Rebirth of the center?

[Axel]

In recent years, many people have written off the center position. It appears that the NBA center is making a comeback though.

Dwight Howard has become dominant, and is perhaps the best at the position now.

Tim Duncan is still an imposing scorer and defender.

Chris Kaman is having a break through season averaging 18.7 pts and 14.1 rebounds.

Andris Biedrins is averaging 11.4 pts and 10.4 boards, and he is only 21.

Yao Ming has become a dominant post player as well as an effective midrange shooter.

Andrew Bynum is one of the most improved players and has the potential to be one of the best at the position.

Tyson Chandler is a huge defensive presence and has developed nicely in New Orleans.

Marcus Camby, the DPOY is averaging 14.7 reb, and 3.3 blocks - all in just 31 mpg.

All of this, and I haven't even mentioned Shaquille O'Neal, and the hybrid PF-C's like Amare, Rasheed, and Memo. Two recent #1 draft picks as well in Bargnani and Bogut. Okafor perhaps as a center/PF as well?

Perhaps the days of Hakeem, Wilt, and Russell are no logner here... but there is a new generation of young and athletic centers, playing very well despite the league being catered to perimeter players... and most all of them have tremendous room to grow.

[yosifun]

There are really good and young centers now in the league, but anyway I wouldn't dare put Andrew Bynum in this list of top centers...

I would add to this list N.Krstic (when 100% healthy), Big Z, P.Gasol, E.Curry (made some real improvement the last two years), L.Aldridge (great sophomore year) and of course G.Oden in the future.

[Patr1ck]

Umm, Andrew Bynum is averaging a double-double in under 26 mpg. He turned 20 just before the season started. Definitely worth being on the list.

[The X]

I'd add Bogut to that list if you're going to add the likes of Biedrins....Bogut is averaging (for me) a disappointing 12ppg, 8.5rpg, 2bpg....the blocks are good for him, but otherwise, I expected a step up....maybe he'll be like Kaman & it'll take another couple of years & then he'll go gangbusters....

[Axel]

I'd add Bogut to that list if you're going to add the likes of Biedrins....Bogut is averaging (for me) a disappointing 12ppg, 8.5rpg, 2bpg....the blocks are good for him, but otherwise, I expected a step up....maybe he'll be like Kaman & it'll take another couple of years & then he'll go gangbusters....

He is there.

[The X]

I'd add Bogut to that list if you're going to add the likes of Biedrins....Bogut is averaging (for me) a disappointing 12ppg, 8.5rpg, 2bpg....the blocks are good for him, but otherwise, I expected a step up....maybe he'll be like Kaman & it'll take another couple of years & then he'll go gangbusters....

He is there.

Sorry, skimmed through it, didn't see him hidden next to Bargnani....I think a lot of the centres today are hybrids or PF's playing at C....I think guys like Bogut, Bynum & Kaman are definitely centres....but guys like Bargnani, Biedrins & Camby, I see them more as big forwards....

[Bruce]

Well, probably before Shaq went in to the league and decimated each and everyone of his competition with his shear girth, the younger and more talented 7-footers wisely chose to play the PF spot. But, before there was shaq, if a player was a 7-footer, he would have to be a center. Had this been the 80's, TD, Sheed and JO would have probablly been penciled in as centers.

Come to think of it, I think in about 5 yrs from now, when the likes of Kobe, VC and T-Mac are in their mid-30s, there will probably be a shortage of 6'6" atheltic 2 guards who can drop about 30ppg. Some will probably argue that d-Wade, King James and Durant will be next in line, King James I think is really best suited as a point forward, D-wade is more of a combo guard, Durant in the 2 spot is just plain wrong. Anyway, this is just my 2 cents...

[Matt]

Bargnani can't play C for sure, so i'd take him off the list.

Oden should join that list too!

[Andrew]

I wouldn't say it's reached the same level as say the 90s, when you had Hakeem, Ewing, The Admiral, Shaq, and Mourning averaging 20 and 10 not to mention Dikembe patrolling the lane for Denver (and later Atlanta) and other quality centres like Rik Smits, but there's definitely some talent at the centre position these days demonstrating the traditional strengths of pivotmen.

[Ghashta]

You make a wonderful point.

I've been noticing a lot of this myself lately. The NBA seemed to lack a strong group of centers a couple of years ago. I remember looking at the All-Star ballot and actually voting for Theo Ratliff one year because Shaq was a boring choice.

Add Brad Miller to that list. I think that Spencer Hawkes will also be capable of some serious Miller-esque center player if he's a quick learner.

The rebirth of the center, it's beautiful.

[Indy]

Even though I loved Brad when he was in Indiana, he is the opposite of a true Center.

I love Dwight's game this year, because he is starting to do things Centers do on both ends of the court, but other then Amare Stoudamire he is the most unique Center we have ever seen. Hakeem, Kareem, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic. Dwight Howard and Amare play Center above the rim. At this point of their careers they would still get eaten alive by the aforementioned traditional dominant Center, but in 3-4 years those 2 guys are going to be the unquestioned greatest big men to ever play the game because they have unbelievable attributes that nobody that big has ever had in this league.

[Drex]

Hakeem, Kareem, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic.

What?

[Indy]

Hakeem, Kareem, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic.

What?

