Who Is The Best NBA Center?

In this post, we’ll take a look at who the best NBA center is. We’ll look at a few different players and see how they stack up against each other.

The case for Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is one of the best centers in the NBA. He is a two-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. He is also a four-time All-Defensive selection. He is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.

His impact on the Sixers

Even though he’s only been in the league for three seasons, Joel Embiid has quickly established himself as one of the best centers in the NBA. And it’s not just his scoring and rebounding that make him so good – it’s also his impact on the Philadelphia 76ers franchise.

Since being drafted by the Sixers in 2014, Embiid has transformed the team into a legitimate playoff contender. He’s helped lead them to back-to-back 50-win seasons and playoff appearances, something that the Sixers hadn’t done since 2001.

And it’s not just his on-court play that makes him such a valuable asset to the team; it’s also his personality and charisma. With Embiid, the Sixers have a player who is not only talented but also marketable. He’s one of the most popular players in the league, and his jersey is regularly among the best-selling NBA jerseys.

In short, Joel Embiid is a franchise player, someone who impact extends well beyond just his on-court production. And that’s why he is, without question, the best center in the NBA today.

His production

Since declares for the NBA draft in 2014, Joel Embiid has had a long, hard road to becoming one of the best centers in the league. He was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia ers, but didn’t play a single game his rookie season due to a foot injury. The Sixers were extra cautious with their young big man, holding him out for the entire 2014-15 season as well.

Embiid finally made his NBA debut during the 2015-16 campaign, only to play in just 31 games before being sidelined yet again with a knee injury. However, when he did take the floor, he showcased tantalizing glimpses of his potential, averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 46.6 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range.

The 2016-17 season was supposed to be Embiid’s true breakout party, but unfortunately he only appeared in 31 games once again due to a meniscus tear in his left knee that prematurely ended his year early in February.

Finally healthy for the 2017-18 campaign, Embiid took the league by storm and became one of its most dominant players. In 63 games, he averaged 22.9 points, 11 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range en route to being named an All-Star and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The case for Nikola Jokic

In a league filled with star studded point guards, it is easy to forget about the big men who do the dirty work down low. Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is one of these players. Jokic is not the most athletically gifted player, nor is he the strongest. However, what he lacks in physical attributes, he makes up for in skill.

His impact on the Nuggets

Nikola Jokic has been a revelation for the Denver Nuggets. After being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, Jokic has developed into one of the best centers in the league. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 2019, and he is a two-time member of the All-NBA Second Team.

Jokic is one of the most unique players in the league. At 7-feet tall, he has exceptional vision and passing ability. He is also an excellent rebounder and shooter. Jokic is a true triple-threat on offense, and he is one of the main reasons why the Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference over the past few seasons.

Defensively, Jokic is not as strong as some of the other top centers in the league. However, his impact on the offensive end more than makes up for his deficiencies on defense. Jokic is one of the best players in the league, and he has helped turn the Nuggets into a legitimate title contender.

His production

Nikola Jokic is averaging a double-double this season with 27.4 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 56.6% from the field, 39.6% from three, and 85.2% from the free throw line. He’s also averaging 8.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 36 minutes per game. Jokic is one of only two players in the NBA averaging at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists per game this season (the other is LeBron James).

The case for Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert is the best NBA center. He has great size and length and is an excellent rim protector. He is also a very good offensive player. He can score in the post and is a good shooter. He is a very good rebounder and is one of the best defenders in the NBA.

His impact on the Jazz

Rudy Gobert is one of the best defensive players in the NBA. Not only does he have great size, but he also has a huge wingspan that allows him to block shots and protect the paint. He is an excellent rebounder and has improved his offensive game over the years.

The Jazz have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference since Gobert joined the team. He has had a huge impact on their defensive efficiency and has helped them become a contender in the West.

Gobert is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-Star for the first time in 2020. He is one of the best players in the NBA and is a key piece of the Jazz’s success.

