Top 5 centers heading into the 2021-22 NBA season

#3 Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns (#32) of the Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't had much collective success in the NBA. But the first overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft has definitely been a great player throughout his career.

Although injuries have hindered him the last two years, Towns is difficult to handle at the offensive end for defenses when he's been fully fit/

Towns is a Rookie of the Year winner, All-Star (twice) and All-NBA player. He has achieved several things individually, and remains one of the best and most effective big men in the NBA.

In 408 career games, Towns has averaged 22.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and three assists per game with 52/39/83 shooting splits. Last season, he put up 24.8 points 10.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game with 48/38/85 shooting numbers

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#2 Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid (#21) of the Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid could've won the 2020-21 NBA MVP award if injuries had not hindered his campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately for him, that has been a recurring theme throughout his career, keeping him and the Sixers from achieving greater things.

Nevertheless, Embiid finished second in the 2020-21 NBA MVP voting despite missing 21 games during the season.

In the 51 appearances he made, Embiid was a force in offense. He was also a great anchor in defense for the Doc Rivers-led top-seeded East team.

Embiid put up 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last year, while also recording a steal and more than a block per night. The Cameroonian superstar also put up an efficient 51/37/85 shooting split in the regular season, in a dominant display for Philly.

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#1 Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets

The reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is perhaps the best epitome of a player who can be successful without having overly dominating physical attributes.

The Denver Nuggets center was dominant on all areas of the offensive game last year. He was also a good presence in defense, but he remains a work in progress in that department, though.

The Serbian superstar proved he could perform on the biggest stages when he sizzled in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. He backed up those exploits with an MVP campaign for the underwhelming Denver Nuggets in the 2020-21 NBA season.

After Jamal Murray endured a knee injury in mid-April, the Denver Nuggets were expected to struggle mightily. However, the NBA MVP kept things together for the team. The Nuggets eventually grabbed the third seed in the West, and made a second-round appearance in the postseason.

Jokic, a great scorer and unique passer, averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the 2020-21 NBA regular season. The Serbian, who is a nightly Triple-Double threat, also recorded efficient shooting numbers (56/38/86). He also led the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (31.3), Win Shares (15.6) and finished in the top three in total points and assists that campaign.

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