The center, colloquially, the five, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m The center is normally the tallest on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well. A typical NBA center is 6'10" (2. 08 m) or taller.
In many cases, the center's primary role is to use his or her size to score and defend from a position close to the basket. A center who possesses size along with athleticism and skill constitutes an unparalleled asset for a team. The centers are also generally the players who are chosen to take jump balls. A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in Basketball.
Among current NBA players, Shaquille O'Neal of the Phoenix Suns is noted both for his enormous proportions, standing 7 ft 1 in (2. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball The Phoenix Suns are a professional Basketball team based in Phoenix Arizona. 16 m) tall and weighing (officially) 325 lb (150 kg), as well for his mastery of elegantly simple post maneuvers. Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets stands 7'5. Yao Ming ( born September 12 1980 is a Professional basketball player who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. 5" tall; his persistence and shooting touch are exemplary. Both have the awareness to make good passes when double-teamed.
There has been occasional controversy over what constitutes a "true center". Some examples include: Many have argued that Ben Wallace, while highly effective at center, is actually a power forward playing out of position, mainly because his 6'9" (2. Ben Camey Wallace (born September 10 1974 in White Hall Alabama) is an American professional Basketball player in the National Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" 06 m) height makes him considerably smaller than most centers he faces. Likewise, some would say that Tim Duncan, although listed throughout his career as a power forward, is actually a center, because of his size and style of play. WikipediaPersondata --> Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25 1976 in Christiansted, St Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" In fact, he has been playing more minutes at the center position than the power position as of late. [1]This is because it is believed that when Duncan entered the NBA, he played power forward in order to keep San Antonio Spurs teammate David Robinson playing as center and have two dominant big men on the floor. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. David Maurice Robinson (born) is a retired American NBA Basketball player who is often considered one of the greatest centers to ever However, Duncan has continued to be listed as a power forward even after Robinson's retirement. Nonetheless, the judgment of whether a given player is a center or power forward is often highly subjective. Because there are currently so few people who meet the ideal size requirements of an NBA center, teams will sometimes find it necessary to play an individual at that position who would be more effective as a power forward.
It should also be noted that centers and power forwards often have low free throw percentages. Main article Basketball moves In Basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted Because of this, it is not uncommon for the opposing team to purposely foul and therefore send them to the line, especially late in games. This has been a common strategy used against certain centers who have continuously struggled with free throws; examples include Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, and Ben Wallace. Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball Ben Camey Wallace (born September 10 1974 in White Hall Alabama) is an American professional Basketball player in the National The technique of fouling a poor free throw shooter in order to win back possession in the hope that the player will (as usual) miss his free throws is sometimes known as the Hack-a-Shaq strategy. Hack-a-Shaq is the name commonly ascribed to a Basketball defensive Strategy initially
Centers are among the leaders in blocks and rebounds and are said to "anchor" defenses. It is common for centers to roam the paint, and therefore block a high numbers of shots, especially when their man does not have the ball.
The tallest player to ever be drafted in the NBA was the 7'8" Yasutaka Okayama from Japan but he didn't get any playing time. is known to be the tallest Basketball player drafted in National Basketball Association history The tallest players to ever play in the NBA, at 7'7" (2. 31 m) are centers Gheorghe Mureşan and Manute Bol (although Bol was said to be a few millimeters smaller). Gheorghe Dumitru Mureşan, also known as Ghiță (giʦə and "George" (born February 14, 1971 in Triteni Romania) is Manute Bol (born October 16, 1962) is a Sudanese born Basketball player and Activist. Standing at 7'2" (2. 18 m), Margo Dydek is the tallest player in the history of the WNBA. Małgorzata Dydek (born on 28 April 1974 in Poznań, Poland) known as Margo Dydek in the United States, is a Polish international She currently plays for the Connecticut Sun team. The Connecticut Sun are a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Uncasville Connecticut.
