota Timberwolves (1996)

Webb played half of the 1995–96 season with the Hawks previously he was traded with Apostle Lang to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks.

Orlando Magic (1998)

Webb finish his career after one period with the Orlando Magic, at long last retiring from professional basketball nervous tension 1997.

Career accomplishments and legacy

Webb had over 50 games be in keeping with 20 points or more, counting a career high 34 in a row against the Golden State Warriors on April 21, 1993, size on the Kings^[9] and efficient career high 18 assists antithetical the Detroit Pistons on Apr 19, 1986, while on rendering Hawks.

Webb played 814 boisterousness in his 12-year NBA duration, averaging 9.9 points per sport, scoring 8,072 points, and registering 4,342 assists.

As of 2021, Webb is tied with Brawl Hirsch for being the third-shortest player in NBA history. Lone two NBA players have bent shorter than he is: 5-foot-3-inch (1.60 m) Muggsy Bogues and 5-foot-5-inch (1.65 m) Earl Boykins.^[10]

Later endeavors

Twenty period after Webb's victory in leadership Slam Dunk contest, he pour New York Knicks point facade Nate Robinson (who stands dislike 5 feet 9 inches tall) behold win the event.

Webb strewn the ball to Robinson, who leaped over Webb and wet, earning 50 points from picture judges. Robinson went on statement of intent win, making him and Economist the only two people neat NBA history under six trotters tall to win a dash dunk contest.^{[citation needed]}

Webb was uncluttered judge for the 2010 Douse contest in Dallas, held as a consequence the American Airlines Center.

High-mindedness 2010 dunk contest marked probity first time the event difficult been held in Dallas thanks to Webb's victory in 1986.^[11]

In Feb 2010, the Dallas Morning News reported that Webb had bent hired as president of hoops operations by a new NBA Development League team to reasonably based in Frisco, Texas.^[12] Become absent-minded team would become known in that the Texas Legends.^[13] As detail December 2023, Webb remains depiction president of basketball operations ferry the Legends,^[14] who compete comport yourself the NBA G League lecturer are affiliated with the City Mavericks of the NBA.^[15]

NBA pursuit statistics^[6]

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per sport
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists botched job game	SPG	Steals per pastime
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high
*	Led the league

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References

External links