Artis Gilmore Physical Measurements

[70sFan]

As we now know, Joel Embiid was just measured at just below 7 feet tall without the shoes. Right now, we have real heights of the best large centers in NBA history - Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Yao... all of them except one. I couldn't find anything about Gilmore's measurements.

So I have a question - does anybody have any articles/reports about his physical measurements? Not only height, but also wingspan or weight in given year?

...

I quote you because you know a lot about 1970s.

[Lalouie]

As we now know, Joel Embiid was just measured at just below 7 feet tall without the shoes. Right now, we have real heights of the best large centers in NBA history - Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Yao... all of them except one. I couldn't find anything about Gilmore's measurements.

So I have a question - does anybody have any articles/reports about his physical measurements? Not only height, but also wingspan or weight in given year?

...

I quote you because you know a lot about 1970s.

all i know is gilmore was really small when he was guarded by sidney wicks

[GeorgeMarcus]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

[D.Brasco]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

The "flawed system" aka in shoe heights didn't seem to become a factor until the late 70s early 80s.

Wilt was famously measured to a fraction as 7'1 1/16", Kareem was measured 7'1 7/8".

Also we've had for years access to the draft measurement database:

https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/#!?SeasonYear=2003-04&sort=HEIGHT_WO_SHOES&dir=1

[JN61]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

Wilt was as tall as they come. He was taller than O'Neal back in 90s when they both were on the court at same time.

[GeorgeMarcus]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

The "flawed system" aka in shoe heights didn't seem to become a factor until the late 70s early 80s.

Wilt was famously measured to a fraction as 7'1 1/16", Kareem was measured 7'1 7/8".

Also we've had for years access to the draft measurement database:

https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/#!?SeasonYear=2003-04&sort=HEIGHT_WO_SHOES&dir=1

What about Yao and Shaq?

[Pop Daddy]

A little but off subject, but when Gilmore played his first regular season game in the NBA. It was in Cleveland, and my buddy and I was going to game, we both 16, we got an old sheet and on my parents basement floor we spray painted a sign that said "no more Gilmore your in the NBA now" it seeped thru to the basement floor and to this day is still says it on the floor

[The_Hater]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

Way, way to logical.

Regardless, I’m trying to figure out why he has such an obsession about this.

[NO-KG-AI]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

Way, way to logical.

Regardless, I’m trying to figure out why he has such an obsession about this.

The perception that everyone was so small, undersized and unathletic back in the day is a big point of contention for player comparisons between eras. It’s relevant IMO, and it’s important like when evaluating a prospect when trying to project what a player may or may not bring to the table in the modern era.

Plus it’s just interesting.

[70sFan]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

The "flawed system" aka in shoe heights didn't seem to become a factor until the late 70s early 80s.

Wilt was famously measured to a fraction as 7'1 1/16", Kareem was measured 7'1 7/8".

Also we've had for years access to the draft measurement database:

https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/#!?SeasonYear=2003-04&sort=HEIGHT_WO_SHOES&dir=1

What about Yao and Shaq?

Yao was measured twice from what I know (7'5 in 2002 and 7'5.75 in 2004 summer). We also know his wingspan (7'5).

Shaq is tougher because he has two different numbers - 6'11.5 and 7'0.5. Impossible to say which is correct, though we also have his wingspan (7'7).

[70sFan]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

Way, way to logical.

Regardless, I’m trying to figure out why he has such an obsession about this.

The perception that everyone was so small, undersized and unathletic back in the day is a big point of contention for player comparisons between eras. It’s relevant IMO, and it’s important like when evaluating a prospect when trying to project what a player may or may not bring to the table in the modern era.

Plus it’s just interesting.

Yeah, in short this. I just don't like when people say that we have 7 foot guards like Durant or Simmons, even though they are not close to 7 feet tall. I don't like when people say that in 1970s there were no 7 footers in the league and now every team has 2-3 of them. It's just not true, players are the same size as today basically by mid-60s.

People also say that Wilt and Kareem dominated because they were taller than the rest of the league. Who cares? They still would be taller then the rest of the league today. Only Porzingis is taller than them among true rotation players. Boban and Tacko are taller but they won't play much. Gobert is shorter than Kareem and about as tall as Wilt.

[bdp31770]

How do we have real heights for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem and Yao? Weren't they using the same flawed system they were using up until this year?

Way, way to logical.

Regardless, I’m trying to figure out why he has such an obsession about this.

If you're curious why they are curious, doesn't that answer your question?

[bdp31770]

You could contact him on artisgilmore.com, maybe he'll answer.

[Pennebaker]

Way, way to logical.

Regardless, I’m trying to figure out why he has such an obsession about this.

The perception that everyone was so small, undersized and unathletic back in the day is a big point of contention for player comparisons between eras. It’s relevant IMO, and it’s important like when evaluating a prospect when trying to project what a player may or may not bring to the table in the modern era.

Plus it’s just interesting.

Yeah, in short this. I just don't like when people say that we have 7 foot guards like Durant or Simmons, even though they are not close to 7 feet tall. I don't like when people say that in 1970s there were no 7 footers in the league and now every team has 2-3 of them. It's just not true, players are the same size as today basically by mid-60s.

People also say that Wilt and Kareem dominated because they were taller than the rest of the league. Who cares? They still would be taller then the rest of the league today. Only Porzingis is taller than them among true rotation players. Boban and Tacko are taller but they won't play much. Gobert is shorter than Kareem and about as tall as Wilt.

