Best center in the NBA?

[Supergirl]

As of right now, headed into the 2009-2010 season, who is the best big man in the NBA? As in, not Shaq in his prime, not Dikembe Mutumbo of a million years ago, not Yao Ming-if-only-he-was-healthy. Who are the best NBA big men (I suggest you pick no more than 3) right now?

[jacobdrj]

Good question:

Dwight Howard
Pau Gasol
Mehmet Okur

[lefty]

Jacques Vaughn

[sonic21]

Dwight
Jefferson
Dirk

[Supergirl]

Hmmm, left off Okur and Dirk, the latter of whom I think barely qualifies as a "big man" since he doesn't really play that way. Vote other if you want to vote for them, I guess.

[IronMexican]

Tim isn't a C.


It's Dwight Howard.

[jacobdrj]

Bigmen, ugg, different question:
Duncan
Howard
Dirk

[monosylab1k]

Where the is Marcin Gortat on this list?

[stretch]

oden

[IronMexican]

Why does the poll say best big man, but the thread says best Center? That threw me off. In either case, I still vote Dwight.

[Findog]

By his own admission, Erick Dampier is the second-best center in the Western Conference.

[R4R]

lol Greg Oden

[Supergirl]

well, go with what the poll says - best "big man" -- what I mean is, best player who plays like a C, even if they prefer to be listed as a PF, are undersized, etc. There are very few traditional big man who play C anymore.

[JamStone]

It has to be Greg Oden, but since he's the second best center on his team, that must mean the guy who starts ahead of the best center in the league must be the best.

Joel Przybilla.

[sonic21]

Ian Mahinmi career PER is 35.3, he has to be #1.

[stretch]

I generally classify big men as players at the PF and C positions. If that is the case, Dirk is the best in the league.

If we are talking about what is known as "traditional big men", then I consider that guys who do most of their playing in the post (whether mainly by rebounding, clogging lanes, blocking shots, putbacks, post up offense). If that is the case, Dwight is #1 (the only thing he lacks is the ability to consistently create offense)

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

lol how did face vote for each option?

[Gino]

LOL. Shaq has five votes.

No doubt from DOK who logs in on one of hundred different alts and votes for him over and over.

Not like theres anything else going on at mom and dad's, eh Dok? Hows that job hunt going?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Not like theres anything else going on at mom and dad's, eh Dok? Hows that job hunt going?

Better than your NAMBLA meeting. It must suck that you're a register sex offender.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

And I voted for Al Jefferson, it's a in public pole you pasty moron you can see who voted for who.

[Gino]

I wonder if DOK knows you cant actually get a job by being a bag 24/7.

Or a girlfiend.

Or a life.

But hey, chattin with the KFC CREW is cool. Do you watch "Ratatouille" on repeat all day?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

lol internet tough guy/child molester telling me I don't have a life everyone on ST hates Gino

[lefty]

Damn,

You can tell real centers are no more (almost) in the NBA

Remember in the mid 90's when whe had: Hakeem, D-Rob, young Shaq, young Zo, younger Mutombo, Ewing, Divac ?

Good times, good times

[R4R]

Oh yeah, Al Jefferson is a beast inside. I remember watching the Houston game when he got injured, and he was a beast. Very athletic, kinda like Dwight, but with more offensive moves.

[Dr. Gonzo]

According to Shaq, Shaq is the best center in the league.