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LA Clippers: The best centers in franchise history

By Aaron Hertzog

(Original Caption) Buffalo's Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier's Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97.
(Original Caption) Buffalo's Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier's Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97. /
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Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images /

LA Clippers best centers in franchise history: 1) DeAndre Jordan

The greatest center in the history of the LA Clippers franchise spent ten seasons with the club rim-running (and rim-protecting) his way into the hearts of fans during the Lob City era.

Jordan joined the Clippers as a second round pick (35th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft. He was forced into the starting lineup in his rookie season due to injuries to the Clippers front court and he did not miss on his opportunity to perform. In his first game in the starting lineup, on January 19 2009 he recorded 6 blocks, 10 rebounds, and 8 points in 34 minutes of game play.

The Clippers were in danger of losing Jordan early in his career when the big man signed a four-year $43 million offer sheet with the Golden State Warriors in the 2011 offseason. The Clippers quickly matched the contract and brought back Jordan where he would complete the Lob City nucleus with Blake Griffin and soon-to-be-acquired point guard Chris Paul. The Lob City trio each hold the number one spot on our list of greatest power forwards, point guards, and centers in franchise history.

Jordan would average 12.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in his 875 career games with the Clippers. He’s the franchise leader in games played, second in minutes, first in rebounds and blocks, eighth in both points and steals, second in Win Shares, and fourth in Value Over Replacement Player.

The Clippers almost lost Jordan a second time when he verbally agreed to sign a four-year, $80 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks on July 3, 2015. After he began to have second thoughts, various members of the Clippers organization flew to visit him in Houston and stayed with him until he re-signed with the team.

The big man would eventually make his way to the Mavericks when he signed with them as a free agent before the 2018-19 NBA season. He spent 50 games with the Mavs before being traded to the New York Knicks and is currently a member of the Brooklyn Nets.

Jordan is still an active and productive rebounder, averaging 10.0 rebounds per game in just 22 minutes per night in his 12th NBA season.

dark. Next. LA Clippers: The best power forwards in franchise history

At his peak, Jordan was a two-time league rebounding champion, three-time All-NBA Team member, a two-time All-Defensive Team member, has once been named an All-Star and holds the top spot on our list of the greatest centers in LA Clippers history.