This topic contains 20 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by 
Mr. HookShot 11 years, 5 months ago.
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- Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 12:51pm #59119
Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipantRandom post here but I was just thinking about how there are really no gigantic players in the NBA today compared to in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. The two tallest players currently in the NBA today are Rudy Gobert and Roy Hibbert who are both 7-2. While that is no doubt huge by normal standards they don’t really qualify as gigantic when compared to past generations of basketball. Watching the NBA growing up, I remember watching guys like Manute Bol, Shawn Bradley, Mark Eaton, Ralph Sampson, Gheorge Muresan, Rik Smits and Yao Ming, all of whom stood at least 7-4.
In the 80s and 90s most NBA offenses ran through the low post, so huge players could be effective by basically just standing around the basket and gathering blocks and rebounds. It was mostly just one-on-one post defense and helpside rim protection. A center rarely was asked to trap in pick and roll coverage or recover to an outside shooter. This allowed even a stiff like Muresan, with virtually no mobility to be effective, at least for a short period of time. Today, most teams run their offense primarily through the pick and roll and floor spacing is at a premium. The league also implemented the defensive three second rule in the early 2000s among others to open up the game more. The game is also played at a much faster pace today, which is not conducive to having big lumbering guys on the floor.
Yao was the last really giant player to play in the league that I can remember. There are currently no gigantours at the college or high school level that I’ve heard of that seem like future NBA players. There was one 7-5 guy, Sim Bhullar who played in the Summer League last season, but he looks like a fringe prospect at best. I’m not necessarily saying that we’ll never see another huge player in the NBA, but with the current small ball trend, giants are becoming obselete.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 1:24pm #966759
Champzilla21ParticipantWell if you watched yesterdays game or any utah games Gobert is about as big as long as your going to find them
0 - Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 1:24pm #966612
Champzilla21ParticipantWell if you watched yesterdays game or any utah games Gobert is about as big as long as your going to find them
0 - Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 1:30pm #966765
Rip255I dont think so. There’s just not that many athletic, coordinated guys that are 7’4" in the entire world.
If another Yao Ming or Shawn Bradley came along, I’m pretty sure they’d get drafted and would at least get minutes for shot blocking and rebounding.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 1:30pm #966618
Rip255I dont think so. There’s just not that many athletic, coordinated guys that are 7’4" in the entire world.
If another Yao Ming or Shawn Bradley came along, I’m pretty sure they’d get drafted and would at least get minutes for shot blocking and rebounding.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 6:29pm #966787
2quick4uParticipantwatch out for walter tavares for the hawks next year..he’s 7’4 with huge wingspan and huge hands..he’s listed at 7’3 but that is his height without shoes..i don’t know why but international players are listed without shoes..
hawks have already given away adreain payne wich i think is a great player to give room next year for tavares, now playing in spanish league and having a great year so far..
he’s gonna be the next mutombo 🙂
0 - Posted on: Sat, 02/14/2015 - 6:29pm #966640
2quick4uParticipantwatch out for walter tavares for the hawks next year..he’s 7’4 with huge wingspan and huge hands..he’s listed at 7’3 but that is his height without shoes..i don’t know why but international players are listed without shoes..
hawks have already given away adreain payne wich i think is a great player to give room next year for tavares, now playing in spanish league and having a great year so far..
he’s gonna be the next mutombo 🙂
0- Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 2:13am #966666
sitlbitoParticipantHe looks a bit weird moving on the court,but he’s still kinda mobile for his size. But I agree withyou he could be good.
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 2:13am #966814
sitlbitoParticipantHe looks a bit weird moving on the court,but he’s still kinda mobile for his size. But I agree withyou he could be good.
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 10:21pm #966947
GronounoursParticipantPlayers are measured without shoes because that’s how people are measured. The American w/shoes-wo/shoes distinction is ridiculous.
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 10:21pm #966799
GronounoursParticipantPlayers are measured without shoes because that’s how people are measured. The American w/shoes-wo/shoes distinction is ridiculous.
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- Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 1:05am #966664
Mr. HookShotParticipantRemove comment
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 1:05am #966812
Mr. HookShotParticipantRemove comment
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 11:09am #966714
Andrew1984ParticipantPerhaps Tacko Fall?
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 11:09am #966862
Andrew1984ParticipantPerhaps Tacko Fall?
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 11:14am #966716
username_takenParticipantBig men that tall and that skilled are super rare. There was just an influx of them in the 90s and early 2000s. Teams don’t draft super huge project players as much as they used to either (think Pavel Podkolzin and Ha-Seung Jin).
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 11:14am #966864
username_takenParticipantBig men that tall and that skilled are super rare. There was just an influx of them in the 90s and early 2000s. Teams don’t draft super huge project players as much as they used to either (think Pavel Podkolzin and Ha-Seung Jin).
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 11:14am #966718
username_takenParticipantBig men that tall and that skilled are super rare. There was just an influx of them in the 90s and early 2000s. Teams don’t draft super huge project players as much as they used to either (think Pavel Podkolzin and Ha-Seung Jin).
0 - Posted on: Sun, 02/15/2015 - 11:14am #966865
username_takenParticipantBig men that tall and that skilled are super rare. There was just an influx of them in the 90s and early 2000s. Teams don’t draft super huge project players as much as they used to either (think Pavel Podkolzin and Ha-Seung Jin).
0 - Posted on: Mon, 02/16/2015 - 2:29am #966971
Mr. HookShotParticipantI would say Yao Ming was a unique player, having that size and that level of skill basketball wise. Just like you don’t find a new LeBron James every year the same holds for giant players with solid basketball skills. However, I agree with the OP that the change in rules have decreased the potential effectiveness of slow, giant basketball players.
0 - Posted on: Mon, 02/16/2015 - 2:29am #966823
Mr. HookShotParticipantI would say Yao Ming was a unique player, having that size and that level of skill basketball wise. Just like you don’t find a new LeBron James every year the same holds for giant players with solid basketball skills. However, I agree with the OP that the change in rules have decreased the potential effectiveness of slow, giant basketball players.
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