The Myth of the Stretch Big
One of the most valuable player archetypes in the NBA is the “stretch big”, a player that can knock down their threes at a high rate from the center position. But really, the meaning of the term has warped over the years. Now, it’s not just enough for a floor-spacing center to shoot threes; they need to protect the rim too.
Guys like Kristaps Porzingis, who the Boston Celtics smartly traded for to help lead them to the NBA Finals, is a prime example of this. Additionally, Brook Lopez is a player that offers elite three point shooting for a big man while also locking down the interior defensively.
Myles Turner has been in trade rumors for half a decade, and he’s one of the best three point shooting centers in the NBA while also racking blocks ona nightly basis.
As much as we think a team can just “go out and get” one of these types of players, the truth is, they’re nearly impossible to get.
➥ 𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙚: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexHoops?sub_confirmation=1
➥ 𝙏𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧: https://twitter.com/AlexHoops_
➥ 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣: https://patreon.com/AlexHoops
➥ 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚
Providing NBA analysis by making film digestible and using analytics thoughtfully to contextualize on-court production. I cover the NBA in various capacities as a writer and digital content creator. If you love basketball and the NBA, be sure to subscribe to my channel.
DISCLAIMER: I do not claim ownership of any footage or clips used in this video. The use of these clips is protected under Fair Use Policy.
#NBA
46 Comments
What other players do you think currently fit into this category or will in the future? 👇
There is anunderrated player that has been one of the best rim protectors in the league who is slowly developing a reliable 3 point shot. His name? Bam adebayo
Pels fckd up big time not trading for Turner 3 or 4 seasons ago… was such a clear move, Turner was firmly in the trading block. As a pacers fan, thanks Pels!
This vid went hard. Good shit
Porsingis only works on the Celtics cuz they are so stacked already and he is constantly injured.
zion is an mvp of eating big macs
Your Zion take is what okc did with Shai, a inside the arc scorer and driver and they paired him with Chet and they win a extra 17 games
Easy solution. Trade Zion to the Sixers for scraps.
Pelicans should trade CJ this off season and go all in for Turner, he's not extension eligible so he's 100% going to be a FA
Another thing worth mentioning with the pelicans was that Zion had a -5.2 on-off last season, very little reason to build around him.
As a pelicans fan I literally watched this video so I can scout potential trade targets. I'd love to get myles turner and if this was 2k I could get him for brandon ingram but that ain't gonna happen so I guess it's daniel theis
Better question: Which teams with a stretch big could move for Zion? Lower asking price for sure…
3 and D wings are another myth. A lot of NBA twitter thinks that there’s a over abundance of them😭
Lopez is so underrated right now only thing with him is he struggles rebounding can’t lie if he was a good rebounder with his rim protection & 3pt he probably b like 33mil a year player but still its incredible what he doing at his age he so valuable 2 Milwaukee especially with giannis not being able 2 shoot
Allen Brian Walker Helen Miller Eric
I think Embiid and Jokic can be added to this list easily
Stretch bigs are insanely valuable, this is the last missing piece for the Knicks to win a title imo but like you said it’s hard to find.
Honorable Mention: Maxi Kleber
The stretch big is a myth. It’s only 7-8 guys defense close out on. Maybe more but those guys are very marginal low impact players
I hoping this will be Mobley soon
Trade herb jones and ives missi for miles turner
pelicans Could get Bol Bol. He just needs a Chance.
We should stop asking centers to shoot. If they can shoot, it's great, but rim protection is more important. You can always get another shooter. Rim protection is harder to come by.
are stretch bigs the new 3&Ds?
Although this archetype might be hard to find, I believe that in the players that were close to fitting your criteria, a lot of them still could play these roles to an extent for a team. Here is some that I found that could potentially do this. Even if you wouldn’t consider them a rim protector or a 3 point shooter. I believe that all of these fit one of thr criteria, and are not too far off of the other
Jalen Smith
3.6 blk % career
33 % 3 career
Santi Aldama
33% 3 career
2.8 blk %
John collins
36 % 3 career
3.0 blk % career
Christian wood
37% 3 career
3.3 blk % for career
Jonathan isaac
34% 3 career
5.4 blk % career
Maxi kleber
36% 3 career
3.5 blk % career
Noah Clowney
36% 3 (1 year)
3.9 blk % ( 1year)
Daniel theis ( who the Pelicans signed)
33% 3 career
4.0 blk % career
Isaiah Stewart
35% 3 career
3.4 blk % career
Zach collins
33.6 % 3 career
3.0 blk % career
Naz Reid
37% 3 career
4.2 blk % career
"Pair Porzingas with Zion." Oh great, get me two players unlikely to play an entire playoff series.
Al wouldve been a good veteran presence if he were able to stay on OKC 😭
Isaiah stewart is a center
Wendell Carter Jr. may not meet the block rate threshold but he is a decent rim protector. I would definitely classify him as a stretch big, more specifically a stretch center, he is 270 lbs. There arent many starting centers that can shoot the 3 better than him. He also moves really well for a guy his size. I think he's a very solid and underrated player, and I would say he is a decent fit with Zion.
Pels should get Mo Bamba and give him a shot
I think you are missing a lot on what defines the 'stretch big' which is the big aspect. Based on your criteria of 3pt shooting and shot blocking, guess who else who fits that criteria? Derek White, and no one would call him a stretch big.
No, the idea is that you have a guy that combines the value of a wing with the value of a traditional center, grabbing rebounds and catching lobs. Like I'd include Lauri Markkanen as a 'stretch big', because even though he doesn't provide that vaunted rim protection, he still grabs tons of boards and is absolutely elite when it comes to catch-and-shoot AND lobs. Combine that with his rebounding and you have an absolute demon, and he was up for grabs (on an amazing contract) for teams willing to pay the price, and he was the guy people were referring to when fans say they should go get a 'stretch big'.
Does anyone know why Jalen Smith isn't highly regarded by NBA teams?
Turner and Porky were available when NOLA got Val, they went with the cheaper option in Val. Their biggest problem is they don’t want to go over the salary apron. Rare to have a team be a contender and not be passed the first luxury tax apron.
Is block percentage the best way to measure a center’s impact on defense? Wouldn’t defensive rating or points allowed in the paint be better metrics?
Pels should trade for nik vuc
Clark Larry Clark Gary Taylor Jessica
Pelicans: "ey yo trade me Brook Lopez, we need him to optimize zion."
Bucks: "No thanks, we also have a highly athletic superstar PF who can't shoot."
That's why Chet is so underrated
As a Pacers fan I hope Turner is a Pacer for life. He is so consistent even if he's not the best.
Victor Wembanyama is truly positionless.
#GOSPURS
Is it any coicidence that 2 of those last 8 players are the 2 bigs for the now defending champion Celtics?
I wonder not why they dont go after these hard to get guys and just go get 2 types of players instead, a tall athletiv enough rim protector and some one between 6-7, 6-9 that can defend paremeter and has strenght and can shoot at least wide open 3s
lol what are we even talking about. In order to get a guy of this type….you need to trade the farm. That’s how valuable they are in t he current climate of the NBA
Victor Wembanyama and everyone else
Surprised that Wendell Carter Jr. didn’t make the list, I would have assumed he met the requirements
great analysis. spot on.