Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking Joel Embiid as a center 2021

15. Steven Adams

There’s a legit case that Steven Adams is the strongest player in the NBA. However, he’s had a down year statistically and that’s because of his poor fit with superstar teammate Zion Williamson. Adams is an elite defender due to his strength and is an elite boxout player, but he’s not above average in any other big man statistical or skill category.

14. Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez starter his career as an elite post up center who wasn’t great defensively and made an All-Star game because of it. Now he’s a good defender and has become a stretch five as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.

13. Jusuf Nurkic

When healthy, Jusuf Nurkic is an elite interior defender who could go for 20 points and 10 rebounds on any given night. However, he’s not been healthy this year and when he has played he hasn’t been able to produce at the level he has in past seasons.

12. Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton is a former number one overall pick and has shown flashes of being an elite center, despite regressing stat-wise in his third season. Besides not having an outside shot, Ayton can do everything that a center needs to do either very well or great. He’s going to be the x-factor to the Phoenix Suns postseason run.

11. Jonas Valanciunas

Jonas Valanciunas is one of the most underrated post scorers in the NBA. He’s an average interior defender and very good as a rebounder for the Memphis Grizzlies. However, his lack of footspeed on the perimeter has made it hard for him to play in certain matchups which is why I don’t have him in the top-10.