The Decline of a Key NBA Player Archetype: Exploring Its Disappearance in Modern Basketball

The NBA is witnessing the decline of a particular player archetype: the defense-first wing/forward who cannot effectively drive to the basket or space the floor. Once a staple of many rosters, this profile is rapidly becoming obsolete in today’s faster and more perimeter-oriented game.

Jarred Vanderbilt exemplifies this trend. Known for his relentless energy and defensive versatility, Vanderbilt helped transform the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense in 2021-22, moving them from a bottom-tier to a top-15 unit. However, injuries and a changing style of play have limited his role, particularly with the Los Angeles Lakers, where despite being healthy, he has seen reduced playing time, including consecutive coach’s decisions to sit him out.

Teams now emphasize driving and spacing much more than before. The Miami Heat, for example, have moved away from traditional pick-and-rolls, focusing instead on creating open lanes for drives. Vanderbilt’s offensive profile—averaging only 1.4 drives per game across his career—does not align with this shift. Most players who average fewer than two drives per game but still log significant minutes are either centers or reliable shooters who stretch defenses from outside.

Looking deeper, nine non-center, defense-first wings who don’t drive often remain in rotations. Four among them compensate by excelling at cuts and putbacks, improving their efficiency at the rim. Others offer elite perimeter defense with Defensive Estimate Plus-Minus ratings above the 86th percentile. Vanderbilt, however, ranks only slightly above average on defense, reducing his overall value in a competitive landscape.

This fading archetype mirrors past NBA transitions. Point guards who strictly initiated plays and big men anchored offenses from the low post have virtually vanished. Today’s NBA rewards versatility and offensive aggression more than specialized defensive roles lacking complementary offensive skills.

As teams prioritize dynamic offense and elite defense, wings like Vanderbilt face dwindling opportunities. Their style, once effective in regular-season production, struggles in modern schemes emphasizing driving, spacing, and high-impact defense. The era of the energetic, defense-first non-driving wing appears to be near its end across the league.