Basketball is effortless to play if you are tall. However, there are also lots of disadvantages of being tall in basketball. But being tall can also be an advantage, especially if the tall player knows how to use his/her height.
One of the disadvantages of being tall is having a poor shooting percentage. Many stereotypes have been made because of the past tall basketball players that are worse at shooting. Shaq is one of them. He has a poor free throw percentage, but he is a monster in the paint.
So, why are tall basketball players worse shooters? There are many reasons why tall basketball players are bad shooters, but the main reason is that they are not used to shooting outside. Centers or tall players are always inside the paint every basketball game, that is why they are not accustomed to shooting outside.
However, there are more reasons why taller basketball players are bad shooters. Also, other questions are related to our topic. We are going to check all of them out! Let’s jump right into it!
Reasons Why Taller Basketball Players Can’t Shoot Well
Tall basketball players or centers are often criticized because of their shooting percentage. Even though you are a center that is good at shooting inside shots, you will still be criticized when you have poor outside shooting field goals.
Different people have different standards on telling what a satisfactory center looks like. Some said an astounding center should be good at shot-blocking, some said good centers should be proficient inside the paint, and some said good centers should be able to shoot jump shots or three-points.
However, my only standard to tell that center is good is if he/she is proficient inside and can dominate the paint. But because the game evolves, the standards have also changed. There are already many tall players that can shoot outside the paint today.
However, not all of the centers in basketball can shoot outside the paint. Do you want to know the reasons why? I have listed the reasons below, so keep reading!
Too Much Strength
Tall players or centers have more robust bodies than small players. Most of them are stronger than shorter basketball players. Being powerful can give an advantage for tall players so that they can easily box-out or post up inside the paint. However, there are also disadvantages.
Tall basketball players are bad shooters because they can’t measure how much strength they will put in to throw the ball. That is why some centers that are shooting threes hit the shot clock timer. Centers have a poor calculation on how much strength they will use to successfully shoot the ball inside the rim.
Not Used To Shooting
Centers are tall, which is why tall basketball players are required by coaches to stay inside the paint. They are the ones that will rebound the ball, defend the paint, and shoot an easy shot inside. Because they are always inside the paint, they forget how to shoot jump shots and three points.
This is the other reason why tall basketball players are worse shooters. They are always inside the paint, which makes them forget how to shoot outside the paint. Tall basketball players are proficient inside but when you put them outside the paint, they become like a beginner.
However, not all centers are bad outside shooters. Centers like Anthony Davis and Nikola Vucevic are good outside shooters. There are tall basketball players that can dominate both inside and outside.
Less Practice On Shooting
This is connected to the previous reason why tall basketball players are the worst shooters. Tall players are used to practicing shooting inside shots, rebounding, and shot-blocking. They are always inside the paint, not because they like to, but their coaches told them so.
This is the other reason why taller basketball players are worse shooters. They practice outside shooting less because they are more focused on practicing their inside shots. Tall basketball players abandon their outside shooting skills because they are required to be better inside the paint.
Bad Shooting Form
Another reason why tall basketball players are the worst shooters is that they have bad shooting form. However, not only do centers have problems with their shooting form but most of the beginners. Beginners are struggling to know what is the right and wrong shooting form.
This is the other reason why tall basketball players are bad shooters. They have bad or wrong shooting form. Look at most of the centers in the NBA. Some of them have the wrong shooting form. Right? These NBA players that have the wrong shooting form have a low shooting percentage outside.
Is It Hard To Shoot When You Are Tall?
Being tall in basketball can be an advantage, and sometimes it can be a disadvantage too. The average height of a human being is between 5’5 to 5’9, but if you are taller than that, you are lucky. The average height of an NBA player for a point guard is 6’0 and for centers, it is 6’10.
If a basketball player has a height of 6’0 and has an age of 14, then expect that young fella to be a center in basketball games. If you are above 6’0, then probably most people assign you as their center in basketball games, which is good and bad.
It is good because you will be able to practice your inside shots more. The negative side of this is that you will neglect your outside shooting. It is why tall basketball players are bad shooters. They are always assigned to be inside the paint rather than to be outside the paint.
However, being tall can still be an advantage even if you are bad at shooting outside. If you are tall, you can easily shoot the ball inside the paint, rebound the ball with ease, and block the opponent’s shots effortlessly.