That doesn't appear to be true, hombre.

In 1964-65 there were only three 7 footers in the entire NBA. Some teams didnt have anyone over 6'8 or 6'9. The Cincinatti Royals frontline of Cs and PFs were all 6'8. The St. Louis Hawks frontline were all 6'7 and 6'9. Ditto the Sixers & Knicks. That's half of the league.

There were only 8 players in total who were 6'10 or taller.

And look at the weight of the heaviest player on each team in 1964-65:

Celtics - 230
Royals - 240
Sixers - 240
Knicks - 240
Lakers - 225
Hawks - 228
Bullets - 230
Pistons- 249
Warriors - 265

And compare them to the heaviest players just on the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers:

McGee - 270
Cousins - 270
Howard - 265
Davis - 253
James - 250
Cacok - 240
Dudley - 237
Horton-Tucker - 233

Some modern guards weigh more than the heaviest centers on the 1964-65 Bullets, Hawks, Lakers & Celtics.

[Johnlac1]

Way, way to logical.

Regardless, I’m trying to figure out why he has such an obsession about this.

The perception that everyone was so small, undersized and unathletic back in the day is a big point of contention for player comparisons between eras. It’s relevant IMO, and it’s important like when evaluating a prospect when trying to project what a player may or may not bring to the table in the modern era.

Plus it’s just interesting.

Yeah, in short this. I just don't like when people say that we have 7 foot guards like Durant or Simmons, even though they are not close to 7 feet tall. I don't like when people say that in 1970s there were no 7 footers in the league and now every team has 2-3 of them. It's just not true, players are the same size as today basically by mid-60s.

People also say that Wilt and Kareem dominated because they were taller than the rest of the league. Who cares? They still would be taller then the rest of the league today. Only Porzingis is taller than them among true rotation players. Boban and Tacko are taller but they won't play much. Gobert is shorter than Kareem and about as tall as Wilt.

I did an analysis a few years ago about heights from different eras. The average NBA height in 1950 was about 6'4 1/2.
In 1960 it was about 6'6.
In 1970 it was 6'7.
A few years ago when I did the study for today's players it was about 6'7 1/2 or 6'8.
So today's players are only slightly taller than they were almost fifty years ago.

[70sFan]

The perception that everyone was so small, undersized and unathletic back in the day is a big point of contention for player comparisons between eras. It’s relevant IMO, and it’s important like when evaluating a prospect when trying to project what a player may or may not bring to the table in the modern era.

Plus it’s just interesting.

Yeah, in short this. I just don't like when people say that we have 7 foot guards like Durant or Simmons, even though they are not close to 7 feet tall. I don't like when people say that in 1970s there were no 7 footers in the league and now every team has 2-3 of them. It's just not true, players are the same size as today basically by mid-60s.

People also say that Wilt and Kareem dominated because they were taller than the rest of the league. Who cares? They still would be taller then the rest of the league today. Only Porzingis is taller than them among true rotation players. Boban and Tacko are taller but they won't play much. Gobert is shorter than Kareem and about as tall as Wilt.

That doesn't appear to be true, hombre.

In 1964-65 there were only three 7 footers in the entire NBA. Some teams didnt have anyone over 6'8 or 6'9. The Cincinatti Royals frontline of Cs and PFs were all 6'8. The St. Louis Hawks frontline were all 6'7 and 6'9. Ditto the Sixers & Knicks. That's half of the league.

There were only 8 players in total who were 6'10 or taller.

And look at the weight of the heaviest player on each team in 1964-65:

Celtics - 230
Royals - 240
Sixers - 240
Knicks - 240
Lakers - 225
Hawks - 228
Bullets - 230
Pistons- 249
Warriors - 265

And compare them to the heaviest players just on the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers:

McGee - 270
Cousins - 270
Howard - 265
Davis - 253
James - 250
Cacok - 240
Dudley - 237
Horton-Tucker - 233

Some modern guards weigh more than the heaviest centers on the 1964-65 Bullets, Hawks, Lakers & Celtics.

What are you doing here? Centers from 1960s have their college weight as listed weight. Wilt played at around 300 lbs in 1965. Bellamy was over 250 lbs, Wayne Embry around 280 lbs...

There are very few true seven footers in the league today. Guys who you describe as small here were basically the same height as average bigs today. 6'9 without the shoes is the same as Howard or Cousins. 6'8 is like some shorter centers in the league today and Wayne Embry was the only starting center in the league in 1965 who was that short. He was also 280 lbs tank with huge hands.

Show me heavier guards than Walt Bellamy, I'm curious.

[GeorgeMarcus]

The "flawed system" aka in shoe heights didn't seem to become a factor until the late 70s early 80s.

Wilt was famously measured to a fraction as 7'1 1/16", Kareem was measured 7'1 7/8".

Also we've had for years access to the draft measurement database:

https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/#!?SeasonYear=2003-04&sort=HEIGHT_WO_SHOES&dir=1

What about Yao and Shaq?

Yao was measured twice from what I know (7'5 in 2002 and 7'5.75 in 2004 summer). We also know his wingspan (7'5).

Shaq is tougher because he has two different numbers - 6'11.5 and 7'0.5. Impossible to say which is correct, though we also have his wingspan (7'7).

And those measurements were held to the same standard as this year's? I thought they implemented a more stringent process, hence the player heights being less than previously recorded.