Why Traditional Big Men Are No Longer Wanted in the NBA
The Golden State Warriors, the supposed enemy of the league, has revolutionized the game of basketball. With their position-less play from the Death Squad tandem of Curry, Klay, Iggy, KD, and Draymond, they instituted a new long-standing culture of small ball, focused on quick ball movement, extreme floor spacing, and no center down inside the post. With the possibility of Golden State’s dynasty brewing, the regular center position is in danger. The starting center, Zaza Pachulia, and their lackluster backup, JaVale McGee, have been averaging 18.1 and 9.6 MPG respectively, dropping off from their totals from Dallas a year ago and is set to tank more with the new additions of Nick Young and Omri Casspi. In a new age of floor spacing, can the old order of centers rise again? Or is this a new age of NBA big men? Even as Michael Jordan dominated the league in the 1990s, the NBA was infatuated with several great cent...
