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?

1

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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

2

Wilt Chamberlain

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

3

Bill Russell

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

4

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.

5

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.

6

Nikola Jokic

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

7

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.

8

David Robinson

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

9

Patrick Ewing

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

10

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.

11

Joel Embiid

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

12

Victor Wembanyama

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

13

Bill Walton

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

14

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.

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.