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Is Brooklyn Nets Big Man Jarrett Allen The NBA’s Next Great Center?

By Michael Mastropierro

BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 6: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw against the Houston Rockets on February 6, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 6: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw against the Houston Rockets on February 6, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Last night the Brooklyn Nets ended their eight game losing streak against the struggling Chicago Bulls. Jarrett Allen scored 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting and contributed nine rebounds and three blocks.

He also posterized Bulls rookie Lauri Markkanen in a dunk of the year candidate that rocked the rim and the entire Barclays Center:

Allen has developed tremendously this season and last night’s performance was one of many great showcases for him. He posted a career-high in points (20) earlier this season and even had a 14-rebound game. Since the turn of the calendar year, he’s had six games of 16-plus points.

In his first 41 games, coming off the bench. Allen averaged 6.4 points on 55.5 percent shooting and 4.6 rebounds. In the 11 games since becoming the team’s starting center, Allen has averaged 13.1 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 7.2 rebounds.

Allen has justified Nets coach Kenny Atkinson‘s decision to make him the team’s starting center despite him being the least experienced option.

The rookie center, 19, was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets with the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. In his one season at the University of Texas, he averaged 13.4 points on 56.6 percent shooting and 8.4 rebounds. The former Longhorn is now arguably the most exciting prospect in the Nets organization.

So is he the NBA’s next great big man?

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Allen definitely fits the mold of today’s game and where it’s going. He’s more of an athletic big, as opposed to an old school back-to-the-basket player. Allen is effective in the pick-and-roll as a roll man than in the post. He’s also a high energy guy who is active on the boards and gets some of his points on put-backs. At times he will even hoist up the occasional three-pointer if he is left wide open. Defensively, Allen is the only rim protector the Nets have on their roster. The rookie leads Brooklyn in blocks per game and field goal percentage.

He can definitely develop into one of the NBA’s top big men. He’s only 19-years-old and has already shown a lot of promise in his rookie season. He’s only going to get better. Once his body fills out and he gets stronger, he’ll be even better defensively. With more experience, he’ll also become a better offensive player. It’s possible that when he fully develops, he can become a 20-point,10-rebound guy for Brooklyn. The Nets have an exciting prospect on their hands and if the NBA world doesn’t already know it now, they’ll definitely know the name Jarrett Allen sooner rather than later.