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Los Angeles Clippers: Ranking 10 best big men of all-time

By Tom West

Dec 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Blake Griffin (right) warm up before playing against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Blake Griffin (right) warm up before playing against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-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 /

4th place – DeAndre Jordan (C)

Clippers per game averages: 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 1st team (2015-16), 1x All-NBA 3rd team (2014-15), 2x All-Defensive 1st team (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).

DeAndre Jordan was drafted in completely different circumstances to Danny Manning. Rather than being a No. 1 overall pick challenged by weighty expectations, Jordan was taken 35th overall in the 2008 draft. A freakish athletic specimen, but a work in progress as a basketball player.

In his rookie season, Jordan was playing 14.5 minutes a night off the bench. But as his potential became clear, he moved into a starting role by his third season, gradually establishing himself as more of a force as each year went by.

While his skill set may be fairly limited and that’s certainly the case for his offensive game, Jordan still excels in a lot of areas. He’s one of the most athletic centers the league has ever seen, he’s a stellar rim protector and continually improving defender, a fierce rebounder, and he’s now the most unstoppable pick-and-roll threat in the game.

Thanks to such physical gifts to work from and continued development over the last few years, Jordan has risen to the top of the league. And after receiving acknowledgment of that this season after the Clippers’ success in Blake Griffin’s absence, Jordan received All-NBA First Team honors.

The last three years has really been the peak of Jordan’s rise to athletic power. Leading the league twice in rebounds per game in 2013-14 and 2014-15, making the All-Defensive First Team the last two seasons, and making a leap from the All-NBA Third Team in 2014-15 to the First Team this year, Jordan is in his prime.

He’s a dominant force, and he’s getting better.

To think where he’ll rank in Los Angeles Clippers history is a daunting thought for anyone else who doesn’t want to be completely overshadowed. Right now, Jordan ranks 1st in field goal percentage (67, 6.1 percent ahead of 2nd place), 1st in offensive rebounds (1,808) and defensive rebounds (3,895), placing him 993 total rebounds ahead of 2nd place Elton Brand.

On top of that, Jordan is also 2nd in blocks (1,072), 1st in defensive win shares (26.9) and 3rd in total win shares (55.1).

Next: 3rd place - The Clippers' leader before Lob City