How good would Yao Ming be at 6'10?

[syfy9]

My friend was arguing that he wouldn't even be in the league if he was 6'10.

I said that it's preposterous to think so because Yao is already skilled as he is. He says that he was only so dominant because he was really tall. I told him of the other 7'5+ guys (Shawn Bradley, Manute Bol) who weren't as offensively talented as Yao. I also state that Yao would probably be quicker if he was shorter.

In the long run, I wouldn't say Yao would have as much success as he has had in the league if he was 6'10, but he would definitely be a decent player. Sort of like a Luis Scola. Thoughts?

[Fafnir]

He might have been healthier as the taller you are the more force and impact on your joints.

I think he'd have still been successful, but he wouldn't have  been as good if he didn't gain quickness to go with losing superior size. He was so good at using his size, height, and length in the post.

Still sad he just faded away in his prime due to injury.

[Atzar]

My friend was arguing that he wouldn't even be in the league if he was 6'10.

I said that it's preposterous to think so because Yao is already skilled as he is. He says that he was only so dominant because he was really tall. I told him of the other 7'5+ guys (Shawn Bradley, Manute Bol) who weren't as offensively talented as Yao. I also state that Yao would probably be quicker if he was shorter.

In the long run, I wouldn't say Yao would have as much success as he has had in the league if he was 6'10, but he would definitely be a decent player. Sort of like a Luis Scola. Thoughts?

Assuming he was healthy, he'd be a quality NBA player.  7'6" men with his skill level are unheard of, but 6'10" men with his skill level are still rare. 

How good would depend on whether the drop in height would be accompanied by an increase in athleticism.   

[crimson_stallion]

i ddoubt he'd have made an NBA rotation. The guy barely averaged 9 rebounds and 2 blocks despite being at least 3-5 inches taller than anybody else on the court.  That's garbage.  Josh Smith has averaged those numbers for his career at 6'8" and people still argue his worth.

Other similarly tall guys like Shawn Bradley were shot blocking machines, averaging around 3 blocks a game. If Yao was 6'10"  I imagine he'd average something like 1 block, 7 rebounds and 15 points a night at the absolute most.

Likewise his offensive game really wasnt anything that special - good, but not elite.  Usually just came down to him shooting straight over a guy who is 5" shorter.

He still has some skill so he would still have been a solid player in the China league im sure, but I doubt any NBA Scout would have ever looked twice.

[rondoallaturca]

His game was entirely predicated on finesse rather than simply overwhelming the opponent with sheer physical dominance. That's why his rebounding and blocking numbers may seem underwhelming despite his impressive height. If anything, Yao would likely have had a better NBA career if he was just 6'10, because as Fafnir pointed out, the chances he gets the injuries he had  would be drastically reduced.

[Eddie20]

I think he would've been a Nenad Krstic clone.

[Fafnir]

I really surprised how low people are putting Yao's game. He was a complete C: he played down low, hit his free throws, rebounded solidly(career 16.5 RR), shot blocked well (similar rate to Tim Duncan), and played hard on defense while anchoring good defensive teams.

[Moranis]

I really surprised how low people are putting Yao's game. He was a complete C: he played down low, hit his free throws, rebounded solidly(career 16.5 RR), shot blocked well (similar rate to Tim Duncan), and played hard on defense while anchoring good defensive teams.

I think most of that people attribute to his size though.  I mean 21/10/2 with 2 blocks per 36 is good but not great especially for someone that big.  He did have a pretty nice shooting touch though.

[manl_lui]

he'd still be pretty good, maybe a slight drop in rebounds or points or maybe not drop at all.

Yao has some good post moves, but lack in athleticism. He does block out pretty well though but can't jump, so probably a drop in block shots.

He already has a good/great jump shot to begin with so at 6'10" it won't really make much of a difference for him on offense. Maybe a bit harder in the post, but everything else he should be fine.

I also would like to point that he might have a slight longer career if he was that tall. I believe I was reading something a few years ago that his frame doesn't really support a 7'6" guy. But then again, all speculation, dude retired and guessing really isn't going to help bring him back to the league

[Who]

Nazr Mohammed

[Chris]

I really surprised how low people are putting Yao's game. He was a complete C: he played down low, hit his free throws, rebounded solidly(career 16.5 RR), shot blocked well (similar rate to Tim Duncan), and played hard on defense while anchoring good defensive teams.

I agree with this.  But, I think he was able to do most of that stuff because of his size.  Otherwise, he would have been too plodding to be successful.  His shot was effective because his height allowed him to shoot over anyone.  He was a good shotblocker because he was huge.  He was able to rebound decently, despite his lack of quickness, because he was taller than everyone else.

Unless he became signicantly more athletic at that height, he would have just been seen as a "stiff". 

Basically, Yao was skilled and relatively athletic for a 7'6" guy.  But at 6'11" he would basically be a (much) less athletic, and less skilled Spencer Hawes.

[rondoallaturca]

I really surprised how low people are putting Yao's game. He was a complete C: he played down low, hit his free throws, rebounded solidly(career 16.5 RR), shot blocked well (similar rate to Tim Duncan), and played hard on defense while anchoring good defensive teams.

I think most of that people attribute to his size though.  I mean 21/10/2 with 2 blocks per 36 is good but not great especially for someone that big.  He did have a pretty nice shooting touch though.

That's an incredibly short-sighted argument though. I mean, I don't think people fully appreciate how impressive it was for Yao to be so coordinated and smooth at that size. He was an extraordinary talent, but people need to stop giving him the Shaq treatment. Just because you're tall and/or big doesn't mean you should be posting up monster double-doubles with a ton of blocks.

[Fafnir]

I really surprised how low people are putting Yao's game. He was a complete C: he played down low, hit his free throws, rebounded solidly(career 16.5 RR), shot blocked well (similar rate to Tim Duncan), and played hard on defense while anchoring good defensive teams.

I think most of that people attribute to his size though.  I mean 21/10/2 with 2 blocks per 36 isn't exactly good especially for someone that big.  He did have a pretty nice shooting touch though.

Tim Duncan won two MVPs with:

21/12/2.5 roughly both years per 36

The idea that 21/10/2 per 36 "isn't exactly good" is mind boggling to me. Especially with such efficient scoring at TS% near .600 due to great foul shooting and post play.

[Fafnir]

Basically, Yao was skilled and relatively athletic for a 7'6" guy.  But at 6'11" he would basically be a (much) less athletic, and less skilled Spencer Hawes.

Right but in this thought experiment if you're shrinking him 7 inches I think you'd have to up his quickness/athleticism as well.

[CelticConcourse]

He would probably be somewhere between Kevin Love and Kevin Garnett. One of the most skilled big men to ever play the game.

Yao Ming would have gone down as a top five center if he stayed healthy.

-Shaquille O'Neal

I'd say a 12-time All-Star.