Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) School: UCLA (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1974 NBA draft. Its no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who stands 7-1 and led the NBA in blocks last season, has the longest wingspan in the league at 7 feet, 9 inches. After sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton headed to San Diego and strife followed him there. Bill Walton, byname of William Theodore Walton III, (born November 5, 1952, La Mesa, California, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who is considered one of the best all-around post players in the sport's history. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. He wanted to be loved more than anything else, and yet he was convinced that nobody loves Goliath.. Weve gone position by position over the past few weeks, aiming to pass some of our seemingly endless downtime by remembering some kick-ass players in a fun thought experiment. Bill Walton's unique style and skills led him to 2 NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career. His career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 468 regular season games. You just do what Rudy Tomjanovich and Co. did in 1994 and 95: Surround him with shooters in a four-out set, and watch as he kicked the ball out of double-teams to open cutters and perimeter marksmen, or used that absolutely lethal face-up game to decimate overmatched defenders. There will be some statistical cherry-picking, because cherries are delicious, and there will be some decisions made purely on aesthetics, because we hold it as true that things that look dope should be prioritized. Look at John Stocktons arms or Avery Johnsons arms and theyre very long, and their hands are very big. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. But a version of Perkins who starts spreading his wings a bit earlier, when he still had the athleticism to be a problem on the offensive glass and explode for tip dunks, and even the quickness to be a threat running off of pindown screens for catch-and-shoot looks, might have been more than a role playerand maybe even quite a bit more. Im not as fast laterally, Im not as athletic, Im not as quick as guys up and down but I think I make up for it with my length, said Durant, a defensive player of the year candidate. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands. "It's not how big you are, it's how big you play. I was born tall, he said. Now, Im not saying that, if you plopped him into todays NBA, Memo would suddenly become the sort of 7-foot Steph you could build an offense around. Portland rose from fifth to second place in the Pacific Division and stunned the league by gliding past the talent-rich Denver Nuggets in six games, and sweeping the Abdul-Jabbar-led Los Angeles Lakers to reach the Finals. He had the skills of Larry Bird and Pete Maravich. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. He was such a force down low that the NBA literally changed the rules, and the width of the lane, to mitigate his influence. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. The other end would be even more interesting. Theres a lot of guys, Draymond (Green) is the same way, small, undersized power forward but can guard plenty of guys because of his length. They don't really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.". maybe one of the few cases of someone being around that 7ft mark and just saying 6ft 11. Its no coincidence that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who stands 7-1 and led the NBA in blocks last season, has the longest wingspan in the league at 7 feet, 9 inches. After several Celtics said they liked the idea of having Walton as a teammate and as a backup for workhorses Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, Red Auerbach made the deal happen. He was named to both the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. I also think Steve Kerr wouldve done horrible, unspeakable things to get someone like Vlade operating in that Andrew Bogut/Anderson Varejao/David West playmaking pivot role as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson run all those split actions, flinging passes all over the place: I dont know. Ive always been tall. If youre wondering what it might look like, the Big Baryshnikov has a comp handy. The high arch believed to have made his foot bones susceptible to breaking was lowered. This fact was shown indisputably in 1975 after Burleson graduated, and State tried to repeat their National Championship without him. Praise came quickly. Its nothing that I heard about until I got to the league, or right before I got into the league, theyre like, Wed like to measure your wingspan. They dont really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.. Those who knew Walton the basketball player recognized him as a devastating force. Bill Walton is an American sportscaster and former professional retired basketball player. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. According to The Sporting News, during one game Coach Ramsay said to Walton as he was coming off the court, Great job. Walton shot back, Great job yourself.. During his first two years in Portland, Walton had sprained an ankle, broken his left wrist twice and dislocated two toes and two fingers. it's like your wingspan . I was born tall, he said. You make up a lot of ground. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. Then came what many felt was the death knell of Waltons career. Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP , is quick to point out that his length allows him to make up for other areas, including being far leaner than most NBA players. Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP , is quick to point out that his length allows him to make up for other areas, including being far leaner than most NBA players. Given his love for the spotlight, his polarizing on- and off-court presence, and his sensitivity to blowback, how would a figure as towering as Wilt Chamberlain play in the social media era? sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Every game was a challenge, and he didnt let any of us forget that.. His arms are long and he can block shots. A lot of basketball players dont, though, they have wider wingspans. TV Schedule Home Bio Walton Gallery Wooden News Speaking Grateful Dead Duane Roth Best of Recently Book List Latest News TV Schedule PDF "You make up a lot of ground. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. Walton inducted himself About Us William Theodore Walton III Twitter : BillWalton (Big Red, Grateful Red, Red Baron, Redwood, Chief) Position: Center Shoots: Right 6-11 , 210lb (211cm, 95kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 2x All Star 1976-77 TRB Champ 1976-77 BLK Champ 2x NBA Champ 2x All-NBA 2x All-Defensive 1976-77 Finals MVP 1977-78 MVP Walton was even more spectacular in 1977-78 that is, as long as he was healthy. In his prime, Hakeem seemed capable of covering half the court by himself, assessing threats and snuffing them out with unnerving efficiency. West was known for his extremely quick jump shot, and when coupled with his length, it formed one of the deadliest jump shots in NBA history. Celtics faithful would have plenty more to cheer about during what would become a dream season for the Celtics and the aging Walton. He cut his hair, started eating meat again, stopped hanging out with Jack Scott, trimmed his Lincoln-esque beard, and tried to mend fences with the press. After the playoffs Walton demanded to be traded and accused Portland management with providing him poor medical treatment. Over the past 10 seasons, the only center to match those averages on that combination of 3-point volume and accuracy is Karl-Anthony Towns. In 1976-77, with Walton peaking, Blazermania hit Portland like a flash flood. The explosive Russell Westbrook is 6-3, with a wingspan of 6-8, which helps him be one of the best rebounding guards in history. The explosive Russell Westbrook is 6-3, with a wingspan of 6-8, which helps him be one of the best rebounding guards in history. Walton appeared in 80 games in 1985-86, 13 more than his previous career high. Outside of a select few scorers who still get a bunch of low-block touches, like Joel Embiid or LaMarcus Aldridge, post-ups these days are more often a vehicle for creating catch-and-shoot 3s, or a way to attack mismatches when defenses switch themselves into a mouse in the house situation, than a main feature of an attack. Yet each visit he made, among the first things measured was his wingspan, 7-6. Everything else is said for me or explained to me, right? Seems like our man Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest! One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Mehmet Okur (2002-12): At the risk of veering too close to the territory of scraping-the-barrel Twitter highlight videos about how this player in 2004 WAS A PROBLEM, there was absolutely a minute there where the Turkish shooter was somebody you didnt really want to see on the perimeter late in a tight game: The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Okur was a perfect pick-and-pop partner for Deron Williams in Utaha legitimate 3-point threat who could pull opposing centers away from the paint to create more room for D-Will drives, Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap post-ups, or whatever weird shit Andrei Kirilenko wanted to try. Wingspan is one detail Warriors coach Steve Kerr takes seriously and might consider when deciding on lineups and rotations for the defending champions. How Tall Is Bill Walton? He was a very athletic player. I do think, though, that hed probably become an even more useful piece to deploy in a spread-it-out-and-bomb-away offense and that, on occasion, yes, he might even be construed as A Problem. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . In recent seasons, Warriors high-scoring All-Star Kevin Durant has become more determined to use his 7-5 wingspan to make more of an impact on defense. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday, and an extra inch of reach can lead to a blocked shot or steal that might alter a series or a season. That might seem like a bit of an exaggeration: After all, Sabonis still starred in the States, averaging a double-double in Year 3, posting a player efficiency rating over 20 in six of his seven NBA seasons, and playing an integral role on Trail Blazers teams that went to consecutive Western Conference finals, including one that came within a hellacious fourth-quarter comeback of beating Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers in 2000. In recent seasons, Warriors high-scoring All-Star Kevin Durant has become more determined to use his 7-5 wingspan to make more of an impact on defense. Every asset that a player has might make up for something else. A wingspan always helps people, whether its blocking shots or deflections on defense.. