28 Facts About Spud Webb

Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb was born on July 13,1963 and is an American former professional basketball player.

Spud Webb then played for four teams in the National Basketball Association in a professional career that spanned from 1985 to 1998.

Spud Webb played professional basketball in the United States Basketball League, in the Continental Basketball Association, and in Italy.

Spud Webb is one of the shortest players in NBA history.

Spud Webb is known for having won the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Spud Webb has served as president of basketball operations for the Texas Legends, the NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, since 2010.

Spud Webb received his nickname when he was a newborn baby in the hospital and a visitor remarked to his parents that his round head resembled the Sputnik satellite.

Spud Webb was raised in a small two-bedroom home and saw basketball as an inspiration.

Spud Webb was not tall, but he used his quickness and jumping ability to outplay bigger kids.

Spud Webb got a chance to play on his junior high team only after two players did not complete physical exam requirements in time for the first game.

Spud Webb was recruited by North Texas Basketball Coach Bill Blakeley but received his first opportunity to play on a college basketball team at Midland College, where he led the Chaparrals to the junior college national title in 1982.

Spud Webb was planning to transfer to North Texas to play for Bill Blakeley, but Blakeley was fired in May 1983.

Spud Webb prepared to go work with his dad at Spud Webb's Soul Mart near Fair Park in Dallas.

Abatemarco was impressed and arranged for Spud Webb to meet head coach Jim Valvano, who offered Spud Webb a scholarship.

However, Spud Webb was drafted in the 4th round of the 1985 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.

Spud Webb was the shortest person to compete in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, winning the event in 1986 at Dallas' Reunion Arena.

Spud Webb's dunks included the elevator two-handed double pump dunk, the off-the-backboard one-handed jam, a 360-degree helicopter one-handed dunk, a reverse double-pump slam, and finally, the reverse two-handed strawberry jam from a lob bounce off the floor.

Spud Webb defeated Wilkins with two perfect 50-point scores in the final round.

Spud Webb told Wilkins he never had anything prepared, didn't practice for it.

Spud Webb played his first six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before he was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Travis Mays, where he had his best years statistically and played as a starter from 1992 to 1995.

Spud Webb posted career highs of 16.0 points and 7.1 assists per game in his first season with the Kings.

In 1995, Spud Webb was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks for Tyrone Corbin.

Spud Webb finished his career after one season with the Orlando Magic, ultimately retiring from professional basketball in 1998.

Spud Webb had over 50 games with 20 points or more, including a career high 34 points against the Golden State Warriors on April 21,1993, while on the Kings and a career high 18 assists against the Detroit Pistons on April 19,1986, while on the Hawks.

Spud Webb played 814 games in his 12-year NBA career, averaging 9.9 points per game, scoring 8,072 points, and registering 4,342 assists.

Spud Webb tossed the ball to Robinson, who leaped over Spud Webb and dunked, earning 50 points from the judges.

Spud Webb was a judge for the 2010 Dunk contest in Dallas, held at the American Airlines Center.

In February 2010, the Dallas Morning News reported that Spud Webb had been hired as president of basketball operations by a new NBA Development League team to be based in Frisco, Texas.