NBA’s Top 10 Centers
The future of the five?Remember when big men ran the NBA? In the ’90s, superstars like Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson, Young Shaq and Young ‘Zo had a huge impact on the League’s balance of power (of course, not as much as No. 23), and even second-tier guys like Rik Smits, Brad Daugherty, Vlade and Elden Campbell put in work. Those days are ancient history. Now it’s the era of Jerome James and Adonal Foyle, where all 7-footers have to do is look like they can play and they’re almost guaranteed a fat contract. That’s why Greg Oden has been so hyped since early in his high school career; if he doesn’t usher in a new era of dominant centers, he’ll at least destroy most of the fives in the League on his way to multiple championships. Who will be Oden’s top comp? We ranked the League’s 10 best centers…
10. Zydrunas Ilgauskas — He’s slow and methodical, but Big Z gets the job done, as he showed throughout the Cavs’ run to the Finals. When he gets involved in the offense, he’s a decent scorer (11.9 ppg) who can draw the opposing big man away from the basket. Z is a great offensive rebounder (7.7 rpg) — you saw all the tip-ins — and a decent shot-blocker (1.3 bpg). Of course there’s that nonexistent quickness and lateral movement, which exposes him against bigs with any kind of speed, but Z has a niche and fills it well.
9. Mehmet Okur — Definitely not the prototypical center; he spends all game on the perimeter, but then again, he’s one of the best shooters in the League, so why not? Memo hit on 38 percent of his threes this year and put up 17.6 points a night while making his first All-Star team. His problems are: one, he’s a shameless gunner, and two, he gets destroyed on defense sometimes. While he was good against Yao at times in the Houston series, Tim Duncan took Memo to daycare.
8. Ben Wallace — He got off to a rough start in Chicago (stats-wise and the whole headband thing), but eventually got back to that blue-collar style fans and teammates know and love. As always, he was amongst the League leaders in boards (10.7 rpg) and blocks (2.0 bpg), and as always, the offensive game was somewhere between minimal and comical (6.4 ppg, 40 percent at the stripe).
7. Eddy Curry — The Knicks haven’t had a decent center since Marcus Camby, so Curry’s breakthrough ‘06-07 season was like winning the Lottery for Knicks fans. E-City came into training camp in the best shape of his career (all jokes aside) and it showed; he went for 19.5 points a night and was a borderline All-Star. Curry commands a double-team, but still turns the ball over too much trying to pass out of it, and his rebounding (7.0 rpg) could stand to improve.
6. Tyson Chandler — A prime example of how a change of scenery and system can change someone’s career. After five lackluster years in Chicago, Chandler made an impact right away with the Hornets, and was one of the NBA’s best rebounders (12.4 rpg). He also put up 9.5 points and 1.8 blocks and shot 62 percent from the field — which makes sense seeing as a lot of his buckets come on alley oop finishes and putbacks. He was in the discussion for Most Improved and Defensive Player of the Year.
5. Marcus Camby — See what he can do when he’s healthy? Playing an iron-man-ish (by his standards) 70 games this year, Camby copped Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 11.7 boards and a League-high 3.3 blocks a night to go along with 11.2 points. He’s the only reason Denver’s D doesn’t give up 120 a game. He scored an invite to Team USA’s training camp, but the Nuggets understandably wanted Camby to stay home — and healthy — this summer.
4. Dwight Howard — Getting better every year. 2007 saw Dwight’s first All-Star appearance and his first playoff experience. After getting a lesson from the Pistons in a first-round sweep, Howard should be that much smarter and better next year. Physically, Howard is an animal who blocks shots (1.9 bpg), dunks on everyone in sight (17.6 ppg), and dominates the glass (12.3 rpg). If you were starting a team from scratch and were looking long-term, Dwight would be one of the Top 5 players you’d have to consider.
3. Shaquille O’Neal — Don’t get it twisted; Shaq is still one of the best in the game. When D-Wade went down with his shoulder injury this year, Shaq showed he’s still capable of being the most dominant player on the floor, helping carry the Heat from what looked like a Lottery season into fourth-place in the East. He put up 17.3 points, 7.4 boards and 1.4 blocks in an injury-shortened regular season, and upped his numbers to 18-8-1.5 in Miami’s first-round loss to Chicago. Yeah, he’s getting up there in age and misses more and more time on the bench in a suit, but there’s still few players who are harder to stop 1-on-1.