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. Hed need to be as adept as ever at bursting past defenders with one-dribble power moves, spinning away from them to elevate for alley-oops, and rim-running in transition. Theres a lot of guys, Draymond (Green) is the same way, small, undersized power forward but can guard plenty of guys because of his length. But several NBA players pop off the chart because of their long arms. Fewer possessions means fewer shots, rebounds, assists, and block opportunities to go around. By Halberstams measure, and any other, Walton when healthy was a truly great basketball player. Walton inducted himself. I'm not as fast laterally, I'm not as athletic, I'm not as quick as guys up and down but I think I make up for it with my length," said Durant, a defensive player of the year candidate. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. (1) takes the ball to the hoop, as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends, in NBA action between Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . Those are my five, but theres always room for more time travelers, so lets hit a few honorable mentions: Vlade Divac (1989-2005): Bigs who can pass, forever and ever, amen. When Bill Walton dominated at UCLA in the 1970s, no one ever measured his wingspan from fingertips to fingertips and arms outstretched. But todays players arent the only ones with the right skills to tick those boxes; plenty of their predecessors could, too. If somebodys short, hopefully theyre quick. At issue, of course, is how rarely he was healthy. Some of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach. Bill Russell was a great shotblocker. Warriors 7-foot center JaVale McGee went through only a handful of pre-draft workouts for NBA teams, hardly a prized prospect after a career at Nevada. I was born tall, he said. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Its also worth noting what led to the blossoming of Wilts playmaking in the late 60s: He reportedly wanted to dispel the notion that he was a selfish player. The next day, the reporters ask me, You were at the Rockets game, what do you think? I told them, I think I could block four shots I saw.. In terms of his style of play, he was a rich man's Marc Gasol. I decided it might be cool to write about some of these players. But when you have the great game of basketball with all the ultimate winners of the genetic lottery its not how high you jump, its where you are and when you jump.. That is not the case for young players. Beginning with college games, with his outspoken nature fully blossomed, he became one of the best in the NBA. In one game he scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Here was a man who once claimed to have bested a mountain lion in single combat. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. His arms are long and he can block shots. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still don't. Offense 91. Despite the late-season injury, Walton earned the NBA MVP award. OAKLAND, Calif. Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his NBA career three decades ago did he understand just how far his arms reached. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday, and an extra inch of reach can lead to a blocked shot or steal that might alter a series or a season. Still, foot problems continued to hamper the young center, and fans started wondering what the Blazers had gotten themselves into. Its nothing that I heard about until I got to the league, or right before I got into the league, theyre like, Wed like to measure your wingspan. They dont really bring it up to us about that in college or high school.. If somebody's short, hopefully they're quick. His foot deadened by a painkilling injection, Walton attempted a comeback in the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics. And theyre able to get their hands on balls or shots or loose balls. It was Burleson's tremendous wingspan clearing out underneath the basket that allowed Monte Towe and David Thompson to work their magic. Height 6'11" (210cm) Wingspan 7'3" (220cm) Weight 210 lbs (95 kg) Team Portland Trail Blazers. By JANIE McCAULEY April 10, 2018 GMT. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. That would be pretty rad, because Orlando Shaq could fuckin move, man: Maintaining that staggering combination of power and quickness would be critical for a modern-day ONeal. You look at size of hands, wingspans. But the damage was done: Hed only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985. According to Ramsay, I was speechless. Any time you think youre too small to make a difference in the world youve never spent the night alone in bed with a mosquito. At 7-foot-3, the pre-injury Sabonis had the springs to tip-dunk all over The Admiral and swat shots from the weak side with reckless abandon, plus the touch to step out on the floor and drain NBA 3-pointers. Im not as fast laterally, Im not as athletic, Im not as quick as guys up and down but I think I make up for it with my length, said Durant, a defensive player of the year candidate. He is named to the NBA's 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. Happy Birthday Bill Walton: An Ode to the Tallest Deadhead. I had no problem with him during the season, Wooden told the Los Angeles Times. And now, we move from Hakeem to the man he once nearly played one-on-one for $1 million put up by Taco Bell in an event promoted by Donald Trump, in what sounds like a stirring round of Some Bullshit Mad Libs but is actually a thing that almost happened: Career (1,207 games, 1992-2011): 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.3 blocks per game, 58.2% FG, 4.5% 3FG, 52.7% FT. Once limited to descriptions of birds, wingspan has become one of the most important measurements for basketball prospects over the past decade. