The Line Has Been Blurred...

[fro b giant]

Now more than ever the players in the NBA are more of the hybrid variety. Back in the 70's, 80's, and 90's it was easier to decipher what position a player played by simply looking at them. Nowadays players are able to play more positions than one, two, and even three. Some examples include but are not limited to:
Lebron

Kobe

Dirk

Amare

Pau Gasol

Lamar Odom

Durant

Bosh

While there certainly were examples of players like this in previous eras, there didn't seem to be as many. Before you know it we won't have positions, just players on a team, we are almost there (All-Star Game is a great example of this, many times players are playing out of their natural position). Why do you think this is?

 

[tommykairaa]

basketball will forever have positions

 

[doctorshoes]

The only hybrid positions are forwards who dominate the ball. There will always be positions unless we start seeing 7 footers with point guard skills

 

[nash]

Bosh

 

[fro b giant]

Not that the actual title of a position will not be there but the responsibility of that position seems to have changed.

Back in the 80's the Power Forward was primarily a banger, a guy who got put back and rebounds. Now you see Forwards passing shooting from 3 more often. You see larger guards.

 

[alexanderfasto]

True, But still Kobe can't guard a Shaq inside the paint all game long neither Dirk or Lebron...
This just mainly apply to more athletic players like Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Amare, and etc.

Dirk, isn't a multiple pos. player he's plays 4 but because of his size and agility coaches are forced to match him up with a smaller player, thanks to Gregg Popovich (Bruce Bowen)
Bosh, is a PF stuck in a Small Forwards Body, you let Bosh play with Russell or Laimbeer he won't last 2 mins. in the court, Needs at least 15 lbs. more

You can Thank Magic, MJ, Penny, Barkley, Pippen, Big O, Havlicek, Maravich, Hakkem, Chamberlain, Russell, Bird, Malone (Karl and Moses), and etc. Thank these HOFamers
for the evolution of Basketball..

This is the epitomy of a Basketball Players evolution, a 6-9 250 lb. full steam for a gigantic dunk, a 7 footer shooting 3's all game long... 

 

[everysingletime]

Just the evolution of the game. 

 

[i nasmatic i]

Josh Smith exemplifies your statement.

 

[rcdp]

Originally Posted by doctorshoes

The only hybrid positions are forwards who dominate the ball. There will always be positions unless we start seeing 7 footers with point guard skills

Too bad Livingston never panned out

 

[ricardo malta]

Livingston was 6'7" buddy.