With so much talk about the center position fading away, we rank the top-10 centers for the upcoming season and their value to their respective teams.
There is not a lot of centers in today’s NBA that can do it all consistently on both ends of the floor.
When NBA writers coronate the top 10 centers in the league at the beginning of the year, the majority of the players are only great on one side of the floor.
What happened to the NBA center who can pass, shoot, block shots, rebound and hit free throws effectively?
Although the Houston Rockets are in need of an effective center with Dwight Howard‘s departure to Atlanta, Hakeem Olajuwon is not walking through any practice doors.
Now it seems as if the top 10 centers in the NBA are only effective on one side of the ball, thus the notion that the position is fading away.
It is only fading away because there is so many non all-around centers that critics question the position’s value. And we are at the point were a defensively gifted center has more value than an offensively gifted center.
For example, one of the best centers in the NBA is the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan. He is dominant only on the defensive side of the court, although he is not bad catching lobs and rebounding on the offensive glass. He could not hit free throws consistently if his life was on the line.
Another example is the Detroit Pistons’ center Andre Drummond. He is the mirror image of Jordan, although he might be a better post-up player on the left block.
The majority of these top-10 centers of today are not all-around centers on both ends of the court like they might have been in the 1990s or before, but they all are the most valuable player to their respective teams.
We begin with a player who just missed the top-10 list but is unquestionably valuable to his team.
Next: Biz-ness time
11. Bismack Biyombo
Although this guy is not a threat to score on his own, he brings the same excitement and defensive tenacity that every other center on this list brings to the table.
Biyombo is a very athletic center with size who can defend multiple positions, if not every position on the court. His potential is very high being that he has played well in a conference final and is only 24 years old. He has had success while not being a first or second option, similar to Serge Ibaka.
The league is still waiting to see what Biyombo can do if given a starting role on a team. He might be able to show them during this year.
Instead of Magic fans anticipating his first bucket most of them are waiting to see him block his first shot with Orlando on his chest.
Frank Vogel and Rob Hennigan have already shocked the nation by acquiring a starting-caliber center when they already have a top-four scoring center in Nikola Vucevic.
Biyombo is a top-10 center because not just any center can come into Orlando and seriously challenge a talent like Nikola Vucevic for his minutes. His $72-million contract alone will present pressure on Vogel to play him at some point.
Vogel has been high on Biyombo after he saw him compete against his Pacers in last year’s first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Although Biyombo only averaged 6.2 points per game during the Playoffs, his 9.4 rebounds per game and his 1.6 blocks per game dominated his stat line. His performance against Indiana and Cleveland in last year’s Playoffs is essentially a determining factor to why he is the highest paid player in Orlando.
Next: The Stifle Tower
10. Rudy Gobert
He is not in a big market, but this center plays big on the defensive side of the ball.
This center is one of the most intriguing young big men in the NBA. His 7-foot-1 inch body frame combined with his freakish athletic attributes put him in position to be extremely successful in 2017. Gobert has the physical attributes of a dominant big man.
This year, Gobert recorded a game in which he scored 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers. That is not a bad stat line for a 24-year-old center.
While Gobert is not a great free-throw shooter, he is above average inside the paint. He shot 55.9 percent from the field and 58.5 percent from the free throw line in 2016.
He is also great at crashing the boards. His 11.8 rebounds per game were among the highest rebounding totals for the position. If he improves as a rebounder it could be dangerous for opponents.
Once Gobert figures it out on the offensive end and develops a go-to move, he could easily become a top-five big in the NBA. He only averaged 9.1 points per game last year, but maybe he can bump that up a little if he improves from the free throw line.
The Jazz are betting he is the kind player who will mature beside Gordon Hayward, and catapult Utah into the Western Conference Playoffs.
Next: A hero redeemed?
9. Dwight Howard
Remember the year 2009 when Dwight Howard had Magic on his chest and was unquestionably the best center in the NBA? It was like magic because back then you saw it, now you do not.
Those days are way behind the veteran as he enters his 13th season. Although Howard never really developed an offensive game in Orlando like Nikola Vucevic, he is still one of the most valuable centers in the NBA. That value is attributed to his ability to play effective defense.
Although Howard is slowly declining, he averaged a double-double last year with 13.7 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. His usage rate has went down tremendously from his time in Orlando.
Howard is in the same boat as Jordan and Drummond, the only difference is these guys are a lot younger than Howard. Howard is on the decline and these guys are still rising.
