[valentine]

I can’t understand why wingspan is such a valued attribute in evaluating prospects these days. I understand height, strength and athleticism, but wingspan seems like only a mild contributor to a players future success. 

Lets look at a sample of top players at each position. In how many cases does "wingspan" improve thier game as opposed to other size and athletcisim attributes (eg height, strength etc.)

PG – Parker, Westbrook, Paul, Rondo, Wall, Curry 

SG – Wade, Harden, Allen, Bryant, Stephenson, Beal

SF – James, Durant, George, Deng, Carmello

PF – Nowitzki, Randolph, Aldridge, Griffin, Love, Davis

C – Gasol, Bogut, Chandler, Howard, Hibbert

In how many cases are these players considerably improved by longer than average wingspan in relation to their height? Without checking the figures, I’d guess probably Davis, Durant and Rondo. The others seem pretty normal to me and any advantages they might have come from their height, strength, athleticism or skill. 

For instance, would Kevin Durant be less unbelievable if his arms were 2 inches shorter? Would Anthony Davis still be a great player if he didn’t have those Condor arms? I’m inclined to say slightly less advantaged, but not overly so. 

Your thoughts?

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jwall1Participant]

Wingspan does matter, specially for big guys. Rim protection benefits alot with a better wingspan. The point is, the more size you have as an NBA player for your position, the better off you are. Alot of other factors like work ethic, athleticism, talent and skill contribute to how good an NBA player will be, but a player with more wingspan has the advantage over one with a small.

[jwall1Participant]

Wingspan does matter, specially for big guys. Rim protection benefits alot with a better wingspan. The point is, the more size you have as an NBA player for your position, the better off you are. Alot of other factors like work ethic, athleticism, talent and skill contribute to how good an NBA player will be, but a player with more wingspan has the advantage over one with a small.

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

 I believe you just look at it like another attribute.  For instance, Blake has short arms but his athleticism makes up for it.  I believe you should look as it the same as jumping ability or speed.  It gives you an advantage, but if you aren’t long you still can be good if you have all the other qualities

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

 I believe you just look at it like another attribute.  For instance, Blake has short arms but his athleticism makes up for it.  I believe you should look as it the same as jumping ability or speed.  It gives you an advantage, but if you aren’t long you still can be good if you have all the other qualities

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Plus I think it really helps out for the post positions. But, will show you what is up with approximations or recording of everyone on that list’s height and wingspan:

PG

Tony Parker: 6-2, 6-4 wingspan (ridiculously fast, quick as well, helps)

Russell Westbrook: 6-3, 6-7.25

Chris Paul: 6-1, 6-4.25

Rajon Rondo: 6-1, 6-9 (Sports Science at least said so)

John Wall: 6-4, 6-9.25

Stephen Curry: 6-3, 6-3.5 (first guy with short arms. Plus, the worst defender on the list)

SG

Dwyane Wade: 6-4, 6-10.75 (Yeah, his arms are ridiculous)

James Harden: 6-5, 6-10.75 (His are about the same level of ridiculous)

Ray Allen: 6-5, 6-8 (Just spit balling, though think it is around there)

Kobe Bryant: 6-6, 6-11

Lance Stephenson: 6-5, 6-10.5

Bradley Beal: 6-4, 6-8

SF

LeBron James: 6-8, 7-0.25

Kevin Durant: 6-10, 7-4.75

Paul George: 6-9, 6-11.25

Luol Deng: 6-8, 7-0.25

Carmelo Anthony: 6-8, 7-0

PF

Dirk Nowitzki: 7-0, 7-2 (Could be shorter, but he is 7 feet, lol)

Zach Randolph: 6-9, 7-2 (Could be even longer I have heard, doubt it is much shorter)

LaMarcus Aldridge: 6-11, 7-4.75

Blake Griffin: 6-10, 6-11.25 (Notice one of the concerns that comes up with him is defense)

Kevin Love: 6-9, 6-11.25 (Same deal)

Anthony Davis: 6-10, 7-5.5

C

Pau Gasol: 7-0, 7-4

Andrew Bogut: 7-0, 7-3

Tyson Chandler: 7-1, 7-3

Dwight Howard: 6-11, 7-4.5

Roy Hibbert: 7-2, 7-4 (Have again, heard it could be more)

 

So, will let you gauge how little wingspan matters with these guys. Just know that I do believe a combination of size and wingspan tends to generally be pretty important regarding NBA success. I even know that guys like Allen Iverson, Oscar Robertson and even Jerry West had pretty crazy long arms. I did also notice that everyone on your list somehow managed not to be much smaller than the size one would expect for the position.

