For much of NBA history, the league revolved around the big man; they spearheaded offences and were responsible for the team’s defensive security. Dominant centres and power forwards were once the unquestioned foundation of championship teams, being a necessity for success. From the early days of George Mikan to the reigns of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Tim Duncan, elite big men defined eras of basketball.
As the NBA evolved, so too did expectations placed on its tallest players. Changes in rules and player development dramatically reshaped the position. Much like how odds Champions League markets shift as tactical trends and squad profiles change in European football, the NBA’s stylistic transformation has steadily altered what front offices value in a franchise big man. Today’s centers are no longer limited to post play and rim protection; they are expected to pass, shoot, defend in space, and function as offensive hubs.
The traditional big man era
In the league’s early decades, size was king. Big men were expected to dominate the paint, score with their backs to the basket, and control the boards. Offences were built around post-ups, and defensive schemes prioritised rim protection over perimeter coverage due to the low shot volume. Players like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russel headlined this era. Wilt was a dominant force, overwhelming his opponents on both ends of the floor. While Russel defined winning through defence and leadership. Later, Kareem Abdul Jabbar put his own spin on the role with skill and finesse, introducing the skyhook as one of the most unstoppable moves in basketball history. Many point to this as the moment the big man began to slowly move away from the basket. During this period, their role was clear: score inside, block shots, rebound, and set screens.
The golden age of post-dominance
The 1980s and 1990s represented the peak of traditional big man dominance. Centers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’Neal were the focal points of championship contenders. Teams invested heavily in size, often carrying multiple seven-footers to counter elite post threats. This era prized footwork, strength, and post scoring. Olajuwon’s Dream Shake showcased how refined post play could dismantle defences, and that centers didn’t have to just be brutes to score. Hakeem’s elegant footwork and deep bag completely rewired what people thought a big man could be, agility mattered just as much as size. Because of this skill development for bigs levelled up and coaches started training bigs like guards. This is perhaps the most important point in the big man’s history within the NBA, influencing every change to the role later on. On the other hand though, Shaq’s physicality forced teams to rethink roster construction entirely. Rule enforcement favoured interior play, and the slower pace allowed big men to operate without constant pressure to switch or defend the perimeter. At this point, the big man was still the safest path to contention. If you had a dominant center, you had a chance to win.
Rule changes and a shift away from the post
The early 2000s marked the beginning of a shift. Defensive rule changes (particularly the legalisation of zone defences and the introduction of defensive three-second violations) altered how teams defended the post. Help defenders could collapse more effectively, making it harder for traditional big men to dominate in isolation. At the same time, the league emphasised freedom of movement and perimeter play. Guards became more influential, pace increased, and spacing began to matter more. Teams started prioritising speed and shooting, reducing the value of slow, post-only big men. While stars like Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki still thrived, they did so by adapting. Duncan combined post play with defensive versatility and passing, while Nowitzki revolutionised the power forward position by stretching the floor with elite shooting. This period marked the beginning of the “skilled big” era.
The Analytics Revolution and Positionless Basketball
The rise of advanced analytics accelerated the evolution of the big man. Data revealed that three-point shots and shots at the rim were far more efficient than mid-range attempts, leading teams to space the floor and attack mismatches. This revelation also led to the death of the power forward role as positions mattered less and the mid range floor stretching archetype that players like Dirk Nowitzki pioneered became obsolete. Traditional centers who clogged the paint and couldn’t shoot or defend in space became liabilities. In contrast, big men who could set effective screens, finish efficiently at the rim, switch defensively, and space the floor became increasingly valuable. The emergence of “small-ball” lineups further challenged traditional roles. Teams like the Golden State Warriors demonstrated that speed, spacing, and versatility could overwhelm size. As a result, big men were forced to expand their skill sets or risk becoming obsolete.
Modern big men- versatility overall
Today’s NBA big man is expected to do almost everything. Players like Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Anthony Davis represent the modern evolution of the position. Nikola Jokić has redefined the center role as a primary playmaker, running offences through elite passing and basketball IQ. Joel Embiid blends old-school post dominance with modern shooting range and foul-drawing ability. Giannis functions as a point-forward, attacking in transition and defending multiple positions. Anthony Davis exemplifies defensive versatility, capable of anchoring a defence while thriving in switch-heavy schemes. These players succeed not just because of their size, but also because of their adaptability. They can score inside or out, pass, defend in space, and make decisions at a high level. The modern big man is no longer confined to the paint; he’s a central hub of offence and defence.
Victor Wembanyama- The endgame for centers
Perhaps the best example of the big man’s evolution throughout time is Victor Wenbanyama. He represents the end game of the center’s evolution because he combines every skill modern basketball now demands from the position into one unprecedented package. At 7’4” with an elite wingspan, he provides traditional rim protection and rebounding, but unlike past centers, he also moves like a wing, handles the ball comfortably in space, and shoots from deep with confidence. Wembanyama isn’t confined to the paint; he can initiate offence, stretch defences vertically and horizontally, and switch defensively onto guards without compromising impact. He embodies the culmination of decades of change in the NBA: the shift from post-only dominance to versatility, from size as an advantage to size plus skill as a necessity. In many ways, Wembanyama isn’t just the future of the center position; he’s the blueprint for what the position was always evolving toward.
