Top Five Cavs Centers Of The Gund/Q Era
To commemorate twenty seasons of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball at Quicken Loans arena, King James Gospel is looking at the best in various categories during that span. Today we look at the top five centers for the Cleveland Cavaliers during The Gund/Q Arena era. Last year finished up the Cavs 20th season in their hallowed arena.
#5. Anderson Varejao
Since being drafted in 2004, Anderson Varajao has had a career that may not be Hall of Fame, but has made part of Cleveland Cavaliers’ history.
Varajao has allows been one of the Cavaliers most reliable players over the past 11 seasons. If not for injuries, he may have become one of the more dominant centers in the NBA. Never finishing a season with over double digit points per game, Varajao has never been able to establish an offensive threat. However, he was named to the All-Defensive team in 2010.
Although he isn’t much of an historic player, Varajao has placed himself in the Cavaliers’ fans’ hearts. Because of lack of historic talent over the last 20 years, Varajao is our No. 5 center in Q history.
#4. John “Hot Rod” Williams
Besides having one of the best nicknames in Cavaliers history, John “Hot Rod” Williams is one of the greatest centers to ever put on a Cavs’ uniform. at 6’11”, Williams was able to play both power forward and center for the Cavaliers from 1986-1995, barely made the cutoff of our top 5.
Throughout his career, Williams became one of the most dominate low post defenders of all time. Finishing his career with 1,456 total block, Williams is currently 39th all time in blocks. His presence made him one of the elite players of his time and one of the great defensive specialists in history.
With a slightly more coveted career, Williams may have been a top two center in Cavaliers history. For now though, Hot Rod is No. 4 on our Top 5 in 20.
#3. Shaquille O’Neal
On most lists covering the best centers of the 21st century, Shaquille O’Neal would be No. 1 nine out of ten times. However, his short run with the Cavs was towards the end of his career. Nonetheless, Shaq was one of the best big men in NBA history and it seems wrong to keep him off this list.
The 15 time All-Star and three time NBA Finals MVP is one of the most coveted players in NBA history, and certainly one of the best the Cavaliers have ever seen. His career finished with his name being within the top 15 on the most career points, rebounds, and blocks.
Shaq may not have had a magnificent career in Cleveland, but his overall career gives him the unique right to be placed in most “top player” lists. As one of the all-time great centers in NBA history and the lack of impressive centers in Cleveland automatically places Shaq in this list.
His legendary career, whether it was or was not with the Cavaliers, has placed Shaq on most top player lists in history. Because of this, it’s almost a wrongdoing to not place him on ours. Therefore, Shaq is our No. 3 top 5 centers in the last 20 years.
Besides LeBron James, Ilguaskas may be the most popular Cavliers’ player since the creation of The Q. The 7’3″ Z was and always will be a fan favorite in Cleveland. The former first round pick became a factor for the Cavaliers early in his career and moved his way into Cleveland history over the next 20 years.
Ilgauskas, the defensive specialist recorded 1,269 blocks and 3,568 defensive rebounds while in Cleveland. In a rather small history of outstanding big men, Ilgauskas was the one true great to make history in The Q, owning the team’s records in rebounds, blocks, and games played.
In 2014, Ilgauskas’ #11 jersey was retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers becoming just the third European player to have a jersey retired in the NBA. Today, Ilgauskas works in the Cavaliers’ front office, scouting and recruiting talent to the team.
In a 20 year career, Zydrunas Ilgauskas established himself as a fan favorite and Cavaliers’ legend in the city of Cleveland. Not many players become such a big part of their team’s history the way that Ilgauskas did, and that is why he is our No. 2 center to play in The Q.
#1. Brad Daugherty
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Within a short nine year career that included numerous injuries, Brad Daugherty emerged as one of the all-time greatest centers in NBA history. Only playing one season in The Q, Daugherty barely made our list, but nonetheless his distinguished career puts him atop our Top 5 in 20.
In his short career, Daugherty racked up 10,389 points (19.0 PPG), 5,227 rebounds (9.5 RPG), and 2,028 assists (3.7 APG). Daugherty finished his career a five time NBA All-Star and had his #43 jersey retired by the Cavaliers in 1997.
Today, Daugherty is a NBA and NCAA basketball analyst for ESPN and owner of JGT Daugherty Racing.
Daugherty was easily one of the most preeminent in Cavaliers history, even in such a short lived career. His dominance was like no other, and if it wasn’t for injuries he may have become one of best to ever play. Looking back over the last 20 years, it’s no contest, Brad Daugherty is our No. 1 center of the last 20 years.