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The center position has dominated the NBA for decades before the focus shifted to small-ball and perimeter shooting. With the position making a comeback of sorts, the new big men of the league are savvy all-around players who do more than just posting up and protecting the rim. Today's NBA power rankings are a testament to that and feature big men who can shoot, pass and even run the floor with the ball.
These new-age centers don't shy away from covering defensive assignments on the perimeter or making plays for their teammates at the offensive end. However, there are still some traditional centers who epitomise the old style of the NBA. But they are prone to tactics like hack-a-Shaq, hack-a-Dwight for their poor shooting and often find themselves in foul trouble.
NBA Power Rankings: Top five centers in the league this season
The NBA is talent-rich with impressive big men holding the anchor position for most teams. However, in this article, we will have a look at the top five centers that make the most impact with their exceptional play.
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On that note, let's take a look at the NBA power rankings for the top centers going into the NBA 2020-21 season:
#5 Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic)
An NBA All-Star in 2019, Nikola Vucevic averaged 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 32.2 minutes per game. Over the past few years, he has been performing consistently and has proved to be a premier center in the NBA.
Vucevic brings with him an array of post-up moves that make him a tough defensive assignment for opposing teams.
He can also stretch the floor for his teammates by shooting the long ball from beyond the arc. Moreover, the big man has a terrific court vision that allows him to pass the ball to open players for easy buckets.
#4 Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The first-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Karl Anthony Towns is now a two-time NBA All-Star (2018, 2019) playing in his fifth season in the competition.
Coming in at the center position for the Minnesota Timberwolves, his last seasons' averages were 26.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 33.9 minutes per game.
Standing tall at 6' 11", he has evolved into one of the league's best centers courtesy his stellar offensive abilities. Though critics point fingers at his defensive shortcomings, an improvement in this area could see him rank higher in future power rankings.
#3 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Rudy Gobert keeps getting better with each season and has arguably become one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.
He has been putting up big numbers consistently, earning his first NBA All-Star appearance last season. Gobert averaged 15.1 points, 13.5 rebounds and two blocks in 34.3 minutes per game in the 2019-2020 NBA campaign.
With two back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards (2018, 2019), one begins to see why he got a five-year $205-million contract extension with the Utah Jazz.
Gobert is likely to continue impacting the game at both ends of the floor, giving Utah Jazz fans hopes of witnessing a title run.
#2 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
One of the most dominant big men in the NBA today, Joel Embiid continues to perform at an elite level.
Embiid can drive to the rim at will and has impressive speed for someone his size. With his shooting still improving, the future is bright for the Cameroonian.
Though the 76ers were swept in the first round of the playoffs last season, Embiid averaged 30 points and 12 rebounds on 46% shooting from the field.
With new pieces added by the 76ers this off-season, namely head coach Doc Rivers and new NBA Champion Dwight Howard, Embiid could face high expectations from Philly fans during the 2020-2021 NBA campaign.
#1 Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
One of the best passing men the league has ever seen, Nikola Jokic can throw dimes that can leave crowds in a frenzy.
His acrobatic moves and never-surrender spirit have made him a top-tier center in the league. Last season, he averaged 19.9 points and 9.7 rebounds to go with seven assists in 32 minutes per game.
His presence in the paint area collapses opposition defenses, allowing him to find shooters on the perimeter for open threes.
Jokic's brilliant performances in the 2019-2020 NBA playoffs has made the Nuggets one of the hottest teams to watch out for this season.
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