But the disadvantage of being tall is like I have said, you will neglect your outside shooting skills because you will always be assigned inside the paint. After all, you are tall. That is why you will notice tall players are bad at shooting jump shots and three points shots.
So, is it hard to shoot when you are tall?
The answer is no! Being tall is essential at basketball, and tall players can shoot effortlessly. However, most tall basketball players are more proficient in shooting inside shots than shooting outside shots. It is because they have been assigned always to stay inside the paint, which makes them neglect their outside shooting.
If you are a tall basketball player and have a good inside shot, but your problem is your outside shots, all you have to do is practice your outside shooting. Yes, it is easy for a tall basketball player like you to play basketball. You already have the height advantage, and all you need to do is improve both your insides and outside shooting skills.
Why Centers Are Bad At Free Throws?
Centers or tall basketball players are used to shooting inside the paint. That is why they are not as proficient in shooting outside the paint as smaller basketball players.
Shorter basketball players are used to shooting outside because it is the only way for them to shoot the ball easily.If they shoot inside, the taller basketball players or centers might block their shots.
Centers are bad at free throws because they are not used to it. Like I have said, centers are always inside the paint, which is why they neglect their outside shooting and they are more focused on shooting inside.
I know free throws are important. That is why I recommend all basketball players reading my website, short or tall, to focus on improving their free-throw shooting. Free throws are the only way they can get free scores, that is why basketball players need to improve it.
Can Centers Shoot Threes?
If you are tall, you are required to stay inside the paint because you have more advantages and you can use your height inside. Short basketball players are required to be the ones handling the ball because it is much easier for them to dribble the ball.
Centers are much proficient in shooting inside the paint, while the shorter basketball players are more proficient in shooting outside. However, does this mean that centers can’t shoot threes because they are required to be inside the paint?
Can centers shoot threes? Yes! Even though centers are tall, they can still shoot three-point shots if they practice it. There are tall basketball players that are proficient in shooting three-point shots. There are no rules written in the basketball rulebook that a center is not eligible to shoot threes. So it means that centers can shoot threes if they are capable of shooting threes.
However, centers that are not used to shooting threes are not allowed by their coaches to shoot threes. Why? Because if they shoot it, they will waste the possession of their basketball team. In the NBA, centers that are not used to shooting threes, like Dwight Howard, start to shoot threes if they know that their team is winning the game or if it is garbage time already.
Why Are Centers Not Good Shooting Outside?
Tall basketball players or centers are players that are always inside the paint. Because they have been playing their whole life inside the paint, they are already proficient inside. However, even though they shoot outside, their outside shooting is not proficient.
Why are centers not good at shooting outside? Centers are not good at shooting outside because it is not their specialty. They have been always taught to stay inside, get the ball from the point guard, post up, and lay the ball inside the rim. Centers are more proficient inside the paint than outside the paint because that is what they do every basketball game.
Even though most centers are not proficient in shooting outside the paint, they are still valuable for a basketball team. Why? Because centers are the ones who rebound the ball, guard the paint, and they are the one who gives basketball teams an easy inside shot.
Does Height Affect Your Shooting In Basketball?
Being tall will give you an advantage in basketball. However, being tall can be a disadvantage. If you are super tall, it will be hard for you to carry yourself when running. Also, tall players or big players consume more stamina than shorter basketball players. Tall basketball players or centers are slow in running that is why they can’t do a fast break by themselves.
But, does height affect your shooting in basketball? Well, actually no. The only reason why you are not good at shooting in basketball is that you are not used to it. Centers can still be proficient in shooting threes if only they are used to it. But because they are always used inside the paint, they forget how to shoot outside shots.
It is not the height that affects your shooting in basketball. It is your habit and practices that affect your shooting in basketball. If you are not always shooting threes and you are always shooting layups or other inside shots, then don’t expect that you will be proficient in shooting threes.
Final Words
Height is essential in basketball. However, even though you are tall, it doesn’t mean that you are already good. All basketball players have flaws, and one basketball player cannot attain all basketball skills.
If you are a tall basketball player and you are a worse shooter, don’t let it discourage you. If you want to be a good shooter even if you are tall, you have put some work into your game and practice your shooting consistently.
Do you think that all tall basketball players are the worst shooters? If yes, why? Comment your answers below!
