The NBA is home to some of the most talented and dominant athletes in the world, and when it comes to the center position, the league is brimming with exceptional talent. From towering giants who command the paint to agile big men who can shoot from deep, the modern NBA centers have redefined the game with their versatility and skill. In this article, we delve into the realm of the big men and present to you the top 5 centers in the NBA today, ranked based on their impressive performances, impact on the court, and their ability to leave fans in awe with their awe-inspiring displays of basketball prowess. Get ready to witness the giants of the hardwood, as we count down the elite centers who reign supreme in today’s NBA.
5. Alperen Sengun
Some may argue that Houston Rockets’ center Alperen Sengun does not deserve to be on this list, but hear us out first. Yes, some of you may find it hard to believe, but Sengun is actually pretty good. You may want to put Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Ayton, or Kristaps Porzingis at number 5, but all of them were either very inconsistent or had empty numbers. Contrary to that, the 2021 16th overall pick is surprising everybody.
The 20-year-old Turkish rising star immediately improved in his sophomore year. This season, he averaged 14.8 points and 9.0 rebounds. In addition, his post moves and footwork are already sensational. That being said, we believe Sengun has the chance to become one of the best centers in the league a few years from now.
4. Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez ranked at number 4? You didn’t see that one coming, did you?
Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez is already 35 years old, but this veteran big man is still putting in the work. Lopez averaged impressive numbers this year despite his old age. This season, he posted 16 points a night and had a whopping 2.5 blocks per game. Lopez has been known to be a great defender in the paint. He was selected in the 2023 All-Defensive First Team and almost won the Defensive Player of the Year. He may not put up huge scoring numbers, but Lopez adjusted and developed his game while retaining his defensive player status.
3. Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is a very underrated big man who sometimes gets overshadowed by the likes of Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. If you watch him play, Bam is a defensive nightmare and an underrated passer. This season, Bam reached the 20 PPG mark after averaging 20.4 points in his 6th season. Moreover, he got selected in the All-Defensive Second Team due to his defensive prowess.
In the playoffs, Adebayo is arguably Miami Heat’s 2nd option behind Jimmy Butler. Although he isn’t as big as the other centers in the league, the 25-year-old athlete has all of the tools needed for a center – scoring, passing, blocking shots, setting screens, and many more.
2. Joel Embiid
Before the 2022-2023 season ended, a debate on who is the better center between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic plagued the internet. Although some have already made the decision that Embiid is better after winning this year’s MVP, his shortcomings in the playoffs make him a spot lower than Jokic.
This season, Embiid averaged a ridiculous 33.1 points per game in 66 outings. His impact and leadership to the Philadelphia 76ers allowed him to win the Most Valuable Player award for the first time in his career. However, in the postseason, JoJo somehow slowed down a bit. The 2023 NBA MVP only averaged 23.7 points in the postseason, which is a huge decrease from his regular season average. Regardless, he is still considered a top 2 center in the league.
1. Nikola Jokic
At 28 years old, Nikola Jokic has already achieved more than 90% of NBA players ever had. The Serbian superstar is in the middle of his prime, and fortunately, he is not done yet. We may even argue that Nikola Jokic is already the best player in the league right now.
His recent accolades make a case for being a future Hall-of-Famer and an all-time great in the making. Here are just some of Jokic’s achievements in his fruitful career:
- 2-time NBA MVP
- 5-time NBA All-Star
- NBA Western Conference Finals MVP (2023)
- 3-time All-NBA First Team
- 2-time All-NBA Second Team
- NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 3-time Serbian Player of the Year
- ABA League MVP (2015)
Now that Jokic brought the Denver Nuggets to the franchise’s first-ever NBA Finals appearance, it would be safe to assume that The Joker should have won this year’s MVP.
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