The NBA is full of talented players playing the center position. Centers have won the last three MVP awards, as Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets won it two years in a row and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers won it last season.
This season, Jokic could very well be adding a third trophy to his resume, as he is putting together another stellar campaign. But, not even Jokic has accomplished what Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Isaiah Hartenstein of the New York Knicks have during the 2023-24 campaign.
As shared by StatMuse, Davis and Hartenstein are the only two starters in the NBA, regardless of position, to be making 55+ percent of their shot attempts while averaging 1+ steal and 1+ block per game.
Davis is one of the premier players in the NBA, as he was named to his ninth All-Star game this season. A two-way dynamo, he is making his impact felt at both ends of the court, playing an efficient brand of basketball offensively while anchoring the Lakers’ defense.
Playing the center position is something Davis has been opposed to in years past. He prefers playing power forward, but Los Angeles finds the most success when he is at the 5-spot. Knowing it is for the betterment of the team, he has embraced it more.
Hartenstein came into the 2023-24 NBA regular season as the Knicks’ backup center. Mitchell Robinson was off to a historic start before having to undergo ankle surgery in early December. That thrust Hartenstein into the starting lineup and he hasn’t looked back.
The only thing that has held Hartenstein back this season has been a nagging Achilles injury. It has led to him missing a handful of games and being on a minutes restriction when on the court. Despite those limitations, he has still put together an excellent season when the Knicks needed it most.
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