Believe it or not, the 2015-16 regular season is right around the corner. Training camp starts at the end of September, and soon enough, the five best NBA centers will be on full display. Today we’re projecting the 5 best centers in the NBA in 2016.
Al Horford, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol and DeMarcus Cousins held top-five spots last year, but a couple new faces will earn their place on the list following the upcoming season.
5. Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
In all likelihood, a majority of people who know about Vucevic are Magic fans and lovers of fantasy basketball. That ought to change this year. Since Orlando acquired Vucevic in 2012, all he’s done is register 127 double-doubles. Only Cousins (135) and Zach Randolph (130) have more than the 24-year-old.
Last season, Vucevic was squarely in the conversation as one of the best NBA centers. The left-hander set career-high marks with 19.3 points, a 52.3 field goal percentage, 2.0 assists and 109 offensive rating. His 21.5 player efficiency rating was the 17th-best mark overall. Vucevic is a special player, and he’ll be recognized as such this season.
4. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
The 7-foot-1, 245-pounder is a shot-blocking machine. Last season, Gobert swatted 189 shots, which ranked second behind only New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. Gobert entered the Utah Jazz starting lineup on Feb. 20, and his 74 post-All-Star break blocks tied Davis for the most.
But while Gobert is known for his defensive exploits, he’s far from a one-dimensional player. On the contrary, “The Stifle Tower” tallied 11.1 points on 57.6 percent shooting and 13.4 rebounds during the 29-game stretch as a starter to close the year. Gobert finished with the NBA’s fifth-best defensive rating (98.0) and the No. 8 offensive rating (122.1). Don’t be surprised when those numbers improve in 2015-16.
3. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
Following an offseason full of fireworks, Jordan probably can’t wait to get on the court. The Texas A&M product verbally agreed to return to his home state and play for the Dallas Mavericks, but Jordan reneged on that decision and signed with his old-but-never-officially-former team.
And boy, the Clippers needed him and his thunderous slams back.
Jordan has never earned an All-Star nod, but the 7-footer’s performance has regularly made him worthy of one. In 2014-15, he netted 11.5 points, snatched a league-leading 15.0 rebounds and blocked 2.2 shots per game. Jordan also ended the campaign ranked second and seventh in the offensive (126.1) and defensive (98.5) rating categories, respectively. Jordan is an All-Pro center, and at just 27 years old, he’s only getting better.
2. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Although Gobert and Jordan are above-average offensive players, the offense doesn’t run through either standout. Gasol is the rare breed of center who dictates the flow on both ends of the court, leading his team in scoring while simultaneously anchoring the defense.
“Gasol is not the prototypical NBA star,” Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck said. “But he has earned a stronger label: the best two-way center in the league.”
Gasol racked up a career-best 17.4 points per game last season, but he also connected on 49.4 percent of his attempts, grabbed 7.8 boards, dished 3.8 assists and blocked 1.8 shots. The 2012-13 NBA Defensive Player of the Year earned first-team All-NBA honors and solidified himself as a top-5 center for the foreseeable future.
1. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
How did the league’s best center become a disrespected player? Perhaps Cousins’ repeated failure to control his temper has created a negative sentiment among NBA fans. After all, Cousins has been whistled for 73 technical fouls since entering the league.
But the Kings center is the elite of the elite. Cousins poured in 24.1 points and secured 12.7 rebounds per outing last season. What’s more, he tallied 3.6 assists on a 20.4 assist rate, which was slightly better than Gasol — who is widely considered the best passing big. Cousins recently turned 25 years old, so he’s just now reaching the beginning of his prime.
Again, the NBA’s best center is 25. How scary — and awesome — is that?