NBA center tier list: Where is Raptors big man Jakob Poeltl?

Tier 2: Potential All-Stars

7. Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls

6. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

5. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

4. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

3. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Vucevic and Gobert are polar opposites, as Minnesota’s standout defender isn’t very versatile offensively, and Chicago’s dynamic scorer has flaws on the other side. Sabonis’ coming out part last season showed that he is a multi-talented All-Star who can be the primary option on a top-three seed.

Adebayo’s combination of defense and timely finishing has made him one of the main reasons the Heat has been so consistently excellent in the last few years. Even though his body often fails him, a healthy Davis remains one of the more dominant physical forces in the game.

Tier 1: The MVPs

2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

These two are way above everyone else at the position, and there is some legitimate separation between these two. Embiid is fun to make fun of due to his postseason failings, but he is as lethal a scoring threat and physical talent as there is at any position in the league.

Arguably the greatest draft steal ever, Jokic is the best player in the league, and the gap between him and the second-best player is growing. A triple-double magnet who could have won 3 straight MVPs on his way to a dominant postseason run and championship victory, everything Jokic is touching has turned to gold lately.