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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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1st place – Bob McAdoo

Per game averages with Braves: 40.2 minutes, 28.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.5 blocks.

Braves totals: 4 full seasons (1972-73 to 1975-76 — also played 20 games in 1976-77), 334 games, 9,434 points, 4,229 rebounds, 868 assists, 289 steals, 614 blocks, 50 field goal percentage.

Honors with Braves: Rookie of the Year (1972-73), 1x NBA MVP (1974-75), 3x All-Star (1973-74 to 1975-76), 1x All-NBA 2nd team (1973-74), 1x All-NBA 1st team (1974-75), 3x scoring leader (1973-74 to 1975-76).

To finish, it’s a leap backwards 40 years from the current days of DeAndre to the Clippers’ lone MVP, a Hall of Famer, and the second leading scorer in franchise history. Of course, it’s none other than Bob McAdoo.

DeAndre Jordan has an edge in terms of longevity. He’s had two All-Defensive First Team years, two All-NBA years, and he’s played eight seasons as a developing, athletic force. His trajectory is high and his production and impact is questionable.

But McAdoo was so good during his four-year stint with the Buffalo Braves and asserted himself at the top of the league that there’s no way he can’t be at the top of this list.

From taking over in the post, working hard on the offensive glass to burning opposing defenses with his smooth turnaround jumpers and pull-ups, McAdoo scored his way to becoming one of the best players in Braves/Clippers history. As soon as he was drafted by Buffalo as the 2nd overall pick in the 1972 NBA Draft, he started leading the team to new heights.

McAdoo averaged 18 points and 9.1 rebounds per game to become the 1972-73 Rookie of the Year.

must read: Top 5 small forwards in Clippers history

By his second season, the Braves’ record jumped from 21-61 the year before to 42-40, unfortunately ending in a 4-2 defeat in the first round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics.

McAdoo’s scoring also reached a new level in his sophomore year. Hitting 30.6 points per game on a league-best 54.7 percent shooting to go along with 15.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks, he began a run of three straight years as the NBA’s scoring leader.

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The following year, McAdoo posted up and shot his way to even greater success, averaging a career-high 34.5 points per game to establish himself as the 1974-75 NBA MVP. Despite playing a league-high 43.2 minutes a night, he was still able to produce all season and shoot 51.2 percent from the floor, showing just how high he reigned over helpless defenders.

With his MVP award and three straight All-Star appearances to end his time in Buffalo, McAdoo was leading the Clippers and setting himself up to be one of their very best players for decades to come.

So, where did such terrific play land McAdoo among in franchise history?

4th in total rebounds (4,229), 5th in total blocks (614), 3rd in PER (22.8), 5th in win shares (50.9) and 3rd in win shares per 48 minutes (0.182). And, you guessed it, he was pretty high in scoring, ranking 2nd in both total points (9,434) and points per game (28.5).

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The Braves traded McAdoo in 1976 for center John Gianelli and cash. But there’s no doubt that “Big Mac” would have continued to be a scoring machine if he was able to continue his career with the San Diego Clippers and finally the Los Angeles Clippers before retiring.