Why are foreign players disproportionally centers?

[FultzNationRISE]

By my count exactly half the NBA’s starting centers are foreign:

Joker
Embiid
Wembanyama
Porzingis
Adams
Valanciunus
Capella
Markannen
Nurkic
Sabonis
Gobert
Sengun
Vucevic
Poeltl
Ayton

I dont think any other position comes close to being half international among starters (especially if we include Canada as domestic).

Is it something about the way the position is recruited? The nature of the position itself?

Kind of a weird anomaly. Could be coincidence but somehow doesnt feel like it.

[warriorfan]

I think the easiest answer is style of play for young players growing up in the latest generation here. No one wants to be the big man. Every big man wants to face up and play like KD. The problem is not a lot of them can do it successfully. I imagine these other places have more traditional development programs for young big men prospects.

[Xiao Yao You]

no AAU. Better fundamentals

[RRR3]

Markkanen is a small forward lol. As for the rest obvious because Americans are so short!

[Xiao Yao You]

can't quit me!

[FultzNationRISE]

Markkanen is a small forward lol. As for the rest obvious because Americans are so short!


Yeah true, I dunno why I was thinking of him as a center, I guess cuz of his height.

I guess I was really thinking “big men” in general even if theyre not listed as centers (including markannen, giannis etc)

[tpols]

The way I see it it's because today's league prioritizes shooting from every position especially long range shooting which maximizes spacing and euros generally provide that extremely well compared to African American centers of the past who liked to goon it up in the middle. Not only do they lack the shooting prowess necessary to maximize offenses in today's game but they also lack the foot speed to keep up with the constant 3pt close outs.

[elementally morale]

Being very tall and coordinated is extremely rare. You not only just look but pretty much instantly recognize such players. You can be a prospect at 17 if you are 7 feet tall and able to run. Putting on muscle can be done. Learning a few basic moves can be done. Defense, to a large extent can be learned. So when you are a scout working in Europe, you look for great prospects. A 6'3 SG is something the US has tons of.

One of my teammates, Kornel David, made it to the NBA. At age 15-16 we were both starters on the same team. (Budapest Honved). I'm 6'1-6'2. He is a lot taller (and is actually a bit older). Was he also a better player than the rest of us? Yes, he was. But the difference was not huge. He became a pro, most of the rest of the team had no chance.

[ralph_i_el]

Big men and floor spacers are easier to plug-and-play. Guys who don't have English as their first language probably have faced difficulties being lead ballhandlers and just leaders in general (with the majority of players being American culturally).

Big guys and shooters are less subjective in scouting.

[Xiao Yao You]

Yeah true, I dunno why I was thinking of him as a center, I guess cuz of his height.

I guess I was really thinking “big men” in general even if theyre not listed as centers (including markannen, giannis etc)

he plays center sometimes when they go with 4 guards

[Jasper]

parents want their kids to have millions so they pump their kids with growth hormone pills.

no short euro's here

[Xiao Yao You]

Lauri at the 5 tonite unless you consider Collins the 5