“What these guys don’t realize is the real money in the NBA is centers and longevity in the NBA is bigs,” Majerus said. “So really they would want to be, if they’re good, labeled as center and as bigs, because they’re so difficult to find.”

MSU head coach Tom Izzo agreed with Majerus that the problem stems from the NBA. And that for some reason, players like to play a position up from where they should be.

“It’s illegal to want to be a 5 man, that means you’re some big guy that can’t do anything but sit in the post,” Izzo said. “We’re always looking to be something else. I think you are what you are, and you can get better at other things, but I think that’s what it is.”

Majerus also said it starts earlier than the NBA, and before players get to college.

He said AAU basketball starts playing five players outside the 3-point line, and most coaches don’t coach the low post, then he referenced how Karl Malone — the second leading scorer in NBA history — wasn’t fun to watch and that European-style forwards are taking away from traditional center style.

“The center is somewhat a dying position,” Majerus said.

But Majerus said that he can tell MSU is well coached in the post. And Izzo is happy with his low post play, particularly junior center Derrick Nix.

“That’s one of the things I love bout Nix, he is what he is,” Izzo said. “He’s not trying to be Magic Johnson. He’s trying to be Derrick Nix and a post player that gets it down low.”

MSU senior forward Draymond Green said in elementary school, he was bigger than everyone else, and started at center, then he played point guard.

His uncle coached him through his youth, and made sure he was well versed in every skill used by positions across the court, as evidenced in Friday night’s triple-double.

“For the most part, regardless of if I’m playing on the wing or up top, I’ll always embrace the post,” Green said.

But he doesn’t care what position people classify him as.

“If that’s what they want to call me, that’s fine with me,” Green said in response to if he considers himself a big man. “I’m just a player. Just put me on the court, I’ll figure out a way to get something done. Just put me on the court, I’m a player.”