NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Centers

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Apr 9, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) reacts in the final seconds of overtime against the Charlotte Bobcats at Verizon Center. The Bobcats won 94-88 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

13. Marcin Gortat — Washington Wizards

What do you know, I guess we’re in the society where team can’t get enough of that international crave. The Polish Hammer has been deemed Gortat’s nickname, and all for good reason.

You won’t find a more brutal post player that technically wants the NBA to make in-game boxing matches legal. There’s an idea for the extremely democratic Adam Silver, huh?

Gortat earns the fake accolade of “The center playing with the best starting lineup of the future. It may sound asinine and not even worth mentioning, but you would be wrong not to. When Gortat signed the five-year extension at the start of free agency, he ensured Washington’s own big three of himself, John Wall, and Bradley Beal for the long haul. Beal hasn’t lasted through his rookie contract yet, but you can’t even fathom him going elsewhere when he can play next to a top five point guard that will get him open looks.

Where does Gortat fit into this jumble?

He’s been Randy Wittman‘s combo frontcourt player, as he’s figured out how to knock down 15-footers with ease, and that fits directly into Washington’s play-style, since they led the entire league in mid-range jumpers last season. Against the Indiana Pacers in the first round, he abused Roy Hibbert for the most part, but fell off the map a bit when the series shifted to Washington, which doesn’t make too much sense considering they loved playing at home.

Next to Chris Bosh, Gortat got one of the best contracts of the offseason. That’s simply because he won’t be completely worth the $12 million per year once he turns 35 years old. So, he won this summer.