Trust us, NBA centers are among the most physically imposing sportspeople on Earth. They stand tall with legs and arms longer than the bodies of some teens. A dominant center might no longer be popular in this day and age, but the giants used to rule the court back in the day. Are you ready to see the best centers the NBA has ever seen according to Basketball-Reference.com? Read on to find out!
Here Are The Greatest Centers The NBA Has Ever Seen
Neil Johnston (1951-1959)
At 6 feet 8 inches, he is on the shorter side of the list. However, Neil Johnston was still able to conquer the league from down low! He was in the lead for scoring thrice and was an All-Star pick six times in his career. He spent all of his eight seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors and won a title in 1956. He averaged 11.3 rebounds and 19.4 points per game. He is also in the Hall of Fame, and rightfully so.
Neil Johnston (1951-1959)
Andre Drummond (2013-Present)
Andre Drummond can rebound like nobody else can! He has led in that category twice thus far. What makes him a true elite is the fact that he has averaged 21.2 rebounds in 48 minutes. This is the best average since 1973! The 6 foot 11 inch athlete has a double-double average with his 13.5 rebounds and 13.9 points per game. The two-time all-star talent has spent many years with the Detroit Pistons.
Andre Drummond (2013-Present)
Jack Sikma (1978-1991)
Many will agree with us when we say that Jack Sima is the greatest center not to be in the Hall of fame. He played with the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle SuperSonics over the course of his career. He averaged 9.8 rebounds and 15.6 points per game. He also had 7 All-Star appearances and an NBA title to his name. A good shooter, he sank 85% of his free throws. He played at least 80 games in 10 of his 14 NBA seasons.
Jack Sikma (1978-1991)
Dikembe Mutombo (1992-2009)
Dikembe Mutombo must be one of the most feared defenders in the history of the NBA. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year 4 times over the course of his career. At 7 feet 2 inches, he could just swat the ball when it came near their basket. He averaged 4.3 blocks per 48 minutes played, the sixth-best when it comes to centers. While many outscored him, he made sure they worked hard to get it in.
Dikembe Mutombo (1992-2009)
Bob Lanier (1971-1984)
Bob Lanier is a dominant center who spent his career in the Midwest. Both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons retired his jersey number! In 14 seasons, he averaged 10.1 rebounds and 20.1 points per game. He sank over 51% from the floor. He was an All-Star talent 8 times. He averaged 13.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 25.1 points per game in 4 playoffs with the Pistons. Sadly, he never won a title.
Bob Lanier (1971-1984)
Dan Issel (1970-1984)
This record-setter from the University of Kentucky became one of the best offensive players in NBA and ABA history. He was in the ABA for 6 seasons before it merged with the NBA. He won a championship and became the second-leading scorer ever. He kept slaying it on the court with the Denver Nuggets for a decade, averaging just below double-double with 9.1 rebounds and 22.6 points per game. We think it is even more impressive that he missed only 24 games in 15 seasons.
Dan Issel (1970-1984)
Alonzo Mourning (1993-2008)
Alonzo Mourning averaged 4.4 blocks per 48 minutes played during his 15 years in the NBA. This helped him secure 2 NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and 2 All-Defensive first team selections. He was not only a defensive beast but also averaged 8.5 rebounds and 17.1 points per game. Sadly, his numbers went down after he got a kidney transplant in 2003. He was a 7-time All-Star pick and won a title with the Miami Heat in 2006. In 2009, the team decided to retire his jersey number.
Alonzo Mourning (1993-2008)
Robert Parish (1976-1997)
Can you believe that Robert Parish played 1,611 NBA games from 1977 until 1997? He is also in the top 10 list in blocks and rebounds, but his per-game statistics do not compare to the others on the list. He played for 4 franchises but is best known for his time with the Boston Celtics. He ended up winning three rings in the ‘80s with them and one with the Bulls. He was a 9-time All-Star pick on top of that.
Robert Parish (1976-1997)
Dwight Howard (2005-Present)
Dwight Howard has the sort of numbers that nearly guarantee him a Hall of Fame spot. This three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has an average of 12.7 defensive rebounds per 48 minutes played. However, per-game stats show that he averages 12.6 total rebounds per game. A reliable scorer, he sank 58.3% of his shots per 48 minutes played. This is even better than Shaq’s own average!
Dwight Howard (2005-Present)
Wes Unseld (1969-1981)
This Washington basketball legend spent his career with the Wizards. He has a career average of 14 rebounds and 10.8 points per game. While not that much of a scoring threat, his presence dictated games and kept his team sharp. He was named MVP in 1969 as well as the NBA Finals MVP in 1978!
