Over the next five days, I will be posting my top 5 list for each position in the NBA. We will start at center and work our way through the positions, with point guards wrapping it up on Monday. There are more than five guys that should be considered at each position, but these lists are composed of the players that I believe are the best in the league. Here is my list of the top 5 centers in the NBA.
5. Dwight Howard (14.9 PPG, 12 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 61.2% FG) Dwight Howard gets the nod at number 5 because he is still a top 3 rebounder in the NBA. Howard takes a ton of heat for both his attitude and his declining play. While I completely agree that he is a shell of his former self, he is clearly not a total bum. Find me 2 other guys in the league that average 15 and 12. It's just Dwight and Drummond.
4. DeAndre Jordan (12.2 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 68.6% FG) DeAndre is having another great year. He once again leads the league in field goal percentage and ranks second in both rebounds and blocks. Jordan is a menace on defense and runs the pick and roll with Chris Paul as well as any big in the league. Jordan is probably the most athletic center in the league.
3. Marc Gasol (16.6 PPG, 7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 BPG) Gasol was having another All-Star caliber year before his season was cut short due to injury. He is one of the most versatile centers in the league and is extremely effective on both sides of the ball. The former Defensive Player of the Year locks it down in the low post. He also has some of the best post moves for a 7-footer and possesses elite passing skills for a player of his size.
2. Andre Drummond (16.7 PPG, 15 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 1.6 SPG, 52% FG) Drummond is scary good, especially if you consider that he is only 22 years old. The 4th year player leads the NBA in rebounds and is a beast down low. Staff writer Stephen Springer pointed out that if Drummond shot 60% from the free throw line, he could average 25 and 15. Unfortunately Drummond is one of the worst free throw shooters in the game at 35.5% from the line. If Drummond can get near the 50% mark he will be a much more effective player and will be able to remain in the lineup at the end of close games.
1. DeMarcus Cousins (27.1 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.4 SPG) Cousins is nearly impossible to guard. The Kings center is 4th in the league in scoring and 5th in the league in rebounding. He has the ability to take over games with his offense and has even stretched his range behind the three point line this year (35.7%). Cousins has continued to improve throughout his career and is currently having his best season. Character concerns will always be an issue with Cousins, but there's no denying that he is outplaying the rest of the centers in the NBA this season.
Honorable Mention: Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside, Nikola Vucevic
Grayson Gold-Garvey, Follow on Twitter @TheGraygo
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