Predraft Measurement Breakdown
By Aran Smith
6/19/06
Draft Buzz
Saer Sene
Official Player Measurements
2005 Measurements
With basketball, length is obviously an extremely important factor. A player's ability to get to the rim easily, block shots and grab rebounds as well as close passing lanes can be the difference of inches. Here's a look at some of the winners and losers from the measurements released by the league. (Keep in mind NBA players official measurements are with shoes on.)
Condors:
Here is a look at players who have the greatest wingspan in relation to their heights (without shoes):
Senegal bigman Saer Sene's whopping 7'8.5 wingspan is 10.3% greater than his 6'11" height.
Allen Ray has the highest discrepancy for a guard with a 6'8.5" wingspan, which is 10.3% greater than his 6'1" height.
Ray has the size of a player 2-3 inches bigger. For instance, Ray's standing reach (8'3.5") is 2 inches greater than 6'4" JJ Redick's (8'1.5").
Eric Hicks measured 6'4"75 without shoes on, which seems far too short for a power forward. But last year his teammate Jason Maxiell measured just 6'5" without shoes on and turned a strong predraft camp performance into a late first round selection.
Hicks (7'1".5) wingspan is 10.2% greater than his height (6'4.75")and a 8'9".5 standing reach. (which is an inch and a half more than Shelden WIlliams' 8'8" standing reach).
Like Maxiell, Hicks is a tough nosed warrior and his huge wingspan helps to make up for his lack of height. (Maxiell's is 7'3".5).
Eric Williams and Shelden Williams have virtually the same dimensions (Shelden: 6'7.5" and a 7'4.25" wing) to (Eric: 6'7.25 and 7'4.25" wing), but somehow Eric has a 2.5 inch standing reach (8'10.5") advantage. Shelden Williams' (8'8") standing reach seems very low. Either it's a product of a very long neck, or the standing reach measurement was off.
Eric Williams' 9 inch wingspan differential is 10.2% greater than his height.
Shelden Williams' wingspan is 9.92 % greater than his height.
Will Blalock's 6'6" wingspan, which is 9.9% greater than his 5'11.25" height.
Marco Killingsworth's 7'3"wingspan is 9.8% greater than his 6'5.5"height.
Rudy Gay's immense 7'3" wingspan is 9.2% greater than his 6'7" height.
Tyrus Thomas 7'3" wingspan is 8.9% greater than his 6'7.25 height, but his standing reach is actually .5" greater than Gay's.
Renaldo Balkman registered a 7'1" wingspan 9.1% greater than his 6'5.25" height.
Patrick O'Bryant registered a 7'5.75" wingspan 7.5% greater than his 6'11" height.
Other players registering impressive wingspans included: LaMarcus Aldridge (7'4.75"), Hilton Armstrong (7'4") Solomon Jones (7'4.75"), Shawne Williams (7'3") Antwayne Robinson (7'2.5"), Paul Millsap (7'1.25"), Ronnie Brewer (6'11.25")
T-Rexes
Out of all the players measured, JJ Redick was the only one to measure a wingspan (6'3.25) lower than his height (6'4"). Redick's wingspan is 1% smaller than his height.
Gerry McNamarra's 6'0.75" wingspan is just 1.4% greater than his 5'11.75" height.
Steve Novak registered a 6'9.5" wingspan, 1.8% greater than his 6'8" height.
Jordan Farmar registered a 6'3" wingspan, 3% greater than his 6'0.75" height.
Brandon Roy registered a a 6'8" wingspan, 3.6% greater than his 6'5.25" height.
Having long arms is important in basketball. The players with short wingspans are white or light skined blacks.