Wes Unseld (1969-1981)
Bill Walton (1975-1987)
Bill Walton must have gotten tired of winning during his career. He started out at UCLA and went on to join the NBA. He averaged 13.8 defensive rebounds and 5.8 assists per 48 minutes played. Impressive, right? In 1978, he was named league MVP and won two titles, one each with the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers. While injuries and turnover problems hurt his position, he is still a great center.
Bill Walton (1975-1987)
Dave Cowens (1971-1983)
Dave Cowens is a dominant center from the ‘70s who helped the Celtics win 2 titles and was named MVP in 1973. He averaged 13.6 rebounds and 17.6 points per game, effectively proving that he is a dual-threat center. He was once picked for the NBA All-Defensive first team and the All-Star team 8 times. With a career average of 12.4 defensive rebounds per 48 minutes played, he was one amazing center!
Dave Cowens (1971-1983)
Patrick Ewing (1986-2002)
Patrick Ewing might not have a championship to his name, but he did give it his all. He averaged 20.2 points per playoff game. During regular season, he averaged 9.8 rebounds and 21 points. From 1986 to 1997, he made the All-Star team each year save for one. He made it to the All-NBA first team once too.
Patrick Ewing (1986-2002)
DeMarcus Cousins (2011-Present)
DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins averaged 12.1 defensive rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 31.9 points per 48 minutes played. What a versatile scoring threat! Sadly, his standing has been hurt by a turnover issue and a lack of rings. While he is with the Golden State Warriors, this might no longer be the case soon.
DeMarcus Cousins (2011-Present)
Artis Gilmore (1972-1988)
Called the “A-Train”, he is the best rebounder college basketball has ever seen. This high-percentage shooter was the all-time leader in this category when he retired. He sank almost 60% of his career shots. He averaged 12.3 rebounds and 18.8 points per game during his Hall-Of-Fame career. He had 11 All-Star Game appearances, 4 All-Defensive first team selections, and an MVP season. What a legend!
Artis Gilmore (1972-1988)
Walt Bellamy (1962-1975)
At 6 feet 11 inches tall, Walt Bellamy towered over everyone in the ‘60s. The journeyman played for 5 franchises but failed to win a title. He became the Rookie of the Year in 1963 and set the all-time record for field goals made by first-time players. He lived up to this season with a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He averaged 13.7 rebounds and 20.1 points per game but never got picked for the first team.
Walt Bellamy (1962-1975)
Bob McAdoo (1973-1986)
Near the end of his career, Bob McAdoo won 2 titles with the “Showtime” Lakers. His average of 31.8 points per 48 minutes and 22.1 points per game makes him a legend. Aside from this, he had an average of 9.4 rebounds per game, an MVP award in 1975, and 5 All-Star selections. He is simply unbelievable!
Bob McAdoo (1973-1986)
George Mikan (1949-1956)
There is no doubt that you are a dominant player when they make rules to even out the playing field. George Mikan turned the league into a game dominated by the big guys and ushered in the others after the end of his career in 1956. He was an offensive machine who got 50.5 points and 24 rebounds per 48 minutes played! Whoa. He also had an average of 23.1 points per game. At the end of his short-lived career, he won 5 championships, an MVP award, and 5 All-NBA first team selections.
George Mikan (1949-1956)
Kobe Bryant (1996-2016)
Kobe Bryant was one of the most well-known basketball players during his time. Kobe was the 1st round 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Fun fact: he was chosen right out of high school! During his entire 20-season career, Kobe played for the LA Lakers. Kobe is a 5 time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, 18-time NBA All-Star, 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, 11-time All-NBA First Team, and the list goes on.
Kobe Bryant (1996-2016)
David Robinson (1990-2003)
David Robinson is the only NBA baller to play college basketball at the U.S. Naval Academy. He averaged over 4 blocks per 48 minutes played. This is on top of his 3 blocks, 10.6 rebounds and 21.1 points per game. He played all seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, won 2 titles, received an MVP honor, and earned 10 All-Star selections. What a man!
David Robinson (1990-2003)
Moses Malone (1975-1995)
When you are a center, you probably see the free throw line often. Well, Moses Malone averaged 9.1 free throws and 7.2 offensive rebounds per 48 minutes played. On top of these, he also had a career average of 22.1 points per game! He was dubbed MVP thrice, got selected for All-Star 13 times, and 4 times for the All-NBA first team.
