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By bringing in Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls gained one of the most versatile centers in the NBA, considering the impact big men such as the 30-year old can have in the league.
Although the game has adapted to suit shooters, with the likes of Damian Lillard, Stephen Curry and James Harden flourishing, the most dominant NBA teams have a versatile 5 on the floor. The Philadelphia 76ers have benefitted with Joel Embiid's improved performances this season, while the Utah Jazz have reaped rich dividends from Rudy Gobert's outings at both ends of the court.
Nevertheless, with more attention being given to the NBA's big men and Nikola Jokic taking the top spot in the MVP race recently, let's take a look into the top five versatile centers in the NBA. The list is not in chronological order of superiority but rewards players for their adaptive playing styles.
Top 5 versatile centers in the NBA
To pick out the most versatile centers in the NBA, we have taken into account all aspects of the game, not simply scoring and rebounding - as traditional centers pride themselves on.
Our list looks at how big men have adapted to fit into the modern NBA, be it making free throws or stepping beyond the 3-point line, among other aspects. So without further ado, let's get started.
#1 Nikola Jokic
2020-21 Season: MP: 35.7, PPG: 26.9, AST: 8.5, RPG: 11.1, FG%: 57.1 .
Nikola Jokic is the quintessential big man and one of the most versatile centers in the NBA. Although the 26-year old has shown his development and all-round game for a number of years, his stats in this campaign have been phenomenal.
The first stat that jumps off the page is his triple-double contribution. Jokic has already recorded 12 this season, a number no other center in the league remotely comes close to; he also has 41 double-doubles in 46 games.
He has been able to achieve this feat through his distribution, assisting 8.5 field-goals per night, 3.2 more than the next highest contributor, Bam Adebayo.
Jokic has been the Nuggets' heartbeat at both ends of the floor this season, improving his output across all the traditional barometers.
He is recording career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and all shooting categories in which he is averaging close to 50-40-90 splits (57.1 - 42.8 - 86.8). If there was ever a time to award a center the NBA MVP award, it would be now.
#2 Nikola Vucevic
2020-21 Season: MP: 33.9, PPG: 24.4, AST: 3.8, RPG: 11.6, FG%: 48.5.
Nikola Vucevic's talents were evidently being wasted at the Orlando Magic. Therefore, eyeing a rebuild, the Magic parted ways with their standout star this season, and the Chicago Bulls were happy to land him.
In the mega-deal, the Bulls were evidently acutely aware of Vucevic's worth as one of the most versatile centers in the NBA. By acquiring him, the Bulls hope to become a contender for the playoffs this season.
The 3-time All-Star is having a career-high scoring year in his 10th NBA campaign. He makes his way into our list of the five most versatile centers in the NBA due to his reliable, high-volume shooting.
His 20.4 attempts per night eclipses Jokic's 18.6 for the most among the NBA's big men this season, with Vucevic connecting almost half of his efforts.
Vucevic also takes the most 3-point efforts with 6.4, making over 40%, which puts him among the 12 most accurate shooters in the NBA who attempt 6.4 threes or more.
#3 Joel Embiid
2020-21 NBA Season: MP: 32.6, PPG: 29.9, AST: 3.3, RPG: 11.5, FG%: 52.5.
No center in the NBA is averaging more points per night this season than Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian has been bullying opponents in the paint this season and looks to have taken his game to the next level under Doc Rivers.
Although he has been sidelined for the past couple of weeks, the 76ers will expect their big man back in the coming days. Criticized for not averaging 'great' numbers in the past and going missing in the big games, Embiid has responded by having a career-year in scoring, shooting efficiency and steals.
He is also by far and away the leading free-throw shooter at the five, which earns him a place on our list of five most versatile centers. Earning 11.4 free throws per matchup, fouling Embiid is not a viable solution in stopping his dominance, as the 27-year old shoots at 85.9% from the line.
#4 Rudy Gobert
2020-21 NBA Season: MP: 30.7, PPG: 14.7, AST: 1.2, RPG: 13.4, FG%: 65.
Rudy Gobert comes into our list of five most versatile centers in the NBA due to his contribution to the Utah Jazz at both ends of the floor. Utah are where they are as a result of the Frenchman's serial rebounding ability and defensive prowess.
No center in the NBA has had a greater impact on defense than Gobert this campaign.
The two-time defensive player of the year winner ranks top among starting centers for defensive rating with 101.9 (a league-high) and contributes the most defensive win shares with 3.3 (also an NBA-best). He ranks top for defensive boards with 9.9, which contributes to 40.1% of all Jazz' rebounds in defense.
Although Gobert is averaging his lowest points tally for three seasons, he is averaging a career-high three blocks per matchup and is leading the NBA in field-goal percentage with 65%.
#5 Karl-Anthony Towns
2020-21 NBA Season: MP: 33.8, PPG: 24.1, AST: 4.3, RPG: 10.5, FG%: 49.6.
Karl-Anthony Towns remains one of the most versatile centers in the NBA despite enduring two injury-riddled campaigns.
Towns is the go-to guy in Minnesota, particularly without D'Angelo Russell on the court. Towns is another elite shooter among the bigs, scoring over 40% of his three-point efforts, taking 5.9 per matchup.
His all-round contribution to the Wolves means he has a win share of 2.7 for his team that has only won only seven games when Towns has played.
Since the All-Star break, KAT looks back to his best. No center is averaging more than his 28.3 points per game in the last ten fixtures, during which time he has shot at over 50% from the field and dished out 5.2 assists.
Guess the Lakers players!
