What happened to the NBA big man? | NBA Countdown

Jackie MacMullan chats with Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Love, Shaquille O'Neal, Marc Gasol, Mark Cuban, Roy Hibbert, Charles Barkley and Joel Embiid to discuss the evolution of the NBA big man, from a post-up-heavy emphasis to today's focus on 3-point shooting.

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[Terror]

*Victims of the Modern NBA*
Al Jefferson
Roy Hibbert
Jahlil Okafor
Greg Monroe

[ceostryker]

When shaq said i wish spud webb woulda switched out on me i laughed. 😂😂😂😂

[scottys]

But when the world needed them the most, they vanished - Avatar

[Mayancinnamon]

When Shaq said, “I am playing today...my name’s Greek Freak” I got chills

[WhatYouknow_]

6:14 R. Hibbert did have a point back then kids that where tall was only held to certain drills because of there height that wasn’t right messes up developing there full potential

[quaniereacts]

I miss Duncan, nowitski, shaq, prime Dwight, Bosh, and all those guys..

[seventhirty]

The Golden State Warriors murdered the Center position

[TheMacThat]

It's amazing that these NBA teams don't realize: The post up doesn't have to end in a dribble, dribble, hook shot. It's an effective way to initiate offence--especially if the post player has great IQ to spot cutters and drifting defenders for open threes. BBallBreakdown recently did a great video on the topic of post play.

[RipleyJ]

This is great content ESPN! IM sure it took a while to produce but we want more of this.

also as a fan, I agree with this. Analytics are killing the fan experience in some ways. The games your team doesn't shoot the 3 ball well are miserable to watch.

[LoftyXsWaGX]

Deandre idolized some skilled players but never showed any offensive skill his whole career.

[KNG]

5:34 Thank you for being Charles Barkley 😂😂😂😂

[richperreras]

Tim Duncan is the last traditional big man to win MVP.

[Ghostkilla]

Because fans and media fell in love with crossover, dunks, and 3s. So they made rules to favor guards because fans cant emulate a 7fter

[mrmacross]

You know, back in the mid-90's, two of the biggest three-point shooting teams were the Magic and the Rockets. They used their dominant centers to command attention from defenses and work inside-out to get more three opportunities. You can still do that today, it's just that today's bigs don't have a lot of skill in the low block, thus making post-ups inefficient.


In short, it's not that post-ups are bad, it's that players have become inept at post-ups and can no longer leverage those for either easy baskets or three-point attempts.

[The_favorite_Uncle]

6:23 one of the greatest sentences i've heard in basketball

[DiamondEDC]

Please show me who's making 50% of their 3's...

[leetraviusmckay]

No defense and soft rules have changed the game

[zainpanjwani]

Shaq to spud webb: I've eaten burritos bigger than you 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[JP-fdss]

I think similar to how the 49ers and Ravens have dominated the NFL this year with a power running/strong defensive style and completely swinging the pendulum from the air raid style offense, I think NBA teams will become so dependent and predictable strictly hunting 3's and free throws that in a few years a teams gonna come along with all big guys who can defend and score in the post and dominate.... mark my words!!!!

[akeme]

The center has always been my favorite position. My all-time favorite player is Hakeem Olajuwon because of his post moves. I'm really disappointed that the center position has basically disappeared.