Detroit Pistons: Is Greg Monroe the Next Star Center in the NBA?

It’s no secret that there are lack of star-studded centers that currently reside in the NBA.

Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe could possibly rise in the ranks as one of the big men and talents in the NBA in the near future.

Monroe at 6’11” and 250 pounds, often uses his body frame to initiate contact to score and can finish at the rim.

His post moves are at a multiple set, and if he can learn to use them at a dominant pace, he can be the best true scoring center in the league in due time.

Last season, Monroe averaged 15.7 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game and shot 52.1 percent from the field.

He’s also a 73.9 percent free-throw shooter, which is very good for a center.

The tremendous thing about Greg Monroe is that he has yet to reach his ceiling.

He has tremendous size and can score in a variety of ways whether it’s low post moves or a jump shot on the block.

He also has an underrated passing game to match with his scoring abilities

But the downfall to all of these attributes, is his lack of defense. He only averaged 0.6 blocks per game in 2011 and 0.7 in 2012.

Improving his defensive game as well as being a double-digit rebounder could make him considered as a top center.

Not every one is a world-class defender, but there is always room for improvement.

Dwight Howard is a center that Greg Monroe could model his career after. Dwight Howard’s first three seasons go as follows:

Orlando Magic	2004-05	12.0	10.0	.520
Orlando Magic	2005-06	15.8	12.5	.531
Orlando Magic	2006-07	17.6	12.3	.603

Dwight Howard improved his scoring and shooting every season and went from 10 rebounds a game to 12 and change.

For Monroe, he’s improved his scoring by exactly six points and rebounds by nearly two. His shooting percentage dove three points from 55.1 percent to 52.1 percent, but the Detroit Pistons gave him liberty to shoot more and it will only increase.

Greg Monroe’s potential is limitless and hard work this offseason should set him on the right path. Centers such as Howard and Andrew Bynum progressed before success. Let’s see if Greg Monroe is next in line.

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