Think that guys like Durant and Davis would still be good players, but their wingspan has made them great players and given them huge advantages. Height and length are still usually found as major advantages, along with quickness with and without the ball. It is not the end all if someone does not have ideal length, just think that the players you name tend to point towards it being at least sort of important on the whole. If they all had wingspans as long as their height, chances are they would have issues defensively at the very least. Having long arms can really help and I think it helps a majority of the players on your list quite a bit. 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Plus I think it really helps out for the post positions. But, will show you what is up with approximations or recording of everyone on that list’s height and wingspan:

PG

Tony Parker: 6-2, 6-4 wingspan (ridiculously fast, quick as well, helps)

Russell Westbrook: 6-3, 6-7.25

Chris Paul: 6-1, 6-4.25

Rajon Rondo: 6-1, 6-9 (Sports Science at least said so)

John Wall: 6-4, 6-9.25

Stephen Curry: 6-3, 6-3.5 (first guy with short arms. Plus, the worst defender on the list)

SG

Dwyane Wade: 6-4, 6-10.75 (Yeah, his arms are ridiculous)

James Harden: 6-5, 6-10.75 (His are about the same level of ridiculous)

Ray Allen: 6-5, 6-8 (Just spit balling, though think it is around there)

Kobe Bryant: 6-6, 6-11

Lance Stephenson: 6-5, 6-10.5

Bradley Beal: 6-4, 6-8

SF

LeBron James: 6-8, 7-0.25

Kevin Durant: 6-10, 7-4.75

Paul George: 6-9, 6-11.25

Luol Deng: 6-8, 7-0.25

Carmelo Anthony: 6-8, 7-0

PF

Dirk Nowitzki: 7-0, 7-2 (Could be shorter, but he is 7 feet, lol)

Zach Randolph: 6-9, 7-2 (Could be even longer I have heard, doubt it is much shorter)

LaMarcus Aldridge: 6-11, 7-4.75

Blake Griffin: 6-10, 6-11.25 (Notice one of the concerns that comes up with him is defense)

Kevin Love: 6-9, 6-11.25 (Same deal)

Anthony Davis: 6-10, 7-5.5

C

Pau Gasol: 7-0, 7-4

Andrew Bogut: 7-0, 7-3

Tyson Chandler: 7-1, 7-3

Dwight Howard: 6-11, 7-4.5

Roy Hibbert: 7-2, 7-4 (Have again, heard it could be more)

 

So, will let you gauge how little wingspan matters with these guys. Just know that I do believe a combination of size and wingspan tends to generally be pretty important regarding NBA success. I even know that guys like Allen Iverson, Oscar Robertson and even Jerry West had pretty crazy long arms. I did also notice that everyone on your list somehow managed not to be much smaller than the size one would expect for the position.

Think that guys like Durant and Davis would still be good players, but their wingspan has made them great players and given them huge advantages. Height and length are still usually found as major advantages, along with quickness with and without the ball. It is not the end all if someone does not have ideal length, just think that the players you name tend to point towards it being at least sort of important on the whole. If they all had wingspans as long as their height, chances are they would have issues defensively at the very least. Having long arms can really help and I think it helps a majority of the players on your list quite a bit. 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Wingspan is pretty important, especially defensively.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Wingspan is pretty important, especially defensively.

[LitteringAnd…Participant]

Wow sorry but this is just so wrong. I don’t blame you for making an argument but a lot of the guys you listed are the poster-children for wingspan helps if not equals success. Particularly Wade, the guy has had elite athleticism through his career but you can in more recent times really see the effect of his wingspan; his athletecism is on the decline but he still plays above the rim, would he, with 6’5" arms, be able to do those carry-over layups in transition?  

[LitteringAnd…Participant]

Wow sorry but this is just so wrong. I don’t blame you for making an argument but a lot of the guys you listed are the poster-children for wingspan helps if not equals success. Particularly Wade, the guy has had elite athleticism through his career but you can in more recent times really see the effect of his wingspan; his athletecism is on the decline but he still plays above the rim, would he, with 6’5" arms, be able to do those carry-over layups in transition?  

[Mr. ChicagoParticipant]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/6/29/3125272/jay-bilas-wingspan-video-nba-draft-2012

 

 

(I tried to embed the video – I hope this works).

[Mr. ChicagoParticipant]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/6/29/3125272/jay-bilas-wingspan-video-nba-draft-2012

 

 

(I tried to embed the video – I hope this works).

[Pack AttackParticipant]

 It’s absolutely mind-boggling that someone who knows enough about hoops to name the top players would think wingspan isn’t important. You might as well say height isn’t important.

[Pack AttackParticipant]

 It’s absolutely mind-boggling that someone who knows enough about hoops to name the top players would think wingspan isn’t important. You might as well say height isn’t important.

[Rip255]

Thanks to those that made valid contributions to the discussions and I’m glad those who actually contributed to help with my inquiry got the most +’s and the troll’s and haters are unsuprisingly stuck on do-nuts. 

 

 

 

 

[Rip255]

Thanks to those that made valid contributions to the discussions and I’m glad those who actually contributed to help with my inquiry got the most +’s and the troll’s and haters are unsuprisingly stuck on do-nuts. 

 

 

 

 

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