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History of the center position
Emergence of the Center
The center is considered a necessary component for a successful team, especially in professional leagues such as the NBA. Great centers have been the foundation for most of the dynasties in both the NBA and NCAA. The 6’10" George Mikan pioneered the Center position, shattering the widely-held perception that tall players could not develop the agility and coordination to play basketball well, and ushering in the role of the dominant big man. George Lawrence Mikan Jr (June 18 1924 &ndash June 1 2005 nicknamed Mr He led DePaul University to the NIT title, then, after turning professional, won seven National Basketball League, Basketball Association of America and NBA Championships in his ten year career (1946-56), nine of them with the Minneapolis Lakers. DePaul University is a private institution of Higher education and Research in Chicago, Illinois, U The National Invitation Tournament (NIT is a men's college Basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league in the United States from 1937 to 1949. The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June The Los Angeles Lakers franchise has a long and storied history predating the formation of the National Basketball Association (NBA Using his height to dominate opposing players, Mikan invented the hook shot and the shot block; as a consequence, the NCAA, and later NBA, adopted the goaltending rule, and, in 1951, the NBA widened the foul lane, a decision known as the 'Mikan rule. A hook shot, in Basketball, is a play in which the offensive player usually turned perpendicular to the basket gently throws the ball with a sweeping motion of his arm In Basketball, a block (short for blocked shot) occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a shot from an offensive player For the article about goaltending in Ice hockey, see Goaltender. '[1]
1960s: The Era of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain
In the 1960s, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain further transformed basketball by combining height with a greater level of athleticism than previous centers. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards Following the retirement of George Mikan, the rivalry of the two big men came to dominate the NBA. George Lawrence Mikan Jr (June 18 1924 &ndash June 1 2005 nicknamed Mr Between the two of them, Chamberlain and Russell won nine of the eleven MVP awards in the twelve year period between 1958 and 1969; played against one another in six Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals between 1959 and 1969. Many of the records set by these two players have endured today. Most notably, Chamberlain and Russell hold the top eighteen season averages for rebounds. This list exhibits the National Basketball Association 's top single-season rebounding averages of which the top 18 are shared by only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill
Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA Championships (1955, 56). William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball The San Francisco Dons is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of San Francisco (USF The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination Tournament held each spring featuring 65 College basketball teams in the He joined the Boston Celtics and helped make them one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history, winning eleven championships over his thirteen-year career (1956-69) as well as five MVP awards. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Russell revolutionized defensive strategy with his shot-blocking, rebounding and physical man-to-man defense. Man-to-man defense is a type of defensive tactic used in Basketball, Association football and American football in which each player is assigned to While he was never the focal point of the Celtics offense, much of the team's scoring came when Russell grabbed defensive rebounds and initiated fast breaks with precision outlet passes, primarily to point guard Bob Cousy. Fast break is an offensive strategy in Basketball. In a fast break a team attempts to move the ball up court and into scoring position as quickly as possible so that the defense Point guard ( PG) also called the one or " the ball-handler " is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy (born August 9 1928 in New York City) is a former French - American professional Basketball player As the NBA's first African-American superstar, Russell struggled throughout his career with the racism he encountered from fans in Boston, particularly after the 1966-67 season, when he became the first African-American in any major sport to be named player-coach. A player-coach, in Sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both Playing and coaching duties [2]
His principal rival, Wilt Chamberlain, listed at 7'1", 275 pounds, lacked Russell's supporting cast. Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards Chamberlain played college ball for the Kansas Jayhawks, leading them to the 1957 title game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball program is the Although the Jayhawks lost by one point in triple overtime, Chamberlain was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Briefly a member of the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA in 1959, Chamberlain won two Championships, in 1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers and 1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers, although his teams were repeatedly defeated by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals. The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism and Comedy. The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. He also won seven scoring titles, eleven rebounding titles, and four regular season Most Valuable Player awards, including the distinction, in 1960, of being the first rookie to receive the award. Taller and stronger than any player of his era, he was usually capable of scoring and rebounding at will. Although he was the target of constant double- and triple-teaming, as well as fouling tactics designed to take advantage of his poor free-throw shooting, he set a number of records that have never been broken. Most notably, Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history to average more than 50 points in a season and score more than 100 points in a single game (both in 1961-62 as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors). The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. He also holds the NBA's all-time records for rebounding average (27. 2), rebounds in a single game (55),[3] and career rebounds (23,924). This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career offense and defensive regular season rebounds recorded
A lesser-known center of the era was Nate Thurmond, who initially played the forward position opposite Wilt Chamberlain for the San Francisco Warriors but moved to center after Chamberlain was traded to the new Philadelphia franchise. Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond (born July 25 1941 in Akron Ohio) is a retired American Basketball player feared and praised by legends including Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. Although he never won a Championship, Thurmond was known as the best screen setter in the league, and his averages of 21. The pick and roll (also called screen and roll or shortened to screen-roll, any of which may be hyphenated in Basketball is an offensive play in which 3 and 22. 0 rebounds per game in 1966-67 and 1967-68, are exceeded only by Chamberlain and Russell.
