Height doesnt mean squat!

It does make a difference whether you think so or not. 8thDeadlySin made a really great post about this a while back

It does make a difference whether you think so or not. 8thDeadlySin made a really great post about this a while back

height absolutely matters, no question about it. Its not everything and it does not gaurantee more success then a shorter guy, but basketball is a sport where height has a significant impact.

height absolutely matters, no question about it. Its not everything and it does not gaurantee more success then a shorter guy, but basketball is a sport where height has a significant impact.

I agree with you…to an extent

A raw prospect who is rated high because he is 7′ tall are often given the benefit of the doubt regarding their potential.  People think they can "make" a 7′ kid into the next Shaq or KG, but those lofty expectations that GM’s drool over often result into over looking the kid’s poor footwork, sub par work ethic, or 5-10 years of bad habits they were able to get away with playing against 6’5”-6’7” guys in high school.  GM’s and NBA front offices roll the dice on those guys while a more talented and often more productive pro player who is 6’8” or 6’9” is still on the board.

I disagree, however, when saying height is completely irrelevant.  Sometimes a few inches go a long way.   Especially for players that use their size to their advantage.  I don’t think Shaq would be a HOF player if he were 6’9”, sure he’d still be good, but not nearly on the same level.  You take 2 inches off just about every NBA power forward or center and you’d see a drop in productivity in MOST of the cases.  Some guys are just super skilled, but when your shooting over a 6’11” guy who’s forearm is above the rim those 2 inches on your release make more of a difference than you think.

I get you though, who’d you rather have on your team 6’10” human pogo stick Tyrus Thomas who was taken #4 or 6’8” Paul Millsap who is a 20 and 10 player 4 years after the draft and was taken #47?

When ranking prospects, It makes a difference when it comes to two skilled players against two skilled players, but when its a skilled guy against a project the height difference doesn’t really mean a whole lot when they both hit the league.

I agree with you…to an extent

A raw prospect who is rated high because he is 7′ tall are often given the benefit of the doubt regarding their potential.  People think they can "make" a 7′ kid into the next Shaq or KG, but those lofty expectations that GM’s drool over often result into over looking the kid’s poor footwork, sub par work ethic, or 5-10 years of bad habits they were able to get away with playing against 6’5”-6’7” guys in high school.  GM’s and NBA front offices roll the dice on those guys while a more talented and often more productive pro player who is 6’8” or 6’9” is still on the board.

I disagree, however, when saying height is completely irrelevant.  Sometimes a few inches go a long way.   Especially for players that use their size to their advantage.  I don’t think Shaq would be a HOF player if he were 6’9”, sure he’d still be good, but not nearly on the same level.  You take 2 inches off just about every NBA power forward or center and you’d see a drop in productivity in MOST of the cases.  Some guys are just super skilled, but when your shooting over a 6’11” guy who’s forearm is above the rim those 2 inches on your release make more of a difference than you think.

I get you though, who’d you rather have on your team 6’10” human pogo stick Tyrus Thomas who was taken #4 or 6’8” Paul Millsap who is a 20 and 10 player 4 years after the draft and was taken #47?

When ranking prospects, It makes a difference when it comes to two skilled players against two skilled players, but when its a skilled guy against a project the height difference doesn’t really mean a whole lot when they both hit the league.

Height is a tricky thing bc lack of height can be made up by a bigger wiingspan, stregth, motor and just effort. But it is easier to make up for lack of height in the college game compared to the nba. But I will say height is not irrelevant but sometimes people have to look at other things than just height

Height is a tricky thing bc lack of height can be made up by a bigger wiingspan, stregth, motor and just effort. But it is easier to make up for lack of height in the college game compared to the nba. But I will say height is not irrelevant but sometimes people have to look at other things than just height

Just to warn you dude Cyclo is going to go off on you when he sees this

Just to warn you dude Cyclo is going to go off on you when he sees this

There haven’t been a lot of undersized guys who dominated at their respective positions at a hall of fame level. There are some decent undersized players though. The only two guys who come to mind that really dominated their positions at being undersized at their resepective positions are Iverson and Barkley. Barkley was about 6’6" with shoes on (6’4" flat footed), and he dominated guys who were 6’9"+ granted he had a good wingspan and he was big in terms of weight… We all know what Iverson did… The higher you go in level (high school, college, pro), the more height matters.

