Like dinosaurs who once roamed the earth, centers used to dominate the NBA. From George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal, championship teams were constructed around powerful big men who made their presences felt on both ends of the court.
With the philosophical shift to three-point shooting and “small ball” lineups, the modern-day NBA doesn't value the traditional center. So bigs have had to adapt. The agility to defend slashing scorers and the ability to knock down outside shots are now prerequisites to play in the league.
