Hey Folks, I want to get into basketball -- iv tried a bit already. Only thing is -- what does it take in terms of height? I'm 5'10, so thats pretty average. Is that good enough for basketball? Are there positions i couldn't play in the game because of it? Cheers
it all depends, how old are you? what are your skills? how do you play (like a pansy, or do you go all out, or somewhere inbetween)? How athletic are you?
Im not sure exactly what my skills are at this point. Im very good for short bursts of energy, i can be pretty fast. My playing style would probably be all out once i get good. Im fit, doing workout too, and making muscle gains all the time. Do you know of *ANY* basketballers who have found short height to be an impediment?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AtomicDogg:</div><div class="quote_post"> Do you know of *ANY* basketballers who have found short height to be an impediment?</div> No it is just a coincidence that most NBA players are tall!
im not sure im sure you can always play for like a local league, but playing for like a college thats pretty hard since ou are already 19 and you havent really played, but anything is possiable Hakeem Olajuwan(sp?) touched a basketball for the first time when he was 16 but then again he was over 7 foot
i say just try it, mugsy bogues was 5'4" and was very very good. Spud won the dunk contest at 5'7" same as nate robinson at 5'8", height is a big deal, but skill will override an hieght disadvantage if you are good enough like AI
Yea you could always do pick up games for fun, or local leagues. For short guys I'd say try to use your quickness if you have any to your advantage
Height is very important, depending on what level you are playing at. Heart, height, and skill make up a good basketball player. Of coarse there are always ways of making up for height.
Height is important depending on position. At 5'10", the only position you'll be comfortable at is going to be PG once you get out of HS. At that height in HS, depending where you go and what class you're in, you could get away with playing the 3 or 4. However, height, while historically it matters, there are some players who've proven in doens't matter. Take note of Earl Boykins, Mugsy Bogues, Spud Webb, Nate Robinson, TJ Ford, etc. All of them are 6' or under and all have had or had success to some extent on the NBA level.
Moo2k, all those players you mentioned are very rare and those guys are freaks of nature. But you're right, it can be done. Realistically, it will be tough for this kid since he is already 19 and just starting to learn the game.
It's all about wingspan and standing reach, dude. You don't guard players or shoot with the top of your head. However, if you're playing point guard, you probably need some height to look over the tops of defenders. It's just like in football for a quarterback. However, if you got skill/good mental game for basketball and if you're good, you're good. Earl Boykins can get off shots because he can shoot a high arcing shot accurately (almost instinctively) and he passes and handles very well. Guys like Allen Iverson have tremendous speed and long arms to disrupt the ball, dunk it, and shoot over taller players. He can do some fancy dribbling moves very few guys can do because of his wingspan. These guys are all so mentally quick and physically quick they can dismantle teams comprised of much taller players. However, playing that small one needs to be able to absorb contact from heavier players and also find ways to beat guys who are trying to post up on you. When players with their backs turned against you try to dislodge you, you have to gauge whether it's safer to hold position and wait for help or to gamble defensive position and steal the ball.
Yes height matters in basketball. The taller a person is, the easier it is for them to block shots, shoot over people, dunk, get rebounds. Most players in the NBA are from 6 feet to 7 feet tall. While the average american is 5'10.
To me height matters. But, keep in mind that, just because your tall doesnt mean your going to be good at basketball.
yes..height does matter..its just one of those essintial things that are needed in basketball for MOST players to suceed..football takes agility and strenghth..soccer takes speed..baseball takes power..etc
Like they always say, you can't teach height. That's why guys like Sene are drafted so high because their length and height for their age is too mouth-watering to pass up. I'd say that you'd have to be really talented like an Iverson or have some sort of other special physical aspect (i.e. Bonzi Well's strength for his size allows him to be both an SF and SG) to be able to get away with being undersized.