NBA’s State Of Transition — From Small Forwards, To Point Guards, To Stretch Fours

Storyline: In a league currently owned by athletic small forwards, NBA scoring point guards are powering through. But make no mistake about it: the “Stretch Four’s” will soon take over.

NBA basketball is being dominated currently by the athletic small forward. It’s a specific role that some of the best players in the league have filled.

Courtesy: allbasketball.org

There’s LeBron, who’s one of the greatest players of all time. He can play inside, he can step back and hit the 3, and he can dribble drive with ease.

Another good example is Durant. He’s an athletic guy who can play inside or take the ball on the perimeter.

LeBron and KD aren’t alone. There’s Melo, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard, for example. These guys can all play on the perimeter or move down low on a smaller defender.

The problem is that these players are aging and they’re being overtaken by point guards. The current wave of stars includes the playmaking and scoring point guard. The position is no longer a designated set-up man.

Some of the best points in the league are in that wave. Consider Russell Westbrook. He’s the best point guard, if not the best player, in the league this year. Westbrook is putting up numbers that we haven’t seen since the “Big O,” Oscar Robinson, in the 60’s.

Courtesy: YouTube.com

Think about all the other point guards who are nearing or are in their prime: Steph Curry (yes, he’s listed as a point guard), Lillard, Wall, Harden, Kyrie, Kemba Walker, D’angelo Russell…. You get the point.

The dominant point guard is already here. The problem? It doesn’t look like it will last long. While there are lots of small guards at the top of the list in the 2017 NBA Draft, most of the top players after this year are bigger players.

Of the top 20 high school seniors, ten are listed at 6’8” or taller. Of those ten, eight are considered “shooters.” And, in the Class of 2018, 9 of the top 10 players are listed as power forwards or centers. Of these nine, seven are scouted as “perimeter players.”

DeAndre Ayton, player of the future (photo, Yibada)

The top ranked senior in the Class of 2017, DeAndre Ayton, is a perfect example. He stands 7 feet tall and can hit the three-pointer better than most.

I’ve watched a few of his games and he seems nearly unstoppable. He sets up initially in the post. If he gets the ball, it’s already over. If not, he will pop out and catch on the perimeter. If you don’t close out, he will hit the shot. If you do, he will take you off the dribble and finish with an easy dunk.

If these kind of players keep developing we’ll see a league like we’ve never seen before.

The “Stretch Four,” as they’ve been called, is becoming a vital position at all levels. Just look at this year’s national championship game: Kris Jenkins hit the buzzer beater for Villanova. And in the NBA there’s Draymond Green. Although slightly undersized, Green has a ridiculous wingspan. That makes him a perfect fit for the Stretch Four position.

The 4-around-1 offensive set has never been more prominent. It made the Warriors one of the best teams in the history of the NBA. And why not? In a league where quickness is starting to overtake size, having both is a deadly combination. Add the ability to hit a shot from anyone on the floor, and you have something that’s truly great to watch.

Get ready for the “Stretch Four.”