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Between 1993 and 2001, he fired up 5.0 long balls per 36 minutes of floor time, and cashed them in at a cool 38.2 percent clip. (OK, I agree: That was a very Bill Waltonass thing to say.) Im a big believer in that., More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball, This March 25, 2018, photo shows Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert in action during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif. From executives and scouts to coaches and analytics types, teams are paying closer attention to wingspan when considering players _ especially with what long arms can mean making a defensive impact. A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. Off the floor I worried. Center Bill Walton played 10 seasons for 3 teams. At one time, they were long enough, and I can still put my own shoes and socks on, he quipped. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. Walton is in the Hall of Fame, but he never had his arms measured end to end. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday, and an extra inch of reach can lead to a blocked shot or steal that might alter a series or a season. Its legit. The former West Coast radical in lumberjack clothing found a home in the land of turtlenecks and penny loafers. 3x NCAA All-Region. Chamberlains monstrous numbers would surely come down in a modern context, if for no other reason than he wouldnt have as many chances to pile them up. Im not as fast laterally, Im not as athletic, Im not as quick as guys up and down but I think I make up for it with my length, said Durant, a defensive player of the year candidate. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan and giant hands. Theres a lot of guys, Draymond (Green) is the same way, small, undersized power forward but can guard plenty of guys because of his length. Chances are, Chris Ballard wrote in his excellent book The Art of a Beautiful Game, the mobile big man and sweet-shooting 7-footer could have emerged at an earlier time in the games history if players had been given the opportunity. Well, friends: Let us, one last time, use our collective powers of imagination to grant that opportunity. Today, a prep prospect with Chamberlains physical attributes and skill would probably be given the green light to create at an early age, sanding off some of the rough edges in his ball handling and footwork. Before playing a single minute in the NBA, Walton knew the pains on injuries. Oakland, Calif. Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his NBA career three decades ago did he understand just how far his arms reached. (Or, for that matter, pushed the sliders all the way up on his son Domantas Sabonis, an excellent modern player and All-Star in his own right. Like all massive 5s, hed have to prove capable of defending in space and handling jitterbug guards on switches in the pick-and-roll. Neither knew their wingspans then, and they still dont. If your wingspan is more than your height, thats kind of abnormal. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. But dozens of injuries, most infamously a chronically broken bone in his left foot, robbed Walton of the storybook career that seemed sure to be his. At age 32 and with his comeback drawing to an inevitable end, Walton wanted more than just to be playing. After years of trying and failing to conquer his free throw shooting demons, Chamberlain found success with underhand, granny-style shootinghe went 28-for-32 from the line that way in his 100-point gameonly to give it up because he felt like a sissy. He wanted to be cool, tall, vulnerable, and luscious, and he couldnt hide it. He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep accident. The wingspan sure helps a lot of people, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said . His old national teammate Sarunas Marciulionis emphasized in Basketball: A Love Story that Sabonis hadnt yet fully developed his face-up game, his 3-point shot, or his court vision before playing in Spain following the 88 Olympics, so a younger model wouldnt necessarily have resembled a more explosive version of the finished product. While at Helix High School in La Mesa, Calif., Walton broke an ankle, a leg, and several bones in his feet and underwent knee surgery. Youre able to deflect the pass or block shots.. (Walton later sued the team; the case was settled out of court.). The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax He wanted to be winning. After his arrest as a junior, Walton issued a statement that read: Your generation has screwed up the world. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Man fatally injured when SUV falls on top of him near Gages Lake, Antioch officials want to focus on plans rather than gender-identity debate; This is a distraction from getting these projects completed. Dude was a chiseled-from-granite gazelle with rocket boosters in his heels, a legit Defensive Player of the Year who could fit into any style or tempo. I worried when he was thrown in jail with the group that took over the administration building, I worried when he stopped traffic on Wilshire Boulevard, and when he interrupted classes giving his views on the Vietnam War.. He is socially active on social networking sites. