The NBA has always been a league of evolution. From the physical dominance of big men in the post to the fast-paced, three-point-heavy style of the modern game, basketball is constantly reinventing itself. One of the most notable shifts in recent decades has been the decline of the traditional center—a position once dominated by towering giants who ruled the paint. Today, these traditional centers are increasingly rare, replaced by versatile big men who can stretch the floor and defend multiple positions.
This article explores why the traditional center has fallen out of favor, how the role has changed, and what the future holds for this once-dominant position.
What Is a Traditional Center?
A traditional center is often defined as a player who primarily operates in the paint. These players excel in:
- Post Scoring: Dominating with back-to-the-basket moves.
- Rim Protection: Blocking shots and anchoring the defense.
- Rebounding: Controlling the boards on both ends of the floor.
Icons of the traditional center archetype include Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Patrick Ewing. These players were the focal points of their teams, often dictating both offensive and defensive strategies.
The Shift Away from Traditional Centers
1. The Rise of Perimeter-Oriented Offenses
The advent of analytics has reshaped how teams approach scoring. Data shows that three-point shots and layups are more efficient than mid-range jumpers or post-ups, leading to an emphasis on spacing and shooting. Traditional centers, who often lack a perimeter game, are less valuable in systems built around ball movement and shooting.
Players like Stephen Curry and James Harden have spearheaded this revolution, showing how a perimeter-oriented offense can be both effective and nearly unstoppable. In this system, big men who can’t shoot or switch defensively often become liabilities.
2. The Death of the Post-Up
Once a staple of offensive schemes, the post-up has largely disappeared from the modern game. During the 1990s and early 2000s, teams routinely dumped the ball into their big men to generate offense. In contrast, post-ups now account for less than 5% of total possessions league-wide.
This decline stems from several factors:
- Rule Changes: Defensive 3-second violations and relaxed hand-checking rules favor guards and wing players.
- Speed of Play: The modern NBA prioritizes fast breaks and quick ball movement, leaving little time for deliberate post-up plays.
3. Evolution of the Center Position
Rather than disappearing entirely, the center position has evolved to meet the demands of the modern game. Today’s successful big men often have skills that traditional centers lacked, including:
- Shooting Range: Players like Nikola Jokić and Karl-Anthony Towns are threats from beyond the arc.
- Playmaking: Centers like Jokić and Domantas Sabonis act as facilitators, orchestrating offense from the high post.
- Switchability: Modern defenses require big men to guard quicker players on the perimeter, a skill exemplified by Bam Adebayo and Draymond Green.
The Impact on Player Development
The decline of traditional centers has profoundly influenced player development at all levels of basketball. Coaches now encourage young big men to develop perimeter skills, such as shooting and ball-handling, over mastering post moves.
As a result, the NBA draft has seen fewer and fewer players enter the league as pure post-up specialists. Even dominant college big men like Joel Embiid and Deandre Ayton have had to expand their games to adapt to the professional level.
Modern Exceptions: The Few Remaining Traditional Centers
While rare, traditional centers still exist in today’s game, but their effectiveness often depends on specific team contexts.
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers): Embiid thrives as a dominant post scorer and rim protector, but he has also added a three-point shot and playmaking ability to remain relevant.
- Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves): Gobert’s value lies in his elite shot-blocking and rebounding, though his offensive limitations have been exposed in the playoffs.
- Steven Adams (Memphis Grizzlies): Adams epitomizes the old-school center, excelling in rebounding and setting screens, though he plays a more limited offensive role.
Even these players, however, are exceptions rather than the norm, and they have adapted aspects of their games to fit the modern mold.
The Future of Centers in the NBA
While the traditional center may no longer dominate the league, the position is far from obsolete. Instead, it has transformed into a hybrid role that requires a blend of traditional skills and modern versatility.
Key Trends to Watch:
- Positionless Basketball: The future may see even more blurring of positional lines, with centers who can handle the ball, shoot, and defend all five positions.
- Return to Physicality?: As teams search for market inefficiencies, there could be a resurgence of dominant post players who exploit smaller, switch-heavy defenses.
- International Influence: Players like Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who bring unique skill sets to the center position, show how international talent is redefining the role.
Conclusion
The traditional center’s decline in the modern NBA reflects the league’s broader shift toward efficiency, speed, and versatility. While the days of the back-to-the-basket big man as the focal point of an offense are largely over, the center position remains vital—albeit in a reimagined form.
Whether through floor-spacing sharpshooters or playmaking anchors, today’s centers are more diverse and skilled than ever before. As basketball continues to evolve, the best big men will be those who can adapt, blending old-school fundamentals with new-age versatility.
What do you think? Are traditional centers truly a thing of the past, or will we see their resurgence in the future? Share your thoughts below!
