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The basketball position “the big man” – i.e., the center, the five, the pivot – has changed dramatically over the last 40 years. Many consider the 1980s and 1990s to be the peak of the NBA, both in terms of competitiveness and popularity. Fans of the sport also look upon it nostalgically, given how dramatically different it is from the game played today. The biggest change being the role of the big man. Big men are now more versatile than ever before and no longer limited by mobility or offensive range.
This versatility increases the unpredictability of modern big men, which, as a result, makes them more interesting to bet on. Offshore sportsbooks, like the ones discussed here by Chirag Dubey, give you the greatest versatility when it comes to betting options. These sites, which are based outside of the US, allow you to bet on individual player prop bets, team wins, and futures – i.e., which player will be awarded MVP or which team will win the league in the future. The offshore nature of these sites means that they’re not restricted by US gambling laws, allowing them to offer more generous bonuses and odds.
Below, we’ll explore how the role of the big man has changed over the years and how they are now more popular amongst sports bettors.
Versatility
As aforementioned, the most obvious change between traditional and modern big men is their versatility of play.
Back in the 80s and 90s, players who filled the “big man” position were literally big men. Players such as Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Tim Duncan came to define what should be expected from the center player. They used their height to protect the rim, secured rebounds, and generally dominated near the basket. Modern big men such as Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid, on the other hand, have more playmaking ability, creating scoring opportunities for both themselves and their teammates.
The stature of big man players
Not only do modern big men players possess a completely different skill set to that of their predecessors, but they also have a different build. Shaq, for example, is 7-foot-1 inch. Classical big-man players before him were also upwards of 7 feet. Wilt Chamberlin was the exact same height as Shaq. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, on the other hand, was even bigger, at 7-foot-2 inches. While heights fluctuated somewhat, the most memorable ‘big man’ players were tall, imposing figures. This height allowed them to dominate the paint – both offensively and defensively – more effectively. Their stature also allowed them to overpower their opponents and provided them with a rebound advantage.
As NBA rules developed, perimeter shooting became more prominent, and big men were forced to step outside of their positions. Height and weight became less critical, and speed, agility, and skill took over. This fundamental shift in the demands of the big man saw smaller and lighter players filling the position. This is why most big man players have stayed around the 6-foot-11-inch-mark since 2010 (except for Embiid, who is 7 foot). There has also been a considerable decline in the weight of big-man players over the last 20 years. In 2010, the average weight of a big-man player was 252 pounds. By 2020, this had declined to an average of 241 pounds. Statistically, the average height and weight of all NBA basketball players has decreased since the 1990s. Between 1996 and 2020, the average height of an NBA player decreased by 2 centimeters.
The evolution of NBA
The change in the big man’s skillset and height didn’t happen by accident – these changes occurred as a result of changes made to professional basketball. During the 90s and early 2000s, NBA games were more defense-focused and a lot more intense. This made it incredibly difficult for players to consistently land three-pointers. Plus, three-pointer shots weren’t in the coaching mindset at the time.
This changed around the mid-1990s when advanced analytics highlighted the importance of three-pointers. The NBA wanted to make the game less defensive and violent and more skills-based. They realized that this could be done by making the three-point shot more accessible.
Not only would it mean that teams could score more points per game, but it would also introduce more spacing to basketball tactics. To block three-pointers, a team’s defense needs to be more stretched out. This opened up more avenues on the court for players to score and somewhat reduced the defensive-centric style of basketball that formally dominated. The NBA decided to change the distance of the three-point line during the 1994-95 season as a means of incentivizing the three-point shot. Before, the line distance was 23 feet and 9 inches. For the 1994-95 season, this distance was shorted to 22 feet. As expected, this line shortening led to an increased volume of three-point attempts. Coaches encouraged players to take full advantage of it which helped usher in a new style of basketball play. While the line was reverted back to its original distance for the 1997-98 seasons, the impact of this short-term change remained. The era of perimeter-style play had begun, and the role of the big man was forever changed.
The evolution of coaching strategies
During the 1990s, coaches reevaluated the role of the big man. Some kept the position but added more fluidity to the role. Others scrapped the position altogether. Small-ball lineups, for example, don’t require a big man. Instead, they prioritize speed and agility over size. In such a lineup, small players are used to carry out a versatile style of play.
Other coaches now use a positionless approach to basketball in order to maximize the fluidity of players. While this lineup may still have tall players that would transitionally be suited to the big man position, they’re no longer limited to the role and are encouraged to move around more freely on the court.
Final thoughts
The role of the big man has evolved far beyond its traditional limitations. Before, big men were confined to dominating the paint. Now, big man players are more versatile; they can run the floor and create plays. This evolution reflects the changes made to the NBA during the 1990s. Speed, space, and skill have replaced physical dominance.