Part 2/10:

In the early years of the NBA, the game heavily relied on strong interior players. Dominant big men were considered essential for a championship-winning team. Iconic players like George Mikan in the 1950s, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1970s showcased how critical elite big men were to a team's success. Even in the 1980s, with stars like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird leading the charge, their teams featured strong complementary big men who played pivotal roles.