The Renaissance of Bigs: Are Traditional Centers Making a Comeback in the NBA?

TLDRThe NBA is experiencing a resurgence of big men who are mobile, skilled, and dominant on the court. While small ball strategies have been popularized by the Golden State Warriors, teams like NC State, UConn, and the Lakers are finding success with traditional centers. However, this trend may not transform the entire league, as the NBA still primarily focuses on drive-and-kick and three-point shooting.

Key insights

Mobile and skilled big men like NC State's DJ Burns and UConn's Zack Edy are dominating college basketball.

Teams like the Lakers and NC State are finding success with their dominant big men in the March Madness tournament.

While some believe there is a renaissance of bigs in the NBA, it is primarily limited to mobile and skilled centers.

The Warriors' small ball strategy with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson was successful due to their elite shooting and coaching, making it difficult to duplicate.

The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have a size advantage over other teams and are considered strong contenders.

Q&A

Are traditional centers making a comeback in the NBA?

—Yes, teams like NC State and UConn have found success with dominant big men in college basketball and the March Madness tournament.

Is the small ball strategy popularized by the Warriors still effective?

—While the Warriors' small ball strategy was successful, it is difficult to duplicate due to the elite shooting and coaching of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Which teams are considered strong contenders in the NBA?

—The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have a size advantage over other teams and are considered strong contenders.

Is the rise of big men in college basketball a sign of a renaissance in the NBA?

—While there is a resurgence of big men in college basketball, the trend is primarily limited to mobile and skilled centers in the NBA.

What is the primary style of play in the NBA?

—The NBA primarily focuses on drive-and-kick and three-point shooting, with many teams emphasizing perimeter play.

Timestamped Summary

00:00NC State's DJ Burns and UConn's Zack Edy are dominating college basketball as mobile and skilled big men.

02:22Teams like the Lakers and NC State have found success with their dominant big men in the March Madness tournament.

04:33While there is a resurgence of big men in college basketball, the trend is primarily limited to mobile and skilled centers.

05:59The Warriors' small ball strategy was successful due to the elite shooting and coaching of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

08:53The Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have a size advantage over other teams and are considered strong contenders.

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