Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

NBA Position Rankings: Top 10 centers in the NBA

By Spencer R. Henderson

Apr 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the net past Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the net past Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 12
Next
April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

1. DeMarcus Cousins

This is the most passionate and dangerous center in the NBA.

Although a player must have talent to win in the NBA, that talent has to have passion. DeMarcus Cousins shows passion while on the court, for both good and bad.

Cousins can do it all on both sides of the floor, and shoot a decent percentage from the free-throw line. He shot 71.8 percent from the charity stripe in 2016.

Cousins is clearly the best all-around center and a rare talent in today’s NBA. He can defend, stretch out to the perimeter and even from three and pass willingly as well. Cousins averaged 3.3 assists per game in 2016. He is above average in every statistical category for the position.

Cousins averaged 26.9 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game in 2016. And some critics believe he has not reached his potential yet. A lot of that has to do with him never registering a playoff minute.

The Kings attempted to put a pass-first point guard in Rajon Rondo and a solid wing player like Rudy Gay around Cousins to pursue a playoff berth in the Western Conference. They failed miserably.

The Kings finished the season 33-49 despite an attempt to bolster the roster with talent. That was still the Kings’ best season in about a decade.

The Kings lost Rondo, as he joined the Chicago Bulls, and are still looking for their first playoff appearance since 2006.

Next: Lack of national TV games points to problem for Orlando Magic

If they ever get to the playoffs, a large part of that will be because of Cousins’ presence.