The modern NBA is filled with 7-footers launching threes, handling the ball like point guards, and dishing out dimes with flash. But before it was fashionable for big men to play like guards, a handful of pioneers were already blurring the positional lines and rewriting the rulebook.
These big men were ahead of their time, bringing finesse, skill, and a surprising amount of perimeter swagger to the frontcourt. From centers who could run the break to power forwards with legit handles, these are the OG unicorns of basketball.
19. Clifford Robinson
“Uncle Cliffy” was doing the stretch-forward thing before most coaches knew what that meant. He could shoot, run, and guard multiple positions—basically a 6’10” Swiss Army knife.
18. Toni Kukoc
He wasn’t technically a “big” in the traditional sense, but at 6’11”, Kukoc played like a guard trapped in a forward’s frame. He could pass, shoot, and handle the ball with a Euro flair that the league wasn’t quite ready for.
17. Chris Webber
C-Webb could pass like a point guard and had footwork resembling ballet rather than basketball. He hit jumpers or led fast breaks like a 6’10” magician when he wasn’t throwing behind-the-back dimes.
16. Bill Laimbeer
Yes, he was a bruiser, but Laimbeer was also one of the first centers to step out and knock down shots consistently. He didn’t exactly move like a guard, but he sure played like one offensively.
15. Detlef Schrempf
Schrempf brought a crafty, perimeter-heavy game to the forward position, with passing and shooting skills that made him a matchup nightmare. He was basically what every team now wants in a stretch big.
14. Arvydas Sabonis
The version of Sabonis we saw in the NBA was a little worn down, but the skills were still wild—touch passes, full-court outlets, and a feathery jumper. In his prime overseas, he moved and thought like a point guard trapped in a giant’s frame.
13. Andrei Kirilenko
AK-47 was everywhere—blocking shots, stealing passes, and initiating offense at 6’9″ with an impressive wingspan. He brought the chaos of a guard’s game to the frontcourt with style and versatility.
12. Lamar Odom
At his best, Odom looked like a 6’10” point-forward who could do some of everything. Ball-handling, playmaking, three-point shooting—he had the whole guard toolkit in a power forward’s body.
11. Derrick Coleman
Coleman’s game had layers: power in the post, finesse from mid-range, and enough ball-handling to make defenders look silly. He could go coast-to-coast or step out and drain a three before it was cool.
10. Vlade Divac
Divac pioneered the big-man passing game, threading bounce passes and orchestrating the offense from the high post. He brought finesse to a brute, primarily force position at the time.
9. Bob McAdoo
McAdoo scored like a guard from the power forward and center spots before, which was remotely normal. His jumper was smooth, his range was deep, and he could even put the ball on the floor.
8. Jack Sikma
Sikma’s signature move might’ve been the reverse pivot jumper, but his shooting touch and IQ made him stand out. At 6’11”, he was spacing the floor long before stretch bigs were the meta.
7. Sam Perkins
“Big Smooth” earned that nickname because he had one of the silkiest jumpers ever for a big man. Whether spotting up from deep or making plays off the elbow, Perkins brought a calm, guard-like game to the post.
6. Anthony Mason
Mason could guard five positions, bring the ball up the floor, and pass like a point guard. His game was gritty, but there was also surprising finesse behind the power.
5. Ralph Sampson
At 7’4″, Sampson wasn’t supposed to handle the ball or shoot from outside—but he did both easily. Injuries limited his career, but his skill set was years ahead of schedule.
4. Kevin Garnett
Garnett’s length, speed, and agility let him play all over the floor. He could run the break, knock down jumpers, and talk trash, all with a guard’s swagger.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk brought the fadeaway to the big-man game and stretched defenses in ways no 7-footer had before. He was a scoring machine who played more like a shooting guard in a center’s body.
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2. Pau Gasol
Pau’s footwork, touch, and vision were pure poetry. He brought elegance and skill to the frontcourt like few others, whether it was a no-look pass or a smooth turnaround.
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1. Christian Laettner
Long before stretch fours became a staple, Laettner pulled defenders out of the paint with his smooth mid-range jumper and passing vision. He may not have lived up to the college hype, but his perimeter skills stood out in a big man’s body.
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