The Blue Elephant
Well-Known Member
https://legallysociable.com/2013/08...l-men-between-ages-20-and-40-play-in-the-nba/
0.07% of American men between 6'6" and 6"8" are in the NBA. Even having this really tall height you have a tiny percent chance of being in the NBA. It is that hard.
However, this changes when you are above 7'0" in height. Out of all American men between the age 20 and 40 a whopping 17% are part of the NBA. That is how rare and desirable it is to be this height (Also keep in mind this doesn't factor in how many of the 83% of 7 footers didn't even try to be an NBA player).
This brings up the question, if you were born with Ruby Gobert's height and build do you think you would be part of that 17%? Of course you would have realized your height relatively early on in life and had most of your life to develop your basketball skills. Me personally, I think that I am not so sure, being 7'0" isn't a guarantee or anything.
One of my best friends is 5'10" and was forced to play power forward in high school. He averaged 8 rebounds a game in high school while still being the best shooter on the team. His coach told him that if he was 6'4" he would have a D-1 scholarship. If he was 7'0" tall I have little doubt he would be in the NBA right now.
Basketball being so height dependent makes me have a little bit of bitterness about it and prevents me from enjoying it as much as I would want to. In soccer one of the top two best players in the world is 5'7" (Messi). Zlatan Ibrahimović is 6'5" and is one of the top 5 best in the world. This height range fits like 80% of mens height in the world (I made up this stat). Similar to NFL in which 5'8" you can still be a great running back and 6'10" you can be a great OT.
I realize that in the NBA there are exceptions like Muggsy etc being really short and Barkley being short for position but it is realllly rare. Also I realize that in the NFL and soccer you also require elite genetic gifts besides height but it seems much less dependent and more overcomeable.
0.07% of American men between 6'6" and 6"8" are in the NBA. Even having this really tall height you have a tiny percent chance of being in the NBA. It is that hard.
However, this changes when you are above 7'0" in height. Out of all American men between the age 20 and 40 a whopping 17% are part of the NBA. That is how rare and desirable it is to be this height (Also keep in mind this doesn't factor in how many of the 83% of 7 footers didn't even try to be an NBA player).
This brings up the question, if you were born with Ruby Gobert's height and build do you think you would be part of that 17%? Of course you would have realized your height relatively early on in life and had most of your life to develop your basketball skills. Me personally, I think that I am not so sure, being 7'0" isn't a guarantee or anything.
One of my best friends is 5'10" and was forced to play power forward in high school. He averaged 8 rebounds a game in high school while still being the best shooter on the team. His coach told him that if he was 6'4" he would have a D-1 scholarship. If he was 7'0" tall I have little doubt he would be in the NBA right now.
Basketball being so height dependent makes me have a little bit of bitterness about it and prevents me from enjoying it as much as I would want to. In soccer one of the top two best players in the world is 5'7" (Messi). Zlatan Ibrahimović is 6'5" and is one of the top 5 best in the world. This height range fits like 80% of mens height in the world (I made up this stat). Similar to NFL in which 5'8" you can still be a great running back and 6'10" you can be a great OT.
I realize that in the NBA there are exceptions like Muggsy etc being really short and Barkley being short for position but it is realllly rare. Also I realize that in the NFL and soccer you also require elite genetic gifts besides height but it seems much less dependent and more overcomeable.