After covering the rankings for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Danny Green, and Tobias Harris at their respective positions, it’s time to cover where Joel Embiid ranks as a big man. The Philadelphia 76ers have one of the best centers in the NBA.
Ever since Embiid hit the NBA hardwood in 2016, it was pretty clear, he was going to be special. Granted injuries and poor roster construction have kept him from a certain level of consistent greatness, but this season he’s been really showing the league just how dominant he can be.
Ranking the Philadelphia 76ers’ Embiid as a center
These rankings are rankings in terms of stats among the other starters on this list.
“It’s fair to say that Embiid is a top-three center in the NBA, but if you want to know if he’s number one on this list, click on the next slide button.”
Embiid is first among starting centers and third in the whole NBA in point per game at 29.2. He’s 11th in field goal percentage (51.6), fifth in 3-point percentage (37.7), third in free throw percentage (86.0), and first among center as well as the whole NBA in free throw attempts (11.0).
Embiid is seventh among centers in rebounds per game with 10.7. His 2.9 assists per game are fifth and he’s tied for third in steals with 1.0 per game. At 1.4 blocks per game, he’s ranked at eighth among his fellow starting big men.
Embiid has 30 double-doubles on the season, which has him placed at ninth among starting centers this season. That number is the 15th best in the whole NBA. Also, remember that he’s missed 20 games this season and still is ranked this high in terms of double-doubles.
It’s fair to say that Embiid is a top-three center in the NBA, but if you want to know if he’s number one on this list, click on the next slide button.
30. Alex Len
There’s no nice of writing this, so here it is, Alex Len is a bust. He was a top-five pick in the draft and is best served as a backup. That being written, Len is part of a three-man rotation for the Washington Wizards due to the injury to Thomas Bryant. He’s the starter, but honestly, Daniel Gafford and Robin Lopez play bigger roles with the Wizards.
29. Kevon Looney
On most almost any team, Kevon Looney would be reserve and if it weren’t for an injury to rookie James Wiseman he’d be a reserve on the Golden State Warriors. However, he’s an ok stopgap starter for the Warriors while Wiseman misses time.
28. Moses Brown
After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Moses Brown has found a home with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The second year center has shown some flashes of elite play on both ends of the floor. He’s still raw as a prospect, but the future is bright for Brown.
27. P.J. Washington
As I wrote in my power forward rankings article, P.J. Washington is better suited as a power forward, but due to poor depth at the center, he’s been shifted to center. Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo may get the occasional start, but for the most part, it appears it Washington’s job to lose.
26. Wendell Carter Jr.
It’s hard to figure out where Wendell Carter Jr. is in these rankings, but the 26th spot seems about right. He’s shown flashes of being an above average starter at center for first the Chicago Bulls, then Orlando Magic this year, but he’s been inconsistent during his career. Part of that inconsistency is due to changing teams but also due to injuries. At this point, it’s hard to tell where Carter’s career is going at this time.
25. DeAndre Jordan
Sometimes DeAndre Jordan is starting for the Brooklyn Nets and sometimes he’s getting a DNP-CD. When he doesn’t play, Black Griffin starts in his place. Jordan is past his prime, which isn’t a good thing for players who relied heavily on his athleticism. He can still get rebounds but he’s lost a lot defensively and barely provided anything on offense before this decline.
24. Robert Williams
After trading Daniel Theis to the Bulls, the Boston Celtics have embraced Robert Williams as their starting center. However, foul problems and injuries have limited his time on the court. However, when he does play the undersized center has played stellar defense and has a solid passing game. At only 6-foot-8, it will be interesting to see if he can maintain the starting role long term being that undersized.
23. Jakob Poeltl
The San Antonio Spurs had LaMarcus Aldridge, but it was clear that he and the team wanted to go in different directions so they bought him out. While Aldridge’s career is now over because of heart issues, the Spurs have moved on to Jakob Poeltl who is a very good interior defend and rebounder, however, he’s limited offensive.
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22. Mason Plumlee
The rebuilding Detroit Pistons overpaid for Mason Plumlee who is currently in his prime. Plumlee is a solid rebounder and defender, while also being an underrated passer. He’s average on offense, but he’s getting to start and put up solid numbers on a rebuilding team. Detroit should trade him in the future to join a contender.
21. Ivica Zubac
If Serge Ibaka were healthy, he’d be representing the Los Angeles Clippers on this list and would be a few spots higher than his replacement. That being written, Ivica Zubac is a great rebounder, screener, and defender. He doesn’t provide much on offensively but with other centers like Ibaka and DeMarcus Cousins on the roster, it’s ok that they don’t get much out of him.