Centers in the 1970s and 1980s
In contrast to the Celtics dynasty of the 1960s, the 1970s were a decade of parity in the NBA, with eight different champions and no back-to-back winners. At the college level, the UCLA Bruins, under Coach John Wooden, built the greatest dynasty in NCAA basketball history, winning seven consecutive titles between 1967 and 1973. The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program established in 1920 owns a record 11 NCAA championships John Robert Wooden (born October 14 1910) is a retired American Basketball coach UCLA had already won two consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965 with teams that pressed and emphasized guard play. After not winning in 1966, Wooden's teams changed their style when Lew Alcindor became eligible. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered He led UCLA to three championships-in 1967, 68' and 69'-while winning the first Naismith College Player of the Year Award. The Naismith College Player of the Year award named for Basketball inventor James Naismith, is given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to College During his college career, the NCAA enacted a ban on dunking primarily because of Alcindor's dominant use of the shot. [4] His entrance into the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 was timely, as Bill Russell had just retired and Wilt Chamberlain was 33 years old and increasingly plagued by injuries. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. After leading the Bucks to the 1971 NBA championship, teamed up with legendary Point guard Oscar Robertson, Alcindor, who had converted to Islam, changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Point guard ( PG) also called the one or " the ball-handler " is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee) nicknamed " The Big O " is a former American NBA player with For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered In 1975, Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, and, after the arrival of Point guard Magic Johnson in 1980, formed part of a new Lakers dynasty that won five NBA titles (1980, 82', 85', 87', 88'). The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Point guard ( PG) also called the one or " the ball-handler " is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game In addition, Abdul-Jabbar won six regular-season MVP awards (1971, 72', 74', 76', 77', 80'). At 7'2", 235 pounds, he lacked the strength of Chamberlain in his prime, but had a longer wingspan and ultimately proved more durable, adhering to a strict physical-fitness regiment that enabled him to play for twenty years, the longest career in NBA history at the time. Offensively, he was best known for his trademark 'Skyhook' hook-shot, almost impossible to block because of his height and wingspan. His career record of 38,387 points has yet to be broken. [5] Defensively, the 1973-4 season was the first in which the number of blocked shots were kept, and, over the next seven years, Kareem led the league in this statistic or finished second. [6]
Another product of John Wooden's UCLA program, Bill Walton, appeared poised to join the ranks of great centers. William Theodore "Bill" Walton III (born November 5 1952 is a retired American Basketball player and current Television Sportscaster He led UCLA to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1972 and 1973, led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA championship in 1977, and won the NBA MVP the following year. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. However, his career was plagued with injuries, most infamously a broken bone in his left foot suffered during his MVP season that he never fully recovered from, and he spent most of the following decade on the bench, although he eventually did win a second NBA title as a backup for the Boston Celtics in 1986, when he received the Sixth Man Award. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to Willis Reed won two championship with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973, teamed with Point guard Walt Frazier; although undersized for the center position at 6'9", he had the strength to play inside, was a highly-skilled jump shooter, and was effective at setting picks, a key element in the Knicks motion-oriented offense. Willis Reed Jr (born June 25 1942 is a retired American Basketball player Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29 1945 in Atlanta Georgia) is a retired American Basketball player in the National Basketball Association The pick and roll (also called screen and roll or shortened to screen-roll, any of which may be hyphenated in Basketball is an offensive play in which The undersized but scrappy Dave Cowens, drafted at the recommendation of Bill Russell, helped the Boston Celtics win two more NBA titles, in 1974 and 1976. David William Cowens (born October 25 1948 in Newport Kentucky) is a retired American professional Basketball player and NBA head coach The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the
