NBA Is a Sport with a Biased Competitive Advantage

frostman on 12/02/2024 - 21:55
Last edited 12/02/2024 - 22:18 by 1 other user

Have a look at the players in NBA, they're from all over the world, namely countries with naturally tall people.

Take for example players from Serbia, Croatia these 2 countries alone have produced almost 60 players, Boban Marjanović is 2.24M tall, the damn Basketball Ring itself is 3M, I mean you must be incredibly crap if you can't slam dunk a point, rebound or throw a ball inside the free-throw lane.

I know what you're gonna say, "Yeah but there are players that are 1.8M and some shorter, so??" Well these players are generally playing one position and it's point-guard, pretty much what John Stockton was good for.

I've played School, Uni and Casual Basketball for few years and tall players have a competitive advantage.

Sports & Outdoors NBA

Comments

  • Ughhh on 12/02/2024 - 22:00
    +11

    Same thing with jockeys, except the other way.

    • donga100 on 12/02/2024 - 22:55
      +1

      Same thing with porn stars.

      • ThithLord on 13/02/2024 - 09:43
        +1

        Same thing with porn stars, except perpendicular

    • frostman on 13/02/2024 - 10:22
      -1

      Same thing with jockeys, except the other way.

      Horse Racing doesnt rely 100% on the jockey,
      You do know the Horse has a large hand at play, based on their diet, training and breed?

  • djsweet on 12/02/2024 - 22:02
    +9

    All sports are biased in the sense that hard work and commitment aren’t enough to be competitive. Genetic predisposition is required to be successful at anything but the lowest levels.

    • frostman on 13/02/2024 - 10:33
      -1

      All sports are biased in the sense that hard work and commitment aren’t enough to be competitive. Genetic predisposition is required to be successful at anything but the lowest levels.

      Yes, that's factual.
      But NBA on a scale/spectrum of advantage due to being born tall is on the extreme side.

  • SBOB on 12/02/2024 - 22:03
    +31

    Is this some kind of revelation? Or did you get dunked on today and need to vent?

  • CrispyChrispy on 12/02/2024 - 22:12
    +3

    🤯

    I'll have some of whatever you're smoking OP 🙏

    • frostman on 18/02/2024 - 19:06
      +1

      I'll meet you in the rear beach toilets at Byron Bay

  • jv on 12/02/2024 - 22:13
    -1

    What about Giannis ?

  • AngoraFish on 12/02/2024 - 22:13
    +3

    In other news, Pacific Islanders have a competitive advantage in Rugby, Kenyans have a competitive advantage in the Marathon, and white men can't jump.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 12/02/2024 - 22:55

      white men can't jump

      Unless they're on snow skiis.

      • jonagrah on 12/02/2024 - 23:41
        +1

        White men can jump!
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gD4iASNf9k

      • Euphemistic on 13/02/2024 - 08:38
        -1

        White people are most competetive in sports where there is a cultural/social advantage. Eg they 'dominated' running until African people were 'allowed' to enter.

        • CurlCurl on 13/02/2024 - 09:29

          White people are most competetive in sports where there is a cultural/social advantage. Eg they 'dominated' running until African people were 'allowed' to enter.

          African American athletes of all abilities have been blazing trails since the Olympic Games were first held in the U.S. in 1904, when hurdler George Coleman Poage became the first African American to win an Olympic medal.

    • frostman on 13/02/2024 - 10:22
      -1

      Kenyans have a competitive advantage in the Marathon

      Sorry, why?

      • pharkurnell on 13/02/2024 - 10:41
        -3

        Give the starving ones a Maccas voucher and watch em run

      • Euphemistic on 13/02/2024 - 11:19

        Just look back at the last 20 years of marathon results. Kenya and other similar countries feature prominently. There must be something in their genetics that makes them good long distance runners.

        Combine natural ability with a training and selection program and its not hard for a country to dominate in a particlar sport.

        Aussies are good swimmers. Why? Becasue there are lots of sqimming programs and competition that enables us to easily select very good athletes to send to international events. Conversly, Aussies arent really prominent in winter sports because we have a very small snow field and short winter. The only reall good athletes tend to be the ones that chase the snow all year - and that costs a lot.

