Is there any advantage to being short in Basketball?

[tgan3]

I'm seriously wondering. This is what I think..

1) Lower center of gravity, change speeds and run faster

But..Look at guys like Lebron, Rudy Gay, Josh Smith.. Those guys are 6'9 and would be able to run with the best of them, maybe not iverson-like quickness but still faster then your run of mill point guard. Theres even a story of how 7'1 Wilt ran faster then a 6'0 guard on his team.

2)Small stature allows to squeeze through defense?

And about being able to squeeze through defense easier, I rather power in the defense ala shaq, amare, lebron then squeeze through ala monta ellis. Field goal % through powering in is higher and squeezing in, most likely you have to put in the difficult circus shot, defenders are more likely to jump over you if you are a 6'0 guard compared to shaq or lebron.

3) Better ballhandling skills

Okay granted guys 6'0, 6'1 are better ballhandlers. Though rarely better ball handlers have better productivity, if not NBA will be filled with AND1 players. Jamal Crawford, Kobe who are 6'6 also have very nice handles.

So, any advantage to being short?

[Batz]

Not at all.

[Myth]

So, any advantage to being short?

I think size correlates with different strengths and weaknesses. Being smaller seems to correlate with your 3 points, but its not a cause/effect scenario (which is why you see exceptions like LeBron, Josh Smith, etc.). Thus all things equal with the exception of size, being short does not equal advantages.

[MeLO MvP 15]

its probably easier to get steals

[LebronairJAMES]

yep playing basketball its nearly impossible trying to get a steal of short players and it seems its easy for them to get strips and steals

[Jumpman10135]

Small hands. Better for shooting and dribbling.

[BrentISballin]

At an amature level short players don't have a difficult time. The problem arisies when you get to the pro level where 6'8 guys are just as fast, have higher verts and are just as agile ... it makes the game way too hard for people sub 6 feet.

[Myth]

its probably easier to get steals

I think even that would be win/lose. They are lower so they are closer to the ball if the ball is on that side of them, but they have shorter wingspan so they can't reach as far for steals whether off the dribble or off passes.

[miller-time]

maybe over an entire career, players like billups, kidd and nash are still top players at their position. where big guys slow down at lot more noticably by that point. i can't think of any sg's over 35 that i'd consider top be in the top 5 or 10?

but that also depends on the playing type too. AI has already fallen apart and he is younger and smaller than nash and kidd.

also don't forget, guys like lebron are freaks. statistically most guards are going to be faster and have better handles than most forwards.

[Batz]

its probably easier to get steals
No... Usually players who have long arms are fast or can read passing lanes good get steals.

Small hands. Better for shooting and dribbling.
Kwame Brown has small hands...

[tgan3]

maybe over an entire career, players like billups, kidd and nash are still top players at their position. where big guys slow down at lot more noticably by that point. i can't think of any sg's over 35 that i'd consider top be in the top 5 or 10?


Shaq, Mutombo, Reggie Miller, Allen? They play well even in their older days.

[Batz]

lol no he doesn't... maybe for a 6'10 guy, yes, but his hands are still big... it's just a myth btw...
Nope they were pretty small because I remember he used to borrow Smush Parker's gloves.

[Maestro33]

Not in anyway that would make being shorter better overall no.

[OhNoTimNoSho]

lol no he doesn't... maybe for a 6'10 guy, yes, but his hands are still big... it's just a myth btw...
a myth???? I hope your kidding.

[ap3604]

So, any advantage to being short?

Yeah, the advantage is that you fail alot quicker at basketball and don't have silly aspirations of becoming an NBA player (unlike alot of taller players who really have no chance to make it and waste alot of time trying).