Leading centers of the late 1970s and early 1980s include Wes Unseld of the Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Artis Gilmore of the ABA Kentucky Colonels, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs; Moses Malone of the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers; Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz and Robert Parish of the Boston Celtics, who was acquired from the Golden State Warriors in 1980 for the top overall pick in the NBA Draft. Westley Sissel "Wes" Unseld (born March 14 1946 in Louisville Kentucky) is an American former Basketball player Artis Gilmore (born September 21 1949 is a former professional Basketball player in the American Basketball Association (ABA and National Basketball Association The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's 9 years The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. Moses Eugene Malone (born March 23 1955 in Petersburg Virginia) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA Basketball player who The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mark E Eaton (born January 24 1957 in Inglewood, California) is a retired American professional Basketball player who was a member of the NBA The Utah Jazz is a professional Basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Robert Lee Parish (born in Shreveport Louisiana) is a retired American Basketball center. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. Unseld led the Bullets to four NBA finals appearances and one championship, in 1978. Using his strength and determination to compensate for his lack of size (6 ft 7 in), he was famous for his rebounding, shotblocking, and bone-jarring picks. Artis Gilmore, often overlooked because of the mediocrity of his teams, established himself as the best low-post scorer in the league. Artis Gilmore (born September 21 1949 is a former professional Basketball player in the American Basketball Association (ABA and National Basketball Association He set the NCAA Division I record for career average in rebounds (25. 2) at tiny Jacksonville University, and enjoyed an illustrious ABA career before joining the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1976, playing there until he was traded to San Antonio in 1982, for whom he played until his retirement in 1987. Jacksonville University (JU is a private University located in Jacksonville, Florida, on the shore of the St The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National He remains the NBA's career leader in field goal percentage (minimum 2000 shots made) with a 59. 9 percentage. [7] Malone, the first high school player to turn professional, was drafted by the Houston Rockets after several years in the ABA, and won two MVP Awards and led Houston to its first NBA Finals in 1981, before joining the Philadelphia 76ers, where, teamed with Julius Erving and Bobby Jones, he won an NBA Championship in 1983, as well as a third League MVP. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22 1950 and raised in Roosevelt New York) commonly known by the nickname Dr Robert Clyde "Bobby" Jones (born December 18 1951, in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a retired American professional Basketball Never a dominant defender, his quickness and tenacity made him one of the best rebounders in NBA history, particularly on the offensive end; he led the league in rebounds six times in a seven-year period and still holds the NBA record for offensive rebounds.
In the mid-1980s, the 7'4" Eaton was the most prolific shot-blocker in the league, and, although never a major offensive contributor, won two NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards while helping transform the lowly Utah Jazz into a playoff contender. The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season The Utah Jazz is a professional Basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Of all these players, none enjoyed the success of Robert Parish, who, with forwards Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, formed the legendary frontcourt of the Boston Celtics team that won three titles (1981, 1984 and 1986). Robert Lee Parish (born in Shreveport Louisiana) is a retired American Basketball center. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top For other people of the same name see Kevin McHale (disambiguation Kevin Edward McHale (born December 19 1957 is an American former The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Celtics' fierce rivalry with the Lakers dominated the NBA during the decade and helped basketball reach an unprecedented level of popularity. Nicknamed "Chief" after a character in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because of his stoic demeanor, Parish was known for his trademark arching jump-shot—leading many experts to consider him the best medium-range shooting center of all time—and his ability to finish fast-breaks with his surprising speed. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 Comedy-drama film directed by Miloš Forman. Playing until the age of 43, Parish broke Abdul-Jabbar's record for career games played.