2. Amare Stoudemire — Not only did STAT come all the way back from the knee injury (playing all 82 games), he was better than the last time we saw him at his peak. Amare dropped 20.4 points and 9.6 boards on his way to getting All-NBA first team, went for 25 and 12 in the postseason, and added a 15-footer to his repertoire that makes him a certified problem for any defense.
1. Yao Ming — Instead of dominating for a few minutes here and there, Yao took over entire games this year, averaging 25 points, 9.4 boards and 2 blocks a night and entering the MVP discussion before a leg injury limited him to just 48 games. Yao’s conditioning has improved since he first came into the League, allowing him to stay on the court and avoid senseless fouls. Houston is still T-Mac’s team, but no way they even challenge Utah in seven games without the best center in the League.
Honorable mention: Emeka Okafor, Chris Kaman, Andrew Bogut, Nenad Krstic, Brad Miller
June 18th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
G says:
Tyson Chnadler is a poor mans Ben Wallace, yet he is ranked higher than him? Cmon I know Big Ben is getting older, and the offense still remains atrocious but its not like Tyson Chandler is getting his, except when an alley oop is involved. The rest of the list is pretty solid although I would say Okafor when healthy beats out Okur. Maybe second team honorable mentions to Biedrins and Dalembert.
June 18th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Keith says:
Big men still run the NBA. Has anyone ever won a championship without a 4 or 5 who demanded a double-team in the post (other than with MJ on the team)? Oden with the right role-players could be the next “dynasty”.
June 18th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
dank says:
uuuuuuhhhh, you messed up with this one bra.
Okur shouldnt be on the list. he’s lazy on D and isnt guaranteed to hit the big 3’s he’s paid to make. where was he in game 5 of the WCF? oh yea, he choked because he was afraid of Timmy D.
The real list:
1) Shaq – this coming from a Laker fan. and you saw what happened to the Heat without him in the regular season. A healthy Shaq, no matter how old or slow, is a Shaq that will destroy you no matter who you put on him.
2) Yao – at times, he plays like he’s still a rookie. but he’s shown signs of emergence, just like you said Terrell. He just needs to be more efficient on D (how the hell did Boozer make those high arching shots on Yao???) oh and by the way, Nate Robinson got lucky he didnt get call for a foul on that block.
3) Dwight Howard – He’s the new era Shaq. just needs to get the ball more and develop a game besides dunking. once he does that, the Magic will surge (if they can get him some help that is. if not, then he’ll probably leave, just like Shaq did)
4) STAT – without him and the Matrix, steve nash leads the league in turnovers rather than be 3rd.
5) Marcus Camby – Defensive Player of the Year. enough said.
6) Tyson Chandler – he finally had the breakout year everybody was waiting for. next move = taking a (hopefully) healthy hornets team to the playoffs.
7) Ben Wallace – Beast on D. you know the other teams’ center wishes 48 minutes went by faster when they gotta play the bulls.
9) Eddy Curry – Only problem for Eddy is the fact he plays for the Knicks. When you play with Starbury, Stevie Franchise, Jamal Crawford, Q-Rich, Nate Robinson…and get almost 20 a game as a center, you should feel lucky you somehow managed to get off those shots.
last spot is up for grabs. you can argue for Big Z, Chris Kaman (when he shows up), and whoever you want, but when you think about it, do they deserve the 10th spot?
June 18th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Hmmm…I didn’t expect Yao to top the list, but yeah, I guess so…*yawn*
June 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Dwight Howard IS the new-era Shaq…funny how we’re now saying he’s gotta develop something besides the dunking in his game, just like we said about Shaq back in the day…I wonder why he didn’t see that coming, and get that part of his game down already? And I don’t think the Magic will EVER let him go for ANY amount of money; they’re still kicking themselves for the whole Shaq thing…let it go, guys…that was freakin’ 30 years ago.
June 18th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Noah says:
The days of great NBA centers are long gone. The fact that Eddy Curry can crack any top 10 list, and cracking this list is probably justifiable, marks a sad day in NBA history. Sure, Eddy Curry can score a little, but the two things that a center MUST display, is rebounding and the ability to block shots. Watching Eddy Curry is one of the most frustrating things in the NBA, the man is 6′11 280 pounds and he averages 7 rebounds (2.5 offensive) which is absolutely pathetic, good for 29th in the NBA. But wait, he also managed to chip in .5!! blocks per game. .5 blocks a game does not even rank in the top 50 in the NBA. Curry cannot defend and he cannot rebound. Zeke made one of the worst trades in Knick history in getting Curry to play center. Curry makes for a very solid 4 on a team with a defensive 5, but on the Knicks, probably the worst assembled team in all of sports, and I’m a knick fan, Curry is nothing more than a giant waste of talent. Eddy- please grab a rebound next year and live up to the top 5 pick that you were.
