The center position is back in style. After the Warriors dynasty led some to question to relevancy of “big, slow 7-footers,” the last two seasons have finished with centers as the two leading MVP vote-getters. It’s more than Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid too. The center position has changed, but more than ever, the NBA is starting to realize the value of size. So long as that size is accompanied by skill and athleticism.
Our mid-season rankings focused on starting centers. This time around, with the 2022 offseason in full swing for most teams, will we rank the top 30 centers period. There are backups who should probably be starting, and teams who don’t even start proper centers. So, we’ve cut out the noise. These are the best centers in the game of basketball right now.
Let’s get the ball rolling…
Top 30 NBA centers — 30. Mason Plumlee, Hornets
Mason Plumlee was the worst free throw shooter in basketball last season. Not ideal, but even so, he remains quite useful at the center position. He’s nimble in space defensively, he rebounds, and he does all the little things offensively: solid screens, excellent passes out the short roll, efficient finisher at the rim. He makes life easier for the perimeter players around him, even if he’s sort of milquetoast as far as starting centers go.
Top 30 NBA centers — 29. Kevon Looney, Warriors
Kevon Looney has been lost in the shuffle time and time again with Golden State. He’s a starting caliber center on a championship team! He’s a reliable rim protector and easily Golden State’s most consistent interior finisher, which is important when you’re playing off of passes from Draymond Green and Stephen Curry. He’s not special, per se, but Looney is completely serviceable and probably better than his counting stats might suggest.
Top 30 NBA centers — 28. Mo Bamba, Magic
Mo Bamba finally delivered on some of the pre-draft hype last season. He still has a long way to go, but the list of 7-footers who can occupy Bamba’s role offensively (spot-up 3s, face-up scoring, nimble transition threat) while also being mega-long rim protectors is slim. He needs to get more efficient around the rim, he needs to get stronger battling in the post, and he needs to cut down on fouls, but Bamba is legitimate. He’s finally on the rise and he looks like a keeper, if not for Orlando, then for some lucky team elsewhere.
Top 30 NBA centers — 27. Onyeka Okongwu, Hawks
Onyeka Okongwu is probably the first real surprise here, but he shouldn’t be. Injuries to Clint Capela and John Collins put Okongwu center stage in Atlanta’s frontcourt down the stretch. He showed out, affirming his lottery pick status and setting the stage for a fascinating decision in Atlanta’s near future. Keep the aging Capela, or induct Okongwu as Trae Young’s long-term pick-and-roll partner. A versatile defender who competes hard on the glass and executes his role brilliantly on offense, Okongwu should be starting games sooner than later.
Top 30 NBA centers — 26. Thomas Bryant, Wizards
Thomas Bryant played sparsely last season after returning from injury. The Wizards’ glut of centers is mildly problematic, but when healthy, Bryant has the talent to outclass them all (except maybe the newly acquired Porzingis). He’s a prolific 3-point shooter with nimble footwork in the post and an impressive all-around skill set offensively. If he can get back to pre-injury levels, Washington will have a difficult decision to make with regards to his future.
Top 30 NBA centers — 25. Steven Adams, Grizzlies
The NBA has evolved beyond Steven Adams to some extent, but he’s still quite good. There’s a lot of value in elite offensive rebounding and high-I.Q. passing out of the post. Adams is a dynamic DHO partner who can really spread the sugar to teammates. He’s limited on defense, but he’s also one of the strongest humans on the planet. That is naturally pretty useful.
Top 30 NBA centers — 24. Bobby Portis Sr., Bucks
Bobby Portis Sr. is beloved in Milwaukee, and for good reason. He’s a lovable psycho, competing with a rabid energy on the defensive end that translates to the offensive end, where he is unabashedly cocky. Portis impacts the game by sheer force of will. You can tell he wants to win, and you can tell he knows he’s good enough to win. His dynamic 3-point shooting really bolsters the Milwaukee second unit.
Top 30 NBA centers — 23. Ivica Zubac, Clippers
Ivica Zubac has been a model of consistency since landing with the Clippers. He’s not flashy, his numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s impactful night in and night out. A great drop coverage defender and prolific rebounder, Zubac is the anchor around which LA’s elite perimeter defense revolves. On offense, he sets monster screens and makes the easy ones inside.
Top 30 NBA centers — 22. Richaun Holmes, Kings
Richaun Holmes got shafted after the Domantas Sabonis trade and it will be fascinating to see how his role evolves next season if he’s still in Sacramento. He’s skilled enough offensively to co-exist with Sabonis, but the defense is another story. Holmes is by far the better defender though, and his combination of lob finishing and rim protection should entice several teams on the trade market.
Top 30 NBA centers — 21. Mitchell Robinson, Knicks
Mitchell Robinson is a per-minute beast. He’s a prolific shot-blocker and a virtually unstoppable play finisher within five feet of the rim. Some of the most entertaining lob finishes each season belong to Robinson. The main hurdle for him is fouling (he’s not able to play star-level minutes, even if his impact sometimes borders on star-level) and health. If he can stay on the court and play with more discipline, whoever signs Robinson this offseason should be very happy.
