The NBA has pivoted toward becoming a three-point-centric league. Not only are the guards and wings proficient from the outside, but some big men have become three-point specialists like Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns.
While stretching the floor is a necessity nowadays, Rasheed Wallace believes perimeter shooting is not the be-all-and-end-all. Sheed wants the modern NBA big man to be more versatile by playing more in the post, where they can take advantage of their strengths.
"A lot of these bigs don't want to get down in the block, bump and grind. They do not want to post up; they don't want to get touched. All they want to do is stand out there and shoot threes," Wallace said on Sheed & Tyler. "You're a classic big, sooner rather than later you're gonna have to post up. This game is not always gonna be on that perimeter. It changes; it fades in and out."
Multidimensional bigs are at the top of the NBA
The top two centers in the league possess skill sets that make them dangerous from every part of the court. Joel Embiid is a mid-range jump shot maestro, but he can also stretch out for a three-pointer while possessing some of the best low-post footwork in the league. That has made him one of the most dangerous scorers because defenders do not know what he is about to do.
The same goes for Nikola Jokic , who can score from everywhere on the court while growing as an elite playmaker. He loves playing at the top of the key as the primary playmaker, but he is most proficient in the low-post. The Joker can bully his opponents in the post, but he can also dish a magnificent pass to his teammate, who would score the ball.
That is the versatility that Sheed wants to promote withing the league. Most players would benefit from having more dimensions to their game rather than sticking around at the perimeter. Being a one-dimensional player can backfire, especially for the big men who want to contribute to their teams.
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Wallace was a good example of the optimal big man
Even though the one-time champ's prime was in the 2000s, he would fit the modern game. He could shoot from the perimeter, which is highly encouraged for today's power forwards and centers. Sheed was also reliable on other parts of the offense, as he can post up, be a screener, and be a secondary playmaker.
The Pistons legend wants younger players to learn to be a better big man by developing more skills. It is natural for the youth to shoot threes because it is the optimal way to play basketball now, but that should not mean abandoning the paint.
Sheed has a point because big men are starting to take over again . Players like Jokic, Embiid, and Victor Wembanyama look like the most dominant players for the foreseeable future. They are all versatile big men who will be a tough matchup for power forwards and centers who want to keep playing on the perimeter.
Related: "He was a little bit more dangerous when he was with the Wizards" - Rasheed Wallace on why Michael Jordan was still lethal late in his career
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