Ranking NBA starting centers — 9. Deandre Ayton, Suns
The Suns have the luxury of Chris Paul’s dynamic leadership and Monty Williams’ excellent coaching. That said, Deandre Ayton simply doesn’t get the credit he deserves as part of Phoenix’s league-best record and last season’s Finals run. The former No. 1 pick has come into his own as an elite rim protector, with the length to deter shots inside and the lateral quickness to guard in space.
Phoenix does an excellent job of funneling drives into Ayton and forcing offenses to recalibrate accordingly. Mikal Bridges gets a lot of credit (and deservingly so), but he’s not the only All-Defense caliber defender on the Suns roster. Then, there’s the offensive end, where Ayton has developed into one of the NBA’s most polished pick-and-roll bigs. He can finish lobs, score nimbly in the post, or even hit some spot-up jumpers every now and then. For the season, he’s averaging 16.9 points and 9.9 rebounds on .647/.333/.730 splits.
Ranking NBA starting centers — 8. Domantas Sabonis, Kings
The Kings’ controversial decision to trade for Domantas Sabonis hasn’t resulted in more wins (yet), but it’s clear Sabonis will anchor the team moving forward. He’s the new foundation upon which the Kings hope to build their first playoff contender in almost two decades. Sabonis is good enough to lead them there. He has made an immediate impact for the Kings, even if the personnel around him is lacking.
Averaging 18.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on .574/.306/.739 splits, Sabonis has cemented his status as one of the league’s most diversely skilled bigs. His preternatural footwork in the post, advanced passing instincts, and unabashed physicality make him an uncomfortable handful for opposing defenses. He will pick apart double teams, or dominate in isolation. He might be a couple spots higher if he were a better defender.
Ranking NBA starting centers — 7. Pascal Siakam, Raptors
The Raptors continue to make themselves competitive in the Eastern Conference despite roster changes and injuries. At the center of it all is Pascal Siakam, who not long ago was the second option on a championship team. He doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Siakam, for all the jokes about his “predictable” spin move, is an absolute handful for even the best defenders.
With elite speed and physicality attacking downhill, as well as footwork and soft touch on the block, Siakam can score from just about anywhere. He’s undersized at 6-foot-9 (and perhaps more naturally considered a forward), but with Toronto’s cornucopia of wings, he has taken well to the starting five spot. For the season, Siakam is averaging 21.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on .484/.351/.743 splits.