Moses Malone (1975-1995)
Hakeem Olajuwon (1985-2002)
We are glad that Hakeem Olajuwon did not waste a nickname as cool as “The Dream”! He averaged 2.3 steals per game, the highest in NBA center history. He averaged 3.1 blocks per game and then 3.3 in the playoffs. In the postseason, he averaged 25.9 points per game. Aside from these things, he also got an MVP award, 2 titles, 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards, and 12 All-Star selections. Wow.
Hakeem Olajuwon (1985-2002)
Bill Russell (1956-1969)
Can you believe that Bill Russell has 11 NBA titles during the 13 seasons he played in the league? With his incredible rebounding skills, he was integral to the success of the Boston Celtics. He averaged an incredible 25.5 rebounds per 48 minutes played. He was a 12-time All-Star selection and 5-time league MVP as well. Yes, we doubt that his record will ever be defeated.
Bill Russell (1956-1969)
Shaquille O’Neal (1993-2011)
The best center of that era, Shaq might be the most popular and punishing player in recent history. He has 15 All-Star selections to his name. On top of this, he averaged a jaw-dropping 32.7 points per 48 minutes played. He was great in the postseason with an average of 24.3 points per playoff game. We do not wonder how he ended up winning 4 titles and 3 Finals MVP awards.
Shaquille O’Neal (1993-2011)
Wilt Chamberlain (1960-1973)
Wilt Chamberlain has impressed every single basketball fan out there. However, we want you to focus on his career average of 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game. He averaged 45.8 minutes per game, 47.2 minutes per playoff game, is simply astounding. There is no doubt how he became a 4-time MVP who led in scoring 7 times and then rebounding 11 times. He was only in the NBA for 14 seasons as well!
Wilt Chamberlain (1960-1973)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-1989)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played during a more competitive era for this position. Not only does he hold the records for most points scored and minutes played in NBA history, but he also has 6 championships and MVP seasons to his name. Among all centers, he has the highest win share number as well. Basketball Reference says that he personally contributed 273.4 wins for his franchises. This is 92 more than Shaq and 26 more than Wilt Chamberlain. Whoa. Lastly, Abdul-Jabbar had 19 NBA All-Star selections over the course of his career. If you ask us, he definitely deserves to be in the top spot!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-1989)
Willis Reed (1964-1974)
Willis Reed played for the New York Knicks for a decade, from 1964-1974, and is best remembered for one game in 1970. During Game 7 of the NBA, Finals Reed came off the bench from a torn thigh muscle injury and was able to play in the game and even scored the first four points for his team and 36 points overall that night.
Willis Reed (1964-1974)
Nate Thurmond (1963-1977)
During his 14-year career in the NBA, Nate Thurmond played on three different teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nate Thurmond is one of only five players in NBA history to average a minimum of 15 rebounds per game throughout their career, and he even beat that minimum with an average of 20 rebounds per game.
Nate Thurmond (1963 1977)
Ben Wallace (1996-2012)
During Ben Wallace’s 16-year NBA career, he traveled between six different teams. Ben Wallace is considered to be one of the best centers of all time, but even so, he only averaged about 5.7 points per game during his career. The second-worst per-game career average amongst the top 25 centers is 9.8 points per game, and Wallace was only halfway there. Still, defense plays a big role in the game of basketball, which is where Ben Wallace shines and is why he still made it to this list.
Ben Wallace (1996-2012)
Pau Gasol (2001-Current)
Pau Gasol, a Spanish basketball player in the NBA, averages about 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He has played for the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Laker, the Chicago Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Barcelona basketball team throughout his successful 19-year and counting professional basketball career. He was first drafted in 2001 by the Atlanta Hawks, but ended up with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Pau Gasol (2001-Current)
Bob Lanier (1970-1984)
Bob Lanier played for the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks throughout his 14-year NBA career, averaging about 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. In his best season, he averaged 25.7 points and 14.9 rebounds per game. He never won LMVP during his career, but he did finish in the top-four three different times.
Bob Lanier (1970-1984)
Tim Duncan (1997-2016)
Unlike most NBA players, Tim Duncan spent the entire duration of his 19-year long NBA career at the same time: the San Antonio Spurs. When Duncan graduated from college, he soon after won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award after being selected first in the 1997 NBA draft. Not only is he considered one of the best centers, but he’s considered one of the best overall players in NBA history.
