Top 5 centers heading into the 2021-22 NBA season

NBA big men are no longer towering figures dominating at the low post in offense and swatting shots at the rim in defense. Today's NBA big men have evolved, especially in the last few years.

It does not necessarily mean that ones from the past were better or more dominant; they were simply different. Today's centers have different skill sets from those of the past. Before you question if we are trying to put one era over the other, allow us to simply say that the greatest players of any era would've been great in other eras, but simply in different ways.

The three-point shot has taken over most offensive systems in the current NBA. Centers and power forwards have developed a penchant to go out and shoot from beyond the arc. Some big men have managed to master the shot. But others have not found ways to be effective in offenses not built for big men to dominate inside, apart from offensive rebounds at the rim.

Nevertheless, today's centers have a pretty high level. Even the reigning NBA MVP is a big man, and the second-place finisher in the MVP voting was also a dominant big man.

On that note, here are the five best centers heading into the 2021-22 NBA season. Without further ado, let's take a look.

#5 Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert (#27) of Team France and Utah Jazz dunks.

Rudy Gobert is one of the top centers in today's NBA. He is an old-school, conventional center among the elite. Gobert is a force inside in defense. He led the league in blocks per game once, and has three NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name.

Gobert is not a skilled scorer, but he is efficient around the rim. His towering 7' 1'' frame has helped him record a career shooting percentage of 64.5%.

Last season, Gobert averaged 14.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and a career-high 2.7 blocks per game. That helped him win his third DPOY trophy in the last four seasons.

#4 Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo is not built like a conventional NBA center. But he is a versatile big man who can have an impact at both ends of the court, and is efficient.

The Miami Heat player has evolved greatly, especially in the last couple of seasons. He enters his fifth year in the NBA as one of the best, most skilled big men in the league.

He made his first All-Star appearance in 2020 and starred in the Heat's run to the 2020 NBA Finals. Bam put up 18.7 points (career-high), nine rebounds, 5.4 assists (career-high), 1.2 steals (career-high) and a block per game.

He has an efficient offensive game, making 57% of his shots and 79% of his free throws last year. Bam Adebayo is also an able defender who can guard big men and stay in front of smaller ball-handlers.

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#3 Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns (#32) of the Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't had much collective success in the NBA. But the first overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft has definitely been a great player throughout his career.

Although injuries have hindered him the last two years, Towns is difficult to handle at the offensive end for defenses when he's been fully fit/

Towns is a Rookie of the Year winner, All-Star (twice) and All-NBA player. He has achieved several things individually, and remains one of the best and most effective big men in the NBA.

In 408 career games, Towns has averaged 22.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and three assists per game with 52/39/83 shooting splits. Last season, he put up 24.8 points 10.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game with 48/38/85 shooting numbers

#2 Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid (#21) of the Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid could've won the 2020-21 NBA MVP award if injuries had not hindered his campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately for him, that has been a recurring theme throughout his career, keeping him and the Sixers from achieving greater things.

Nevertheless, Embiid finished second in the 2020-21 NBA MVP voting despite missing 21 games during the season.

In the 51 appearances he made, Embiid was a force in offense. He was also a great anchor in defense for the Doc Rivers-led top-seeded East team.

Embiid put up 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last year, while also recording a steal and more than a block per night. The Cameroonian superstar also put up an efficient 51/37/85 shooting split in the regular season, in a dominant display for Philly.

#1 Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets

The reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is perhaps the best epitome of a player who can be successful without having overly dominating physical attributes.

The Denver Nuggets center was dominant on all areas of the offensive game last year. He was also a good presence in defense, but he remains a work in progress in that department, though.

The Serbian superstar proved he could perform on the biggest stages when he sizzled in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. He backed up those exploits with an MVP campaign for the underwhelming Denver Nuggets in the 2020-21 NBA season.

After Jamal Murray endured a knee injury in mid-April, the Denver Nuggets were expected to struggle mightily. However, the NBA MVP kept things together for the team. The Nuggets eventually grabbed the third seed in the West, and made a second-round appearance in the postseason.

Jokic, a great scorer and unique passer, averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the 2020-21 NBA regular season. The Serbian, who is a nightly Triple-Double threat, also recorded efficient shooting numbers (56/38/86). He also led the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (31.3), Win Shares (15.6) and finished in the top three in total points and assists that campaign.