**Wilt Chamberlain’s Banned Move Makes a Comeback: Why NBA Stars Like LeBron and Steph Curry Are Using It Today**
Basketball history is filled with legendary players who revolutionized the game, but few left as big an impact as Wilt Chamberlain. The 7’1″ center dominated the NBA in the 1960s with his sheer size, athleticism, and unguardable moves—one of which was so overpowering that the league eventually banned it. Yet, decades later, modern NBA superstars like LeBron James and Steph Curry have quietly revived aspects of Chamberlain’s forbidden tactic, adapting it to today’s game. The move in question? Chamberlain’s infamous *”shoulder dip and bulldoze”* post-up, where he would lower his shoulder, absorb contact, and plow through defenders for easy baskets. At the time, the NBA deemed it unstoppable and unfair, leading to rule changes that restricted offensive players from initiating excessive contact. But today’s players, especially crafty scorers like LeBron and even smaller guards like Curry, have found ways to incorporate elements of this move into their arsenal—just with a modern twist.
The reason Chamberlain’s move was banned was simple: nobody could stop it. With his combination of strength, footwork, and sheer physicality, he could back down any defender, create space with his shoulder, and finish at will. The NBA, aiming to keep the game balanced, adjusted its rules to prevent offensive players from using brute force to displace defenders. However, the essence of Chamberlain’s tactic—using controlled physicality to create separation—never truly disappeared. Instead, it evolved. Today’s players don’t rely on pure force like Wilt did, but they’ve mastered the art of leveraging their bodies to gain an edge. LeBron James, for instance, is known for his powerful drives where he uses his shoulder to shield defenders, absorbing contact before finishing strong at the rim. While not as blatant as Chamberlain’s approach, the principle remains the same: use your body to dictate positioning and create high-percentage shots.
Even Steph Curry, who isn’t known for overpowering defenders like Wilt or LeBron, has adapted elements of this move in his game. Curry’s off-ball movement often involves subtle bumps and shoulder adjustments to free himself for open threes. When driving to the basket, he uses his body to protect the ball and create angles, a more finesse-based version of Chamberlain’s physical dominance. The key difference is that today’s players combine this tactic with advanced footwork, ball-handling, and rule interpretations that favor offensive players. The NBA’s current emphasis on freedom of movement means that offensive stars can use their bodies strategically without being called for offensive fouls—as long as they don’t extend their arms or lower their shoulders excessively.
So why has this once-banned move resurfaced in today’s NBA? The first major reason is the **unstoppable scoring advantage** it provides. Chamberlain’s move was nearly impossible to defend because it allowed him to control the defender’s positioning, and modern players have refined this concept. LeBron’s ability to seal defenders on drives, or Joel Embiid’s post-up game, where he uses his shoulder to create space before spinning for a fadeaway, are direct descendants of Wilt’s approach. Even guards like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander use controlled physicality to manipulate defenders, proving that the move’s effectiveness transcends eras.
The second reason is the **evolution of officiating**. In Chamberlain’s era, the NBA had to step in to prevent him from overwhelming defenders with pure force. But today’s game is called differently—referees allow more incidental contact, especially when offensive players initiate it within the rules. The “rip-through” move, the “off-arm extension,” and the “shoulder dip” are all techniques that walk the line between legal and illegal, and stars have learned how to exploit this gray area. The NBA’s shift toward favoring offense means that players can get away with more physicality than they could in previous decades, as long as it’s not excessively blatant.
The third and most fascinating reason is **skill diversification**. Today’s players study the greats, and Chamberlain’s dominance in the post has been dissected by modern big men and perimeter players alike. Instead of relying solely on raw power, they’ve blended Wilt’s concepts with modern skills like step-back jumpers, Euro steps, and floaters. This hybrid approach makes the move even deadlier—imagine Chamberlain’s strength combined with Nikola Jokic’s touch or Giannis Antetokounmpo’s agility. The NBA’s current generation has taken an old-school weapon and sharpened it with today’s finesse, making it more versatile than ever.
The resurgence of Chamberlain’s once-banned move speaks to the cyclical nature of basketball. What was once outlawed as too dominant has been reinvented and reintroduced in a way that fits today’s game. Players like LeBron and Curry may not use it in the exact same way Wilt did, but the philosophy remains: use your body intelligently to create advantages. Whether through brute force, crafty footwork, or rule exploitation, the NBA’s best scorers will always find ways to gain an edge—and sometimes, that means looking to the past for inspiration. As the game continues to evolve, don’t be surprised if more “forbidden” tactics from legends like Chamberlain make a comeback, proving that great ideas in basketball never truly die—they just get remixed.
