NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Centers
By Shane Young
2. Al Jefferson — Charlotte Hornets
Too many times have we witnessed guys claim that Al Jefferson “gets no respect.” Then, some of those same people still underrate his offensive aptitude. Even worse, they don’t precisely realize how much more advanced his moves on the block are compared to any center the game offers.
Jefferson earned the nickname of “The Big Classic” back in his heyday for one reason. His determination on offense and throwback skill mirrors what you would see in the older generations of the league.
He doesn’t rush anything once Steve Clifford draws up a play to get him the ball in the post. More than just knowing how to score, Jefferson understands anticipation. Thus, he’s become unpredictable in how he creates space. Often, he’ll deliver some of the best combinations of footwork and fakes that throw defenders off guard:
It doesn’t matter if you throw defensive geniuses against him; Jefferson is getting to his favorite shots. Why? He has variation, and multiple “favorite” looks.
What keeps him special and unique is his elegant release on jump hooks, and how softly he can guide the ball to the rim. It’s not Kareem’s sky-hook, or even Dwight Howard’s running hook through the paint … but it’s Jefferson’s perfect balance and follow through that makes his shot just as formidable:
Mobility is something rare in big men, although it’s looking to change since the game is heading into a more athletic nature. Nonetheless, Jefferson exemplified the ideal mobile center last season – and throughout his career – by being able to get defenders in the air, put the ball on the floor, and (rather quickly) get to his destination.
He uses his jump hook to a greater advantage, too. After using it numerous times in a game, Jefferson will know what his defender is thinking. Any good defensive center (Chandler) will anticipate the next move after he thinks he’s figured out his guy. That leaves him vulnerable to jumping on the ensuing fakes, and Jefferson knows exactly how to get what he wants.
Labeled “The black hole” during his earlier days in the pros, Jefferson was always accused of never passing the ball out of the paint once he received it. That wasn’t completely true during his first season with Charlotte, though, as he actively looked for Josh McRoberts or Kemba Walker on the perimeter once he drew double teams – and there was a ton of those in the middle. One specific way teams loved to defend Charlotte was by doubling Jefferson in the paint, knowing the Bobcats weren’t scary from the outside. They ranked 27th in 3-point attempts per game (17.9) for a reason; their shooters (or lack thereof) weren’t trusted, confident, or historically dangerous. So, why not win as many games as you can by living and dying in the paint? That should change this upcoming season, for the better.
The strongest myth about Jefferson is that his defensive presence is rarely felt, and that he is near the bottom in terms of being able to limit opposing big men.
It’s fun being a little false, isn’t it?
When Steve Clifford became his coach, Jefferson became a bruiser in the middle, and the overall team morale turned to limiting points and getting stops. While the team finished 5th overall in Defensive Rating (103.8), Big Al was technically a large reason why. He placed 7th in Defensive Win Shares out of any individual, tallying 4.7 on the season.
There are some parts during the season where he’s leaving his man completely and forgets to stay aware, and then there’s other times where he’s using his body proficiently and properly switching on pick-and-rolls, being a pest to get around.
He’ll never be Noah, Howard, or maybe even Hibbert in defensive skill, but making up for it in the scoring department is what Charlotte needed him to do. Where he also makes up for it is by taking care of the ball when he has possession, whether it’s setting up his own score, or finding his teammates. Jefferson was first in centers last season in lowest Turnover Ratio, at just 7.0. It was nearly half of what Noah recorded with Chicago.