In today’s NBA, it’s practically a requirement for big men to dribble, shoot threes, and toss behind-the-back passes. But long before unicorns became the norm, a handful of centers and forwards looked like they were playing the wrong position—in the best way possible.
These pioneers moved like wings, passed like point guards, and made old-school coaches do a double-take. Here are 20 big men who played like guards before it was trendy.
20. Andrea Bargnani
He may not have lived up to the hype of the No. 1 pick, but Bargnani was jacking threes and attacking off the dribble before it was cool. The league didn’t know what to do with a 7-footer who refused to post up.
19. Lamar Odom
Odom was a walking mismatch—too quick for bigs, too significant for wings. He could run the break, dish dimes, and space the floor like a guard stuck in a power forward’s body.
18. Derrick Coleman
When motivated, Coleman looked like the most skilled big man on the planet. His handle, jumper, and passing were smooth enough to make any coach dream of positionless basketball.
17. Sam Perkins
“Big Smooth” wasn’t just a nickname but a vibe. Perkins could stretch the floor and hit threes long before stretch bigs were celebrated.
16. Andrei Kirilenko
Kirilenko was a Swiss Army knife who filled every column on the stat sheet. He defended five positions and ran the offense like a guard trapped in a lanky frame.
15. Bob Lanier
Lanier had the footwork and soft touch to play anywhere on the court. If he came up in today’s game, you’d probably see him initiating offense from the top of the key.
14. Paul Pressey
Technically a forward, Pressey often played the point guard role in Milwaukee’s offense. His vision and ball-handling made him a matchup nightmare before “point forward” was a thing.
13. Chris Webber
Webber’s passing was almost unfair for someone his size. He made the game look smooth, whether a no-look from the elbow or a fast break bounce pass.
12. Tom Chambers
Chambers moved with the fluidity of a wing and had no problem rising over defenders off the dribble. He didn’t just run the floor—he attacked it.
11. Toni Kukoc
Kukoc was way ahead of his time. With a smooth handle and deep range in a 6’11” frame, he thrived as a secondary playmaker and looked more like a EuroLeague point guard than an NBA forward.
10. Bill Laimbeer
Everyone remembers the fouls, but Laimbeer was draining long-range shots before most bigs stepped outside the paint. He brought perimeter gravity to the Bad Boys era.
9. Kevin Garnett
KG was pure chaos in the best way—handling the ball, switching onto guards, and hitting fadeaways like a wing. He brought fire and finesse in equal measure.
8. Vlade Divac
Divac brought European flair and elite passing to the prominent man position. He could run an offense from the high post like a seasoned guard.
7. Brad Daugherty
Daugherty didn’t get the same hype as some of his peers, but he had serious touch and feel. His passing from the post and mid-range shooting were well ahead of schedule.
6. Ralph Sampson
At 7’4″, Sampson was not supposed to move the way he did. He glided up the floor, hit jumpers, and made people think twice about the size limits.
5. Detlef Schrempf
Schrempf was smooth, bright, and had the skills of a guard in a forward’s body. He could shoot, pass, and initiate offense with ease.
4. Jack Sikma
Sikma’s footwork, shooting, and vision made him a unicorn before the term existed. His signature reverse pivot was a big man’s version of a step-back three.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk made the one-legged fadeaway iconic, but his guard-like shooting touch changed the league. At 7 feet tall, he shot like a two-guard and handled like one.
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2. Arvydas Sabonis
By the time Sabonis got to the NBA, his prime was behind him, but his skills were still jaw-dropping. Passing, shooting, court vision—he was a guard in a battleship’s frame.
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1. Magic Johnson
Yes, he played point guard, but remember that Magic was 6’9″. He ran the show like a traditional guard while being the size of a modern big, forever redefining both roles.
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