The Myth of the Stretch Big

One of the most valuable player archetypes in the NBA is the "stretch big", a player that can knock down their threes at a high rate from the center position. But really, the meaning of the term has warped over the years. Now, it's not just enough for a floor-spacing center to shoot threes; they need to protect the rim too.

Guys like Kristaps Porzingis, who the Boston Celtics smartly traded for to help lead them to the NBA Finals, is a prime example of this. Additionally, Brook Lopez is a player that offers elite three point shooting for a big man while also locking down the interior defensively.

Myles Turner has been in trade rumors for half a decade, and he's one of the best three point shooting centers in the NBA while also racking blocks ona nightly basis.

As much as we think a team can just "go out and get" one of these types of players, the truth is, they're nearly impossible to get.

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#NBA

[AlexHoops]

What other players do you think currently fit into this category or will in the future? 👇

[HoopsAficionado]

There's a reason Brook Lopez is loved by NBA sickos. He came back from a back surgery, looked more agile than before, almost bagged the Defensive Player Of The Year award and signed a massive two-year deal.

[verward]

Pelicans: "ey yo trade me Brook Lopez, we need him to optimize zion."
Bucks: "No thanks, we also have a highly athletic superstar PF who can't shoot."

[JOHNNYPMUSIC]

2020 AD was a stretch big.

38% on 3’s
49% on mid range
Can protect the rim.

Best of the archetype

[UncleJrueForTue]

Thank you for dropping this. Everybody wants a stretch big just like everybody wants to surround their star player with another annoying buzzword "3 and D wings". If possible I'd love for you to go over the myth of the 3 and D player. Think it's time we also dispel the disillusion that cam from guys like Spurs Danny Green and Klay.

[eriochromeblackt]

Stretch Big is so rare but the Celtics have 2. Lol

[brushylake]

"Pair Porzingas with Zion." Oh great, get me two players unlikely to play an entire playoff series.

[nono-qeyq]

Wendell Carter Jr. may not meet the block rate threshold but he is a decent rim protector. I would definitely classify him as a stretch big, more specifically a stretch center, he is 270 lbs. There arent many starting centers that can shoot the 3 better than him. He also moves really well for a guy his size. I think he's a very solid and underrated player, and I would say he is a decent fit with Zion.

[NS-th]

Thanks for the video. It's always tiring seeing people say "get a stretch 5" for driving PF/PG who can't shoot reliably or "surround slasher with 3&D wings" as if they grow on trees. The only great modern stretch bigs of the 21st century (retired) who I can think of are Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett (if elite long 2% counts as floor spacing), Heat Chris Bosh, Marc Gasol, maybe a couple others if I missed anyone, and that's about it. They just aren't common, haven't been for a while, and the ones that exist are rarely on trade block seriously.

[solar]

I'm a simple man, I see KP, I click

[bengross]

On the Pelicans specifically, I think rim protection has to be the priority— the spacing situation with Zion and a non-shooting center isn't ideal, but you can make up for it with elite high-volume shooters like CJ and Trey Murphy. It's just so weird that BI shot six threes a game his first two seasons in New Orleans and then basically cut that in half

[nathandrabing]

As a Pacers fan I hope Turner is a Pacer for life. He is so consistent even if he's not the best.

[Lenrom]

The fact the the Celtics have a strangle hold on A FOURTH of the eligible stretch defensive bigs in the league it’s pretty absurd LMAOOO

[cheap]

my hand gets sore from stroking it too much anytime porzingas is healthy and playing

[calebford]

Great video. Thanks for getting us nba fans through the long boring offseason 🔥

[rickharrison]

There are definitely unicorn archetypes that people don’t usually think of as unicorns. Draymond is a player that teams have been trying to replicate since the Warriors rise to dominance and nobody has really come close to replicating his combination of motor, communication, switchability, rim protection, and IQ on both ends but nobody considers him a unicorn. Another example is the mythical “true point guard” role that fits alongside ball dominant stars that teams like the Clippers and Suns have been missing. It sounds simple in concept but how many players in the league are good decision makers and passers, while also being able to be a serviceable POA defender, shoot, and move off-ball all of which are borderline necessary for a pg playing with star players.

[axelaznar]

Hmm finally quality content in the off-season, I'm not even a Pelicans fan, and I don't really care that much about Zion, myself being European, but this was just nice.

[timl]

Only a slight adjustment to the qualifications massively expands the pool of players to consider. KAT, Naz Reid, John Collins, Jabari Smith Jr., Aldama, Carter Jr., Jonathan Isaac, Zach Collins, Bamba, Nurkic, Stewart, Bol, Draymond, Wood, Nance Jr., Reath, Poku, and Vuc all have either fully qualified in the past or came close, or they qualified in blocks in one year and shooting in a different year, showing they theoretically could do both in the right system. Yes, some of these guys are too short or small to be seen as a stretch big, even though they played/play significant minutes at center, but most of this list should be on the radar for a team looking to fill that role. Some others seem like they're ready for or close to that role like Mobley and Okongwu. I may have missed some others
as well.

[tonyslade]

You've been dropping mad consistently. ❤

[mikesmith]

3 things on GM's wish list:
1. shoot 3s
2. defend the rim
3. be able to switch + defend out to the line

Not sure what the metric is for 3 (and maybe the metric for 2 could have been opp shooting % at the rim?), but it takes guys like Lopez out of the mix and shows how rare they are.