One of the more significant changes the NBA experiences every so often is the era-defining way players and coaches approach the game of basketball. Over the years, the NBA has evolved from the rough, physical style of the early 70s and 80s to the prevalence of iso ball in the 90s and ultimately the pace and space era of basketball we see today. Of course, changing playstyles means new skill sets required for players to have - and no other position in the game has felt that more than the center position.
Today’s fast paced, three-point oriented offense has rendered traditional low post play obsolete, causing center-focused offenses to become extinct. The last center to win the Most Valuable Player award was Shaq in the 1999-00 season, a stark contrast to the early days when Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain traded the award back and forth every year. The lack of offensive production from the center position is evident as the leading scorer from the center position this year was Joel Embiid at number 17, a far cry from the 1992-93 season where 5 out of the top 10 scorers were from the center position.
Not only has the number of field goal attempts been reduced for centers, but the type of shots that they are taking has also dramatically changed. Big men are now expected to be able to shoot or run the floor, as the old tactic of feeding the ball down low and jockeying for position in the post is now deemed inefficient and time consuming. A prime example of this change is Jahlil Okafor, a dominant post presence averaging 17.5 points and 7 rebounds per game coming out of Duke. Despite his stellar offensive production, Okafor simply did not fill the mold of the new NBA, as he was a liability on defense due to his lack of athleticism. This led the former number three pick to become an NBA journeyman with diminished minutes at the end of the bench. However, some centers have been able to adjust to the modern game, with players such as Joel Embiid becoming dominant forces on both ends of the floor. Embiid is a prime example of the modern NBA center; his combination of an athletic frame and ability to shoot the 3 has allowed him to be a focal point of Philadelphia's offense. As opposed to Shaq’s MVP season, where he averaged 21.2 two-point attempts per game and 0 three-point attempts, Embiid has proven to be a far more offensively versatile player, averaging 3.7 three-point attempts and 12.3 two-point attempts per game this past season.
While some may dislike this new era of basketball, the evolution of the center position is an interesting development and is something that is necessary for any game to remain relevant. Big men will always be a central part to any great NBA team, and their ever-growing versatility may shift the landscape of the game in the future.
Data courtesy of Basketball Reference and ESPN