The NBA season is just around the corner and the Eastern Conference is once again in shambles as many of the top ranked teams from the previous season have dwindled into the mediocrity that makes up the east. On a positive note, the 2014-2015 NBA season will be the year of the center position. Yes, the “Big-man” is back and there are a slew of multi-talented players holding down the position with an array of offensive and defensive weapons that could help place their teams in a position to make the playoffs. You may be surprised to see our list of the 2013-2014 Top NBA centers has changed in dramatic fashion. Players you might have expected to make the top-5 have found themselves bumped out of the race like a NASCAR driver.
NBA writers: Jr. Williams, Arnold Glass, Francesca Toledo, Jared Cortes, and Greg Patuto were asked to provide their list of the 2014-2015 top centers in the NBA as of right now – here are the results of their selections ranked 10 to 1 ( according to calculated votes ).
Honorable Mentions #10 – #5
10. Chris Bosh – Miami Heat
Francesca Toledo: Bosh has stepped up as a center and I have high hopes for him in the upcoming season. His size as well as his skill shine on the court. While it is true that Bosh is a power forward playing out of position, he performs extremely well as a center due to his size and skill set. Overall, he is a great offensive player and an effective defensive player.
9. Roy Hibbert – Indiana Pacers
Jr. Williams: I still believe Roy Hibbert is a top-10 center in the NBA when he performs at his most optimum level. Hibbert had quite a few questionable moments last year during the early rounds of the 2014 NBA playoffs, but he still finished among the top-5 in the NBA in blocked shots and defensively held his ground versus the most elite centers in the leage.
Francesca Toledo: The man’s size is intimidating enough… Standing at 7’2, he guards the rim like a beast. But take that combined with his defensive skills and the man is quite the threat on the court. He generated plenty of attention in the playoffs last year, especially against the Wizards and the Heat.
8. Andre Drummond – Detroit Pistons
Arnold Glass: Everyone might pick Dwight Howard over Drummond, but I want durable players that I can count on and Drummond missed one game last season and almost accumulated identical stats as the Rockets center.
7. Brook Lopez – Brooklyn Nets
Greg Patuto: Despite having a history of injury, Lopez might be the best scoring center in the NBA. He comes in at number 4 on my list because of his lack of defense, however, expect big numbers from the big man.
6. DeAndre Jordan – L.A. Clippers
courtesy of sportsinvasion.net
Arnold Glass: This rebounding machine (13.6 RPG) showed that he is a durable playing by playing in all 82 games last season. He has a high ceiling and coach Rivers will continue to make him grow.
Jr. Williams: DeAndre Jordan is probably one of the most athletic and highest leaping big men in the league right now. He is one of top shot blockers and rebounders in the game, yet he remains one of the most underrated overall players in the NBA. Jordan is a player who will give his top effort offensively and defensively. He runs the floor better than any center in the league, and If he can improve his scoring, we may see him as a 2015 NBA All-star reserve.
23 Comments
Max
August 2, 2015 at 7:48 pmMozgov
Koh Smoger
July 19, 2015 at 5:19 pmyou really dont like looking at the damn picture do you. 67-15 and a championship victory deserves some recognition.
DoctorFeelgoodMD
May 29, 2015 at 4:41 pmHoward is a joke. He is paid more money than any other player he faced in the play-offs and that also includes LeBron James that he didn’t play against. He is the reason pro sports salaries are over paid to under performers. Houston were fools to pay this “has been”, $88 million for 4 years. His performance in the play-offs was less than satisfactory and not only that, he’s a whiner looking for attention. No wonder Orlando traded him. And he still can’t make a free throw…….Curry is only paid $11M and is twice the player.
heatfan815
May 20, 2015 at 5:51 pmDavis 1 Jordan 2 Cousins 3 Gasol 4 Hassan Blockside 5 …….cant beat this order any day.
heatfan815
May 20, 2015 at 5:47 pmHassan BlockSide for Miami !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jake Mallinder
May 19, 2015 at 6:05 pm10 Nurkic
9 Lopez
8 Howard
7 Jordan
6 Bosh5 Drummond
4 Noah
3 Jefferson
2 Gasol
1 Cousins
Sergio Arcos
May 12, 2015 at 9:02 pmLaMarcus Aldridge
heatfan815
May 20, 2015 at 5:56 pmHe’s a PF/center meaning they’ll switch him on and off he does not play Center Sergio” if there’s a slow center with feet stuck to the floor and can’t defend shots then it might work putting Aldridge at center but he’s only 240 he can’t handle a bigger center every nite
Jordan Albert
April 21, 2015 at 10:24 amMy favorite players in the NBA right now are probably Kyrie, Lebron, Curry, Noah, Pau Gasol and last but the best JAMES HARDEN
Jake Mallinder
May 19, 2015 at 5:58 pmYou are such a bandwagoner
heatfan815
May 20, 2015 at 6:03 pmAnybody thats a star hun ?? Harden though man ya boy is straight Flopper ” dude b driving and expects a foul eveytime there’s soft contact..he try’s to bullies his way to rim like Labron then when he finds out he’s not great at it he flops
James Cunningham
April 3, 2015 at 6:35 pmGobert underrated ,has 7ft 9 wingspan,.However ,Cousins might be best in league.Howard is way overrated,gets in fould trouble,no range,poor free throw shooter,.Okafor seems like Howard ,without the defense.Towns seems like Bynum,has more upside than Okafor.
Doug Slesser
March 1, 2015 at 12:23 amRudy Gobert
the best center
Jam
February 7, 2015 at 5:29 amvucevic is better than howard this season and cousins is statistically the best in the league
jamorea jones
February 2, 2015 at 2:43 pmAnthony davis
jamorea jones
February 2, 2015 at 2:43 pmHassan Whiteside
Nathan Zhang
December 21, 2014 at 11:14 pmBogut all the way
swarm
October 7, 2014 at 9:14 amHere is how you appropriately rank it:
1) Al Jefferson – Unstoppable offense and steadily improving in defense
2) Anthony Davis – kid is on the rise
3) Dwight Howard – best athletic big man which makes him an explosive scorer aand fantastic defender
4) Demarcus Cousins – toughest dude on my list
5) Joakim Noah – scrappy and hard working
JAM
February 7, 2015 at 5:30 amdavis is actually a power forward which is why he wasn’t on the list
Matt
September 18, 2014 at 4:10 pmAl Horford anybody?
heatfan815
May 20, 2015 at 6:12 pmI like al horford he balled out on da low this yr .season and playoffs he broke a record too !!! It might b his time
sean
September 1, 2014 at 10:46 pmthe forgot about andrew bogut
rioderek
February 5, 2015 at 1:58 amBogut LOL. That guy’s broke down and offensively limited