Tim Duncan (1997 2016)
Yao Ming (1997-2011)
Before Yao Ming made his name known in the NBA, he played for the Shanghai Sharks as part of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). When he moved to the United States for his career, he was drafted to the Houston Rockets in the NBA, where he played until he announced his official retirement in 2011. He’s one of China’s most famous athletes, and he certainly made a big name for himself in the U.S., too.
Yao Ming (1997-2011)
Elvin Hayes (1968-1984)
Elvin “The Big E” Hayes started his career with the San Diego Rockets in 1968 where he scored an average of 28.4 points and 17.1 rebounds every game. In 1872 he was traded to the Baltimore Bullets in 1972, where he played until 1981 when he was traded back to the Rockets. He retired in 1984 but still remains in the basketball world as the radio analyst for his alma mater, the University of Houston Cougars.
Elvin Hayes (1968-1984)
Joel Embiid (2014-Current)
Joel Embiid is only 25 years old and has only been in the NBA since 2014. He got drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers when he was only 19 years old and has been playing for them since. Though he has only been in the NBA for a short amount of time, he has been injured multiples and has faced many setbacks along the way, but he is still going strong and setting new stats for himself.
Joel Embiid (2014 Current)
Arvydas Sabonis (1981-2005)
With good reason, Arvydas Sabonis is recognized as one of the best European basketball players ever. He won the Eurostar six times and the Mr. Europa award twice! He started his pro basketball career in 1981, playing for Lithuania’s basketball club Žalgiris. He then played for two basketball teams in Spain before coming to the NBA to be a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. He retired in 2004 after moving back to Lithuania to finish his career there. He played in the Olympics twice, once for the Soviet Union and once for Lithuania, and won a gold and bronze medal.
Arvydas Sabonis (1981-2005)
Kevin Garnett (1995-2016)
Kevin Garnett was a valuable NBA player for 21 seasons and is best remembered for his skills and versatility on the court. He played for the Minnesota Timberwolves twice in his career–they were his first and last team to play for–and he represented the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets in between those times.
Kevin Garnett (1995-2016)
Anthony Davis (2012-Current)
Chicago native Anthony Davis was first drafted to the New Orleans Hornets in 2012, when he was just 19 years old, and played for them for seven years before moving to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019. He earned a gold medal in 2012 when he was a part of the U.S. Olympic basketball team, and he continues to break his own records. He received the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award in 2017 after scoring 52 points in the game!
Anthony Davis (2012-Current)
Vlade Divac (1983-2005)
Vlade Divac is a Serbian former-NBA player. He started his career in Serbia and was first drafted to the NBA in 1989 by the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his NBA career he played for the Lakers, the Charlotte Hornets, the Sacramento Kings, and for the Lakers once more to finish his career. He earned a total of 13,398 points throughout his career, which about an average of 11.8 per game. He’s currently the general manager of the Sacramento Kings.
Vlade Divac (1983-2005)
Bill Laimbeer (1979-1993)
Bill Laimbeer is well-known as one of the most-hated NBA players of all time, but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best centers in NBA history. He averaged about 12.9 points per game and got a total of 13,790 during his career, along with 10,400 rebounds and 965 blocks. He played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1980-1982 but spent most of his NBA career playing for the Detroit Pistons.
Bill Laimbeer (1979-1993)
Ralph Sampson (1983-1995)
7-foot-4-inch Ralph Sampson rightfully earned his way into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year and ended up averaging 20.7 points per game! In Sampson’s younger age, he was considered to be one of the most heavily-recruited basketball prospects for college. In the United States, he played for the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors, the Sacramento Kings, and the Washington Bullets.
Ralph Sampson (1983-1995)
Nikola Jokic (2014-Current)
While Nikola Jokic is playing center for the Denver Nuggets, he is also representing his home country on the Serbian national basketball team. He has been playing with the Denver Nuggets since he was selected 41st in the 2014 NBA draft and competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on behalf of Serbia.
Nikola Jokic (2014-Current)
Darryl Dawkins (1975-2000)
Darryl Dawkins, who had the nicknames “The Dawk” and “Chocolate Thunder” had a 25-year long career that included playing for ten different professional basketball teams across the world, including a year with the Harlem Globetrotters. He earned a 12 points-per-game average and ended with 4,432 rebounds in his career.