June 18th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Bron42 says:
like danks list ALOT better. yao is good on offensive but still cotton soft and can be easily neutrilized, ask boozer who averaged about 50 on him.
June 18th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
ab40 says:
wow mekka under Zzzz and okur clevleand and utah would love to have him inside instead of them soft big shooting guys they have now… and Bron42 booz averaged 25 agains SA too
June 18th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Bozaframa says:
Tsk tsk… Where is Biedrins on this list? Not even honorable mention? Nearly averaged a double double, among the best in the L in FG%, seriously considered for MIP. The Warrior’s only form of a post presence was a big reason the dubs broke that nasty 12 year playoff drought.
June 18th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Girlybballluver says:
There is no way in the world you can put together a top centers list and not have Shaq listed number one. That’s just crazy talk you silly goose. Even though he’s old (in basketball years) no one on that list can stop him…No one.
June 18th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Austin Burton says:
There are also guys on the list who Shaq can’t stop anymore…
June 18th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Krayzie says:
The list is pretty well done…except I would put STAT at no.1 as he can run the break as well as pound it in the halfcourt and has an outside shot, as well as being a very foot ft shooter.
June 18th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Krayzie says:
*foot=good. my bad
June 18th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
morechitlins says:
yao is rightfully so on the top of the list. if this is a sign of an era of weak centers compared to a decade ago, thats fine, but yao is at the top now until oden comes. cotton soft? stop thinkin like its ‘02.
June 18th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
TheJed says:
Great call on Bierdrens. He definitely deserves an honorable mention at the very least.
June 18th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Bron42 says:
stop thinkin its 02′? yao gets beasted 24/7. is 7′5 and not even a shot blocker, isn’t a threat to really dunk it and settles for fade aways..how is that not soft? Like i said, hes probably the best offensive center but tons of centers give him the business on the other end. AK467 was swattin his shots, okur was calling him predicatable in post game press conference so yea, lets not make it like hes hakeem the dream or something suddenly cuz he has half of a good year and then flopped in the playoffs once again letting tmac take all the blame when yao was soft since francis was there.
and yea, boozer averaged 25 on the spurs too but he literally won the rockets series by himself puttin up like 40. AND even okur was puttin buckets on yao, so until he can actually shut someone down..he doesn’t deserve number 1. I mean your talkin about oden who has pretty much no offense, why? because on defense he can play. So you gotta have both sides before your “the best” thats why shaq was dominant. you couldnt stop him and you had to be real ballsy to go at him on the other end and risk gettinn put to the ground like carter, darius miles, etc…
June 19th, 2007 at 10:03 am
bixby says:
nice list. the center position has diversified in the nba and will only get more complex. no question yao stands tallest right now with his vast arsenal on offense and impact on defense. oh, and a global icon to boot!
June 19th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Shaughn says:
no mention of the Dalembeast???!!! I agree with that, although if he could keep his head together for an entire game he could crack the top 10 next season.
June 19th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Mo says:
Tyson had a breakout season (he wasn’t the same ol’ Bull)and I expect him to be better next season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP_s2yhJZVc
June 19th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Mo says:
Tyson had a better season than Ben. Watch his Youtube clip (Posted on Tha Block). He’s a really good fit with the Hornets.
June 19th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Austin Burton says:
Tyson isn’t a detriment to his team on offense the way Ben is. He at least knows how to stay out of the way if he can’t score.
June 20th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Amar says:
Dime’s list vastly overrated E-City. He’s such a great player, if you belive what you read the smack during the regular season, but there’s no reason why this guy, who is the only real offensive threat on the team that isn’t a PG, can’t get a 20-10.
‘Meka would get more love if it wasn’t always injured.
