Against the Grain

This is an era when centers have fallen from glory. Of the four dominant centers who once ruled the league, only the aging Shaquille O'Neal remains to defend their legacy. The new generation of centers expected to carry their torch is struggling: Yao Ming is mired in injuries, while the Beast is still torn between having fun and playing basketball.

This is a golden age for perimeter players. Kobe Bryant is at his peak, while LeBron James and Kevin Durant are poised to take over the league and usher in their own eras. Harden, Curry, Westbrook, George, and one gifted perimeter player after another are also making their debuts.

This is an era of small-ball tactics. The centers who once dominated the league are becoming increasingly marginalized. That's the way of the times, yet one man goes against the tide, reaching the summit and becoming a legend in an era ruled by perimeter players.