Since the 60's, NFL,MLB athletes are bigger, but NBA players are not?

[Dr.J4ever]

Below is a link on the average yearly height and weight of NBA players since the 1940's.. The most interesting stat that is a hot topic of debate here is the 60s and 70s vs. the more modern eras. Incredibly, at least for me, is that the height differential between the average 60s NBA players vs today's average player is about an inch and about 10lbs in favor of today's players. That's it.That's all.

Have we been sold a lot of hype on the supposed superior heights and weights of today's players? You know, that today's players are "bigger and better"?
With the Superbowl coming up, we all know NFL players are bigger, faster, taller. Just compare the offensive line of the Denver Broncos to the 1960s Green Bay Packers. Or even MLB players to players during the Babe Ruth era.
But in the NBA, there really has been virtually no change with player's heights and weights since the 60s.

[Dr.J4ever]

Below is a link on the average yearly height and weight of NBA players since the 1940's.. The most interesting stat that is a hot topic of debate here is the 60s and 70s vs. the more modern eras. Incredibly, at least for me, is that the height differential between the average 60s NBA players vs today's average player is about an inch and about 10lbs in favor of today's players. That's it.
That's all.

Have we been sold a lot of hype on the supposed superior heights and weights of today's players? You know, that today's players are "bigger and better"?
With the Superbowl coming up, we all know NFL players are bigger, faster, taller. Just compare the offensive line of the Denver Broncos to the 1960s Green Bay Packers. Or even MLB players to players during the Babe Ruth era.
But in the NBA, there really has been virtually no change with player's heights and weights since the 60s.
http://www.apbr.org/apbr-faq.html

[SexSymbol]

Average center in the 60 was 6'8", of course people nowadays are higher in the L

[Real Men Wear Green]

The real difference isn't size so much as it is weight training. The modern athlete in just about every major team sport does it, but back then it was viewed with skepticism if not derision by many.
Average center in the 60 was 6'8", of course people nowadays are higher in the L
He just posted a link pointing out the difference in average height. Facts do matter, and to establish something as fact we need evidence. Where is yours? If you have some then what you have to say is worth hearing. If you do not then it isn't.

[Dr.J4ever]

The real difference isn't size so much as it is weight training. The modern athlete in just about every major team sport does it, but back then it was viewed with skepticism if not derision by many.
He just posted a link pointing out the difference in average height. Facts do matter, and to establish something as fact we need evidence. Where is yours? If you have some then what you have to say is worth hearing. If you do not then it isn't.
I'm not a regular weight lifter so this may sound ignorant, but is 10lbs enough to account for the additional weight training they do today?

[Psileas]

Below is a link on the average yearly height and weight of NBA players since the 1940's.. The most interesting stat that is a hot topic of debate here is the 60s and 70s vs. the more modern eras. Incredibly, at least for me, is that the height differential between the average 60s NBA players vs today's average player is about an inch and about 10lbs in favor of today's players. That's it.
That's all.

Have we been sold a lot of hype on the supposed superior heights and weights of today's players? You know, that today's players are "bigger and better"?
With the Superbowl coming up, we all know NFL players are bigger, faster, taller. Just compare the offensive line of the Denver Broncos to the 1960s Green Bay Packers. Or even MLB players to players during the Babe Ruth era.
But in the NBA, there really has been virtually no change with player's heights and weights since the 60s.

Actually, this 10 lb differential is the same that "today's" athletes hold over the ones of the early 90's, for which we hear absolutely nothing about "smaller sizes". Players in the early 90's weighed as much as they did in the late 60's.
Hype means nothing if it derives from sources of questionable validity or no sources at all. And this is where most of the hype of the 60's comes from. What valid source would ever claim that centers in the 60's were 6'7?
90% of the 60's "hype" is word of mouth between youngsters.

Btw, do people use the stupid "time travel" argument when it comes to comparing NFL, MLB, etc players, too?

[Real Men Wear Green]

I'm not a regular weight lifter so this may sound ignorant, but is 10lbs enough to account for the additional weight training they do today?
That and the height increase could definitely account for more weight. These days a guy like Dwight Howard will be skinny at 18, a team will make him lift and eat a certain way and he thickens out. It's possible to lift and keep the same weight or even lose weight but that's generally not the goal when a guy comes in skinny.

