The Evolution of the Modern Center

For years, NBA insiders bemoaned the apparent death of the Big Man. Yet as Nikola Jokic (Finals MVP) and Joel Embiid (regular-season MVP) just demonstrated, the funeral may have been premature. The NBA center hasn’t died, just evolved. Modern bigs just had to alter their playstyles to adjust to this hyper-athletic, pace-and space era.

This draft class’ group of big men may be the most interesting in recent memory, with the all-world prospect Victor Wembanyama leading the charge. What shocked me most with Wemby’s training regimen and lead up into the draft, was the extensive and innovative work he and NBA trainer, Tim Martin have done surrounding his long-term foot and ankle health, the downfall of many an oversized NBA prospect. When asked, Tim spoke on how to differentiate workouts for each player through, he said, “First and foremost, footwork, That’s the basis on everything you do as a basketball player, be it postwork or on the perimeter. Big man or guard, doesn’t matter, everything starts with your feet. Balance, strength, stability all stem from your base, if the footwork is off, it’s all wrong.” They spend hours strengthening his toes specifically, focusing on mobility and balance exercises to maintain peak flexibility, which directly contributes to his guard-like movement at his size. He’s in a class by himself as a prospect, and the more Tim gushed about him, the clearer the reasons as to why became.

With this class, as much as we hear about Wemby, the talent pool far from stops there. We have potential rim-running, catch and shoot threats like Noah Clowney and Dereck Lively II, the undersized do it all guy in Trayce Jackson-Davis, and the high-upside duo of Taylor Hendricks and Leonard Miller. What used to be a cut-and-dry positional breakdown now has options of all shapes, sizes, and skill sets. When I asked Tim what the difference was between the international talent he coaches and his American players, he spoke of the importance in their soccer backgrounds, and compared it to karate- “when Bruce Lee came over, it changed the whole game… the Europeans all have incredible footwork because of soccer, whether it’s a big or a guard it was their first love right? When you’re able to have that coordination, that’s a strong foundation to build off” But where does that leave the old-school, big-body, high-profile legends of college basketball without next-level athleticism and footwork? That’s what we’re here to find out: where they landed, where they fit in the scheme of the league today and tomorrow, and if any of them have what it takes to stick.

Oscar Tshiebwe- Pacers, 6-9, 260 lbs, 23 Years Old

College Resume

107 Games, 14.5 Points Per Game, 12.3 Rebounds Per Game, 1.0 Assists Per Game 2.45 Stocks per Game (2 Years West Virginia, 2 Years Kentucky)

Awards and Accomplishments

2022 Wooden, Naismith, AP Player of the Year

2-Time NCAA Rebound Leader, First Team All-American, 2 Time SEC First Teamer

Let’s start with the former National Player of the Year, Oscar Tshiebwe, really only one word matters, and you can say it as many times as you like, there’s no stopping this guy. REBOUNDING. As dominant a force we’ve seen on the college backboards in a decade, Tshiebwe was able to parlay his promising start under Coach Huggins at West Virginia into a starring role as the anchor of the last two renditions of Kentucky Wildcats. He was able to walk to the Wooden Player of the Year in 2022, averaging a staggering 15 a game accompanying his 17.5 points. Unfortunately his production dipped alongside the team’s success this season, as another fumbled season and early exit for Calipari and Kentucky may have cost the former POY his chance of hearing his name called on draft night.

His production may have dipped, but the motor has and never will be a question. A Bit undersized for a true NBA Center, he will have to make his money on physicality and energy, think a less skilled but bigger and stronger version Montrezl Harrell. He’s got big steps to take as a defender as well if he plans on sticking in the league, although at times he can make up for the verticality and lateral disadvantages with his quick hands, broad shoulders and brute strength. Had he declared for the draft after last season’s loss to St. Peter’s, he probably would have been selected, but in this cycle the age, statistical drop off, and lack of true upside cost him. Indiana could be the perfect team for him though, with few options locked in long-term as big men surrounding their star center Myles Turner. Imagine a better rookie year than anyone is anticipating from Oscar, especially with the Pacers front office’s track record of finding diamonds in the rough.

