Seven-footers who see the floor like guards are rarer than they look. Old-school outlet passers meet modern point centers here, and every era has a case.
1Nikola JokićSerbian center and three-time MVP who runs the Denver offense from the elbow like a point guard.1000pts
2Boris DiawFrench forward-center with point-guard vision who orchestrated the Spurs' beautiful game in 2014.797pts
3Bill WaltonHall of Fame center whose outlet passes and high-post vision powered Portland's 1977 title.706pts
4Draymond GreenGolden State's defensive anchor and short-roll playmaker, often leading the Warriors in assists.542pts
5Kevin GarnettMVP power forward with guard-like handles and vision who led Minnesota in assists for years.534pts
6Brad MillerTwo-time All-Star center whose high-post passing fit perfectly in Sacramento's motion offense.534pts
7Al HorfordFive-time All-Star big man valued for his smart decisions and passing out of the high post.534pts
8Joakim NoahChicago center who finished fourth in MVP voting in 2014 while running the Bulls' offense as a point center.478pts
9Marc GasolDefensive Player of the Year whose patient high-post passing ran Memphis's Grit and Grind offense.478pts
10Arvydas SabonisLithuanian giant whose no-look passes and court vision made him a legend in Europe and Portland.478pts
11Bam AdebayoMiami's switchable center who doubles as a primary playmaker from the top of the key.414pts
12Wes UnseldBullets center famous for the best outlet passes in league history, and the 1978 Finals MVP.341pts
13Chris WebberFive-time All-Star power forward and a gifted passer at the heart of the Kings' Princeton offense.341pts
14Pau GasolSpanish big man and two-time champion with the Lakers, prized for his soft touch and interior passing.341pts
15Tim DuncanFive-time champion power forward whose fundamentals included patient passing out of double teams.341pts
16Dave CowensHall of Fame Celtics center whose versatility included handling and passing far from the basket.341pts
17Alperen ŞengünTurkish center for the Houston Rockets known for creative, flashy passing out of the post.341pts
18Andrew BogutAustralian center and 2015 champion with Golden State, a superb screener and high-post passer.257pts
19Domantas SabonisArvydas's son, a triple-double machine and multiple-time All-Star who runs offense through dribble handoffs.257pts
20Vlade DivacSerbian center whose deft high-post passing anchored the Sacramento Kings' early-2000s offense.159pts
21Wilt ChamberlainThe only center ever to lead the NBA in total assists, doing it in the 1967-68 season.0pts
Photo credits
- Nikola Jokić — All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Boris Diaw — U.S, CC BY 2.0
- Draymond Green — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Kevin Garnett — Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Brad Miller — Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Joakim Noah — Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Marc Gasol — Patrickpedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bam Adebayo — Shakeydeal33, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Chris Webber — inboundpass, CC BY 2.0
- Pau Gasol — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Tim Duncan — Geoff Livingston, CC BY 2.0
- Alperen Şengün — Zafer, CC BY 4.0
- Andrew Bogut — Frenchieinportland, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Domantas Sabonis — Augustas Didžgalvis, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vlade Divac — Medija centar Beograd, CC BY-SA 3.0
