Born: Dallas, TexasHigh School: Wilmer-Hutchins High School (Homer Smith)
College: Midland (Jerry Stone), North Carolina State (Jim Valvano)
Spud Webb is correctly only 5'6 and had only weight 135 lbs. Yet for some reason he was able to play in the NBA for 12 seasons. The slam dunk contest in 1986 shocked the basketball world when they realized a person of this stature can get up so high and not only dunk, but win a slam dunk title against the world's greatest athletes.
Early in Spud's life he had been born into poverty. But thank God he had basketball as his inspiration, ev
en though he was small he used what he had which was his quicknes and jumping ability to outplay other kids.
Spud's first hard lesson was at Wilmer-Hutchins High School. Where he would fail to make the Varsity team in his Junior year, Spud thought about quitting it all. But with preseverance and determination he came back in his Senior year stronger then ever achieving his first ever dunk which was two handed over that summer at an astonishing height of only 4'11!!!
In his senior he would make sure his coaches know they made a mistake of not picking him in his Junior year. He left his coaches with their mouths open when he stole the ball during a scrimmage and dunked the ball from the circle after the free throw line. During his senior season he would lead his team averaging 26 points per game. After being one of the best high school players in Dallas he as not offered any scholarships into any major Division I schools due to his size.
Spud was lucky enough to attract attention from a Junior College at Midland where the coach there had believed in him. In only his first year he had helped Midland win a National Championship in 1982. Later on he would transfer to North Carolina State University and play 2 years as a starting point guard.
Dispite Spud's size, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA draft in
the 4th round. But due to the fact that Detroit already had Isiah Thomas, Spud was dropped from the team without given a shot. Luckily the Atlanta Hawks had decided to give him a shot and he had impressed coaches with his fearless style of play and intensity that lead him to stay with the Atlanta Hawks.
Perhaps what was Spud's biggest moment is when he had participated in the 1986 Slam Dunk contest and defeated even his own teammate Dominique Wilkins. Spud did not miss a single dunk in that contest and had landed several 50s, including a 360, off the backboard, 180 and the elevator dunk.
Not only had Spud's dream come true but he was also given huge minutes when starting point guard Doc Rivers was hurt for most of the season, which enabled him to help guide his team to the playoffs and beat the Detroit Pistons hitting two clutch free throws in the final minutes of the game.
Spud went on to have a successful career with the Hawks, Kings, Timberwolves and with the Magic before retiring.
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