Sometimes the best players are those who embrace and excel at the basics. Jarrett Allen does not reinvent the wheel at center, but he’s incredibly proficient at the small, role-player traits necessary to dominate in the NBA. He’s a polished defensive anchor who doubles as a hyper-efficient interior finisher on offense.
- Chris Kline
FanSided Staff Writer
Allen won’t generate his own scoring opportunities, but he can catch everything tossed his direction at the rim. His verticality and coordination is deadly when paired with a half-decent point guard. Just lob it in his general vicinity, and Allen has the reach to catch it and the wherewithal to spike it through the net. He’s active on the offensive boards, diligent in his screen-setting, and a better short roll passer than he’ll ever get credit for. The simple things. Allen does them better than almost anyone.
The defense, however, is what elevates Allen to All-Star status and potential DPOY candidacy. He shares the court with a singular disruptive force in Evan Mobley, but Allen is quite mobile and versatile in his own right. He can slide with ball-handlers on the perimeter and recover quickly in space. That 7-foot-6 wingspan is omnipresent for opponents looking to score inside the arc. Allen has all the fundamentals down pat and the motor to put them to good use. He’s flashy, but damn is he effective.