As I sit here watching the Denver Nuggets game, I can't help but marvel at Nikola Jokić's incredible court vision. The way he orchestrates plays while putting up triple-doubles with casual brilliance makes me wonder - who truly are the top centers dominating the NBA right now? Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I've witnessed the evolution of the center position from traditional back-to-the-basket big men to today's versatile playmakers who essentially function as offensive hubs. The modern elite centers aren't just tall players who rebound and block shots - they're basketball savants who read the game two steps ahead of everyone else.
When we talk about dominance in today's NBA, three names immediately come to my mind: Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Davis. Each brings something completely different to the table, yet they all share that rare ability to single-handedly shift the momentum of games. Jokić, in my opinion, represents the pinnacle of basketball IQ combined with unprecedented skill for a player of his size. Last season, he averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists while shooting an incredible 63.2% from the field. What blows my mind isn't just the numbers but how effortless he makes it look - those no-look passes that seem to defy physics, the way he controls the game's tempo without ever appearing rushed. His dominance comes from making everyone around him better, which I believe is the truest measure of greatness in basketball.
Then there's Joel Embiid, who embodies physical dominance in ways we haven't seen since Shaquille O'Neal's prime. Standing at 7 feet tall with a wingspan stretching nearly 7'6", Embiid combines brute strength with guard-like skills that feel almost unfair. His footwork in the post is textbook perfection, something young centers should study religiously. Last season, he put up 33.1 points per game while maintaining 54.8% shooting from the field - numbers that would make Wilt Chamberlain nod in approval. What impresses me most about Embiid is his continuous evolution; each season he adds something new to his arsenal, whether it's extending his three-point range or improving his defensive positioning. Though I sometimes worry about his durability given his injury history, when he's healthy, there's nobody more physically overwhelming in the paint.
Anthony Davis represents the defensive anchor prototype that every championship-contending team craves. While his offensive game is certainly elite - he averaged 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds last season - it's his defensive versatility that truly separates him. I've lost count of how many games I've watched where Davis single-handedly dismantles opposing offenses with his ability to guard all five positions. His 2.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game last season don't even tell the full story of his impact; it's the countless shots he alters simply by being on the court. What makes Davis special, in my view, is how he's maintained his elite rim protection while expanding his game to the perimeter on both ends of the floor.
The globalization of basketball talent has significantly influenced how we perceive dominance at the center position. This brings me to something fascinating I recently came across - the B.League's international business executive Nao Okamoto revealed they're collaborating with Asia's pioneering play-for-pay league for potential exhibition games featuring teams and players from both leagues. This development excites me because it highlights how basketball's center of gravity continues to expand globally. We're seeing more international big men bringing unique skill sets to the NBA, much like Jokić did when he entered the league. These cross-league collaborations could unearth the next great center who combines traditional post skills with the perimeter game that modern basketball demands.
Domination today means impacting the game in multiple ways, and the numbers prove it. The league's top centers are now averaging around 4.5 assists per game, up from just 1.8 a decade ago. This statistical evolution reflects how the position has transformed from primarily finishers to initiators. When I watch these elite centers play, what stands out isn't just their individual statistics but how they elevate their teams' offensive and defensive ratings. The Denver Nuggets, for instance, have an offensive rating of 118.7 with Jokić on the court compared to 106.3 when he sits - that's the difference between the best offense in the league and the worst. Similarly, the Lakers' defensive rating improves by 5.2 points with Davis anchoring the middle.
Having analyzed basketball at both professional and grassroots levels, I believe we're witnessing the golden age of center play. The diversity of skills among today's top big men means there's no single blueprint for success anymore. You have Jokić's cerebral playmaking, Embiid's physical dominance, Davis's two-way versatility, and emerging talents like Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis bringing yet another dimension with his relentless rebounding and screening. What ties them all together is their ability to control the game without necessarily dominating the ball - they impact possessions through their decision-making, positioning, and basketball intelligence. As the game continues to evolve, I'm convinced we'll see even more hybrid players who blur positional definitions entirely, making the center position not just about height but about complete basketball mastery.
