Height matters

Dwight Howard is ecstatic. The one-time NBA champion and multiple All-Star expressed delight upon hearing that the PBA is mulling removing the height restriction on imports for the upcoming season. The former Strong Group Athletics reinforcement took credit for the move, even indirectly thanking league commissioner Willie Marcial.

 “Now I can be 6’10 in peace. Still trying to figure out why a basketball league had a height limit in the first place. But I’m glad the commissioner listened to our request,” Howard said in a social media post Thursday. He most recently made the news upon buying shares in a basketball league in Taiwan.

It’s been more than a decade since the league has had imports beyond 6’9. The tallest import was Bruno Sundov, who suited up for Rain or Shine in the 2013 Commissioners Cup. The Croatian big man was measured at 7’2 3/4. Former NBA giants like Otto Moore also saw action in the league more than three decades ago.

One reason for the height handicap was to ensure that the competition was not beyond local players’ reach, literally. But with the increase in size of local players in recent years and the entry of tall, quality Fil-foreign ballers, the game has changed. In addition, the country’s participation in international competitions and hosting of the FIBA World Cup have made taller players a more common sight. In the 1980’s, a typical PBA center was 6’4. Now. They hover closer to 6’7. Even if it is claimed that basketball is now a “positionless” game, size still matters. You still need a big man to protect the rim, change shots and grab rebounds.

What would it mean for the PBA to have gargantuan reinforcements again? To begin with, there’ll be more blocked shots and dunks. Secondly, defenses will change, as coaches and players will have to get more creative in containing their giant opponents. Third, outside shooting will improve even more, providing a release from double teams in the low post. Teams will also run more so as to avoid defenses from setting up.

All in all, it would be a fascinating new era for the PBA.