The Ultimate Guide to the Center Position in Basketball
Center is a unique position in basketball. They’re typically the tallest player on the team and they have the job of being an enforcer near the basket on defense while being an inside scorer. Centers are scarce because there are very few tall skilled players. Having a skilled center at any level adds great value to your team. Years ago, the truly dominating players in basketball played the center position. That was when offenses emphasized getting the ball inside. Teams had to game plan to stop centers. Today, centers dominate with their versatility, and not necessarily their size and strength.
History of the Center Position
In 1891, James Naismith invented basketball. In the first game, Naismith had 9 players on the court for each team. For the first 5 years, there wasn’t a set number of players on a team. Teams would use as many as 50 players. In 1896, in a game between the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago, each team used 5 players. After the number of players was standardized in basketball, coaches created regular positions. Those players’ positions haven’t changed. Coaches used a numbering system to identify the positions. Number 1 was the point guard, No. 2 was the off guard, No. 3 was the small forward, No. 4 was the power forward, and No. 5 was the center. For the first 82 years, a basketball center was the dominant low-post player on the team. Their job was to score near the basket, block shots on defense, and rebound the basketball. They were usually the tallest players on the team. When the 3-point shot was implemented in the NBA (National Basketball Association) in 1979, the center position changed for many teams. A skilled center could step outside and make 3-pointers, or they could post up in the paint and score close to the basket. Some centers even handle the ball. They’re called “point centers” because they have the same skill sets as a point guard. Many (NBA) teams still have traditional centers, but a center who can play outside and inside is preferable.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Center
Centers used to be primarily inside players. Now many play both inside and outside. Coaches value centers with multiple skills. They want a center who can do everything that a guard can do. That means they can dribble effectively, drive to the basket, and score from the outside. Below is a look at some of the responsibilities of a center:
Offense: Scoring near the basket or inside is the traditional role of the center. Because the center is usually the tallest player on the floor, they’re often able to score over people. That means centers use their height advantage to shoot over the top of defenders. Having a center who’s taller than the player that’s guarding them is beneficial. Centers often play with their “back to the basket.” That means they set up with their back toward their own basket while facing their opponent’s basket. From this position, centers can pivot and try to score or pass the ball to an open shooter. A center that steps outside and can make 3-point shots is called a “stretch-five.” Playing with a stretch-five makes it harder for opponents to guard all the players. It opens the floor, which causes the defense to have to cover more space. One offensive move that’s often unique to a center is a “hook shot.” A hook shot is when a player straightens their shooting hand and shoots from the side over their head. Because centers are usually the tallest players on the floor, this shot is hard to defend. Centers are expected to be good screeners. A screen is when a player steps in front of a defender for a teammate so they can get a shot off. Screening a player gives the screener a clear view of the basket, which gives the shooter a better chance at making the shot.
Defense: A center’s main responsibility on defense is to “defend the rim.” That means it’s their job to make sure that opponents can’t get close to the basket for easy shots. They also must make sure that their opponents don’t drive through the lane, which is 16 feet wide and 15 feet long in the NBA. Centers are typically the best shot blockers on the team. Even if they don’t block a shot, their presence makes it harder for opponents to get clear shots. Because centers are now stepping outside to shoot 3-pointers, they often need to be comfortable at covering offensive players away from the basket.
Rebounding: Often, the center is the best rebounder on the team. Their job is to get the missed shots on both offense and defense. When a player grabs a missed shot from their teammate and scores, it’s called a putback. Centers sometimes lead their team in putbacks.
Key Traits of a Dominant Center
The center position’s role over time has changed dramatically in basketball. It’s not enough to just be tall and skilled inside. Good centers excel at every facet of the game. Below are some key traits of a center:
Height: Height, as the saying goes, isn’t something that can be taught. The average height of an NBA center is 6-foot-11. For the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) the average center’s height is just over 6-foot-4. Outside the NBA, it can be hard to find a true center because there aren’t enough tall, skilled players. Roughly 1% of men are over 6-foot-4 and about 1% of women are over 6-foot. In college and high school basketball, there’s a shortage of true centers. They might use 3 guards and 2 forwards or 3 forwards and 2 guards.
Mobility: A good center must be able to get up and down the floor quickly. The game is fast, and centers must be able to keep up with their opponents on defense.
Footwork: Centers need to have excellent footwork. When they play with their back to the basket, they must know how to spin and use their feet to get around opponents. Some offensive moves, like shooting a hook shot, require precise footwork.
Strength: Not only does a center need to be tall and mobile, but they must also be strong. Centers will spend a lot of time inside getting jostled around by their opponents on both offense and defense. They constantly must battle for position, which means they need to be in a good spot to get rebounds or have the ball lobbed to them.
Skilled: The best centers are 5-tool players. A 5-tool player can rebound, shoot, dribble, play good defense, and pass the ball effectively.
Positionless basketball is a term that coaches and players often use to describe the current structure of the game. The distinctions between guards, forwards, and center have become more ambiguous over time because they all strive to be 5-tool players. If a center is a true 5-tool player, it’s a huge advantage because they’ll likely be the tallest person on the floor. The center position will continue to evolve, and great centers will always be in demand more than any other basketball position.