[Rose'sACL]

20-30% of the league was black in 60s as compared to today's league which has about 80% black players.
You must be kidding me if you think that today's league is not better.




The paper notes the number of blacks rose in the 1960s, even though many believed there was an unspoken quota system among league owners that former Celtics great Bill Russell, the NBA’s first black head coach, once described as “you’re allowed to play two blacks at home, three on the road and five when you’re behind.”

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/nba-team-suddenly-not-black-enough/#76xxEkzmbPtXRDRA.99

[Dr.J4ever]

20-30% of the league was black in 60s as compared to today's league which has about 80% black players.
You must be kidding me if you think that today's league is not better.
Not saying it's not better today, but don't you feel a bit misled by many of today's so called experts, who were probably just too lazy to look it up?

But whatever, it's a definite eye opener for me. I could have sworn players back then were at least 2-3 inches shorter on average.

[Psileas]

20-30% of the league was black in 60s as compared to today's league which has about 80% black players.
You must be kidding me if you think that today's league is not better.

Quote:

The paper notes the number of blacks rose in the 1960s, even though many believed there was an unspoken quota system among league owners that former Celtics great Bill Russell, the NBA’s first black head coach, once described as “you’re allowed to play two blacks at home, three on the road and five when you’re behind.”

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/nba-team-...kzmbPtXRDRA.99

You took the Russell quote seriously?
So, the 60's Sixers weren't using Wilt, Walker, Greer, Luke Jackson altogether at home, unless behind, neither were the Celtics using Russell, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Sanders, the Royals weren't using Oscar, Embry, Hairston, Hawkins, the Lakers weren't using Baylor, Barnett, Ellis, Hazzard, the Knicks weren't using Reed, Bellamy, Green, Boozer, Barnes, etc...:rolleyes:

Note that I already mentioned more than 20% of the league back then, especially accounting for minutes played, without even mentioning all teams. Although whites were more, 60's NBA rosters were full of white bench warmers who artificially deflated the percentage of blacks while contributing practically nothing. So, no, the league was nowhere near only 20% black.

Plus, an 80%-20% ratio in favor of blacks is not necessarily the most fair one, either, since there may be a higher (than 20%) percentage of whites who are talented, but since USA basketball appeals to blacks more, its professional leagues are going to have more black-friendly rules, thus creating a "the blacker, the better" illusion.

[Dr.J4ever]

It seems one by one, modern day NBA myths are falling here in ISH..Height-check, Weight-check, Wilt's opponents-check, what else? Athleticism? Rules? Maybe defensive concepts?

[SHAQisGOAT]

Also needs to be mentioned that players' heights measured with shoes on and updated weights is a recent "thing".
There's no way Dwight is taller than Moses, and there's no way Moses was even close to 215 lbs at his best (listed weight on bball reference, on wiki it's 260 though).. One example out of countless.

With that, the average height was still higher in the 80's (listed heights) and the difference in weight is minimal (again, listed weights).

[PHILA]

West: Officially listed at 6'2 by basketball-reference

Kobe: Earlier in career was officially listed at 6'7



February 3, 2010

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/kobe-bryant-of-the-los-angeles-lakers-is-presented-with-the-news-photo/96400401

http://i.imgur.com/80g5WGk.jpg

[Euroleague]

European players get drafted by the NBA and they all magically grow by 1-2 inches the instant second they get drafted.

So yes, NBA players are "taller" on paper.........not in actuality though.

They just simply claim they are taller.

Just like how they used to list the guys without shoes, and now they list them in shoes. Players in the 60s from the NCAA were actually 6'2", not 6'0" but listed wrongly at 6'2" or whatever.

"All the players are taller now".

"All the players in Europe are shorter".

Of course, the average moron is dumb enough to believe this bullshit.

"People today are taller"............shit is hilarious, people actually believe this absurd nonsense, or the really hilarious one - "the nutrition today is better so people grow taller"......

The nutrition today is WORSE, it is MUCH MUCH WORSE

WORSE WORSE WORSE

MUCH WORSE

People are not taller today

They are actually shorter today. People are actually shorter today than they were and the nutrition and food values are significantly much WORSE than they were.

Anyone saying otherwise is a drooling retard and does not know basic true facts and is a brainwashed moron.

Yet, NBA gimmick marketing prevails.

:facepalm

[Euroleague]

It seems one by one, modern day NBA myths are falling here in ISH..Height-check, Weight-check, Wilt's opponents-check, what else? Athleticism? Rules? Maybe defensive concepts?

