Spud Webb facts for kids
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Webb at an Australian basketball exhibition in 1994
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| Texas Legends | |
|---|---|
| President of basketball operations | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 13, 1963 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| High school | Wilmer-Hutchins (Dallas, Texas) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Listed weight | 133 lb (60 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1985 / Round: 4 / Pick: 87th overall |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
| Pro career | 1985–1998 |
| League | NBA G League |
| Career history | |
| 1985 | Rhode Island Gulls |
| 1985–1991 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1991–1995 | Sacramento Kings |
| 1995–1996 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1996 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1996–1997 | Mash J. Verona |
| 1998 | Orlando Magic |
| 1998 | Idaho Stampede |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,072 (9.9 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,742 (2.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 4,342 (5.3 apg) |
Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player. He was a point guard who played for four teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His professional career lasted from 1985 to 1998. Spud Webb is famous for being one of the shortest players in NBA history. He is also well-known for winning the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Since 2010, Webb has been the president of basketball operations for the Texas Legends. This team is part of the NBA G League and is connected to the Dallas Mavericks.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Dreams
Spud Webb was born in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in a small home. When he was a baby, a visitor said his round head looked like the Sputnik satellite. That's how he got his nickname, "Spud."
Basketball was a big inspiration for Webb. Even though he wasn't tall, he was very quick and could jump high. This helped him play better than bigger kids. From seventh grade, people told him he was too short for basketball. But he got a chance on his junior high team. He scored 22 points in his first game! Webb could even dunk a basketball when he was only 5 feet 3 inches tall. In high school, he averaged 26 points per game as a senior.
College Basketball Journey
Playing for Midland College
Even with his great high school record, not many colleges were interested in Webb. His first chance to play college basketball came at Midland College in Texas. He led the team to win the junior college national title in 1982. In the championship game, Webb scored 36 points. His amazing performance earned him a story in Sports Illustrated magazine. In 1983, he was named an NJCAA All-American.
Joining North Carolina State University
After Midland College, Webb planned to go to North Texas. But the coach he wanted to play for was fired. Luckily, a coach from North Carolina State University saw Webb play. He was very impressed. Webb then got a scholarship to play for NC State. In college, his vertical leap (how high he could jump) was measured at 42 inches! He played for NC State in the 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Professional Basketball Career
Atlanta Hawks Team (1985–1991)
Many people thought Webb was too short for the NBA. But the Detroit Pistons drafted him in 1985. The Pistons later released him. Then, his agent helped him get a tryout with the Atlanta Hawks. Webb impressed them and made the team! On March 5, 1991, Webb scored a career-high 32 points for the Hawks.
Winning the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Spud Webb was the shortest player ever to enter the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He won the event in 1986 in Dallas. Many people, including his teammate and defending champion Dominique Wilkins, were surprised. Webb said Wilkins had "never seen me dunk before."
Webb performed amazing dunks. These included a two-handed double pump dunk and a 360-degree one-handed dunk. He also did a reverse two-handed jam after bouncing the ball off the floor. He beat Wilkins in the final round with two perfect scores. After his win, Webb became very popular. He got many endorsement deals with companies like Coca-Cola and Church's Fried Chicken.
Sacramento Kings Team (1991–1995)
After six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Webb was traded to the Sacramento Kings. He played as a starter for the Kings from 1992 to 1995. These were some of his best years. He had career highs of 16.0 points and 7.1 assists per game in his first season with the Kings. In his last season in Sacramento (1994–95), he led the NBA in free throw shooting, making 93.4 percent of his shots.
Later NBA Teams
In 1995, Webb was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks. He played half of the 1995–96 season there. Then, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Spud Webb finished his NBA career after one season with the Orlando Magic, retiring in 1998.
Spud Webb's Career Highlights
Spud Webb played 814 games in his 12-year NBA career. He scored 8,072 points and made 4,342 assists. He had over 50 games where he scored 20 points or more. His career high was 34 points against the Golden State Warriors in 1993. He also had a career high of 18 assists in a game in 1986.
As of 2021, Webb is tied for the third-shortest player in NBA history. Only two NBA players have been shorter than him: Muggsy Bogues (5 feet 3 inches) and Earl Boykins (5 feet 5 inches).
After His Playing Career
Twenty years after his own Slam Dunk victory, Spud Webb helped train New York Knicks player Nate Robinson. Robinson, who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, went on to win the Dunk Contest. Webb tossed the ball to Robinson, who jumped over Webb to dunk. This made Robinson and Webb the only two players under six feet tall to win the contest.
In 2010, Webb was a judge for the Dunk Contest in Dallas. This was the first time the event was held in Dallas since Webb won it in 1986.
In February 2010, Spud Webb was hired as the president of basketball operations for a new NBA Development League team. This team became known as the Texas Legends. As of July 2025, Webb is still the president of basketball operations for the Legends. They play in the NBA G League and are connected to the Dallas Mavericks.
Images for kids
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Webb at an Australian basketball exhibition in 1994
See also
In Spanish: Spud Webb para niños