His production

In his seven years in the league, Rudy Gobert has established himself as one of the best rim protectors and rebounders in the NBA. The 7-foot-1 center has led the league in blocks four times and finished second twice. He’s also been top-10 in rebounding five times, including a career-high 13.5 boards per game last season.

The case for Anthony Davis

It’s time to give credit where credit is due, and in this case, that credit goes to Anthony Davis. Davis has been putting up some serious numbers recently, and he is without a doubt the best NBA center right now. Let’s take a look at why.

His impact on the Lakers

After years of being one of the game’s best players without ever playing in the NBA Finals, Anthony Davis finally has his chance. The superstar big man was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason, and he wasted no time in helping them become one of the league’s best teams. In his first year with the Lakers, Davis averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 33.9% from three-point range. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team, and he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

With Davis anchoring their defense and providing a much-needed secondary scoring option behind LeBron James, the Lakers went 52-19 in the regular season before cruising to the NBA title in the Orlando bubble. In the Finals, Davis averaged 27.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 57.1% from the field and 40% from three-point range as the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in six games. For his efforts, Davis was named Finals MVP, becoming just the third player in NBA history to win both an MVP award and a Finals MVP award in the same season (LeBron James and Michael Jordan are the others).

In just two seasons with the Lakers, Davis has already established himself as one of the best players in franchise history. He’s also cemented himself as one of the league’s top centers, and there is a strong case to be made that he is currently the best center in the NBA.

His production

Anthony Davis is one of the best young players in the NBA. He is just 23 years old, and he is already one of the best players in the league. He is a 6’10” power forward/center who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans. He was the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and he has been selected to three All-Star teams. He has also been named to three All-NBA teams.

In his seven NBA seasons, Davis has averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. He is a very efficient player, as he shoots 53.1% from the field and 79.6% from the free throw line. Davis is one of only seven players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal per game in a season (minimum: 50 games played). The other six players are Hakeem Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ben Wallace.

Davis is one of the best defensive players in the league. He has been named to the All-Defensive team four times in his seven seasons (first team: 2014-2018). He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2016-17 and 2017-18. In 2017-18, he led the league in blocks per game (2.6).

Offensively, Davis is an elite scorer inside and outside of the paint. He shot 34% from three-point range this season (up from 30% last season), and he attempted 4 threes per game (up from 1 per game last season).Davis is also an excellent free throw shooter (79%), which makes him difficult to defend when he gets to the line (he averaged 7 free throw attempts per game this season).

In addition to his scoring prowess, Davis is also a very good rebounder and passer for a big man. He averaged 10 rebounds per game this season (8th best in the NBA) and 2 assists per game (tied for 18th best among all centers).

The case for Karl-Anthony Towns

Though there are other great NBA centers, Karl-Anthony Towns is, in our opinion, the best one out there right now. He’s only 22 years old, and he’s already one of the best in the league. He’s a great scorer, a good rebounder, and a good defender.

His impact on the Timberwolves

Since being drafted #1 overall in the 2015 NBA draft, Karl-Anthony Towns has been one of the best players in the league. He is a 2-time All-Star and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2020. Though he has yet to win a championship, he has helped lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to the playoffs twice in his five seasons with the team.

Towns is one of the best scoring big men in the league, averaging over 25 points per game during his career. He is also a great rebounder, averaging over 12 rebounds per game. In addition to his scoring and rebounding, he is also a good shot blocker, averaging over two blocks per game. His ability to impact the game on both offense and defense makes him one of the most valuable players in the league.

While Towns has not yet won a championship, he has established himself as one of the best players in the league. His impact on both ends of the court makes him a valuable asset to any team.

His production

Towns has been nothing short of incredible since he came into the league. He’s averaged 21.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 54.2% from the field and 35.4% from three-point range. He’s one of only four players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in their first four seasons, joining Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James.

He’s also been extremely efficient, posting a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 23.6 since coming into the league which ranks sixth among all centers over that span. In terms of Win Shares, he ranks fourth among all centers over the last four years with 26.8 total WS.