Hakeem talks about the evolution of the Big Man. Some thoughts on the Big Men he played against, and his thoughts on Small Ball and how the game has changed.
It’s this picture of me and Shaq in the 1995 NBA Finals. It’s incredible. Shaq’s guarding me on the perimeter and I’m dribbling the ball. We’re both way outside the key, like two point guards. I’ve always loved this image — and not only because we were younger and in better shape. I remember the crowd jumping to its feet when I caught the ball.
“So you’re saying you used to play small ball!” one friend said. Everyone laughed.
People sometimes ask me, “Is the era of the dominant big man over?” They wonder if small ball will make the NBA a shooting guard’s league. But if you only look at sharp shooters like Steph and Klay, you miss what’s going on. Those guys are special, but they’re not the norm. Small ball has made stars out of of traditional guards, but in my mind the biggest thing it has done is to liberate big men from their traditional duties. They’re no longer stuck in the paint.
Small ball won’t eliminate big men, but it might eliminate our old ideas of positions. Everyone likes to compare eras, but it’s possible that today’s big men are more skilled as all-around players than ever before. Look at guys like Draymond Green and LaMarcus Aldridge in this year’s playoffs. I’m in awe of how they play like guards and centers at the same time.
