Cleveland Cavaliers: 10 greatest centers in franchise history
Cleveland Cavaliers. Tristan Thompson. 5. player. 156. . Center
Tristan Thompson gets the nod over Williams due to the fact that he was a major piece to the completing the NBA title puzzle.
Thompson’s raw statistics, while solid at 9.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game per Basketball-Reference, do not quite stack up to Williams’.
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However, a major aspect of Thompson’s game is one that does not necessarily show up in the box score, and it was also a major factor in the 2016 NBA Finals. His ability to switch off on to ball-handlers (mainly Stephen Curry) was vital to their NBA title.
Curry, of course, won the majority of those matchups, but Thompson made it more difficult on him than any other big in the NBA could have. He didn’t gamble, moved his feet, and got tall when contesting without fouling.
156. . Center. Cleveland Cavaliers. Shawn Kemp. 4. player
Shawn Kemp was acquired by the Cavaliers via three-team trade. They sent All-Star point guard and the number nine player on this list, Tyrone Hill, to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kemp was better known as a Seattle Super Sonic, and a power forward. However, he played plenty of center in his three seasons in Cleveland.
During his time in Cleveland, the Cavaliers made one playoff appearance, in his first season with the team, one in which he also made the All-Star game after posting per-game averages of 18 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks according to Basketball-Reference.
Kemp would likely be a spot or two higher on this board had he been a Cavalier for more than three seasons as his per-game averages with the Cavaliers over the course of those three seasons was 18.5 points and 9.1 rebounds according to Basketball-Reference.