Top 5 centers currently playing in the NBA, including Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns
- Tyler Vaysman
- 11 May 2022
The NBA has gone through a revolution over the past decade when it comes to the position of centers and their increasing guard-like traits.
Today we're seeing a lot of big men putting together plays which teams from previous generations have never seen from the biggest players.
Here, Planet Sport takes a closer look at some of the best centers in the game today!
Rudy Gobert - Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert has established himself as a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate with his ability to protect the rim and limit the effectiveness of some of the game's best big men down low.
Gobert is also a rebounding machine, averaging nearly 15 of them per game this season. He is also a serious threat when it comes to getting easy buckets, with his combination of length, size, power, and athleticism.
Bam Adebayo - Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo is the Swiss army knife of basketball players, considering his ability to defend multiple positions and tear up opposing defences with his footwork, strength, and athleticism. He also has the ability to make plays for his teammates.
Many times, being undersized can be a detriment for a big man. However, for a player like Adebayo, it actually serves him well due to his ability to be more than just a rim protector and post-up player.
Karl-Anthony Towns - Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns was the sole reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to finally become a legitimate play-off team this season. His ability to hit the three, post up, and drive to the rim makes him near unstoppable as a 7-foot centre.
It also opens up the floor for the rest of his teammates to do some damage, as Towns is a willing passer.
If the Timberwolves can get a couple of better defenders next to Towns, that'll go a long way to help him become a more effective player on that side of the ball. Nevertheless, it's fair to say that the 26-year-old is a generational offensive talent.
Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is as dominant as they come on the offensive side of the ball. The 28-year-old has the "Dream Shake" - made famous by Hakeem Olajuwon - down to perfection, with an added ability to hit the three, post up opposing defenders and drive to the rim with Kobe Bryant-like footwork.
Additionally, he has the ability to lock down the paint on defence and shut down the opposing big man.
Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is a jack of all trades offensively with his ability to score the ball, rebound, and be the primary playmaker for his team.
What sets him apart from other bigs is his ability to make passes. Because of his all-around skill set, he was able to carry the Denver Nuggets to the play-offs this season essentially by himself.