        • frostman on 18/02/2024 - 19:05

          Im not arguing any of you're points.

          I'm just saying, NBA (Mens Basketball) gives an unfair advantage to a Tall guy compared to a Short.

          Say Person X is 2M tall and Person Y is 1.8M tall, both have identical basketball training/hours/camps/skills.
          Person X will outplay Person Y in the team, and Person X will be worth more money to a Team to purchase than Person Y.

          This is what I mean by a genetic disadvantage.

          Yes Aussies are good swimmers and we've won many medals but there always comes a new player like Michael Phelps that wrecks the division.

          • joker0701 on 24/02/2024 - 12:13

            @frostman: Are you new to sports?

            Steph Curry is currently the highest paid player in the NBA, he is 1.88m.
            By your logic, the top 10 players, should be the top 10 highest paid.

            Of the top 20 highest paid, 13 are guards or small forwards.

            Height does not equal value, there have been plenty of good big men, but plenty of bad big men as well.

            • donga100 on 24/02/2024 - 13:01
              +1

              @joker0701: Conversely, of the top 100 highest paid players none of them are under 6ft.

              • joker0701 on 25/02/2024 - 12:13

                @donga100: That is correct, but 6ft is a pretty average height these days. Im not saying height isnt important, im just saying its not the be all and end all.

                • donga100 on 25/02/2024 - 22:02

                  @joker0701: 5'7" is the global average or 5'10" for the US average. Every single one of the top 100 highest paid NBA is above average. 6ft is only average on dating apps.

            • frostman on 24/02/2024 - 20:12

              @joker0701:

              Steph Curry is currently the highest paid player in the NBA, he is 1.88m.

              Here's a look at top 10 players, aside from Steph

              LeBron James - 2.06
              Kevin Durant - 2.11
              Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2.11
              Damian Lillard - 1.88
              Klay Thompson - 1.98
              Joel Embiid - 2.13
              James Harden - 1.96
              Jimmy Butler - 2.01
              Paul George - 2.03

              Average Male heigh is 1.79CM
              even Steph is quite tall for an average man.

              Why can't we see one season were a bunch of players whom are 1.75CM win NBA matches?

  • Hardlyworkin on 12/02/2024 - 22:55

    Another post from old man yelling at clouds.

  • timthetoolman on 12/02/2024 - 23:19
    +1

    I agree, it's unfair how well Boban could guard Kyrie because of his height

  • ginormousgiraffe on 12/02/2024 - 23:27
    +1

    Yeah and people with better oxygen absorption are better long distance runners and people with broader shoulders and longer arms are better swimmers.

  • randomusername2017 on 12/02/2024 - 23:37
    +4

    NBA is a sport?¿

    • Baysew on 13/02/2024 - 11:43

      It's where the highest paid sneaker salesmen in the world get to meet up.

  • LeclercFerrari on 13/02/2024 - 03:43
    +1

    Sure, height helps in terms of being scouted, your potential as a prospect and especially your potential on the defensive end. But you must take into consideration players such as Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving and many more who have had immense success in the league whilst being under 6'3" without shoes.

    I understand this is still tall compared to the general population but not at the height of the NBA Average 6'6" (198cm) - The same height principal applies for many other fast-paced high-intensity sports not only basketball, such as tennis where all the top players are 6'1" or taller and quite a few over 6'4". This is more so because the best of the best seem to have it all both skill and good genetics.

    At the same time the NBA is a league for the best of the best in both genetics and skill, and there are many other leagues for those who may not be 6'4" and or freakishly athletic. for every shorter player there is a substantial amount of more people at that height competing for a spot and the Stephen Curry's emerge out of that 'shorter' pool.

    It's hard to find an athlete who is both not tall and athletic in any fast-paced sport.

    • frostman on 18/02/2024 - 18:58

      Sure, height helps in terms of being scouted, your potential as a prospect and especially your potential on the defensive end.

