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Joel Embiid ranked as second-best center in the NBA

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center on January 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pistons 114-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center on January 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pistons 114-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Is Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid the best center in the league? There are some differing opinions.

In a recent set of rankings, Bleacher Report went in-depth on the 15 best centers in the NBA. Of course, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was included.

The main question in this debate is relatively simple: Is Embiid on the court enough to be considered the best center in the league. Some will use the availability argument against him, while others will base their judgements on pure talent.

The folks over at Bleacher Report chose to do the former. Here are their top five, in order:

Though there have been some standout bigs this year — Horford and Towns come to mind — this debate easily boils down to Cousins and Embiid. Cousins blends strength and versatility in a wholly unique way, while Embiid’s combination of physical tools, footwork and defensive prowess have quickly made him one of the league’s most dominant forces.

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Embiid has a clear edge defensively, where Cousins is often unfocused and inconsistent, but Cousins’ offensive polish is a few shades ahead of JoJo. He’s a more fluid player on the perimeter, does more as a passer, and operates in a high-usage role that’s comparable to the load Embiid carries.

The availability argument, which is essentially what B/R uses to determine the final ranking, is valid. Embiid has played 31 games this season, while Cousins has played in 43.

In addition to that, it’s worth pointing out that these rankings are based on the 2017-18 season. If going on talent and ability alone, Embiid’s two-way proficiency probably gives him the edge at No. 1. I doubt we see Horford ranked third in a general list either, even if he’s putting together an All-Star-worthy campaign.

So, with that in mind, it’s tough to take too much away from a list like this. Embiid is the better player on paper, but Cousins is one heck of a talent himself. The fact that he has played in 12 more games will inevitably factor into some people’s decision.

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If you find yourself needing a reminder of how impactful Embiid is, just read his on/off charts for other players on the Sixers’ roster. The man’s pretty good at basketball.