The NBA is the largest basketball league in the world, featuring the best players from around the world, delivering entertainment and incredible competition. The league has always been in motion, continuously evolving to keep pace with new trends, the latest technological innovations, and emerging talent. For decades, NBA offences and defences were built around dominant centre play, which carried over from the regular season into the finals. These centre figures of large stature often grabbed the spotlight, with Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game and Shaquille O’Neal’s backboard antics, to name a few. On top of claiming headlines, these dominant big men put together incredible careers, finding a way to win in the post, which has earned them a place among 2 of the best big men ever.
Today, coaches have reshaped team identity, creating a faster and more spacious league in which long range shooting often defines offensive success. In earlier eras, guards were primarily facilitators tasked with delivering the ball to dominant big men in high percentage areas, but modern systems ask players at every position to stretch the floor. In a media landscape where fans can track advanced stats, player efficiency ratings, alongside live sports betting odds, the appetite for data driven analysis has grown significantly.
The Era of Dominant Big Men in the NBA
The NBA was primarily dominated by big men in the 1960s, with players like Wilt Chamberlain (as we mentioned) and Bill Russell leading the way. In the majority of the years of these two greats’ dominance, there was no three-point line, which was added to the NBA in 1979. Big men controlled the league during these times, dictating the game with size and power in the low post. The centre was the focal point of offences in these times, with post shots viewed as high-percentage looks that all coaches aimed for.
With the games overall slower than what we modern NBA fans are used to, they catered to the centre play tactics exceptionally well. Basketball in these times was much simpler, with the more physically present figures being the better players on the teams. In addition to their attacking prowess, these big men in the historic NBA were elite defenders, protecting the rim and controlling the paint, which was crucial. To showcase the dominance of an elite big man in today’s game, Wilt Chamberlain is believed to hold over 70 records, while Bill Russell also made his mark with the record for the most NBA Championships at 11.
The Addition of the Three-Point Line
Despite the NBA adopting the three-point line in 1979, it would not become a central part of modern basketball until the 2010s. At first, the three-point line was introduced as a one-year trial, which was initially viewed as a gimmick and not widely used. At the time, coaches favoured traditional inside play, and players were commonly benched for taking ‘risky long shots’, with mid-range and paint shots preferred. The three-pointer was slow to be utilised as a valuable tool by NBA coaches, with many stuck in their traditional ways. In the 1980 NBA Finals, Julius Erving made the only three of the series, a major shift compared to today’s NBA Finals. In the late 1980s, the three-pointer was gradually becoming more widespread, with Danny Ainge becoming the first player to make over 100 three-pointers in a single season.
How Stephen Curry Changed the Game Forever
To this day, Steph Curry remains one of the greatest players in the NBA and will retire as one of the best PGs ever. Steph Curry has single-handedly changed the NBA, showcasing the efficiency and the dominance of the three-pointer. Beyond his NBA championships and MVP awards, Steph Curry has had a greater impact on the sport, changing the way offences are run and defences are constructed. Before Curry’s excellence, the three-pointer was gaining steady popularity, serving as a notable tool for many, though it was not the primary way to score. Over the years, Curry has showcased an unprecedented shooting range, a quick release, and the ability to score off the dribble, forcing defences to mark him well beyond the arc. His success has proved that elite shooting can surpass traditional size and power as the foundation of NBA teams, a lesson quickly adopted by others in the league.
What the NBA’s Changing Playstyle Means for the Future
In the years to come, the three-pointer is expected to continue to be used as the main form of most offences in the league. For nearly all draft prospects aspiring to enter the NBA, it is almost essential to have a respectable three-point shot, regardless of their position, to adapt to the times. As three-point shooting, spacing, and ball movement continue to increase in popularity, teams will increasingly value players who can contribute in many ways. NBA scouts will place an emphasis on players who can shoot, pass, defend, and play different roles on the court in the upcoming drafts, to help ensure smooth transitions to the NBA.