Who is the best NBA center of all time?

From dominant post scorers to ring-chasing shotblockers to modern playmaking big men, the debate at center spans decades and dynasties. Who takes the crown?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Six-time champion and NBA all-time leading scorer, whose unstoppable skyhook made him virtually unguardable for two decades.

1/15

Wilt Chamberlain

Two-time champion who holds the legendary 100-point game record and averaged 50.4 points per game in 1961-62.

2/15

Bill Russell

Won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics and is widely considered the greatest winner in American sports.

3/15

Shaquille O'Neal

Four-time champion and 15-time All-Star who dominated the late 1990s and 2000s as the most physically imposing center of his era.

4/15

Hakeem Olajuwon

Two-time champion with exceptional Dream Shake footwork; the first player to win MVP, Defensive POY, title, and Finals MVP in the same year.

5/15

Nikola Jokic

Three-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP with the Denver Nuggets, widely considered the greatest passing big man in NBA history.

6/15

Moses Malone

Three-time MVP known as the Chairman of the Boards, who led the 1983 76ers to a title with his famous 'fo, fo, fo' prediction.

7/15

David Robinson

Two-time champion and MVP known as The Admiral, who was the cornerstone of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty with Tim Duncan.

8/15

Patrick Ewing

New York Knicks legend with 11 All-Star selections who reached the 1994 Finals and defined a generation of the position.

9/15

Dwight Howard

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2009 MVP who was the most dominant traditional center of the 2000s and early 2010s.

10/15

Joel Embiid

2023 MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers who combines elite post scoring with three-point shooting and All-Defensive intensity.

11/15

Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs phenom who combines unmatched wingspan, shotblocking, and perimeter shooting in a once-in-a-generation package.

12/15

Bill Walton

1977 Finals MVP and league MVP whose exceptional passing and two-way play made him one of the most gifted centers ever.

13/15

George Mikan

The NBA's first true great center who won five titles with the Minneapolis Lakers and was so dominant he forced rule changes.

14/15

Robert Parish

Three-time champion with the Celtics who played 21 seasons, made seven All-Star teams, and formed a legendary frontcourt with Bird and McHale.

15/15