NBA: Is The Small-Ball Era In The Association Here to Stay?

May 23, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center

(12) drives to the basket around Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) during the first half in game three of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Where Are All of the Big Men?

In an NBA not so long ago, there were big men. Effective big men at that. Names such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’neal littered the NBA landscape. It’s not the case anymore.

In today’s NBA, legitimate post threats are a long-lost relic. You can almost count on one hand the list of effective post men. This begs the question; where in the world have they gone?

This isn’t to say that there aren’t a few left. The dwindling population still has some fight in it. Guys like Tim Duncan, the Gasol brothers, Zach Randolph, and Al Jefferson are nearly extinct.

may be one of the last hopes for post threat big men: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With few young talents left (Andre Drummond, Jahlil Okafor, and DeMarcus Cousins) the post position is starting to look a little thin.

It’s become increasingly difficult to deploy the old-school lumbering big man. With the pick-and-roll playing such an integral part in today’s NBA a new kind of big man is required. The 21st century big man.

It’s not necessarily that big men are going away. They are evolving. In response to the demands of a “survival of the fittest” league, big men are adapting to become more of an asset. Big men are alive and well, even if it isn’t what we are accustomed to.

That is showcased in the fact that six out of the top-11 players drafted in this year’s draft were considered big men. Though their skill sets all differ, the size is there. The success of Anthony Davis has opened up doors to NBA big men that will revolutionize the position.

In the not so distant future, small ball may include a 7-footer. Small ball will remain a niche topic for NBA fans after the Warriors success last season, but it remains more a strategy based on situation than an end all be all. It has a time and place – personnel deeming it necessary, and it’s not for everyone.

Next: Conclusion