Centers in the 1990s
Coach John Thompson, once a seldom-used backup to Bill Russell with the Celtics, developed the Georgetown Hoyas into the chief pipeline for talent at the Center position, producing a succession of great defensive big men in Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning. John Thompson Jr (born September 2 1941) is an American former Basketball coach for the Georgetown University Hoyas. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball The Georgetown University Men's Basketball team (which like all sports teams at Georgetown University, is named the Georgetown Hoyas) is a well-known basketball Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5 1962 is an American retired Hall of Fame Basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (born June 25 1966) commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a Congolese - American Alonzo Harding Mourning Jr (born February 8, 1970, in Chesapeake Virginia) is an American professional Basketball player who In 1984, Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing, defeated the University of Houston, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, to win the NCAA championship. Phi Slama Jama was the Nickname of the University of Houston Cougars men's basketball teams from 1982 to 1984. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born on January 21 1963 is a retired Nigerian American professional Basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA This matchup involved the two premier Centers of their generation.
The Nigerian-born Olajuwon, a former soccer goalkeeper who did not play basketball until age 15, was drafted by the Houston Rockets and paired with power forward Ralph Sampson in what was dubbed the 'Twin Towers' duo. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" Ralph Lee Sampson (born July 7 1960 in Harrisonburg Virginia) is a retired American college and Professional Basketball In his second season, 1985-86, the Rockets upset the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. After Michael Jordan's first retirement, Olajuwon established himself as the NBA's most dominant player, leading the Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman In the 1993-94 season he became the only player in NBA history to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season. The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season The National Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1969 NBA Finals. In both Finals, Olajuwon outplayed two of the league's leading Centers, Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic, with a young Shaquille O'Neal. Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5 1962 is an American retired Hall of Fame Basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball Defensively Olajuwon broke Abdul-Jabbar's career record for blocked shots. Offensively, he was best known for his 'Dream Shake,' a series of fakes and spin moves regarded as the pinnacle of big man footwork. [8]
Ewing, from Jamaica by way of the Boston area, was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1985, with whom he spent fifteen of his seventeen seasons in the NBA. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston Massachusetts. An eleven-time All Star, Ewing was one of the best shooting centers in NBA history, possessing a nearly unstoppable baseline jump-shot, as well as a formidable shot blocker and rebounder. Ewing never won an NBA championship, but his Knicks represented the most formidable opponents of the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls dynasty in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Ewing's successor as the starting center at Georgetown, Dikembe Mutombo, who played most of his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks, was less adept offensively, but proved an even more dominant defender. Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (born June 25 1966) commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a Congolese - American The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. Mutombo, who had not played basketball before arriving in the U. S. from his native Zaire on a USAID scholarship, was among the greatest shot blockers in NBA history, leading the NBA in blocked-shots five consecutive years, in the course of a career in which he ranked second in the history of the league in blocked shots, behind only Hakeem Olajuwon. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (République démocratique du Congo often referred to as DR Congo, DRC or RDC, and formerly known or referred to The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the United States federal government organization responsible for most non- military He was also the recipient of four NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, tied for the record with Ben Wallace. The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season Ben Camey Wallace (born September 10 1974 in White Hall Alabama) is an American professional Basketball player in the National
The other dominant center of the early 1990s was David Robinson. David Maurice Robinson (born) is a retired American NBA Basketball player who is often considered one of the greatest centers to ever Playing college ball at the United States Naval Academy, his entry into the NBA was delayed by his military service, but he unanimously won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1990 and, in 1995, was voted the MVP. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the Offensively, Robinson excelled in fast-breaks, running the floor like no 7-footer before or since, while also possessing an effective left-hand jumper. Defensively, his speed and agility helped him hold the distinction of being the only player in NBA history to rank among the top five in rebounds, blocks and steals in a single season.