Although the decline is clear, the former NBA All Star is looking forward to new beginnings this year with the Atlanta Hawks. Teaming up with power forward Paul Milsap may help him get close to where he was after leaving Orlando.
The Hawks organization is betting a new surrounding will allow him to focus on basketball and eliminate the clutter associated with his name.
If Howard can stay healthy for the season and channel his play from the days he wore a Magic uniform, the Hawks could be back in the top of the Eastern Conference once again.
Next: Hammer time
8. Marcin Gortat
This guy is one of the most underrated centers in the NBA.
Gortat is a center who can do it all, except shoot the three. He averaged 13.5 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game for the Washington Wizards in 2016. His points per game average suggest he could probably handle a larger role for a team, thus him leaving the Orlando Magic and the shadow of Dwight Howard back in 2011 and beginning to flourish as a starter.
Unlike Howard, Gortat can step out from the pick and pop and hit the mid-range jumper with consistency. Last year Gortat shot 56.7 percent from the field.
Gortat has been more than serviceable to every team he has played for and has sacrificed a lot for the Wizards. He has proven he can score and be a team’s focal point. Last year in April, he registered 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets.
He has never been in a situation where a team needs him to be the first or second option because of the talent he has been surrounded by. Washington has All-Star point guard John Wall and Bradley Beal as the first second options, respectively. And Gortat is beginning to slow down as he gets older.
But Gortat’s value remains high on this Wizards team despite him not being a main option. A lot of that has to do with his ability to rebound the basketball. Back in February, Gortat grabbed 20 rebounds against the 76ers.
If Gortat improves any from this offseason, expect Washington to pick up where they left off from in 2014-15 and be a team to reckon with in the East.
Next: The scorer
7. Brook Lopez
This guy is one of the best scoring centers in the NBA.
He is kind of in the Kevin Love Timberwolves situation. He puts up elite numbers on a non-playoff team. It would be interesting to see this guy on a contending team to see if he can remain this high level of offensive production when the pressure is on.
Lopez averaged more points per game than any center in the league besides DeMarcus Cousins, yet he is not in anyone’s top-five center list.
He was one of only two centers who averaged more than 20 points per game for the year. Last year in January, Lopez registered 24 points and 15 rebounds against the Magic. He also went for 26 points in a losing effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
One of Lopez’s strengths is his mid-range shot and his post moves on either block. His offensive repertoire is what keeps him in the top-10 conversation.
His weakness, unlike most of the other top-10 centers, is his rebounding. He has made strides with his defense and is still making improvement on that side of the ball.
Although Lopez is a 7-footer, he only averaged 7.8 rebounds per game in 2016. He is one of the league’s worst rebounding centers.
The Nets are banking on Lopez developing this team into a contending team in the East. However that seems like a long shot after losing Thaddeus Young to the Pacers this offseason.
Next: The shot blocker
6. DeAndre Jordan
The Los Angeles Clippers almost lost a top-10 center last summer to the Dallas Mavericks.
It is hard to judge if Jordan potentially could carry a team the way the Mavericks would have wanted him too. He would have been the go-to guy in Dallas, compared to a third option in Los Angeles.
Jordan has developed a celebrity Olympic status before developing an offensive game, largely because of his willingness and ability to defend.
Jordan is one of the league’s best defenders inside of the paint, and may be the most athletic player at the position. He thrives blocking shots from opponents and catching alley-oops from Chris Paul. He is also one of the top rebounders in the NBA.
Jordan scored 18 points and grabbed 24 rebounds in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2015. He also missed 22 free throws in the same game. Imagine if he would have hit just half of those 22 free throws, that would have increased his scoring total to 29 points. He leaves a lot of points on the board.
Jordan’s biggest flaw is his free throw shooting. Although Jordan averaged 13.6 points per 36 minutes and 14.7 rebounds per 36 minutes, he shot 43 percent from the charity stripe.
If Jordan can improve from the free-throw line this year, he can easily average 20 points per game in 2017. If he does improve it will increase the Clippers’ chances of finally getting past the second round of the playoffs.
Next: Hassanity
5. Hassan Whiteside
You can make the case that this guy is the best shot blocker in the NBA.
Whiteside has owned the defensive end. His talents on that side of the floor was the main reason he received a nice $98-million contract this offseason from Pat Riley.
Riley understood Whiteside’s stat line of 17.6 points per 36 minutes, 14.7 rebounds per 36 minutes and 4.6 blocks per 36 minutes is unlike what any other player can produce for their team on a night to-night basis.
