When assistant Tom Abatamarco took Jim Valvano to Texas to meet his latest discovery, Valvano later said he turned to Abatemarco and told him: “you’re fired.”
He was joking after the fact, but why would he say that?
Because the guy they went to see was 5-7 Spud Webb and when you first see him, he’s not impressive.
He’s naturally shy and looks mournful.
But what Abatamarco knew was that the kid could fly. Webb had a 42” vertical jump, he was unbelievably quick and he had skills, too.
And in 1986, he completely shocked the NBA by winning the dunk contest at the All-Star contest.
He became a legend in the league as he continued to play well beyond his diminutive frame.
Basketball is always going to be a big man’s game, but like Muggsy Bogues, with whom he overlapped while Bogues was at Wake Forest, Webb showed that not only could you overcome being small, but you could turn it into an advantage.