      Totally and my point with Basketball is height helps in EVERY aspect of the game.
      For example, if you're taller in Tennis, you can probably Ace better, but it doesn't necessarily aid you in other areas as hard as "Serving"
      However if you're tall in basketball, and learn the skill you can:

      • Rebound better
      • Dunk better
      • 3-point shoot better
      • 2-point shoot better
      • Defend better
  • CurlCurl on 13/02/2024 - 07:25

    Shane Heal is 1.83.

    The average Aussie male height is 1.78. Average for women 1.64.

    I'm 1.88.

    • onetwothreefour on 13/02/2024 - 12:14

      Are you a professional basketballer?

      • CurlCurl on 13/02/2024 - 15:22

        Nah. Never played the game. Tennis, cricket, baseball, squash, also played indoor cricket with Doug Walters.

        • onetwothreefour on 13/02/2024 - 15:34

          Well that throws out the OP's theory.

  • jellykingdom on 13/02/2024 - 08:08
    +3

    I'm confused. All sport is based on people with competitive advantage in terms of physical attributes. So is modelling (looks), the sciences (brains)… can go on and on

    • frostman on 13/02/2024 - 10:27
      +1

      I'm confused. All sport is based on people with competitive advantage

      genetics play a role in sports and champions, but it's not playing a 99% role as in NBA/Mens Basketball.

      Boxing, MMA, Golf, Tennis, Soccer, - these have no real bias to someone born with long legs or arms, or short legs/arms.

      • pharkurnell on 13/02/2024 - 10:42
        +4

        theres a large advantage to those with long reach/arms in boxing…

        • frostman on 18/02/2024 - 18:54

          Tyson knocked the lights out of Pinklon Thomas who was 1.9M

          Given the weight-classes in boxing, there is almost 0 bias in winning, the longer reach fighters have a slower recoil and if you're sharp and short you can break through.

  • brendanm on 13/02/2024 - 08:11
    +5

    Wow op, have you cracked the code! I don't think anyone else has ever realised that basketball players are tall before. Please share some other insights with us.

  • Dollar General on 13/02/2024 - 08:12
    -1

    No wonder the world has turned so woke

  • Duckie2hh on 13/02/2024 - 09:20
    +5

    TLDR OP is short and is salty

    • pharkurnell on 13/02/2024 - 11:47
      +1

      LOL… I couldnt quite put it so elegantly…

  • kiriakoz on 13/02/2024 - 09:23

    If it helps, the sport is mostly advertisements, like all other American sports. That’s why a 48 minute game takes 2.5 hours. I spoke to a couple of guys in my office who say they only watch the 4th quarter (apparently you can purchase just the 4th quarter to stream, not sure if that’s true).

    There’s no better reason to show how useless a sport is than realising that even the people who claim to follow it don’t watch most of the game.

  • CurlCurl on 13/02/2024 - 09:31

    There’s no better reason to show how useless a sport is than realising that even the people who claim to follow it don’t watch most of the game.

    Since when is a couple most?

  • foursaken on 13/02/2024 - 09:50

    Let me get this straight, you're complaining that some people are more suited than others to a sport that largely no one gives a shit about in this country?

    Okay, no one mention swimming, weight lifting, horse riding, track and field, AFL, NRL, cricket, netball, gridiron, soccer, or any other sport where someone may have a natural advantage over another. It's the only way to prevent more threads like this.

    I mean thank god competitive lightbulb changing isn't a thing

    ggz.

    • carlJack on 13/02/2024 - 12:05
      -1

      All of the sports you mentioned…. you can actually train and get good. But no amount of training can increase your height. OP just want a discourse. You dont have to be salty about that.

      • foursaken on 13/02/2024 - 13:56

        "Good" means you're not good enough to play in a national league. I put it to you that most of the sports people we see on our televisions are gifted athletes with a genetic advantage that most of us simply could not compete with. Therefore the entire "discourse" is hollow.

    • frostman on 18/02/2024 - 19:10

      Let me get this straight, you're complaining that some people are more suited than others to a sport that largely no one gives a shit about in this country?
      Okay, no one mention swimming, weight lifting, horse riding, track and field, AFL, NRL, cricket, netball, gridiron, soccer, or any other sport where someone may have a natural advantage over another. It's the only way to prevent more threads like this.
      I mean thank god competitive lightbulb changing isn't a thing
      ggz.

