The Big Men of Tomorrow
The NBA is, in my opinion, the sport that changes the most. Maybe it’s just because I follow it the most, but I feel like in most other sports, the game play stays relatively similar. In basketball, the game has evolved so much over the years to where it is now. The emphasis on three pointers is as huge as it ever has been. We are seeing more points scored per game than ever before, and teams are looking at their rosters in a whole new light. Guys like Ryan Anderson got huge contracts simply because they were able to shoot from deep.
The biggest example of this mindset I can think of is the Houston Rockets. They traded their center Clint Capela because he didn’t fit the style of play they believe to be the best. Now they are running a guy who is under 6’ 7” at their center position, solely because he has the ability to space the floor. To me, all of this leads to one question - which centers are the future of the NBA?
First and foremost, I think guys like Joel Embiid need to get some love. He’s arguably the best center in the NBA, and can hold it down at both ends. He’s an All-Defensive player who can also step out beyond the three-point line and knock a shot down when he needs to. While he may not be the most comfortable out there, he’s definitely not afraid to launch one every now and again. I’m not saying that’s the only reason he’s one of the best big men in the league, but it certainly adds a huge element to his game. I know there are other big men who shoot it from deep much better than Embiid, but I wanted to point him out specifically because he adapted to the new style. Coming into the league Embiid was not a three point shooter. He practiced hard and adapted to the new style of play.
Another guy I thought of when my brother suggested I write this article was Myles Turner. He’s an elite defender who can also stretch the floor. Since there have been some issues playing both Sabonis and Turner at the same time in Indiana, there have been some rumors that Turner could end up elsewhere as soon as this offseason. I think a team like Houston or New Orleans could really benefit from having a guy like Turner. My thoughts on Houston is that it’s stupid not to have an actual center in the rotation, so adding Turner would allow them to continue to space the floor for Harden and Russ while also having a solid presence on defense. New Orleans would be a good fit because Turner would be able to space the floor for Zion Williamson, and he fits the time frame they are on. He’s only 24 years old so he’ll be able to grow and improve with the team. I think Turner has a bright future in the NBA, especially due to his ability to shoot.
An even younger big man who can shoot is Jaren Jackson Jr. Personally, I think Jackson Jr. is better right now solely because of his ability to stay healthy. Ja Morant just teamed up with him in Memphis and they are instantly a playoff team, and in a great position to stay a playoff team for the foreseeable future. Jaren Jackson took over 6 threes a game this season and still managed to shoot around 40% from deep, which for a big man is crazy. It’s impressive for any player to shoot around that mark, let alone a 7 footer. Him and Ja are one of the top 3 best young duos in the league, and I see many All-Star games in both of their futures.
Now of course there are other guys like Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Nikola Jokic who can all stretch the floor at an elite level, but I wanted to focus on a couple guys that I think will lead the charge going into the future. They also don’t get a lot of recognition for how well they can shoot the ball. Who do you guys think will be the next great big man?