Top 30 NBA centers — 20. Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers
Jusuf Nurkic’s Portland career has been besieged by injuries, but when healthy, he’s quite effective. He’s another more traditional center who has been outmoded in some respects (he is exclusively a drop coverage defender, for example), but the strength and skill is impossible to overlook. Nurkic can bully smaller defenders in the post, he’s an exquisite passer for his position, and he’s still a brick wall defensively. It’s hard to go up against him at the rim.
Top 30 NBA centers — 19. Jakob Poeltl, Spurs
Jakob Poeltl has quietly developed into one of the NBA’s best defensive centers. The Spurs are at an inflection point as a franchise, which makes Poeltl’s future unclear, but he’s the kind of player who would fit just about everywhere. He protects the rim at a high level, he crashes the glass hard, and he’s an excellent complementary piece on offense.
Top 30 NBA centers — 18. Kristaps Porzinigs, Wizards
To keep it short and sweet, the Mavs traded Kristaps Porzingis and got better. There’s no way around it. Porzingis’ talent and unique physical gifts are undeniable, but they’re also muted by constant injury woes and crippling flaws. He settles for a lot of bad shots, he is actively bad in the post, and he gets burned in a lot of matchups defensively. For every nifty pull-up 3, there’s an example of Porzingis getting out-muscled by a 6-foot-5 wing.
Top 30 NBA centers — 17. Wendell Carter Jr., Magic
Wendell Carter Jr. is on the verge of stardom. He has all the tools — 3-point shooting, footwork in the post, a real face-up game, versatility on defense — and the Magic are positioned to keep leaning heavily on Carter’s talents, no matter who the pick is at No. 1. Orlando is a long way from being good, but the defense is slowly shaping up into something scary, and Carter’s talent is very much real. Maybe they aren’t that far from being good.
Top 30 NBA centers — 16. Brook Lopez, Bucks
Brook Lopez’s absence was deeply felt by Milwaukee in the regular season. He’s an important defensive anchor who unlocks much of Giannis’ unique brilliance on that side of the ball. Antetokounmpo still put together a DPOY candidacy, but his case wasn’t as strong as useful because of how his role shifted without Lopez (less gambling, more drop coverage). Lopez is a tall, strong wall at the rim. On offense, his spot-up shooting does a lot to diversify the Bucks’ attack.
Top 30 NBA centers — 15. Myles Turner, Pacers
Myles Turner is a strong bet the lead the NBA in blocks in a given year. He is a truly prolific rim protector. He is fearless, athletic, and intelligent. He knows where to be and has the reaction times of a cat. He has also made several notable strides offensively, with the ability to stretch the floor and attack closeouts. There’s a feeling that his offensive ceiling was never quite reached sharing the floor with Domantas Sabonis. A fully healthy season as Indiana’s primary big could really elevate Turner’s status.
Top 30 NBA centers — 14. Christian Wood, Mavericks
The Rockets are maybe the worst team in basketball, which can make it hard to appreciate Christian Wood’s talent. There were times last season where it even felt like Wood was slacking — and, you know what, it’s kind of understandable. At the end of the day, he is one of the most skilled offensive bigs in the NBA. He can bomb 3s. He can push the ball in transition and attack the rim with long, graceful strides. He can post up and operate as a central playmaking hub in the halfcourt. It’s hard to appreciate great talent in crappy situations, but Wood is awesome.
Top 30 NBA centers — 13. Nikola Vucevic, Bulls
Chicago has been one long adjustment period for Nikola Vucevic, who is no longer the big man on campus like he was in Orlando. This season was particularly choppy for Vucevic, but once the playoffs rolled around, he looked like the All-Star of old. His skill level offensively continues to awe, and he’s not that bad on defense. Especially when you consider his dominance on the glass.
Top 30 NBA centers — 12. Jonas Valanciunas, Pelicans
Jonas Valanciunas was arguably the best player in Memphis last season. Now, he’s at the center of New Orleans’ rise to relevancy in the West. If Zion returns and everyone is healthy, the Pelicans could make real noise next season. Valanciunas is the perfect center for Zion too. He can pass out of DHOs and run the offense from the elbow. He can stretch the floor and bomb 3s. He can dominate the post when called upon. The Pelicans offense will have a ton of weaponry, but hopefully Valanciunas doesn’t get overlooked when discussing the team’s future success.
Top 30 NBA centers — 11. Clint Capela, Hawks
Clint Capela struggled for long stretches of last season. He could be aging out of stardom, which could make the Hawks’ long-term decision at center (with respect to Okongwu) that much easier. Even so, Capela also flashed the two-way dominance we’ve come to expect. He’s one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the NBA still, and he’s the perfect pressure release valve for Trae Young at the rim. He’s the poster child for rim-running, rim-protecting bigs. He deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Top 30 NBA centers — 10. Robert Williams III, Celtics
Time Lord made the jump into hyperspace (not my best work). The Celtics have put together the best defense in recent NBA history and Williams is right at the center of it, swallowing large swathes of space and racking up blocks. Were it not for injuries, he might’ve been in the running for DPOY (right alongside his teammate Marcus Smart). His versatility is unique and important to Boston’s switch-all scheme, while his play finishing at the rim is sneakily essential to the Celtics’ offense.