NBA is better than Euroleague - check............oh wait.........

:rolleyes:

[Dr.J4ever]

West: Officially listed at 6'2 by basketball-reference

Kobe: Earlier in career was officially listed at 6'7



February 3, 2010

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/kobe-bryant-of-the-los-angeles-lakers-is-presented-with-the-news-photo/96400401

http://i.imgur.com/80g5WGk.jpg
So Kobe is like probably closer to 6'4?

[PHILA]

So Kobe is like probably closer to 6'4?


New York Times - Dec 24, 2006 (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/sports/basketball/24cheer.html)

[I]Daniel said:

[Euroleague]

So Kobe is like probably closer to 6'4?

In Colorado, when they took his mugshot picture, they measured him at 6-4

[oarabbus]

[QUOTE=Euroleague]In Colorado, when they took his mugshot picture, they measured him at 6-4

[nightprowler10]

Yeah you really can't take players' official heights seriously in basketball.

[justin12140]

In the '59-'60 season (Wilt's rookie season) there were 14 players that were 6'9" or taller. (10 of the 14 were listed exactly at 6 foot 9).
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=1960&year_max=1960&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=81&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws

In the '12-'13 season there are 185 players listed that are list 6'9" or taller.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=2013&year_max=2013&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=81&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=&c1comp=gt&c1val=&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws&order_by_asc=&offset=0

Thats 1.8 (8 teams) vs 6.2 (30 teams) players that are 6'9" or taller per team

[La Frescobaldi]

20-30% of the league was black in 60s as compared to today's league which has about 80% black players.
You must be kidding me if you think that today's league is not better.
he was talking about the '50s and like 1960.

[buddha]

West: Officially listed at 6'2 by basketball-reference

Kobe: Earlier in career was officially listed at 6'7



February 3, 2010

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/kobe-bryant-of-the-los-angeles-lakers-is-presented-with-the-news-photo/96400401

http://i.imgur.com/80g5WGk.jpg

look at his shoes you numbskull. that manlet is packing the lifts.

anyways ballers don't pack on the muscle mass like mlb and nfl players do. no reason for nba players to get bigger weight wise.

[ArbitraryWater]

Shoes or barefoot?

Hmm well when I was there I had shoes on

[ProfessorMurder]

look at his shoes you numbskull. that manlet is packing the lifts.

anyways ballers don't pack on the muscle mass like mlb and nfl players do. no reason for nba players to get bigger weight wise.

Those are called dress shoes you asshat. Plus at his age, West has shrunk probably about 1.5 inches.

[Dr.J4ever]

.
1961-62 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1962-63 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1963-64 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1964-65 - 6'6" 213 lbs.
1965-66 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1966-67 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1967-68 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1968-69 - 6'6" 214 lbs.
1969-70 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1970-71 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1971-72 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1972-73 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1973-74 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1974-75 - 6'6" 208 lbs.
1975-76 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1976-77 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1977-78 - 6'6.5" 207 lbs.
1978-79 - 6'6.5" 206 lbs.
1979-80 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1980-81 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1981-82 - 6'6.5" 210 lbs.
1982-83 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1983-84 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1984-85 - 6'7" 212 lbs.
1985-86 - 6'7.5" 214 lbs.
1986-87 - 6'7.5" 215 lbs.
1987-88 - ??? ???
1988-89 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1989-90 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1990-91 - 6'7" 215 lbs.
1991-92 - 6'7" 216 lbs.
1992-93 - 6'7" 217 lbs.
1993-94 - ??? ???
1994-95 - ??? ???
1995-96 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1996-97 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1997-98 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1998-99 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1999-00 - 6'7.5" 225 lbs.
2000-01 - 6'7" 224 lbs.

[Psileas]

Μan, 60's NBA was full of centers. :lol

[5 rings fan]

Nobody said they weren't bigger and faster dumbass

The 60s stans said they weren't 5 foot 9 thats all

[LAZERUSS]

I don't have much time this morning, and I will go into more detail later, but here are some quick views.

Football players, at almost all positions, are HEAVIER than they were in previous decades. And of course, the heaviest are the interior lineman. But take a look at an NFL lineman from 10 years agom, and after they have retired. Most all of them IMMEDIATELY drop 50+ lbs. Why?