Several European centers made an impact in the NBA in the 1990s, most notably Lithuanian Arvydas Sabonis of the Portland Trail Blazers, Serbian Vlade Divac of the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings and Dutchman Rik Smits. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Arvydas Romas Sabonis (born on December 19th, 1964 in Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR) is a retired The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country Vlade Divac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Владе Дивац, ˈvlaːdɛ ˈdiːvaʦ (born February 3 1968, in Prijepolje, The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Rik Smits (born August 23 1966 in Eindhoven, Netherlands) is a Dutch retired professional Basketball player who In keeping with its more perimeter-oriented style of play, European basketball strategy utilized centers as playmakers more than in the NBA, and Divac and Sabonis in particular distinguished themselves as the best passing centers in the league. The 7'3" (2. 20 m) Sabonis, who led the Soviet Union to an upset victory over the U. The Soviet Union national basketball team was the Basketball side that represented the Soviet Union in international competitions S. en route to a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, was considered by many experts to have been among the best centers in the world in the late 1980s, but did not enter the NBA until he was well past his prime and limited by injuries. Final results for the Basketball Competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea: Medal summary He nonetheless played seven solid seasons in Portland before returning to his homeland to finish his career. In his next-to-last season, during which he turned 39, he earned MVP honors in both of the initial two phases of the 2003-04 Euroleague with the club of his youth, Žalgiris. The Euroleague is an international Basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe.
The 1992 NBA Draft marked the entrance into the league of Shaquille O'Neal, who was drafted by the Orlando Magic. The 1992 NBA Draft took place on 24 June, 1992, in Portland Oregon. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida. Immediately drawing comparisons to Wilt Chamberlain, the 7'1", 325-pound O'Neal was billed as potentially the most physically dominating player ever and he quickly lived up to the hype. By his third season, he led the league in scoring and led the Magic to the NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Houston Rockets, with O'Neal out-played by the more experienced Olajuwon. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. After the 1995-96 season, he signed with the rebuilding Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Former Georgetown center Alonzo Mourning, also drafted in 1992, established himself as a premier big man with the Charlotte Hornets and, later, the Miami Heat, winning two Defensive Player of the Year Awards thanks to his prolific shot blocking while also proving a reliable scoring threat. Alonzo Harding Mourning Jr (born February 8, 1970, in Chesapeake Virginia) is an American professional Basketball player who The New Orleans Hornets are a professional Basketball team based in New Orleans Louisiana, United States. The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball
Centers in the 21st century
The balance of power shifted to the Western Conference, and the NBA was dominated by the Los Angeles Lakers, who won titles in 2000, 01' and 02', and the San Antonio Spurs, who won in 1999, 03', 05', and 07'. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. The Lakers hired former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, and Shaquille O'Neal thrived in Jackson's triangle offense. Philip Douglas Jackson (born September 17 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is a retired American Basketball player and current coach of the Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball The Triangle Offense, also known as the Triple-Post The San Antonio Spurs were initially led by the 'Twin Towers' tandem of center David Robinson and power forward Tim Duncan. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. David Maurice Robinson (born) is a retired American NBA Basketball player who is often considered one of the greatest centers to ever Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" WikipediaPersondata --> Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25 1976 in Christiansted, St With the arrival of Duncan, the veteran Robinson modified his game by playing primarily in the high post to accommodate Duncan's strengths as a low-post scorer and defender.
