Who Is The Best Center In The NBA?
Contents
The best center in the NBA is a hotly contested title. Some say it’s DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers, others say it’s Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat. Who do you think is the best center in the NBA?
Introduction
There is no doubting that the center position in the NBA is one of the most important. A great center can be the difference between a team being a playoff contender or fighting for a lottery pick. With that being said, there are a lot of great centers in the NBA today. So, who is the best center in the NBA?
There are a few players who could make a case for being the best center in the NBA. One player who definitely has a case is Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz. Gobert is one of the best defensive players in the league and he anchors a Jazz defense that is always among the best in the NBA. Offensively, Gobert is no slouch either. He is a great finisher around the basket and he has developed an improved offensive game over the past few years. Another player who could make a case for being the best center in the NBA is Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Like Gobert, Embiid is an elite defensive player. He is also one of the best scoring big men in the league. Embiid can score inside and out and he is also a very good rebounder. The third player who could make a case for being the best center in the NBA is Nikola Jokic of Mile High Basketball – The Best Place For Your Denver Nuggets News, Analyses, And Rumors | Denver Nuggets . Jokic is one of the most versatile centers in the league. He can score, pass, and rebound at an elite level. Jokic has also developed into one of the best defensive players in recent years.
So, who isthe best center in thenbsp;NBA?It’s hard to say for sure. All three of these players are great players who could make a case for beingthe best at their position. In my opinion, I would say that Rudy Gobertis Currently, he is playing at an elite level on both ends of In my opinion, he has beenthe most consistent and dominantcenterin thenbsp;NBAover thenbsp;past few seasons and I believe that he deserves to be consideredthebestcenterinthenbsp;NBA.
The Case For Deandre Ayton
The Dallas Mavericks’ Luke Doncic and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden are the early frontrunners for this season’s MVP award, but when it comes to the best center in the NBA, there is no clear-cut favorite.
Entering the season, many experts predicted that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo would claim the title of best center in the league. But through the first month of the season, it has been Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns who has been the most dominating force in the paint.
Ayton is averaging 19.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 58.7 percent from the field. He has been a force on both ends of the floor, using his 7-foot-1, 250-pound frame to muscle his way to easy baskets in the post and using his quickness and athleticism to block shots and grab rebounds.
In today’s NBA, centers are often asked to do more than just score down low and defend the paint; they are also expected to be able to space out and shoot from beyond the arc. Ayton has shown that he is more than capable of doing this, as he is shooting 33 percent from three-point range on 2.4 attempts per game.
This all adds up to what has been a stellar start to Ayton’s NBA career, and it looks like he has a bright future ahead of him as one of the league’s best centers.
The Case For Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic was born in 1995 in Sombor, Serbia. At just 6’10”, he doesn’t have the typical size of an NBA center. But don’t let his size fool you – he is one of the most skilled big men in the league. Jokic is a great passer, an excellent rebounder, and a dangerous shooter, making him a triple-threat on offense. He is also a very good defender, using his quickness and intelligence to guard players who are bigger and stronger than him.
There are many great centers in the NBA, but Nikola Jokic is the best of them all. He is still young, and he has already accomplished so much in his career. He has led the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs three times, and he was named an All-Star in 2018 and 2019. Jokic is only getting better, and there is no doubt that he will be one of the best players in the league for many years to come.
The Case For Joel Embiid
In recent years, the NBA has been shifting away from traditional big men. Players like Joel Embiid are changing the way we think about the center position.
Embiid is a uniquely gifted player. At 7’0″, he has the size to battle with the league’s best big men. He also has the speed and agility to keep up with smaller players on the perimeter. And he has the shooting touch to stretch defenses and open up driving lanes for his teammates.
In short, Embiid is the total package. He’s an elite scorer, rebounder, and defender. He’s also an excellent passer and a leaders on both ends of the court.
There are a few other centers in the league who are having great seasons, but none of them can match Embiid’s all-around game. Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is having a breakout season, but he’s not nearly as skilled as Embiid. Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is one of the best defenders in the league, but he’s not nearly as talented offensively.
And then there are players like Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Philadelphia 76ers center Al Horford who are very good, but they’re not on Embiid’s level.
The bottom line is that Joel Embiid is the best center in the NBA right now. He has all the skills that you could want in a big man, and he’s putting them on display night after night. If you’re looking for someone to build your team around, there’s no better option than Joel Embiid.
The Case For Rudy Gobert
When discussing who the best center in the NBA is, Rudy Gobert’s name should be in the conversation. The 7-1 Frenchman has been anchor for the Utah Jazz defense since he was drafted in 2013, and he has only gotten better with each passing year. In the 2019-2020 season, Gobert averaged 15.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 64.4% from the field and 71.2% from the free throw line. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team and Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career.
Gobert is not just a defensive stalwart, but he is also an excellent offensive player. He has improved his scoring each season he has been in the league, and this past season he set a career-high in points per game. He is also an excellent free throw shooter for a big man, which makes him a tough player to foul late in games. His shooting percentages have also steadily risen since he came into the league, which is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to his craft.
There are other centers who may have put up better numbers than Gobert this past season, but there is no other center who can impact a game on both ends of the floor like Rudy Gobert can. He is without a doubt the best center in the NBA today.
The Case For Anthony Davis
In a league increasingly dominated by small ball, the importance of a dominant center has been diminished in recent years. However, there are still a handful of big men who rise above the rest and Anchovy Davis is one of them. At 6’10”, Davis has the size to match up with most other centers in the league and he uses his length exceptionally well on both ends of the floor. On offense, he is a gifted scorer who can finish around the rim with either hand and has developed a solid mid-range jump shot. He is also an excellent passer for his position and does a good job of finding open teammates when he is double-teamed in the post.
On defense, Davis is an elite shot blocker and rebounder. He has quick feet for a man his size and does an excellent job of contesting shots without fouling. His ability to protect the rim makes him an invaluable asset for any team looking to contend for a championship.
While Davis is still early in his career, he has already established himself as one of the best players in the league. He has been named to two All-Star teams and was named First Team All-NBA last season. With more experience, he should only continue to get better and has a chance to develop into one of the greatest centers of all time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best center in the NBA is a hotly contested title with many great players vying for the title. There is no clear-cut answer, but we can narrow it down to a few players who are all great options. If you’re looking for a traditional center who can score and rebound, then Nikola Jokic is your guy. If you want a more modern center who can shoot and defend, then Joel Embiid is your man. And if you’re looking for a mix of both, then Rudy Gobert is your guy. No matter who you choose, you really can’t go wrong.