The NBA Centers Who Impressed in 2021/22

It was a while in the making, but finally, NBA centers have made it back to the fore. The last several seasons have seen them become more prominent than ever, and with two centers featuring at the top end of the MVP rankings, the evidence is there for all to see. Several centres caught the eye on the back of a 2021/22 campaign, and they’ll be looking to take that forward into 2022/23.

Joel Embiid, like a couple of others who will get a mention in this list, has many strings to his bow. On the scoring front, he’s the first center since Big Shaq to win the scoring title, with his dominance around the hoop clear for all to see, with a 76.3% return from 0-3 feet.

You could argue that it is his finishing that really stands out, as this is what ultimately makes opponents pay. His work close to the basket is unrivalled, and even with his back to the basket, he’s still a dominant force.

There must also be a nod to Embiid for his athleticism, which you could suggest isn’t seen too often in a man as big as he is on the court. But when you factor this in with everything else, what you have is an incredibly versatile player.

Nikola Jokic won the MVP award for the second season running, and for good reason. While there are other great centers out there, none come anywhere close to Jokic at present, a man who can seemingly do it all.

Jokic has taken what he did in 2021 and then elevated that further in 2022, which is why picking up his second MVP title in as many years was richly deserved.

As a playmaker, he can not only make any pass. He does so in a way that it looks easy. And it’s not just about making a pass. It’s about the vision, the timing and how it will open opportunities for teammates.

And talking of teammates, Jokic grabs the headlines, and his numbers speak for themselves, but when the team needs him to come up clutch, and someone else is better placed, he will make the right decision to play them in.

Rudy Gobert has a lot of things going for him based on last season. For example, when it comes to rebounding, he topped the charts. He’s been steadily improving in multiple areas, so to lead the RPG charts is a testament to that.

Gobert also led the way defensively as a centre, with a 103.2 rating. It’s one of his biggest strengths, and it saw him selected in his sixth consecutive All-Defensive First Team. If Gobert doesn’t get the block off, he will still impact shots to make them ineffective.

The challenge now for Gobert is to add more dimensions to areas of his game. He's excellent in defence, but he can add more strings to his bow and not just become known as an interior defence specialist, for example.