The traditional dominant Center like those guys were not fast and they were not great leapers. They had great footwork, basketball IQs and played solid fundamental basketball. Dwight Howard is starting to turn in to a fundamentally sound Center, and he still has that unbelievable athletic ability which gives him a leg up on any other dominant Center. You could not throw a lob up from the 3 point line and except Patrick Ewing to get his head above the rim and throw it down, that just never happened.

[benji]

David Robinson...guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic.

The traditional dominant Center like those guys were not fast and they were not great leapers.

You mean this guy isn't natural?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKVqpXl3M18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUn7BvZ-4ZQ

BONUS: Extended Directors Cut Post:

Kareem...guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic.

Kareem/Lew:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYJJtrcYhVM

Hakeem...guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic.

Akeem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBrEsNS9zKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMrcBdXU9Nw

You could not throw a lob up ... [expect] Patrick Ewing to ... throw it down, that just never happened.

Ewing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T2l5Emzu-I

Apology accepted.

[Ghashta]

Even though I loved Brad when he was in Indiana, he is the opposite of a true Center.

"True center" is a very disputed context.

Shooting centers like Miller, Smiths, Sabonis, etc. revolutionized this game.

[Indy]

benji if you truely think those guys are the athletic specimen that Dwight Howard is, you didn't watch them enough, or you haven't watched Dwight enough.

[benji]

So, one player possibly (your account != fact) being more athletic than others, means that all centers are unathletic?

Well, then Dwight Howard is unathletic.

I mean, he's certainly no Wilt Chamberlain.

[Ghashta]

I kinda see Benjamin's (what a nice biblical name you have there sir) point. All of those guys are athletic, and Howard is athletic. Everyone is athletic. Let us rejoice!

Dwight is the next big thing in the league though. Easily the next MVP if the Magic keep on rockin' in the free world.

[---]

Even though I loved Brad when he was in Indiana, he is the opposite of a true Center.

I love Dwight's game this year, because he is starting to do things Centers do on both ends of the court, but other then Amare Stoudamire he is the most unique Center we have ever seen. Hakeem, Kareem, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, guys like that who were great centers of the past were not athletic. Dwight Howard and Amare play Center above the rim. At this point of their careers they would still get eaten alive by the aforementioned traditional dominant Center, but in 3-4 years those 2 guys are going to be the unquestioned greatest big men to ever play the game because they have unbelievable attributes that nobody that big has ever had in this league.

If D-Rob wasn't athletic I don't know who is. That guy was a freak of nature,

[shadowgrin]

Indy, your basketball stock is falling rapidly.

IMO, you confuse that Dwight's athleticism is better than that of Jabbar, Robinson, Ewing, and Olajuwon is because of Dwight's strength.
That's why I think you think Dwight is better than them 'athletically'.

That's why Shaq dominated the league in his prime because Shaq is insanely athletic relative to his size, also add his strength, which made him a monster.
That's what Dwight is right now, minus the fatness of Shaq.

If I were to rank the players you mentioned in terms of athleticism, ignoring their strength:

1. Robinson (I know Hakeem made him his bitch in their playoff matchups but Hakeem just has more post moves that Robinson can't stop)

2. Kareem
3. Dwight
4. Olajuwon
5. Ewing

Of course we could just ignore that list and marvel at the greatness of Wilt, as benji mentioned.

Random fact: Wilt never fouled out in a single game in his entire playing career. Never, ever.

[adv1s5]

manute bol is an example of a center who was not athletic.

sure, robinson, hakeem, ewing, and, and kareem weren't as explosive as some of these guys now, but they were still incredibly fit.

dwight howard could definitely be up there among the greats sometime, but for now its far too early for me to make any judgment. right now, all i see is a LSU Shaq (not like that's a bad thing) that still needs to work on his post game. once i see him shake a guy like the dream did consistently, i'll start paying more attention.

plus, remember wilt chamberlain? dwight howard has a lot of work to do until he even just reaches wilts physical level.

[Carmo]

So are you guys going on what other people say about Wilt or have you actually seen his physical and athletic abilities? Because from what I understand, people thought he was a freak because no one at that time could do what he did. I believe Dwight is probably at least as physically and athletically gifted as the great man.

[shadowgrin]

I've seen some of his games, especially between his Lakers and Kareem's Bucks.
Even though Kareem dominated the 'old' man, Chamberlain moved uncharacteristically athletic, very unlike a player who is past his prime (during that time).

Wilt was a track athlete in college before he chose pro-ball in the NBA.
He also played semi-pro volleyball after he retired.
Dwight and other players might be stronger today compared to Wilt but I'm pretty sure Wilt will beat them in a race. Yes, even Garnett and David Robinson.

[---]

In order of athleticism:

1. Dwight - So strong, the highest jumper of the bunch, as explosive as any big man in NBA history, quick feet, he has it all from a physical standpoint.

2. David Robinson - Freak.

3. Hakeem - So nimble for a big it's crazy.

4. Ewing - He was strong, but he also had decent speed and was really mobile for a guy that size. He made plenty of posters in his younger days too.

5. Kareem - not as explosive as guys like D-Rob or Howard, but few guys this size could move like him.

[benji]

And you (along with everyone else ranking and comparing "athleticism") are basing that on what? And which players when? Kareem at age 22 in 1969? Or Kareem at age 22 in 2007 with the 40 years of medical advancements? Etc.