There haven’t been a lot of undersized guys who dominated at their respective positions at a hall of fame level. There are some decent undersized players though. The only two guys who come to mind that really dominated their positions at being undersized at their resepective positions are Iverson and Barkley. Barkley was about 6’6" with shoes on (6’4" flat footed), and he dominated guys who were 6’9"+ granted he had a good wingspan and he was big in terms of weight… We all know what Iverson did… The higher you go in level (high school, college, pro), the more height matters.

The height of the player isnt the big deal. The stuff that matters the most is standing reach and wingspan because you play with your hands and not your head. These terms just usaully go hand in hand because wingspan and standing reach are usually related to height.

The height of the player isnt the big deal. The stuff that matters the most is standing reach and wingspan because you play with your hands and not your head. These terms just usaully go hand in hand because wingspan and standing reach are usually related to height.

That post referred too in the first reply was incredibly well done, I really enjoyed it. It really is a case by case basis, but I guess undersized is a term that gets thrown around and I am definitely guilty of doing so. For me it really applies to defense, where size can be such an advantage, but you also of course have to take into account speed and strength to go along with other athletic attributes, even wing span. But usually there are so many factors involved that height really does not play as much of a part as people probably make it out to be. Charles Barkley, Larry Johnson and even Paul Millsap now were all small for PF’s, but they are so few and far between. But than there are guys like PJ Tucker and Hassan Adams, two guys who played a lot of PF in college but struggled to make the transition to different positions and were, that word again, undersized, for PF in the NBA. So, height does not exactly have no meaning, but maybe it does get thrown around as a flaw for players more times than it should be.

That post referred too in the first reply was incredibly well done, I really enjoyed it. It really is a case by case basis, but I guess undersized is a term that gets thrown around and I am definitely guilty of doing so. For me it really applies to defense, where size can be such an advantage, but you also of course have to take into account speed and strength to go along with other athletic attributes, even wing span. But usually there are so many factors involved that height really does not play as much of a part as people probably make it out to be. Charles Barkley, Larry Johnson and even Paul Millsap now were all small for PF’s, but they are so few and far between. But than there are guys like PJ Tucker and Hassan Adams, two guys who played a lot of PF in college but struggled to make the transition to different positions and were, that word again, undersized, for PF in the NBA. So, height does not exactly have no meaning, but maybe it does get thrown around as a flaw for players more times than it should be.

 dude, dude1955, scouts don’t magically overlook age.  Hassan Whiteside was a 21 year old freshman last year and that was well known to be one of the factors that caused his stock to plummit despite the fact he was a one and done player.  If people like us can look up someones age on the internet, scouts and GM’s have access to it too.

 dude, dude1955, scouts don’t magically overlook age.  Hassan Whiteside was a 21 year old freshman last year and that was well known to be one of the factors that caused his stock to plummit despite the fact he was a one and done player.  If people like us can look up someones age on the internet, scouts and GM’s have access to it too.

You’re right to a extent. Height doesn’t matter if you’re not that good. And the average height of a NBA pf is 6’9- 6’10. So we need to stop saying some guys are undersized like Kevin love. And there are plenty very tall players who aren’t that good. As a matter of fact most of the worst players in the NBA are the tallest ones as far as undersized guys who dominated. John Stockton,Dennis rodman come to mind. Plus David thompson and Wes unseld. Heights not a very big factor to a undersized guy If that undersized guy is skilled. He will find a way to be effective.