Okur is quite good offensively, very versatile, and his shooting percentages go up in the 4th quarter from the rest of the game, and again in the last 5 mins from the 4th quarter. I know, I looked at the play by play and boxscores for each Jazz game and put it on a spread sheet. (I have trouble sleeping) He really didn’t show up in the playoffs, having a new baby and nagging injuries while having to defend guys like Duncan and Yao in single coverage may do that to some guys. When Booz was out for 1.5 seasons with a hamstring Memo’s numbers were 20-10, and played in the paint. When Booz came back he had to go out to the three point line. I’m happy you included him in your top 10 Center’s list Dime. So thank you. Many fans here may only know Okur from his (lack of) playoff performances this season. He was a better outside shooter than Dirk this regular season, look it up. Who had more threes?
Tyson came out of nowhere, and I was happy to have him on my fantasy team. But I still think Ben Wallace is better than him . . . it’s not all about stats . . . unless you are Ced’Ceballos.
Yao Ming sucks on defense. How can you be number one when your offense was neutralized by Okur (a guy you say can’t play consistent defense) in single coverage, while giving up 25-40 points every night to a guy you are almost a foot taller than?
June 20th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Amar says:
and for what it is worth . . . Duncan took everyone to daycare the last 4 months of the season.
June 20th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Kyle says:
Um, Al Jefferson? 20 and 11 over the last part of the season.
June 21st, 2007 at 12:36 am
James says:
The funniest thing he said was the Ben Wallace’s offense was somewhere between minimal and comical.
This is the way I felt about this article….
somewhere between mediocrity and comical.
Chris Kaman is better then Okur and Chandler.
There is no way Shaq at this point in his career is better then Dwight Howard.
As much as I love Yao Ming, he’s one of my favorite players, give me Amare Stoudamire at #1.
More mobile, better athleticism, more of a matchup problem. Yao is too big for his own good at times.
June 21st, 2007 at 2:21 am
Austin Burton says:
Are you serious about Kaman? He had one good year, and it wasn’t even as good as Tyson Chandler’s one good year. He’s a borderline honorable mention at best.
June 21st, 2007 at 3:59 am
grover says:
I don’t care what position he claims to be, Tim Duncan is a center. And he is the number 1 center.
I’d bump up Camby & Ben Wallace 1 spot each.
Camby is far better than Dwight Howard at this point, he’s just isn’t as photogenic what with all the strength and hops that Dwight has.
Ben Wallace has to be ranked higher on history, and Curry should likewise be dropped a notch. Ben had several strong years in Detroit followed by one so-so year, while (Beef) Curry had several crap years followed by 1 decent year in NYC.
June 21st, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Amar says:
Eddie Curry = Nene without the rebounding, if they played in the same conf.
June 23rd, 2007 at 8:42 am
Terrell James says:
Amar,
You’ve got to be kidding with that Eddy Curry/Nene comparison. Eddy Curry is light years ahead of Nene when it comes to scoring. If he played in the west, he wouldn’t score as much because they are at least 10 western conference teams with three solid scoring options. That said, he still be more effective than Nene when he got touches.
July 1st, 2007 at 5:35 am
Someone says:
Come on, Amare? He has NO defense. Top 5:
1. Yao Ming
2. Dwight Howard
3. Marcus Camby
4. Ben Wallace
5. Tyson Chandler(Wallace passes Chandler in Assists steals and blocks, and is not far behind on rebounds and scoring, plus he’s a better defender).
July 12th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Dino Bryant says:
I completely agree Grover. He plays with his back to the basket, mans the strong side, has a solid pivot foot. He more a center than the players being discussed–excluding Shaq and Yao Ming. The tell-tale of a position is not in the line-up announcement or his personal opinion. It is the responsibility/duties he assumes on the court. Tim is a textbook defintion of a Center.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
DP says:
Yezurr ma boi Tyson……..him, CP, D-West, Peja (if healthy), and Mo Pete, are going to get us to da playoffs baby, and to anyone who disagrees, we almost made it dis year even with all da injuries we had, we’re gonna make it dis year. O yeah, dude T-Chand led all centers n rebounds dis year and he almost averaged double figures n points, he should defintely be ranked higher then Big Ben……stats wise, he deserves it
August 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
J-Eazy says:
Shaq will always be #1. He invented the double team, Power dunk, and Hack-a-Shaq. Yao gets stuffed by guys like Nate Robinson whos freakin 5′10″. Amere Stoudamere is only great cuz he has Nash to pass the ball to him 50 times a game. Shaq is the only center that can still single handedly dominate a game…