Speed? The NFL fastest players today, are no more faster than they were in the 60's. Hell, Bob Hayes is probably still the fastest legitimate fotball player of all-time.

Jim Brown. By all accounts Brown, who ran track I believe, was one of the fastest players in the NFL. He was also 6-2 230 lbs. Now, as great as he was, he averaged 5.2 ypc. Barry Sanders, who was probably 5-9 200 lbs, and who may have been a shade quicker... 5.1 ypc in his career. Hell, an old Tiki Barber set career highs in rushing late in his career. Why? Why wasn't Brown rushing for 10 ypc against the supposedly "inferior" players of the 50's and 60's? And how come Sanders was equally productive, with overall less physical skills, and just a little over a decade ago?

The "black" NBA MYTHS have been ripped to shreds here. The MAIN reason that there were less blacks playing basketball in the NBA in the 50's, and early 60's (by the mid 60's the NBA was half black, and by the late 60's, it was the same percentage as today), was that there were just not that many good black basketball players back in the 50's and 60's. That is not some kind of racist comment, either. It was reality. The NBA drafted the BEST basketball players out of the COLLEGE pools. Sorry, but COLLEGE basketball was mostly white in the 50's and early 60's. Still, the small COLLEGES turned out great back NBA players. Willis Reed, Nate Thurmond, Walt Frazier, Zemo Beaty...and more. If you were a GREAT black basketball player, with perhaps a very few exceptions, you were playing in the NBA.

Have to go...more later...

[MiseryCityTexas]

Average center in the 60 was 6'8", of course people nowadays are higher in the L


7 footers still had problems guarding wes unseld in the post because he was incredible hulk strong. wes unseld was like a 100 times better version of chuck hayes with basketball talent.

[Psileas]

7 footers still had problems guarding wes unseld in the post because he was incredible hulk strong. wes unseld was like a 100 times better version of chuck hayes with basketball talent.

Don't even respond seriously to this troll. He doesn't know and care who Wes Unseld is, let alone run some research, he just loves bullshitting.

[Dr.J4ever]

.
1961-62 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1962-63 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1963-64 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1964-65 - 6'6" 213 lbs.
1965-66 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1966-67 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1967-68 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1968-69 - 6'6" 214 lbs.
1969-70 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1970-71 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1971-72 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1972-73 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1973-74 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1974-75 - 6'6" 208 lbs.
1975-76 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1976-77 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1977-78 - 6'6.5" 207 lbs.
1978-79 - 6'6.5" 206 lbs.
1979-80 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1980-81 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1981-82 - 6'6.5" 210 lbs.
1982-83 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1983-84 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1984-85 - 6'7" 212 lbs.
1985-86 - 6'7.5" 214 lbs.
1986-87 - 6'7.5" 215 lbs.
1987-88 - ??? ???
1988-89 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1989-90 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1990-91 - 6'7" 215 lbs.
1991-92 - 6'7" 216 lbs.
1992-93 - 6'7" 217 lbs.
1993-94 - ??? ???
1994-95 - ??? ???
1995-96 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1996-97 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1997-98 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1998-99 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1999-00 - 6'7.5" 225 lbs.
2000-01 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
BTW forgot to mention these are the average heights and weights NBA players year to year

[deja vu]

Athletes have become bigger but that's because of nutrition (and steroids).

[jstern]

.
1961-62 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1962-63 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1963-64 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1964-65 - 6'6" 213 lbs.
1965-66 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1966-67 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1967-68 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1968-69 - 6'6" 214 lbs.
1969-70 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1970-71 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1971-72 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1972-73 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1973-74 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1974-75 - 6'6" 208 lbs.
1975-76 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1976-77 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1977-78 - 6'6.5" 207 lbs.
1978-79 - 6'6.5" 206 lbs.
1979-80 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1980-81 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1981-82 - 6'6.5" 210 lbs.
1982-83 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1983-84 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1984-85 - 6'7" 212 lbs.
1985-86 - 6'7.5" 214 lbs.
1986-87 - 6'7.5" 215 lbs.
1987-88 - ??? ???
1988-89 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1989-90 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1990-91 - 6'7" 215 lbs.
1991-92 - 6'7" 216 lbs.
1992-93 - 6'7" 217 lbs.
1993-94 - ??? ???
1994-95 - ??? ???
1995-96 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1996-97 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1997-98 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1998-99 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1999-00 - 6'7.5" 225 lbs.
2000-01 - 6'7" 224 lbs.

http://www.nba.com/news/survey_2007.html

For until 2007.