Whiteside has a unique defensive skill set that allowed him to register a triple double in blocks, a rare occurrence in the NBA — the last one occurred in 2013 by Joakim Noah. Whiteside has had that points, rebounds, blocks triple double four times.
He has changed the game and kept a fading position relevant.
He also shot 60.6 percent from the field in 2016. With the departure of Dwyane Wade, and the uncertainty surrounding Chris Bosh‘s health, he should be the featured offensive player.
He could become the new Miami Heat royalty if he can improve on his 65 percent shooting from the free-throw line and bump up his point per game average to at least 20 points.
Expectations are high because the Heat still expect to make the playoffs despite Wade’s departure.
Whiteside has the opportunity to slide into the top-three conversation if he can will this young Heat team deep into the playoffs.
Next: Mr. Versatility
4. Nikola Vucevic
This player may be one of the most offensively gifted on the top-10 list.
Although Vucevic is more of a face-up, knock-down shooter, his post game is very underrated. He scored a game high 29 points this year against Whiteside and the Miami Heat in April.
Other than DeMarcus Cousins, he is the only player who has led his team in scoring and rebounds the past two years on this top-10 list.
Vucevic is an underrated passer, his 2.8 assists per game speaks for itself from that position. Last year, he ranked in the top-5 in assist per game among centers in the NBA.
Vucevic is also underrated as a rebounder. He had a career game in which he grabbed a franchise-record 29 rebounds in a single game. That is more than Shaquille O’Neal or Dwight Howard has ever had in a single game for Orlando.
Defensively is where he must improve. This year the organization brought in Bismack Biyombo to help motivate Vucevic work on his defensive limitations, a direct challenge to him.
Hopefully the move will start a fire inside of him that will transfer to the court, and he can potentially take the next step in his game. Although Vucevic lacks elite lateral quickness, he still averaged 1.1 blocks per game in 2016.
That side of the ball is where the most criticism lies for Vucevic. But adding rim protectors around him like Serge Ibaka and Biyombo could hide those deficiencies.
This is also the only player under the most pressure to perform to keep their minutes. Any mistake he makes this year will bring into question about Biyombo entering the game.
Make no mistake about it this is a make-or-break year for Vucevic and the Magic.
Next: The new pupil
3. Andre Drummond
This player is one of the best centers in Pistons’ history, and that is saying a lot. Drummond burst onto the scene and has out rebounded every person he has matched up against.
This player looks like a more offensively polished Ben Wallace, although he is not as great on the defensive end as Wallace. That is a great sign for Pistons fans.
It seems as if Detroit has found the key piece in its quest back to the top of the East.
Although Drummond shoots a horrible 35.5 percent from the free-throw line, he is the most valuable player on Detroit’s roster. He has become a leader for his team in his short time in the NBA.
Drummond led the league in rebounding in 2016 and looks to continue dominating the boards in 2017. He averaged 16.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. His scoring also increased to 17.0 points per game.
One of the reasons he is such a dominant rebounder is because of his size and agility in the paint. Most opponents have trouble blocking him out and fail to get a body on Drummond because of his rare attributes in the paint. His foot speed and quickness is underrated for the position.
Although he is not the best defender on this list, this center is above average on the defensive end. Drummond averaged 1.5 blocks per game, and led the Pistons to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Pistons were eventually swept by the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
The Pistons may have won one of those games if Drummond shoots 60-70 percent from the charity stripe. If Drummond can manage to improve from the free throw line he could potentially average 20 points per game.
Next: The rookie
2. Karl-Anthony Towns
This player could take over as the best center in the NBA as early as this season.
Although expectations were high, this center met and surpassed every expectation placed on his first overall selection. His rookie year is reminiscent to LeBron James‘ first year in the NBA.
Towns hit the ground running as he won the 2016 Rookie of the Year award by leading all rookies in scoring and rebounds. He is also a willing and capable defender as he averaged 1.7 blocks per game as well.
The Timberwolves hired former Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who is known for getting the most out of players defensively.
Thibodeau’s addition and Towns’ development has quietly turned Minnesota into a potential playoff contender for the upcoming NBA season.
This is a unique talent that is rarely seen in the NBA. Towns can not only defend, but he can shoot from anywhere on the court and can create his own shot. He shot 34 percent from 3-point land. His percentage ranks in the top five for 3-point shooting among starting centers in the NBA.
His skill set and the development of players around him like Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins can explain Timberwolves’ fans excitement about the upcoming season.
The Western Conference is deep. But if Towns can improve from his rookie season, then the Timberwolves may make the playoffs in 2017.
Next: Pope Boogie for America
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.