Ranking the Top Five Centers in Utah Jazz History
By Ryan Aston
The Utah Jazz currently have one of the most intimidating frontcourts in the NBA, led by Rudy Gobert. Where does the Stifle Tower rank among the team’s all-time best centers?
2015-16 was a big year for the Utah Jazz. For the second year in a row, the team continued its climb from the league’s cellar, hitting the 40-win mark after having improved by 13 wins the year before. In fact, most Jazz fans would probably tell you that the only reason the team missed the playoffs was because of key injuries to their big men.
Specifically the man in the middle, Rudy Gobert, who missed a month of the season at one point and was probably a half-step slow after his return from injury.
Gobert’s “down year” notwithstanding, his defensive impact and incredible potential have many fans wondering just how far the Frenchman can go in his basketball career and where he’ll ultimately rank among the best five-men to play for the Jazz franchise.
While the center position isn’t the strongest in the annals of Jazz lore, some pretty talented players have manned the paint for the team throughout its history.
Here’s my list of those players; the top five centers ever to wear a Utah Jazz uniform.
Next: 5. Al Jefferson