In the 1990s, an increasing number of smaller forwards, most notably Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley, excelled at the traditional Center functions of rebounding, shot-blocking and low-post defense, anticipating a trend towards relying on shorter and quicker post players that has continued into the 2000s, as exemplified by perennial Defensive Players of the Year Ben Wallace and Ron Artest. Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13 1961 is a retired American professional Basketball National Basketball Association (NBA player of the Detroit Pistons Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963 is an American retired professional Basketball player Ben Camey Wallace (born September 10 1974 in White Hall Alabama) is an American professional Basketball player in the National Ronald William Artest Jr (born November 13 1979) is an American professional Basketball player who currently plays with the Houston In the fast break oriented style of offense employed by a growing number of teams, the traditional role of the Center is diminished, if not done away with altogether. Fast break is an offensive strategy in Basketball. In a fast break a team attempts to move the ball up court and into scoring position as quickly as possible so that the defense Many talented big men have elected to play the more versatile power forward position, giving them more room to run the floor and play outside the paint. Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" The best example of this is Kevin Garnett, a 7-footer who listed his height as 6'11" in order to avoid playing Center. Kevin Maurice Garnett (born May 19, 1976 in Mauldin, South Carolina) is an American professional Basketball player Under the influence of European basketball, the offensive role of big men has been redefined to include more emphasis on perimeter play, as exemplified by 3-point shooting big men like Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic (although Stojakovic generally plays small forward). Dirk Werner Nowitzki (ɖɪʁk weʁneʁ no'v?tski (born June 19 1978 is a German professional Basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of Predrag "Peja" Stojaković ( Serbian Cyrillic: Предраг Стојаковић - Пеђа) (born June 9 1977 is a Serbian Basketball
The 7'6" Yao Ming was drafted by the Houston Rockets with tremendous hype in 2002; possessing unprecedented shooting touch and coordination for a player of his height, many experts predicted he would revolutionize basketball. Yao Ming ( born September 12 1980 is a Professional basketball player who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. Yao has proven an highly efficient rebounder and scorer, particularly with his mid-range jump shot, and shown the potential to be an elite defender. Another heralded young prospect, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, has utilized his exceptional vertical leap to become one of the top rebounders in the NBA, while his spectacular slam dunks have made him a staple of highlight reels. Dwight David Howard (born December 8 1985 in Atlanta Georgia) is an American Basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida. A slam dunk (or simply a dunk) is a type of Basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket
Dominant big men continue to anchor the teams that have had the most success in the post-season. Two of the last three teams to win championships have had notable centers: Detroit Pistons/Ben Wallace (2004) and Miami Heat/Shaquille O'Neal (2006). The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area Ben Camey Wallace (born September 10 1974 in White Hall Alabama) is an American professional Basketball player in the National The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball However, O'Neal's playing time has been increasingly limited by injuries, benefiting in the Heat's Championship run from the presence of another veteran, Alonzo Mourning, as his backup. Alonzo Harding Mourning Jr (born February 8, 1970, in Chesapeake Virginia) is an American professional Basketball player who Defensive specialist Ben Wallace, listed at 6'9", is considered by most experts as a Power Forward playing out of position, although his strength, leaping ability and uncanny timing has enable him to dominate taller players in the low-post, helping him tie Dikembe Mutombo's record of four NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Ben Camey Wallace (born September 10 1974 in White Hall Alabama) is an American professional Basketball player in the National Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (born June 25 1966) commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a Congolese - American The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season The San Antonio Spurs have won 3 championships since the retirement of David Robinson, in 2003, 2005, and 2007, with Tim Duncan assuming an even greater share of the work as the primary rebounder, shot-blocker and low-post scorer, as well as taking most of the teams jump balls, although he continues to be listed primarily as a power forward. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. David Maurice Robinson (born) is a retired American NBA Basketball player who is often considered one of the greatest centers to ever WikipediaPersondata --> Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25 1976 in Christiansted, St Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" The entry into the NBA of Greg Oden, who won two national high school player of the year awards, led the Ohio State Buckeyes to the NCAA Finals, and is arguably the most physically skilled Center to come into the league since Shaquille O'Neal, has caused many experts to predict a revival in the importance of the Center position. Gregory Wayne Oden Jr (born January 22 1988 is an American Basketball player at the center position The Ohio State University 's intercollegiate sports teams and players are called the "Buckeyes" (after the state tree the Buckeye) and participate in the NCAA
