Best Passing Big Men

[AlexBrady]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

In a topic about the best passing big men of all time Larry Bird is mentioned? Oh Operation Sports how I love thee, lol.

Bird was an outstanding passer, but he was a shoot first player. The guys being mentioned were ball distrubuters who thought pass first.

[DieHardYankee26]

Bird was an outstanding passer, but he was a shoot first player. The guys being mentioned were ball distrubuters who thought pass first.

Shaq?

But anyway, I don't think his issue was Bird himself, moreso that he's being mentioned in a big man thread.

[aloncho11]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

In a topic about the best passing big men of all time Larry Bird is mentioned? Oh Operation Sports how I love thee, lol.

He is taller than Wes Unseld

[mkharsh33]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

Personally, I wouldn't classify Bird as a "big man"... For the vast majority of his career he played small forward. It wasn't until 1990-1991 that he was moved to the power-forward spot, and then retired after the following season in '92 - so only 2 years was he even considered a position that I would classify as a "big man" spot. You could put Bird up as one of the greatest passers of all time, at any position. I realize he was 6'9", but I never recall him playing center, and the pf/c positions, at least to my thinking, are "big man" roles....

[Streaky McFloorburn]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

I second the already mentioned bigs, and submit Yao Ming for your consideration.

[Dice]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Brad Daugherty. Unfortunately, he got overshadowed a lot because he played in the same era as Olajuwon, Ewing and Robinson. He may not have been as good as those guys overall but he did do one thing better than all of them and that was passing.

[K.So]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

Maybe Brad Miller.

[mkharsh33]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Brad Daugherty. Unfortunately, he got overshadowed a lot because he played in the same era as Olajuwon, Ewing and Robinson. He may not have been as good as those guys overall but he did do one thing better than all of them and that was passing.

Good call... I grew up in NE Ohio and typically attended 5-10 Cavs games each year from 1985 to 1992. Daugherty was a VERY talented player, with great touch on his shot and nice passing skills. Check out his stats - he AVERAGED almost 4 assists per game during his career...

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/daughbr01.html

[Jet Sufferer]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

I'm 40, so my NBA recollections go back a bit. Growing up, it was Bill Walton - hands down. I'd suggest looking up some Youtube clips of Walton, especially the 1986 Celtics championship team (Walton played in 80 of 82 games that year, and some of the clips you'll find from him that season are jaw dropping).

Walton and Sabonis came immediately to mind, anyone else I'd have to think about it.

[SteelersFreak]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

In terms of current players, Dirk is underrated as a passer.

[nyj721]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

Obviously he doesn't have the resume and the highlight reels of all the guys listed, but Greg Monroe's pretty good as far as guys in the league right now.

[lostsoul]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

rodman, especially as a bull. his outlet passes after rebounds and post bounce passes using the triangle were always very nice and almost always dead on target.

[wwharton]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

Personally, I wouldn't classify Bird as a "big man"... For the vast majority of his career he played small forward. It wasn't until 1990-1991 that he was moved to the power-forward spot, and then retired after the following season in '92 - so only 2 years was he even considered a position that I would classify as a "big man" spot. You could put Bird up as one of the greatest passers of all time, at any position. I realize he was 6'9", but I never recall him playing center, and the pf/c positions, at least to my thinking, are "big man" roles....

I'd also add that if we're going by height alone, or having played a small amount of time in a "big man" position then the list starts and ends with Magic and Lebron... but we all know that's not what this was supposed to be about so Bird doesn't belong.

I think Sabonis and Walton are at the top with some good honorable mentions listed. Shaq was a much better passer than many would think and Webber was a great call. I'll also ad Hakeem to the list.

[EAGLESFAN10]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

Pau Gasol
Marc Gasol
KG

[DutchMastah7]

Re: Best Passing Big Men

Maybe Brad Miller.

Agreed. Not as an all-timer, but definitely a very good passer for a center.