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Los Angeles Clippers: Top 5 centers of all-time

By Tom West

Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) hangs on the net as he waits to be introduced for the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) hangs on the net as he waits to be introduced for the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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4th place – Benoit Benjamin

Per game averages with Clippers: 31.3 minutes, 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.8 blocks.

Clippers totals: 6 seasons (1985-86 to 1990-91), 406 games, 5,405 points, 3,538 rebounds, 776 assists, 316 steals, 1,114 blocks, 50.1 field goal percentage.

Honors with Clippers: None.

To follow on from Nater’s elite rebounding, Benoit Benjamin arrives on this list as one of the best shot blockers in Los Angeles Clippers history. At least, before being traded for Olden Polynice and two first round draft picks in 1991, that’s the reputation Benjamin built for himself in L.A.

Selected by the Clippers with the 3rd overall pick in 1985, Benjamin made an immediate difference as a rookie. He averaged 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his 26.4 nightly minutes, earning his role as the starting center as the season progressed.

While he wasn’t a star scorer and never led the team to a top-10 finish in the Western Conference (let alone make the playoffs), Benjamin has still made his mark among the Los Angeles Clippers’ top big men.

Thanks to his ability to protect the paint and stuff opponents at the basket with his length, highlighted with a career-high 3.4 blocks per game in 1987-88, Benjamin ranks 1st in team history in blocks per game (2.8) and 1st in total blocks (1,117). On top of that, he ranks 5th in defensive rebound percentage (23.8), 4th in block percentage (five) and 4th in defensive box plus-minus (2.7).

Next? A throwback to one of the Clippers’ few All-Star centers.

Next: 3rd place - 1 of only 3 Clippers All-Star centers