I remember creating a topic showing my result after averaging the height all all the starting shooting guards in NBA Live 95, vs the starting shooting guards in the league a couple of years ago, and the ones from 95 were taller. Which was interesting since the kids love to talk about how shooting guards were 6'3" back in the 90s.

[jlip]

B-ball Reference has league averages. Obviously b-ball ref is not always accurate.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats.html

[steve]

I think something you can't overlook when discussing something like this is basketball has always prized physical height as an asset. It helps to have skill but it also helps to be tall, this is a truism that extends back to the beginning of the sport. So the disparity between heights in the '60s and now is likely going to be fairly small, whereas that won't be the case in sports like baseball and football that don't really prize physical height all that much (and while basketball players have a tendency to be strong, it's not something that's an outright requirement, but in the NFL it pays to be stronger than the other guy, so they'll keep putting on muscle mass to that end).

[SHAQisGOAT]

BTW forgot to mention these are the average heights and weights NBA players year to year

Back in the day, most players were measured w/o shoes on and the league didn't really keep track of players' weights, though.. Bet that's "reflected" on that list.

[TheMan]

The notion that humans and therefore athletes have evolved into bigger, stronger and faster in a few generations is laughable, humans are basically the same as thousands of years ago.

Weight training and PEDs are the reason why.

[swagga]

Back in the day, most players were measured w/o shoes on and the league didn't really keep track of players' weights, though.. Bet that's "reflected" on that list.

partially agree on height.

But the greatest difference imo is weight. It's no surprise. Compared to the 50s(:lol ), 60s and 70s training today is miles ahead in:
- pro nutrition
- pro weight training
- pro juicing.
I bet you those official weights are quite far from the truth for many players you see today. And that's not just weight, that's muscle. Sure, you had outliers in the 50s/60s/70s but from an average standpoint it's not even in the same zipcode.

[DCL]

how many nba players in the 60s looked anything like lebron or westbrook??

[jstern]

how many nba players in the 60s looked anything like lebron or westbrook??

I like when people bring up Lebron as if he's the norm. How many players from the 2014 era look like Lebron?

I Googled NBA players, 60s

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0610/nba_g_oscarrobertson_576.jpg

That's one of the first image. Just because things were in black and white back then, doesn't mean that they had inferior genetics. A person from the 1820s is going to be genetically identical with a person born today.

[DCL]

I like when people bring up Lebron as if he's the norm. How many players from the 2014 era look like Lebron?

quite a few, but they aren't running or jumping or scoring like him.

[jstern]

quite a few, but they aren't running or jumping or scoring like him.

Yeah, sure, they just choose not to show that athleticism.

[DCL]

Yeah, sure, they just choose not to show that athleticism.


topic is about size, not athleticism. maybe it is very hard for you to read.

[jstern]

partially agree on height.

But the greatest difference imo is weight. It's no surprise. Compared to the 50s(:lol ), 60s and 70s training today is miles ahead in:
- pro nutrition
- pro weight training
- pro juicing.
I bet you those official weights are quite far from the truth for many players you see today. And that's not just weight, that's muscle. Sure, you had outliers in the 50s/60s/70s but from an average standpoint it's not even in the same zipcode.

All that is true, but how much of an impact is it really.

I tend to focus more on the evolution of the game than the physical side, since I know perception makes everything old seem inferior.

But look at these 100m dash world records. The difference for the World Record Holder in 1960 and Usain Bolt is not even half a second. What if Usain Bolt wasn't even born, since he's such a rare freak. It would be even less.

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/athletics/record-100m.htm

[jstern]

topic is about size, not athleticism. maybe it is very hard for you to read.

So why not mention those guys, because you know very well that you mentioned those two because they're the most athletic guys in the league.

Russell doesn't even stand out that much compared to other players. His athleticism yes, but not his physical self. You'll probably interpret that as me saying that he looks weak.

[Kblaze8855]

We had an argument here in like 2003 on Shaqs opponents at the 5 vs Wilts and we looked at Shaqs last 20 opponents at the time and wilts at that point in his career...Wilts were bigger. The 6'5'' white scrub at center has always been bullshit fed by people who dont look into it.

Back when the NBA did Mr Average yearly it was always Matt Harpring except one year I think it was Jason Richardson.

