Top five centers

[DrReality]

Top 5 Centers

By: Luke Byrnes Last Updated: 8/21/09 7:44 PM ET | 1306 times read

Adjust font size:In the fourth installment of HOOPSWORLD's series ranking the top five players at each position in the NBA, today we look at the center position. In today's NBA it is difficult to determine who is a center and who is a power forward. Is Tim Duncan a center or a power forward? How about Al Horford? Well, thankfully, Alex Raskin did all the work for me and the differentiation is right here.

Obviously Yao Ming is one name that would have been at, or at least near, the top of the list will be left off completely due to injury. But with the seven-time All-Star out for the season a spot opens up in what is a fairly thin group of NBA centers.

Without any further ado, let's get the ball rolling:

1. Dwight Howard, Orlando: It is impossible to ignore the rare combination of power and athleticism that Howard brings to the game. Howard came to the Magic straight out of high school as the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and has exceeded expectations. Just 23 years old, Howard has already been named All-NBA First Team twice ('08 and '09) and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season. Howard led the Magic on a surprising run to the NBA Finals, he posted career highs in blocks (2.9) and steals (1.0) per game. As Howard continues to develop an offensive repertoire to go along with his game changing defensive ability he will become not only the best center in the game today, but will secure a spot among the greatest big men of all time.

2. Al Jefferson, Minnesota: The 24-year old Jefferson was in the midst of a career season before a ruptured ACL in his right knee ended the 2008-09 season for the Timberwolves center. You can say what you want about posting big numbers for a bad team, but Minnesota appeared to be making strides after an awful start to the season (4-23) by winning 13 of the team's final 23 games with Jefferson in the lineup, including wins over playoff-bound New Orleans and Chicago. Jefferson has a nice post game based on fundamentals more than athleticism so his knee injury shouldn't stunt his growth terribly and he will continue to become one of the best big men in the NBA.

3. Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland: The perception of Shaq's game at his advanced age is less than accurate in my opinion. Is he still the dominant force that won three consecutive NBA Finals MVPs? Not at all. Is he still one of the best centers in the NBA? There is absolutely no doubt. Shaq saw his scoring jump over four points per game from '07-'08 to '08-'09 while shooting a career best .609 from the field. The 15-time All-Star helped the Suns win 46 games last season, narrowly missing the playoffs despite playing the final eight weeks of the season without fellow All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire. Shaq also played in at least 75 games for the first time since the 1999-2000 season and only the fifth time in his career last season. With LeBron James and Mo Williams around to keep defenses from keying on him, Shaq figures to remain a highly efficient and productive player in 2010.

4. Emeka Okafor, New Orleans: Okafor has been one of the league's best kept secrets over the last couple of seasons while being stashed on one of the NBA's worst teams in Charlotte. The former University of Connecticut star has averaged a double-double in each of his five NBA seasons. Durability became a question mark surrounding Okafor early in his career, but the 2005 NBA Rookie of the Year has played in all 82 games in each of the last two seasons, starting all but one, and posted a career high .561 field goal percentage last year. While his career numbers aren't eye-popping (14 points and 10.7 rebounds per game), he has turned into one of the game's most steady big men. With a new team in New Orleans playing alongside Chris Paul, expect to see Okafor's scoring improve dramatically this season.

5. Andris Biedrins, Golden State: One of the most under-appreciated players in the NBA, Biedrins isn't the most polished offensive player on this list but the 23-year old Latvian posted career-highs in five statistical categories last season while averaging a double-double (11.9 points, 11.2 rebounds per game) for the first time in his career. At 6'11", 240 lbs., Biedrins has been in the top three in the NBA in field goal percentage each of the last three years, leading the league (.626) in 2007-08. On a Golden State squad with so many capable scorers (Corey Maggette, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, etc.) Biedrins might not register huge offensive numbers, but his impact on both ends of the floor is simply too much to be ignored.

Honorable Mention: Mehmet Okur, Utah; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee; Brook Lopez, New Jersey; Nene, Denver; Al Horford, Atlanta

Edited August 22, 2009 by DrReality

[ATLNY7]

Good to see Al Horford getting some type of credit.