Adama Sanogo- Bulls, 6-8, 245 lbs 21 Years old

Career Stats

91 Games, 13.9 Points per game, 7.3 Rebounds per Game, 1.0 Assists, 1.86 Stocks per game (3 Years UCONN)

Awards and Accomplishments

2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

2 Time First Team All-Big East

Sanogo’s case might be the most interesting of these three elite college bigs, showing real flashes as a rim protector and post scorer on UCONN’s onslaught to the title this March. He took home the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award, given each year to the best player for that 6-game stretch of madness each March. His run was special, as was the whole team’s, but there is something to be said about a 6-8, spry athletic big anchoring a defense that waltzed its way to Houston. What scouts find most interesting about Sanogo is his elite touch around the basket, and in his post game, finishing first in all of college basketball last year by all relevant Synergy data. On top of that, he hit 3s at a shocking 36.5 percent clip this past season, albeit on 1.5 a game, making him the obvious choice among our 3 candidates in a shootout.

What makes some across the league believe in the shot long-term is the free throw jump we saw during his time at UCONN, where his percentage jumped from 57 to 79 in his time in Storrs. It looked smooth today in Vegas against Toronto, although he went 0-2 he shot both with real confidence, and was extremely active defensively. There is some real small-ball 5 upside with Sanogo if the shot translates, but his floor serves as a high-energy, switchable defensive big as currently constructed. He’s a long way from an NBA Roster, but his work in summer league and in Billy Donovan’s system will be vital this summer, and could be an answer to Chicago’s Vucevic-induced defensive nightmares. With a lineup of Caruso, Lavine, DeRozan, Patrick Williams, and Sanogo, they’d be set up for peak switchability and he could be exactly what they’re searching for.

Drew Timme- Bucks, 6-10, 235 lbs, 22 Years Old

Career Stats

134 Games, 17.2 Points Per Game, 6.7 Rebounds Per Game, 2.4 Assists Per Game, 62/25/63 Shooting Splits (4 years Gonzaga) 1.38 STOCKS

Awards and Accomplishments

First-Team All-American 2023, Second Team All-American 2021 and 2022

2 Time West Coast Conference Player of the Year

3-Time First Team all West Coast Conference

This is the one that surprised a lot of fans the most out of the 3 undrafted bigs, with Sanogo closely behind him. With Timme being the tallest of the group (and shockingly only 22), with playing time in legitimate bigtime games, many had him penciled in as a late 2nd round flier. I was wrong, but I love where he ended up in his fit with Milwaukee. His upside as a high IQ, ball moving back up big is an intriguing add to Milwaukee’s long-term outlook. Despite his poor metrics and reluctance to pull the trigger on the 3 ball, his form is consistent and he can definitely stroke it from the midrange. Hopefully that’s his area of focus, and he can continue to develop the high post game he showed the world while leading the Zags over the past four seasons.

Watching today’s bout against Denver, the IQ and toughness shine as his best and most reliable skills, but the lack of confidence or interest in taking 3s at all might be his long-term downfall. He had a few nice dribble attacks off of closeouts today even without the threat of making threes, so inevitably teams will sag off to avoid letting him beat them with his playmaking skills. Even as smart as he is, to overcome his athletic deficiencies and fit on-court with Giannis long-term, he will need to extend his range far past the 15-footer, and expand on his post footwork that we’re used to seeing from his days in Spokane. If he doesn’t, it’ll be a much less accomplished NBA Career than college was for the mustache man, and possibly shorter.

On the Horizon

Naturally as we continue to have these conversations, the natural inclination is to look towards the future. Outside of the alien that is Victor Wembanyama, this year’s class of draftees was a wide array of younger, longer, more athletic bigs with upside as either shooters or playmakers. Oddly enough when I asked Tim what makes Victor different, he spoke to his mind and work ethic rather than his size advantage, “Victor’s one of the smartest people I know, take basketball away he’s extremely intelligent. His overall acumen and dedication to his approach is what sets him apart. He asks incredible questions, I’ve never met a 19-year old in my life that’s as smart as him”. Getting the inside scoop on Victor was a next-level experience and I feel like this is the edge that will take him to superstardom. The work ethic, the curiosity, the determination, is what makes him who he is, as the potential next face of the NBA.

Next year’s class reverts a bit more towards the norm, with guys like Zach Edey, Hunter Dickinson, and Kyle Filipowski among the few that jump out. The questions around their games are similar to the three laid out here, but what does the future hold for each of them? Only time will tell, but the one certainty is this: they’d better learn how to shoot, or create for others off the dribble, because the days of guys like Jahlil Okafor, Hasheem Thabeet and Frank Kaminsky being locked in as first round picks are long behind us. We’re onto the era of the unicorn, Jokic, Wembanyama, Cooper Flag on the horizon. For all of those guys that came before, they can use the excuse of timing, but much like the Do-Do Bird, in the life of a modern big, it’s adapt…. Or die trying.