Society / Civilizational Shift
Explore civilizational shifts, deep cultural transformation and long-cycle social change through structured summaries and curated analysis.
Today’s athletes ARE built different #TEDTalks
Topic
Athlete Evolution
Key insights
- Large athletes have become larger over time, with the average elite shot-putter being 2.5 inches taller and 130 pounds heavier than the average elite high jumper
- The gene pool has changed due to the demand for larger athletes in sports
- In 1983, the NBA signed an agreement that allowed players to share in ticket revenues and television contracts, increasing interest in becoming an NBA player
- The proportion of NBA players who are at least seven feet tall doubled to 10% after the agreement
- Today, one in 10 men in the NBA are at least seven feet tall, a height that is incredibly rare in the general population
- If you know an American man aged 20 to 40 who is at least seven feet tall, there is a 17% chance he is currently in the NBA
Perspectives
short
Increased Size of Athletes
- Highlights growth in athlete size over time
- Notes elite shot-putters are taller and heavier than elite high jumpers
- Points out NBAs 1983 agreement increased player height diversity
- Claims 10% of NBA players are now at least seven feet tall
- Warns that seven-foot tall men are rare in the general population
Metrics
height
2.5 inches
average height difference between elite shot-putters and elite high jumpers
Indicates a trend towards larger athletes in competitive sports.
the average elite shot-patter is 2.5 inches taller
proportion
10%
percentage of NBA players who are at least seven feet tall
Highlights the rarity of such height in the general population.
the proportion of men in the NBA who are at least seven feet tall doubled to 10%
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
Athletes have increased in size over time, with elite shot-putters being significantly taller and heavier than elite high jumpers. The NBA's 1983 agreement led to a surge in the number of players at least seven feet tall, now representing 10% of the league.
- Large athletes have become larger over time, with the average elite shot-putter being 2.5 inches taller and 130 pounds heavier than the average elite high jumper
- The gene pool has changed due to the demand for larger athletes in sports
- In 1983, the NBA signed an agreement that allowed players to share in ticket revenues and television contracts, increasing interest in becoming an NBA player
- The proportion of NBA players who are at least seven feet tall doubled to 10% after the agreement
- Today, one in 10 men in the NBA are at least seven feet tall, a height that is incredibly rare in the general population
- If you know an American man aged 20 to 40 who is at least seven feet tall, there is a 17% chance he is currently in the NBA