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NBA: Top 10 Centers In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) and Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) watch the ball during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) and Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) watch the ball during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 23, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) poses for portraits during Oklahoma City Thunder media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Steven Adams

2015-16 Stats:  8.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG, .613/—/.582 shooting, 15.5 PER

Steven Adams has the worst 2015-16 stat line of any center on this list, and I’ll admit it’s a bit ballsy to put him at No. 10 over our first honorable mention, Pau Gasol. But with the Spaniard hitting age 36 and joining a more balanced team like the Spurs, you can expect his 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 blocks per game from last season to decline.

At 23 years old, Adams is already a vastly superior defender than Gasol. He gets under opponents’ skin like no one else in this league, running into one of his screens is like driving into a brick wall at 60 miles per hour, and he’s quickly proving to be one of the NBA’s best passing bigs.

Will he suddenly make the leap to a 17-11-4-2 stat line like the one Gasol put up last season? Probably not. But in last year’s playoffs, Adams was playing like a top-10 center, averaging 10.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game while serving as an enforcer in the paint and regular alley-oop threat on the other end.

With Kevin Durant gone, the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to need Adams to take on a more prominent role, especially on offense. As Russell Westbrook‘s pick-and-roll partner, the young Kiwi could be in store for an eye-opening breakout season.