Centers in women's basketball
In women's basketball, 7'0" Iuliana Semenova pioneered the center position, helping the Soviet Union women's team win two Olympic Gold medals, in 1976 and 1980, and never losing a game in international competition. Uļjana Semjonova ( Latvian: Uļjana Semjonova, Russian:Ульяна Ларионовна Семенова Iuliana Larionovna Semenova (born The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Semenova also led her club team, TTT Riga to fifteen European Champion's Cup titles. Riga (Rīga riːga) the Capital of Latvia, is situated on the Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of the river Daugava. The 6'8" Anne Donovan led the Old Dominion University Lady Monarchs to the 1979 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championship, and was the first female Naismith College Player of the Year recipient in 1983, before enjoying a successful professional career in Japan and Italy. Anne Donovan (born November 1, 1961 in Ridgewood New Jersey) is one of the most decorated figures in women's Basketball, both as a college Old Dominion University (ODU is a large public Research university located in historic Norfolk Virginia. The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships The Naismith College Player of the Year award named for Basketball inventor James Naismith, is given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to College
With the formation of the WNBA, Lisa Leslie established herself as the premier center, and the league's most popular player. Lisa Leslie (born July 7 1972 in Gardena California) is a WNBA player currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. The first WNBA player to reach the 3,000 point milestone, she led the Los Angeles Sparks to consecutive titles in 2001 and 2002, and holds the distinction of being the only player to dunk in a WNBA game. The Los Angeles Sparks are a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Los Angeles California. Other prominent centers in women's basketball include Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm and Karl Malone's daughter Cheryl Ford of the Detroit Shock. Lauren Elizabeth Jackson (born 11 May 1981 in Albury New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian professional Basketball The Seattle Storm is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Seattle Washington. Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player Cheryl Ford (born June 6, 1981 in Homer Louisiana) is a professional Basketball player in the WNBA. The Detroit Shock is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Detroit Michigan. Rebecca Lobo led the Connecticut Huskies to a NCAA Championship in 1995, but never recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and had a disappointing professional career. Rebecca Rose Lobo (born October 6 1973 in Southwick Massachusetts) is an American television Basketball analyst and a former player in The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut. The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual Basketball tournament for women The anterior cruciate ligament (or ACL) is one of the four major Ligaments of the Knee. Courtney Paris of the University of Oklahoma is considered the next dominant female Center after becoming the only NCAA player, male or female, to score 700 points, grab 500 rebounds and block 100 shots in a single season. Courtney Paris (born September 21 1987 in San Jose California) is the Senior starting center for the University of Oklahoma women's basketball University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a Coeducational public Research university located in the U
List of centers
- See also: Category:Centers (basketball)
Further reading
- Heisler, Mark (2003). Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-577-1.
Notes
- ^ NBA.com: George Mikan vs. The Knicks
- ^ http://www.bostonsportsreview.com/200707_story_cover.asp
- ^ NBA.com: Wilt Scores 100, Averages 50
- ^ Lew's Still Loose - TIME
- ^ NBA.com: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio
- ^ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Statistics - Basketball-Reference.com
- ^ NBA.com: Artis Gilmore Summary
- ^ It Was All A Dream
| Guards |  | 1. The three basketball positions normally employed by organized Basketball teams are guard forward and center Point guard | Combo Guard (PG/SG) | |
| 2. Point guard ( PG) also called the one or " the ball-handler " is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game A tweener in Basketball is a term sometimes used derisively for a player who is able to play two positions, but is not ideally suited to play either position exclusively Shooting guard | Swingman (SG/SF) | |||
| Forwards | 3. The Shooting guard ( SG) also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a Basketball team Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the Small forward and Shooting guard positions and in essence swing between the shooting Small forward | |||
| 4. The small forward, or colloquially the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation Basketball game Power forward | Point forward (PG/PF) | |||
| Center | 5. Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" Point forward is an unofficial playing position in Basketball for those who share the attributes of both a Point guard and a forward. Center | Forward-center (PF/C) | ||
| Captain | Head coach | Referees and officials | ||||
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