Darryl Dawkins (1975-2000)
Mark Eaton (1982-1993)
Mark Eaton stands tall at 7 feet 4 inches, and we are sure that his height helped him succeed in the basketball world. He played for the Utah Jazz throughout his entire career, which is pretty impressive. He finished his career with 5,216 points and 6,939 rebounds, which is an average of 6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Mark Eaton (1982-1993)
Brad Daugherty (1986-1994)
Brad Daugherty was active in the NBA From 1986-1994, where he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers for eight years. He averaged 19 points per game, which is much above what other people set the bar at. Since retiring from playing in the NBA in 1994, Daugherty has dabbled in many different professions, one of which is being a college basketball analysis and NASCAR broadcaster for ESPN.
Brad Daugherty (1986-1994)
DeAndre Jordan (2008-Current)
In DeAndre Jordan’s career so far, he has played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks, the New York Knicks, and the Brooklyn Nets, and he has only been in the NBA for about 12 years. He currently hold the record in the NBA for the best field goal percentage, holding strong at 67.4 percent. He won a gold medal during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he played on Team United States.
DeAndre Jordan (2008-Current)
Amar’e Stoudemire (2002-Current)
Amar’e Stoudemire started his NBA career in 2012 and played for U.S. teams for fourteen years before taking his talents to Israel and playing for Hapoel Jerusalem. Stoudemire found out that his family has Israeli roots, and he decided that he wanted to explore his family’s heritage more. He competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics, where Team United States won a bronze medal for basketball.
DeAndre Jordan (2008-Current)
Dirk Nowitzki (1994-2019)
From 1994-1998 Dirk Nowitzki played professional basketball in Germany, but in 1998 he was drafted to the Dallas Mavericks, where he played for the remaining eleven years of his career. He ended his career with 31,560 points, which is a 20.7 point per game average. He was the first non-North American to receive the Naismith Legacy Award, which was given to him in 2012.
Dirk Nowitzki (1994-2019)
Rik Smits (1988-2000)
Rik Smits was originally born in Eindhoven, Netherlands, but he came to America in 1984 for college and was drafted to play for the Indiana Pacers in 1988. After Smits retired from the NBA he had to have four different foot surgeries to repair damaged nerves that he got from wearing such tight shoes as a teenager as well as a big back surgery to correct cracks in a joint that link his vertebrae together.
Rik Smits (1988-2000)
Al Horford (2007-Current)
Al Horford averages about 14.1 points per game, which is quite impressive. In addition to playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and currently the Philadelphia 76ers, Horford has also been a member of the Dominican Republic national basketball team since 2008.
Al Horford (2007-Current)
Manute Bol (1985-1996)
While Manute Bol’s points per game average was only 2.6 throughout his career, his roaring height gave him other skills that were useful to the teams he played on. Bol stood proudly at 7 feet and 7 inches, which was not abnormal for someone in his family. One team member of his was 28 inches shorter than Bol, which is actually a record!
Manute Bol (1985-1996)
Chris Webber (1993-2008)
During Chris Webber’s 15-year career, he played for five different NBA teams, including the Golden State Warriors twice. His points per game average was 20.7, leaving him with 17,182 points throughout his career as well as 8,124 rebounds. He was initially picked to play for the Orlando Magic in 1993, but he was immediately traded for someone else, so his career started with the Golden State Warriors. In his first year alone, Chris Webber averaged about 17.5 points per game.
Chris Webber (1993-2008)
Karl-Anthony Towns (2015-Current)
As of now, Karl-Anthony Towns has an average of 22.3 points per game in his career. He has only been in the NBA for five years, but he is already making a huge name for himself amongst well-established players. Since being drafted to the NBA, Towns has been playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Karl-Anthony Towns (2015- Current)
Rudy Gobert (2010-Current)
From the start of Rudy Gobert’s career until 2013, he played for Cholet, which is a French basketball club. After this, he moved to the United States and was drafted by the Utah Jazz, where he has played since 2013. He has an 11.1 points per game average and is 7-feet-1-inch tall.
Rudy Gobert (2010-Current)
Kristaps Porzingis (2015-Current)
Latvian-born Kristaps Porzingis started his professional basketball career in 2011 playing in Sevilla, Spain when he was just 16 years old. In 2015 he got picked up by the New York Knicks, and in 2019 he started playing for the Dallas Mavericks. His points per game average stands at 17.8 currently.
Kristaps Porzingis (2015-Current)
Joakim Noah (2007-Current)
Joakim Noah got his NBA career started by being picked ninth overall in the first round draft by the Chicago Bulls, where he played for nine years, then he played for the New York Knicks for two years and the Memphis Grizzlies for one year. This year he will move to Greece to play for Panathinaikos BC in Athens. Noah has an 8.8 points per game average.
Joakim Noah (2007-Current)