You’re right to a extent. Height doesn’t matter if you’re not that good. And the average height of a NBA pf is 6’9- 6’10. So we need to stop saying some guys are undersized like Kevin love. And there are plenty very tall players who aren’t that good. As a matter of fact most of the worst players in the NBA are the tallest ones as far as undersized guys who dominated. John Stockton,Dennis rodman come to mind. Plus David thompson and Wes unseld. Heights not a very big factor to a undersized guy If that undersized guy is skilled. He will find a way to be effective.

Height is definitely a case by case thing. Look at carlos boozer. He put up 20 and 10 in a couple regualar seasons in utah and then come playoff time when he had to go against bigger longer guys, he wasnt nearly as effective most notably in these past few years against the lakers. Look at carl landry. he’s undersized and skilled and can hit the face up jumper but hes limited defensively and even offensively when he goes against longer defenders. rodman’s lack of offensive ability was masked by all the talent he played with in detroit and chicago and he was able to do what was needed for him in his particular role, so its definitely a case by case thing.

Height is definitely a case by case thing. Look at carlos boozer. He put up 20 and 10 in a couple regualar seasons in utah and then come playoff time when he had to go against bigger longer guys, he wasnt nearly as effective most notably in these past few years against the lakers. Look at carl landry. he’s undersized and skilled and can hit the face up jumper but hes limited defensively and even offensively when he goes against longer defenders. rodman’s lack of offensive ability was masked by all the talent he played with in detroit and chicago and he was able to do what was needed for him in his particular role, so its definitely a case by case thing.

Sometimes weight and size can make up for height.  Height is helpful but athleticism and length are more important.

Sometimes weight and size can make up for height.  Height is helpful but athleticism and length are more important.

And skill is wayyyy more important then athletic ability and length

And skill is wayyyy more important then athletic ability and length

yeah but there are tons of undersized skilled players who are playing overseas or in another career.  Some were good skilled but too slow or like I said too short.  There are not a lot of players in the NBA shorter than 5’10" no matter how good they were in college.  You have to be lucky and wind up in the right situation.  With all these taller point guard 6’2" and up, it tough for some guys that are below 6 foot.

yeah but there are tons of undersized skilled players who are playing overseas or in another career.  Some were good skilled but too slow or like I said too short.  There are not a lot of players in the NBA shorter than 5’10" no matter how good they were in college.  You have to be lucky and wind up in the right situation.  With all these taller point guard 6’2" and up, it tough for some guys that are below 6 foot.

yeah but there are tons of undersized skilled players who are playing overseas or in another career.  Some were good skilled but too slow or like I said too short.  There are not a lot of players in the NBA shorter than 5’10" no matter how good they were in college.  You have to be lucky and wind up in the right situation.  With all these taller point guard 6’2" and up, it tough for some guys that are below 6 foot.

You can’t teach size.

You can’t teach size.

You can’t teach size.

I think it would be foolish to suggest that height isn’t an important factor. But skills and heart can in certain instances make up for a lack of size. But that’s what makes a player like Charles Barkley so special. There is a reason why there aren’t a lot of 6’6 power forwards in the NBA.

I think it would be foolish to suggest that height isn’t an important factor. But skills and heart can in certain instances make up for a lack of size. But that’s what makes a player like Charles Barkley so special. There is a reason why there aren’t a lot of 6’6 power forwards in the NBA.

I think it would be foolish to suggest that height isn’t an important factor. But skills and heart can in certain instances make up for a lack of size. But that’s what makes a player like Charles Barkley so special. There is a reason why there aren’t a lot of 6’6 power forwards in the NBA.

the shorter you get the more height matters…..usually the only diff between 7-0 and 6-10 is more retardation….

the shorter you get the more height matters…..usually the only diff between 7-0 and 6-10 is more retardation….

the shorter you get the more height matters…..usually the only diff between 7-0 and 6-10 is more retardation….

the shorter you get the more height matters…..usually the only diff between 7-0 and 6-10 is more retardation….

Anyone who want to grow taller should read this site: How to be tall