NBA: Top 10 big men heading into the 2019-20 season
4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
2018-19 stats: 24.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.6 blocks, 51.8 shooting percentage, 40 3-point percentage
Karl-Anthony Towns is a special player. He’s a terrific offensive player that continues to put up staggering numbers in his first four years. Just to try to put into context just how good he is, he put up a stat line this year of 27 points, 27 rebounds, and four blocks. Do you know who else in NBA history has ever had that stat line? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dikembe Mutombo, Bob McAdoo, and Elvin Hayes. That’s pretty good company and Towns is only getting better.
He has the complete offensive package for a big man in this era, he has an array of moves down to low to post up, he can stretch the floor (142 made 3s on 40% shooting) and he can take bigs off the dribble. Defensively, he could still show more focus in that but he has shown flashes of being a solid defender. He’s a decent shot-blocker but can often be disengaged on that end.
The two-time all-star now needs to take a leadership role and try to lead his team to the postseason to prove that Wolves made the right decision in giving him the five-year, $190 contract extension last year.
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
2018-19 stats: 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks, 51.1 shooting percentage, 30.7 3-point percentage
Nikola Jokic was drafted 41st overall by the Denver Nuggets back in 2014. Back then, the Nuggets had two options at center, Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic. Long story short, the Nuggets traded Nurkic to Portland and the “Joker” era began. After coming within one game, two years ago, of making the playoffs, Jokic and the Nuggets took it to another level and won 54 games in route to being the No. 2 seed this past season.
What makes Jokic so unique is his gift for passing. No question, he is the best passing big we have in our game, but there’s more to it. He’s not just hitting open guys when doubled in the post, he’s running fast breaks and finding cutters. The offense literally runs through Nikola Jokic and all of his teammates are better for it.
Along with his elite passing gifts, Jokic also has the range to knock down 3-point shots and is efficient in the post facing up or backing down. Add Jamal Murray to the mix and they make one of the best duos in the league who will be hungry for more success going into the season.