Average NBA player has always been like 6'6''.

[Marchesk]

I don't get why basketball players need to bulk up. How does it really help Lebron to have that extra 20 lbs? Especially since he's a perimiter player. Plenty of HOF players were slender or not very defined.

[Marchesk]

It's also interesting to see that West in his old age is just as tall as Kobe.

[oarabbus]

I don't get why basketball players need to bulk up. How does it really help Lebron to have that extra 20 lbs? Especially since he's a perimiter player. Plenty of HOF players were slender or not very defined.


They do need to be strong though. I'm sure you've read about MJ packing on a bunch of muscle after his rookie (soph?) year to be able to finish through hard fouls etc.

[CavaliersFTW]

All based on list info, and list info is incredibly skewed just look at that Kobe/Jerry West pick posted on the first page, basically destroys the credibility of these lists... From what I observe players are definitely heavier now, due to strength training, a ~ 15 to ~20lb difference now vs the late 50's to mid 90's is potentially accurate. Height from the late 50's to present is however, going to be roughly the same, the level of exaggeration of listed heights is the only thing that's changed as far as I can tell from independent research. Height's are way more consistently exaggerated by greater than one inch now vs then. By nature, the tallest athletes have always been filtered out as ideal basketball players, athletes who are between 6-0 and 7-0 make the best players, it's as true then as it is now. Extra muscle mass is the variable that changed.

[LAZERUSS]

I wish I could remember the brilliant poster, but he basically went right down the list of why the players of various sports that were playing in the 50's, 60's, and 70's would do worse today, and the best one I could recall was this...

Mickey Mantle would hit less homeruns because the ballparks of today are smaller...

[Dr.J4ever]

1969-70 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1970-71 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1971-72 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1972-73 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1973-74 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1974-75 - 6'6" 208 lbs.
1975-76 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1976-77 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1977-78 - 6'6.5" 207 lbs.
1978-79 - 6'6.5" 206 lbs.
1979-80 - 6'6.5" 208 lbs.
1980-81 - 6'6.5" 209 lbs.
1981-82 - 6'6.5" 210 lbs.
1982-83 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1983-84 - 6'7" 211 lbs.
1984-85 - 6'7" 212 lbs.
1985-86 - 6'7.5" 214 lbs.
1986-87 - 6'7.5" 215 lbs.
1987-88 - ??? ???
1988-89 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1989-90 - 6'7" 214 lbs.
1990-91 - 6'7" 215 lbs.
1991-92 - 6'7" 216 lbs.
1992-93 - 6'7" 217 lbs.
1993-94 - ??? ???
1994-95 - ??? ???
1995-96 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1996-97 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1997-98 - 6'7" 223 lbs.
1998-99 - 6'7" 224 lbs.
1999-00 - 6'7.5" 225 lbs.
2000-01 - 6'7" 224 lbs.

One thing, though, players today are much heavier than players back then, and that 1 inch difference in height.

In the modern sports world, tennis players are bigger, NFL offensive lines and defensive lines and linebackers are much bigger, so why aren't NBA players SIGNIFICANTLY bigger?

Could it be that today's rules favor smaller, lighter "bigs"? Thus, reducing the average. I think during the 80s and earlier decades, there was more of an effort to find and sign that big mastodon in the post, but today's game requires different skills for a "big".

[Dr.J4ever]

More average heights. Sorry I got it reversed.

1949-50 - 6'4" 197 lbs.
1950-51 - 6'4" 198 lbs.
1951-52 - 6'4.5" 198 lbs.
1952-53 - 6'4.5" 200 lbs.
1953-54 - 6'5" 205 lbs.
1954-55 - 6'5" 203 lbs.
1955-56 - 6'5" 206 lbs.
1956-57 - 6'5" 207 lbs.
1957-58 - 6'5" 205 lbs.
1958-59 - 6'5" 208 lbs.
1959-60 - 6'5.5" 206 lbs.
1960-61 - 6'5.5" 207 lbs.
1961-62 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1962-63 - 6'5.5" 208 lbs.
1963-64 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1964-65 - 6'6" 213 lbs.
1965-66 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1966-67 - 6'6" 210 lbs.
1967-68 - 6'6" 211 lbs.
1968-69 - 6'6" 214 lbs.

Going further back in NBA history shows a more significant difference, as expected.