During the 2018 NBA Draft, it seemed that there was a revival of sorts for the classic big man, a necessity that is often overlooked by teams drafting high. Three of the first four picks were for players 6‘11 or taller, and the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls rounded out this big man frenzy by selecting, respectively, centers Mohamed Bamba at sixth overall and Wendell Carter Jr. at seventh overall.
Both the Magic and Bulls took an exciting prospect to pair with their franchise players, the young big men Aaron Gordon and Lauri Markkanen. These combinations create potentially formidable frontcourts for both teams, something that is rare in today’s NBA.