The center position is probably the most iconic in NBA history. The aim of basketball is to put a ball into a ten-foot hoop, so when the game was first created, height was the most important tool for a player. From Bob Petit, the first league MVP, to Wilt Chamberlain, the greatest stat-stuffer of all time, all the way to Shaquille O’Neal, the most dominant center the game has ever seen, the bigs have defined the NBA. The center position has drastically changed today, as many label the modern NBA a position-less league. The rankings for this list are based on the best STARTING centers in the NBA. However, there are some great backups, so let's first tackle some honorable mentions.
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Ranking All 30 NBA Centers Before the 2021/2022 Season
Ranking the top starters, and highlighting some of the best backups.
Alex Goodlett / Stringer via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Daniel Gafford
Washington Wizards
Al Horford
Boston Celtics
JaVale McGee
Phoenix Suns
Chris Boucher
Toronto Raptors
Enes Kanter
Boston Celtics
Hassan Whiteside
Utah Jazz
Mo Bamba
Orlando Magic
Montrezl Harrell
Washington Wizards
Dwight Howard
Los Angeles Lakers
Andre Drummond
Philadelphia 76ers
The Best Starting Centers, Ranked:
30.) Toronto Raptors - Khem Birch
2020/21: 11.9 PPG, 7.6 REB, 1.2 BLK
29.) Detroit Pistons - Isaiah Stewart
2020/21: 7.9 PPG, 6.7 REB, 1.3 BLK
28.) Oklahoma City Thunder - Isaiah Roby
2020/21: 8.7 PPG, 5.6 REB, 0.6 BLK
27.) Dallas Mavericks - Dwight Powell
2020/21: 5.9 PPG, 4.0 REB, 0.5 BLK
26.) Los Angeles Lakers - Marc Gasol
2020/21: 5.0 PPG, 4.1 REB, 41% 3PT
25.) Orlando Magic - Wendell Carter Jr.
2020/21: 11.2 PPG, 8.2 REB, 0.8 BLK
24.) San Antonio Spurs - Jakob Poetl
2020/21: 8.6 PPG, 7.9 REB, 1.8 BLK
23.) Golden State Warriors - James Wiseman
2020/21: 11.5 PPG, 5.8 REB, 31.6% 3PT
22.) Boston Celtics - Robert Williams
2020/21: 8.0 PPG, 6.9 REB, 72% FG
21.) Brooklyn Nets - Blake Griffin
2020/21: 11.0 PPG, 4.7 REB, 38% 3PT
20.) Charlotte Hornets - Mason Plumlee
2020/21: 10.4 PPG, 9.3 REB, 61% FG
19.) Memphis Grizzlies - Steven Adams
2020/21: 7.6 PPG, 8.9 REB, 61.4% FG
18.) Los Angeles Clippers - Ivica Zubac
2020/21: 9.0 PPG, 7.2 REB, 65% FG
17.) New York Knicks - Mitchell Robinson
2020/21: 8.3 PPG, 8.1 REB, 1.5 BLK
16.) Sacramento Kings - Richaun Holmes
2020/2021 14.2 PPG, 8.3 REB, 1.6 BLK
15.) Washington Wizards - Thomas Bryant
2020/21: 14.3 PPG, 6.1 REB, 42% 3PT
14.) Milwaukee Bucks - Brook Lopez
2020/21: 12.3 PPG, 1.5 BLK, 34% 3PT
13.) New Orleans Pelicans - Jonas Valanciunas
2020/21: 17.1 PPG, 12.5 REB, 0,9 BLK
12.) Cleveland Cavaliers - Jarrett Allen
2020/21: 12.8 PPG, 10.0 REB, 1.4 BLK
11.) Indiana Pacers - Myles Turner
2020/21: 12.6 PPG, 6.5 REB, 3.4 BLK
10.) Portland Trail Blazers - Jusuf Nurkic
2020/21: 11.5 PPG, 9.0 REB, 1.1 BLK
9.) Houston Rockets - Christian Wood
2020/21: 21.0 PPG, 9.6 REB, 1.2 BLK
8.) Atlanta Hawks - Clint Capela
2020/21: 15.2 PPG, 14.3 REB, 2.0 BLK
7.) Phoenix Suns - Deandre Ayton
2020/21: 14.1 PPG, 10.5 REB, 1.2 BLK
6.) Chicago Bulls - Nikola Vučević
2020/21: 23.4 PPG, 11.7 REB, 40% 3PT
5.) Miami Heat - Bam Adebayo
2020/21: 18.7 PPG, 9.0 REB, 5.4 AST
4.) Minnesota Timberwolves - Karl-Anthony Towns
2020/21: 24.8 PPG, 10.6 REB, 4.5 AST
3.) Utah Jazz - Rudy Gobert
2020/21: 14.3 PPG, 13.5 REB, 2.7 BLK
2.) Denver Nuggets - Nikola Jokić
2020/21: 26.4 PPG, 10.8 REB, 8.3 AST
1.) Philadelphia 76ers - Joel Embiid
2020/21: 28.5 PPG, 10.6 REB, 1.4 BLK
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