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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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Aug 21, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA center DeAndre Jordan (6) celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s gold game during the during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA center DeAndre Jordan (6) celebrates winning the gold medal in the men’s gold game during the during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /

2nd place – DeAndre Jordan

Per game averages with Clippers: 27.1 minutes, 8.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.6 steals,1.8 blocks.

Clippers totals: 8 seasons (2008-09 to now), 592 games, 5,122 points, 5,703, 344 assists, 358 steals, 1,072 blocks, 67 field goal percentage.

Honors with Clippers: 1x All-NBA 3rd team (2014-15), 1x All-NBA 1st team (2015-16), 2x All-Defensive (2014-15 and 2015-16), 4x field goal percentage leader 2012-13 to 2015-16), 2x total rebounds per game leader (2013-14 and 2014-15).

Sooner or later, DeAndre Jordan simply had to appear on this list. How could he not after ascending even higher in Los Angeles Clippers legend after his year from Dallas drama in 2015 to a stellar few months that finished in a gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

It’s been an incredible year for Jordan, and an even more incredible journey from the 35th overall pick in the 2008 draft. Once a project athlete, Jordan is now the most terrorizing pick-and-roll threat in the NBA, coming off his fourth straight year leading the league in field goal percentage and continually reinforcing his stature as one of the NBA’s top defenders.

With his tenacious rebounding, physical presence, rim protection and help defense, Jordan made the All-Defensive First Team for the second straight season this year. Behind Hassan Whiteside‘s mark of 3.7 blocks per game, Jordan ranked 2nd with 2.3, also ranking 2nd in rebounds with 13.8. He a career-high 12.7 points to that stat line, too.

Especially during a season in which Blake Griffin was sidelined for 47 games due to injury, Jordan was even more important with his pick-and-roll threat, floor running ability, and sheer dominance as the Clippers’ interior anchor on defense.

Along with others stepping up across the team, he was a leader in L.A. climbing from 15th in defensive efficiency in 2015 to 4th in 2016.

To accentuate his offensive value, the Clippers scored 12.1 more points per 100 possessions with Jordan on the floor.

Finally, to honor his efforts and overall impact, Jordan became the All-NBA First Team center. Not a bad precursor to a gold medal, right?

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Now, after such rapid ascension over the last few seasons, Jordan has boosted his numbers and established a firm standing among the best players to ever represent the Clippers.

Already, at only 28 years old and only reaching 30 minutes per game in the last three seasons, Jordan has soared up the franchise rankings. He’s 1st in defensive rebounds (1,808), 1st in offensive rebounds by a mile (3,895 to Loy Vaught’s 3,102), 2nd in blocks (1,072), 3rd in block percentage (5.3), and 3rd in win shares (55.1).

On top of that, he’s tied for 1st on this list for the most All-NBA honors (two).

What makes Jordan even more worthy of 2nd place on this last? At 28 and beginning his prime, he’s only just getting started.

Next: The Clippers' only NBA MVP