If many people agree that Stephen Curry and the Warriors are the ones who democratized small-ball, for some, they are not the founders. A famous analyst has also revealed the name of the creators of this phenomenon according to him.

At the start of the league, the largest interiors were the most prized and coveted. This trend, however, shifted slowly over the years and was finally almost completely reversed. With the advent and takeover of the Warriors from 2015, a new fashion was born in the NBA: small-ball. This style of play involves aligning smaller players to favor outside shots.

It is also thanks to this tactic that Steve Kerr, helped of course by the talent of Stephen Curry and others, was able to win the Dubs four rings under his command. But if the Californians are known for having popularized this phenomenon, some think that they are not the creators. Among the people claiming this theory is Bill Simmons, who supported his point in his podcast.

Steph Curry not the origin of Small Ball!?

It made me think of the series with Pero Antic. One of the great series… when Pero Antic ruined Roy Hibbert’s career in the Atlanta-Indiana series. Steph Curry’s Warriors did not create small-ball. The ones who did it were Pero Antic and that weird Hawks team, remember? They put their pivot 7 yards away from the basket and people wondered what they were doing.

And he made two three-pointers. We were like, “Oh my God, what is this? “. Now that’s how everyone plays.

Better known for his European career, Pero Antic spent two years in the NBA in the Hawks jersey from 2013 to 2015. At 2m10 tall, the retired interior was then a role player whose three-point shooting abilities were appreciated by his former franchise. At that time, seeing such a tall player try his hand behind the line was not yet commonplace as it is today.

For Bill Simmons, this is where the small-ball phenomenon began to spread. The journalist then referred to the Hawks’ first round series against the Pacers in 2018. This team, formerly led by Paul George, finished 1st in the East and managed to advance to the next round, but not without difficulty. It had taken them 7 games, and the Macedonian was one of the main causes of their woes.

According to Bill Simmons, Stephen Curry and the Warriors are not at the origin of small-ball. Although this tactical device was popularized by the latter, the journalist claimed that it was the Hawks who gave birth to it, notably through Pero Antic.