The Top 10 Centers in the NBA

1. Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets) and Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)

Brook Lopez

Age: 28

2015-16 Per Game Averages: 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, two assists, 1.7 blocks.

Career Per Game Averages: 18.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 blocks.

“The first thing I’m really impressed with him –watching him and I’m watching him really closely right now, watching games from the last couple of years — is how well he passes the ball and that’s going to be a big part of our offense, moving the ball.  He obviously can score the ball,” new Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said to NBC’s Chris Mannix, via SBNation’s NetsDaily.

Lopez is in a Kevin Love-Minnesota Timberwolves situation, with a good player stuck on a poor team. He is the last trade asset Brooklyn has but he seems unlikely to move just yet, at least.

On the defensive end, Lopez is far from perfect. He puts up decent blocking numbers but that is about as far as his contributions go. He could certainly improve on defense and his coach knows it. “I think there will be areas where we’re going to challenge him. Protect the rim a little better, a little better pick-and-roll defense. These are areas where he can get a little better there, a little better here,” Atkinson said.

“He’s already an excellent player.” That is what Atkinson said and this Atkinson thinks he’s not far wrong. He might be an offensive specialist but he’s not exactly a ghost on defense either.

Rudy Gobert

Age: 24

2015-16 Per Game Averages: 9.1 points, 11 rebounds, 3.4 offensive rebounds, 2.2 blocks.

Career Per Game Averages: 7.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 offensive rebounds, 1.9 blocks.

Rudy Gobert is the Stifle Tower for good reason. As a complete contrast to Bropez, Gobert is a beast defensively. He averaged 2.2 blocks per game last year and, despite suffering a bit with several injuries, the French Rejection can be truly elite on that end of the floor.

“The 7-footer with the 9-foot-7 standing reach is a unique talent. At his best, he is perhaps the finest rim proctor in the NBA and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate (he finished seventh in this year’s voting despite missing more than a quarter of the season). The Jazz jumped from 12th in overall defense last year to seventh this year and Gobert’s presence in the middle is a big reason why,” Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune said.

Gobert is not imposing physically and, despite being easily bullied in the paint, he still managed 11 rebounds per game. The 24-year-old center overcame his lack of strength by using his athleticism. Where other centers use their bulky bodies as an obstacle, Gobert played like a smaller guy, jumping well and moving smoothly, despite being 7 foot.

He’s been working over the summer though and the league should beware because this is the new Gobert.

On the offense, Gobert is lacking. His offensive arsenal is non-existent and he has no range. What he can do is dunk, either from an offensive rebound or an alley-oop, but at 24 years old he has plenty of time to expand his game from the one that falls short of 10 points per game.

Already, though, the Stifle Tower is a truly elite interior defender and that makes him a top 10 center in the league, kinda. Lopez as an offensive specialist and Gobert as a defensive specialist both deserve this berth.

Next: No. 9