      My previous comment got deleted because you cried and reported me.

      I'll reply sensibly now.

      If you're 2.2M tall in basketball with competitive training, you can do the following over a 1.8m Player

      • Rebound better
      • Dunk better
      • 3-point shoot better (debatable)
      • 2-point shoot better inside the ring
      • Defend better
      • Pivot-pass better

      Show me 5 advantages being shorter or taller in the games you mentioned?

      • foursaken on 19/02/2024 - 13:57

        Nope, I've never reported anyone here, nor cried because of the internet.

        Genetic advantages apply everywhere in life, from your intelligence and "looks", to your sporting ability or lack of it. You best learn to accept this and move on.

  • JimB on 13/02/2024 - 10:14

    The only sports I'm not genetically disadvantaged for is snooker and darts, I do have a crack at other sports even with my genetic disadvantage

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 13/02/2024 - 13:10

      Balancing a pint, taking a drag on a durry making you squint while chucking a handful of darts is a unique set of skills.

      • JimB on 13/02/2024 - 14:36
        +1

        Bullseye!

  • EFC94 on 13/02/2024 - 10:43

    Wait till you find out that most leagues around the world give (un)intentional bias to the larger clubs so they can be more successful and bring more money in for the league.

    Lots of jobs around the world are performed by a certain type of person, however there is obviously exceptions to this rule. Tradies are usually men, office assistants are usually women. Netballers are usually women, olympic powerlifters are usually overweight (but strong) men.

    This is one of the weirdest posts on Ozbargain.

    • frostman on 13/02/2024 - 10:54
      +1

      Your response is like people talking about car racing and you just jumped in to discuss the Tour de France.

      It has no resemblance to my topic.

      office assistants are usually women

      lol yep, because a man genetically cannot perform the job of an office assistance, or chooses not to?

      • EFC94 on 13/02/2024 - 13:53

        You said tall people have an unfair advantage playing basketball. Like yes everyone has known this for a while. Different sized and shape people are better at some sports than others and thats good for them.

        This also moves into the workplace away from professional sports where like I said tradies are usually men and office assistants are usually women. Thats not being sexist its just stating facts. Women can also be tradies and men can also be office assistants. Similarly sometimes shorter people can be successful at basketball.

        You still haven't explained to anyone what the point of your post is/was.

        • Ughhh on 13/02/2024 - 20:35

          Perhaps op wants more diversity in NBA teams?

          New rule - every teams have at least 1x obese, 1x midget players on the court.

          • miwahni on 13/02/2024 - 22:09

            @Ughhh: Is that an obese midget, or one of each?

  • DJR9000 on 13/02/2024 - 11:19
    +1

    in other news, water is wet

    • pharkurnell on 13/02/2024 - 11:48

      can you prove this?

  • carlJack on 13/02/2024 - 12:07
    +1

    Man….these people come with pitch forks if they see someone with different opinion.

    • brendanm on 13/02/2024 - 17:23
      +1

      What different opinion? It's literally stating the bleeding obvious.

    • Ughhh on 13/02/2024 - 20:38

      Looks like op is in the naughty bin, probably for bringing said pitch fork to people with different opinions.

      • frostman on 18/02/2024 - 18:50

        Still here

  • Farrba on 13/02/2024 - 13:11

    what about gsw in 2017-18? curry durant thompson lol.

  • FocusRider on 18/02/2024 - 19:11
    +1

    You don’t say…

  • Daniel Plainview on 25/02/2024 - 14:53

    Is the OP going to place their actual point up soon…? Is this a question? An insight they thought they'd share with us? Confused OzB for their personal blog?

    haha I love their final quote as if to add context & irrefutable evidence to their overall 'point':

    I've played School, Uni and Casual Basketball for few years and tall players have a competitive advantage

    Now TBH - height is just one part of aptitude for basketball - the main one, by far - is being in a country with a culture of playing basketball at an early age. Without that all the height & athleticism in the world won't see you last long at the top levels of the sport. There's a few notable exceptions to this - but they are by definition, exceptions.

  • JumpingUnicorns on 15/03/2024 - 17:20
    +1

    Brother is defs 5'10" writing this 😭

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