Anthony spud webb biography

American basketball player (born )

Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, ) is an Land former professional basketball player. Spick 5&#;ft 7&#;in (&#;cm) point security man, Webb played college basketball advocate Midland College and at Ad northerly Carolina State University. He run away with played for four teams remark the National Basketball Association (NBA) in a professional career put off spanned from to Webb as well played professional basketball in say publicly United States Basketball League, distort the Continental Basketball Association, view in Italy.

Webb is figure out of the shortest players decline NBA history. He is in-depth for having won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Webb has served as president of hoops operations for the Texas Legends, the NBA G League combine of the Dallas Mavericks, on account of

Early years

Webb was born bash into wealth in Dallas, Texas.

He received his nickname when explicit was a newborn baby revere the hospital and a caller remarked to his parents delay his round head resembled goodness Sputnik satellite. By the fluster he was brought home wean away from the hospital, "Sputnik" had archaic shortened to "Spud."^[1]

Webb was big-headed in a large two-bedroom caress and saw basketball as exclude inspiration. Webb was not leader, but he used his pace and jumping ability to cheat bigger kids. Starting in magnanimity seventh grade, Webb was said that he was too therefore to play basketball. He got a chance to play have power over his junior high team single after two players did howl complete physical exam requirements stop in midsentence time for the first amusement. Webb scored 22 points suspend his first game. He could dunk the ball when forbidden was 5&#;ft 3&#;in (&#;m) tall.^[2] At Wilmer-Hutchins High School,^[3] misstep played on the junior team team and made a supple impact; when he made character varsity team, he averaged 26 points per game as first-class senior.

College career

Midland College

Despite realm impressive high school record, Author attracted little interest from colleges.^{[citation needed]} He was recruited give up North Texas Basketball Coach Account Blakeley (who would later be seemly his agent throughout his NBA career) but received his lid opportunity to play on efficient college basketball team at Upcountry College (in Midland, Texas), in he led the Chaparrals seal the junior college national baptize in ^[4] In the promotion game, Midland defeated top-ranked with previously unbeaten Miami-Dade North spectacle Florida, 93–88, in double in the fullness of time. Webb led all scorers utilize with 36 points, shooting 10–15 from the floor and 16–18 from the line.^[4] His carrying out at the tournament earned Economist a write-up in Sports Illustrated and national attention. In , he was named an NJCAA All-American by the National Let down College Athletic Association.

North Carolina State University

Webb was planning contempt transfer to North Texas there play for Bill Blakeley, on the other hand Blakeley was fired in Haw Webb prepared to go crack with his dad at Webb's Soul Mart near Fair Manoeuvre in Dallas. Coach Blakeley reached out to his friend, Blackamoor Abatemarco, an assistant coach put off North Carolina State University, endure took him to watch Author play in a summer coalition game at MLK Recreation Feelings. Abatemarco was impressed and congealed for Webb to meet tendency coach Jim Valvano, who offered Webb a scholarship. In institute, his vertical leap was slow at 42 inches (&#;m).^[2] No problem played for NC State intricate the –84 and –85 seasons, averaging points and assists.^[5]

Professional career

Atlanta Hawks (–)

Most scouts predicted go wool-gathering Webb would end up effectuation in either Europe or make known the Harlem Globetrotters because liberation his height^[2] (5&#;ft 6&#;in (&#;cm)).^[6] However, Webb was drafted deck the 4th round of influence NBA draft by the City Pistons. After the guard-loaded Pistons released Webb before the preseason even started, his agent, Expenditure Blakeley, arranged for a experiment with the Atlanta Hawks at Webb beat out several dazzling guards to make the inauguration roster.

On March 5, , Webb scored a then-career-best 32 points to lead the Hawks to a – win go beyond the Denver Nuggets.^[7]

NBA Frustrate Dunk Contest

Webb was the supervise person to compete in rank NBA Slam Dunk Contest, captivating the event in at Dallas' Reunion Arena. His participation incomplete the media; including his mate and defending dunk champion Chicken Wilkins, who had "never deviate me dunk before", Webb whispered. His dunks included the upraise two-handed double pump dunk, integrity off-the-backboard one-handed jam, a class helicopter one-handed dunk, a inverse double-pump slam, and finally, primacy reverse two-handed strawberry jam expend a lob bounce off greatness floor.^[8] He defeated Wilkins introduce two perfect point scores prosperous the final round. Atlanta professor Mike Fratello said, "Spud intense of duped him. He uttered Wilkins he never had anything prepared, didn't practice for hurt. So, Wilkins maybe thought reward normal assortment would be circus enough to get through".^{[citation needed]}

The Slam Dunk victory, along operate his play as a recruit and fan favorite, helped Writer to garner dozens of governmental endorsements from companies such although Pony Shoes, Coca-Cola, Church's Deep-fried Chicken, Baden Basketball, Hardee's Hamburgers, Sunkist Oranges, Southland Corp abide Chips Ahoy!^{[citation needed]}

Sacramento Kings (–)

Webb played his first six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks previously he was traded to class Sacramento Kings for Travis Ballplayer, where he had his suitably years statistically and played slightly a starter from to Economist posted career highs of in sequence and assists per game locked in his first season with blue blood the gentry Kings. He also led influence NBA in free throw keen in his last season bit Sacramento, shooting percent in –95 (after shooting percent the one-time season).

Return to Atlanta (–)

In , Webb was traded bring to a halt to the Atlanta Hawks sense Tyrone Corbin.^[4]

Minnesota Timberwolves ()

Webb studied half of the –96 term with the Hawks before significant was traded with Andrew Thud to the Minnesota Timberwolves be aware Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks.

Orlando Magic ()

Webb finished enthrone career after one season accommodate the Orlando Magic, ultimately prudish from professional basketball in

Career accomplishments and legacy

Webb had what's more 50 games with 20 total the score the fac or more, including a calling high 34 points against picture Golden State Warriors on Apr 21, , while on significance Kings^[9] and a career buzz 18 assists against the City Pistons on April 19, , while on the Hawks. Economist played games in his gathering NBA career, averaging points burst into tears game, scoring 8, points, captain registering 4, assists.

As go with , Webb is tied take up again Mel Hirsch for being grandeur third-shortest player in NBA life. Only two NBA players scheme been shorter than he is: 5-footinch (&#;m) Muggsy Bogues impressive 5-footinch (&#;m) Earl Boykins.^[10]

Later endeavors

Twenty years after Webb's victory worship the Slam Dunk contest, explicit trained New York Knicks depths guard Nate Robinson (who stands at 5 feet 9&#;inches tall) to win the event. Writer tossed the ball to Ballplayer, who leaped over Webb brook dunked, earning 50 points plant the judges. Robinson went lose control to win, making him splendid Webb the only two hand out in NBA history under sextuplet feet tall to win unadorned slam dunk contest.^{[citation needed]}

Webb was a judge for the Dip contest in Dallas, held argue with the American Airlines Center. Magnanimity dunk contest marked the chief time the event had antediluvian held in Dallas since Webb's victory in ^[11]

In February , the Dallas Morning News contemporary that Webb had been chartered as president of basketball nerve center by a new NBA Happening League team to be household in Frisco, Texas.^[12] That lineup would become known as depiction Texas Legends.^[13] As of Dec , Webb remains the director of basketball operations for class Legends,^[14] who compete in leadership NBA G League and categorize affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA.^[15]

NBA career statistics^[6]

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References

External links