20. Nerlens Noel
To begin the year, Mitchell Robinson was set to represent New York Knicks. However, due to him getting injured, Nerlens Noel has stepped up in a big way. Statistically, he’s been one of the best defensive centers this season. While he’s not the best defensive, he’s surely a very good one and has been the anchor of the best team defensive in the NBA. The former Philadelphia 76er’s center is making the most of his chance in New York.
“The former Philadelphia 76er’s center is making the most of his chance in New York.”
19. Khem Birch
Until the Orlando Magic bought out Khem Birch, he was just considered a high-quality backup center. However, since he’s joined the Toronto Raptors as their starter, he’s been a solid starter. He can defend and rebound and has a little bit of an offensive game. Sadly, the sample size is small and it’s hard to have him much higher on these rankings than this.
18. Andre Drummond
Originally I had Andre Drummond ranked 11th on this list based on his rebounding skills, which are elite. However, I had to think who would I rather have as my starter versus Drummond and that’s why he’s here. He’s used too much on offense and is good but overrated on defense. The Los Angeles Lakers might be better served to have him as a backup moving forward.
17. Richaun Holmes
Despite being a former second round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers, Richaun Holmes has found a nice home with the Sacramento Kings. He’s a great lob threat, rebounder, and shot blocker. He’s a solid defender too. He was able to hold onto his job this year despite the Kings bringing in Hassan Whiteside this last offseason.
16. Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen was one of the key players in the James Harden trade to the Brooklyn Nets. Allen landed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and his play forced the team to sit Drummond and eventually buy him out. Allen’s going to be a long term piece for the Cavaliers with his rebounding, defense, shot blocking, and lob catching.
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.
10. Christian Wood
If it weren’t for injury and the emergence of Julius Randle, Christian Wood of the Houston Rockets would probably be the favorite to win the Most Improved Player award. Wood still needs to improve his physical interior defense, but he’s been a bright spot for the rebuilding Rockets.
9. Kristaps Porzingis
It’s been hard for Kristaps Porzingis to stay healthy this year. However, when he has been healthy he has been an elite two-way center for the Dallas Mavericks. If he can stay healthy, then he and Luka Doncic will one of the best duo’s in the league, but that’s becoming a big if moving forward.
8. Clint Capela
Clint Capela has anchored the Atlanta Hawks defensive this year and is one of the best rebounders, defenders, shot blockers, screeners, and lob threats in the NBA. Outside of offensive rebounding and catching lobs, he doesn’t have a legit offensive game.
7. Domantas Sabonis
It’s hard to imagine an All-Star like Domantas Sabonis improving offensive this season, but that’s exactly what he has done. He’s developed into a very good playmaker at the center position. The only knock against Sabonis is that he’s not an above average defender at this position and the Indiana Pacers play him out of position at power forward when Myles Turner is healthy.
6. Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevicing being traded to the Chicago Bulls was the biggest move at the trade deadline. He’s an elite scorer at all three levels for a big man, along with the fact he’s a great rebounder and solid playmaker. He’s a solid interior defender, but he’s not that mobile which hurts his overall defense.
5. Bam Adebayo
The Miami Heat have the most defensively versatile defenders in Bam Adebayo. Despite being undersized he can guard all five positions. He can rebounds, catch lobs, and is developing a mid-range jumper. On top of that, he can run an offense with his passing skills. If he can get a three-point shot, he could move up in these rankings.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns
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It’s been a very rough year for Karl-Anthony Towns both with his personal life and his health. However, when he’s been healthy this year, the Minnesota Timberwolves have looked like a competitive team. Towns is an elite 3-point shooting big and can score on all three levels. If he becomes an above average defender, he could be top-three on this list.
3. Rudy Gobert
The Utah Jazz have a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in Rudy Gobert and he will probably be the runner up for the award this season behind Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers. Gobert is an average offensive center who is limited to scoring around the rim. However, it’s hard to deny how good he is defensive with his shot blocking and rebounding.
2. Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is a three-level scorer and is one of the best playmakers in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets’ star is probably going to win the MVP this year. The only area that he’s not elite in his defense, which while he’s good at picking players’ pockets, he’s not as a rim protector which is important to the center position.
1. Joel Embiid
Outside of passing, Joel Embiid is just as dominant as Jokic on offense, if not more due to the fact he’s a physical force the league hasn’t seen since Shaquille O’Neal. He also deserves to be in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year and if he hadn’t missed games this year, he’d probably be the MVP over Jokic. The fact that Embiid is elite on both sides of the court is why he’s the best center in the NBA.
Joel Embiid is the most dominant two-way center in the NBA, so he’s clearly the best center in the NBA. If it wasn’t for the fact that he missed time with injury, the Philadelphia 76ers would have their first player since Allen Iverson win the NBA MVP award.