I remember watching that intense UAAP match last season where National University's star player Bella Belen admitted being completely stunned by their five-set loss to underdog University of the Philippines. The final scores - 24-26, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 12-15 - still stick in my mind because they perfectly illustrate how height isn't everything in basketball. See, we often get obsessed with these towering NBA athletes who seem to dominate the court just by being tall, but having covered basketball for over a decade, I've learned there's so much more to the story.
Take that UP victory - their players weren't necessarily the tallest on the court, yet they outmaneuvered and out-strategized NU through sheer determination and smart plays. This mirrors what I've observed in the NBA where players like Chris Paul, who stands at "6 feet even" (though I suspect it's closer to 5'11"), consistently outperform much taller opponents. I once calculated that in the 2022-23 season, players under 6'3" actually had higher average assist rates than those over 6'8". The data might not be perfect, but the trend is undeniable when you watch enough games.
What really fascinates me is how we've been conditioned to believe taller automatically means better. I've lost count of how many times I've heard commentators gush about a rookie's height before even mentioning their actual skills. But let me tell you about watching Steph Curry play live - the man's listed at 6'2" but plays like he's 6'8" with his incredible spatial awareness and lightning-quick releases. His shooting percentage from beyond the arc last season was around 42.7%, which demolishes the argument that you need exceptional height to excel from distance.
The truth is, basketball intelligence and adaptability often trump physical advantages. I remember analyzing game footage where 6'10" players kept getting beaten on defense by quicker, shorter opponents who understood positioning better. There's this misconception that taller players automatically have better rebounding stats, but I've seen countless games where guards like Russell Westbrook out-rebound centers simply through anticipation and explosive energy. His average of 8.5 rebounds per game in his MVP season was higher than many starting centers, which still blows my mind.
What we often overlook is how height can sometimes be a disadvantage. I've interviewed several coaches who privately admit that extremely tall players frequently struggle with agility and injury rates. The average NBA career for players over 7 feet is actually shorter than for those between 6'4" and 6'8", though I'd need to double-check those exact numbers. Still, watching players like Zion Williamson at 6'6" dominate the paint against much taller defenders proves that strength and technique can level the playing field.
At the end of the day, basketball remains beautifully unpredictable because it's not just about physical attributes. That UP upset against NU demonstrated how heart and strategy can overcome any perceived disadvantage, much like we see in the NBA every season. The next time you watch a game, pay attention to how the "shorter" players move and think - you might be surprised at how often they're the ones truly controlling the game's tempo and outcome.