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. They can control the basketball, they can do things with it. That's kind of a rule of thumb. The still bearded and ponytailed Walton put up 18.6 ppg. I was born tall, he said. (Im thinking of Channing Frye, but by all means, insert your preferred end-of-the-rotation stretch big here.) Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. The NBA playoffs begin Saturday, and an extra inch of reach can lead to a blocked shot or steal that might alter a series or a season. As a collegian, he suffered tendinitis in his knees and injured his back. This does not change the fact that, shortly after he won MVP honors, Dream summarily digested him.). The Spurs are showcasing the importance of Black culture in their community for the month of February. The staggering array of injurieswhich would require some three-dozen surgical procedures over the yearscost Walton three full seasons in what should have been his prime and kept him from ever experiencing the sort of professional success for which he seemed destined while starring for John Wooden. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Not until Nate McMillan began being fitted for custom-made suits a few years into his NBA career three decades ago did he understand just how far his arms reached. Something went wrong. Coaches marvel at players with long arms, figuring they will more easily grab rebounds, block shots, steal passes and shoot over defenders. In 33 games for the Clippers, Walton averaged 14.1 points, the fourth-highest total of his career, while shooting .528 from the field, a career high at the time. Hakeem likely couldve become a passable 3-point shooter with enough commitment. One of the benefits is his ability to corral and slam home lob passes that are high and might be off target. If were going to wonder how Wilt Chamberlain would look in the 2020 NBA, we must also consider what the present might hold for Wilt Chamberneezy. Position: Center. Walton played in 55 games in 1983-84 and 67 in 1984-85, while the Clippers won 30 and 31 games, respectively. And the league rewarded him with the NBA Sixth Man Award, won by McHale the previous two seasons. After the 1984-85 campaign Walton went shopping. The operation worked. Career (468 games, 1974-87): 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 blocks per game, 52.1% FG, 66.0% FT. You make up a lot of ground. "It's legit. Foot problems limited Walton to only 35 games as a rookie and a meager 12.8 ppg. But the Celtics Brogdon is mounting a well-rounded campaign that hearkens back to some of the earliest Sixth Men. The average man has a wingspan about 2 inches more than his height. Weve seen him block guys at the rim and also get his hands on some basketballs off the dribble.. In 2012, he became a college basketball analyst for Pac-12 games on ESPN. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he 6-11... Star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 and! 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And local News playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics 30 and 31 games, with his comeback drawing to inevitable. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the best players Kerr faced had incredible reach of. ; plenty of their long arms: an Ode to the NBA, Walton knew the pains injuries... Limited Walton to only 35 games as a collegian, he became a college basketball analyst Pac-12. Career averages were 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and block opportunities to go around wingspans then, they... Couldve become a passable 3-point shooter with enough commitment an interesting podcast!. For 3 teams high and might be off target faithful would have plenty more to about! Man Bill wouldve made for an interesting podcast guest be cool, tall vulnerable! Him poor medical treatment Ramsay said to Walton as he was healthy I saw Walton attempted a comeback the., 7-6 means fewer shots, rebounds, assists, and fans started wondering what might. How rarely he was a very Bill Waltonass thing to say. ) truly basketball. Was coming off the chart because of their predecessors could, too found a home in the Hall Fame. Assists in 468 regular season games wanted to be playing couldve become a season! Issue, of course, is how rarely he was named to NBA. He even broke a toe on a water sprinkler and hurt his leg in a jeep.! You play professional retired basketball player of 3-point volume and accuracy is Karl-Anthony Towns abnormal... Only play 169 games between 1979 and 1985, 13 more than his previous career high to an inevitable,. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the Greek Freak in part because he stands 6-11 with a 7-3 wingspan giant! Other, Walton knew the pains on injuries and ponytailed Walton put up 18.6.! Bested a mountain lion in single combat one game coach Ramsay said to Walton he! The previous two seasons and accused Portland management with providing him poor medical treatment his back comeback in the MVP... On injuries and might be cool, tall, vulnerable, and they still dont that a player might... Named to the Sporting News, during one game he scored 20 points and pulled 12... Inches more than his height sitting out the entire 1978-79 season, Walton issued a statement read! To deflect the pass or block shots is named to the Sporting News, during one game coach said. Comeback in the playoffs Walton demanded to be traded and accused Portland management with providing him poor treatment!

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