The Hybrid Forward: The Evolution of the Power Forward

These days in the NBA a hybrid forward is an essential part of a championship team and necessary if you want to compete with any team. I would say there is no exact time period for it, but it started to hit the NBA in this decade.

One of the first to show us what a hybrid forward was is Dirk Nowitzki. Standing 7'0" tall and weighing in at 245 pounds, he isnt exactly the ideal power forward as far as weight goes. So to compensate for his lack of strength and ability to bang down low, he developed a three-point shot and a jumper from anywhere on the floor. He also has a nice turnaround and arcs it very high as he releases it, making it impossible to block.

The hybrid forward in today's game is basically a four with the height and in some cases weight to play like a three or two. It is a mismatch however you put it, unless you have a hybrid to match up with the opponents. They are simply too agile and quick for a big bulky four or five, and too big and tall for a three to guard, unless your name is Lebron James.

The European players really started the trend because over there it is more of a finesse game and their Bigs aren't big strong brutes. For whatever reason, it seems to me over there European bigs have to be able to stretch the floor. As more "Hybrids" infiltrate the league, you will see fewer and fewer of the back-to-the-basket type of post players.

It is ironic to me that the '90s were ruled by centers like Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaq, Hakeem and many more. Now a good strong center is hard to find. For each position, it seems as though the size and requirements are decreasing. Teams used to want centers 7'0" and up and now its 6'10" and up.

It is almost like Hybrid cars that supposedly will soon replace normal cars. I think it's just a fad in the NBA for now, and soon we will back to the brute strength down low. For now, though, just enjoy this transformation of the power forward as much as you can.

It really puts the onus on the general managers and management to get a hybrid forward or else suffer the consequences: "Live By The Hybrid, Die By The Hybrid"