Top 30 NBA centers — 9. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen made his first All-Star appearance as the centerpiece of Cleveland’s revamped defense. He’s a towering shot blocker with nimble feet in space and next-level hops. On offense, he proved himself capable of big games. He’s dominant in the paint — too big, too strong, and too athletic. He can go through or over most defenders and he’s one of the premier finishers in the game as a result.
Top 30 NBA centers — 8. Deandre Ayton, Suns
A pitiful end to the season has generated quite a bit of speculation around Deandre Ayton’s future. Will the Suns pay up, or will the former No. 1 pick find a new home? Either way, he should be right back in the conversation for best up-and-coming big next season. Ayton’s year-to-year improvement arc is mighty impressive. He’s adding range to his jumper and improving his defensive fundamentals. A bigger role with a new team could facilitate another leap for Ayton. If he stays with Phoenix, he’ll be right back in championship contention next season. It’s win-win.
Top 30 NBA centers — 7. Domantas Sabonis, Kings
The Kings’ decision to trade for Domantas Sabonis was met with considerable pushback. Ultimately, it was probably the wrong choice — Sacramento isn’t good enough to trade elite young talent for “win-now” players who aren’t superstars. That said, Sabonis does make the Kings better in the short term. He’s a dominant post scorer with balletic footwork and dynamic playmaking chops. He creates for teammates as effortlessly as he creates for himself, and he has already showed promising chemistry in two-man actions with De’Aaron Fox.
Top 30 NBA centers — 6. Bam Adebayo, Heat
Bam Adebayo is probably the best switch big in the NBA. He can lock up the league’s best point guards, and he’s equally adept at challenging the league’s elite centers in the post. Adebayo’s sense of angles and relentless hustle makes him a truly singular talent, and it probably should’ve put him more prominently in the DPOY conversation. He needs to be more aggressive on offense, but his playmaking and nimble post scoring are mighty impressive. It’s only up from here.
Top 30 NBA centers — 5. Anthony Davis, Lakers
Call this benefit of the doubt. Injuries were once again prevalent in Anthony Davis’ season, but this time in coincided with a noticeable drop in production. A wayward jumper, diminished movement, and the general malaise of a nightmare season made it very difficult to get a read on the Lakers’ star big. When healthy and right, Davis is a borderline top-10 player — one of the NBA’s true two-way superstars. Last season, however, he simply wasn’t that caliber of player. Only time will tell if he can return to that level.
Top 30 NBA centers — 4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves
Is Karl-Anthony Towns the best shooting 7-footer of all time? Maybe, maybe not. Is Kevin Durant a 7-footer? What’s your opinion on Dirk? In the end, the answer doesn’t really matter — the question does. KAT’s perimeter skill has placed him in the same conversation as multiple all-time greats. He poses a unique challenge for opposing defenses. Put a smaller defender on him, and he will eat in the paint. Put a slower defender on him, and it’s death by a thousand cuts (and 3s and drives). Add in KAT’s improvement as a passer and as a rim protector, and he just doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He’s a full-blown star, and a championship-caliber star at that.
Top 30 NBA centers — 3. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves
Rudy Gobert is the most dominant defender of his generation. He has three DPOY trophies under his belt and arguably should have one or two more. No big has more successfully defended the pick-and-roll over the last half-decade than Gobert. At the rim, no big forces guards to rethink their plans like Gobert does. He’s a one-man elite defense, and while the offensive shortcomings are often the topic of conversation, Gobert is still impactful on offense simply because he’s big and can finish everything within reach of the basket. He’s probably the best rebounder in the game too, also because he’s big.
Top 30 NBA centers — 2. Joel Embiid, Sixers
Joel Embiid has made the jump to megastardom. He gets better every year, be it a new batch of moves in the post or increased spacial awareness when facing double teams. Embiid has made himself into a quality passer, which only further weaponizes his scoring gravity from everywhere on the court. The defense will never not bring multiple bodies at Embiid, and now he’s consistently able to make them pay. He’s also a singular defensive talent who can protect the rim as well as anyone when he’s wired in. Embiid is literally unguardable. There’s just no legal way to keep him off the scoreboard consistently. We’re witnessing something special.
Top 30 NBA centers — 1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Nikola Jokic has posted two of the greatest offensive seasons in NBA history in back-to-back years now. He became a political football in the MVP discourse because of the always annoying analytics pushback, but let’s be frank — Jokic won MVP because he had the best season. You do not need analytics to make that argument. All you need to do is watch the games and look at the most basic stats available. Jokic scored more efficiently than Embiid, he’s one of the best passers we’ve ever seen, and he is competent (if not elite) as the defensive anchor for Denver. The Nuggets finished sixth in the West despite missing two borderline All-Stars. Jokic navigated the same oceans of defensive attention that Embiid did every night, and was slightly more successful. It’s okay — both are all-time talents who will go down in the history books