Every Lakers Center Since 2021 Shows Where Their Focus Should Be In 2025 Offseason

Since hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers have been caught in a revolving door at the center position and quietly sabotaged their championship ambitions ever since. Outside of Anthony Davis masquerading as a small-ball five before his blockbuster trade, the Lakers’ big man rotation has not been consistently great around LeBron James. 

Reminiscing about the likes of Dwight Howard, Thomas Bryant, and most recently, Jaxson Hayes, L.A. has failed to find a true anchor in the middle. It’s no coincidence that their defensive presence and interior dominance have fallen off during that same stretch.

Now, in 2025, the situation has reached a critical turning point. With Davis, their lone elite big, shipped to Dallas in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade before the deadline, the Lakers were left without a top-tier center for the first time in years this season. 

And after their first-round playoff exit against the Timberwolves, where they were physically overwhelmed in the paint, it’s painfully clear: Rob Pelinka and the front office must make the center position a priority this summer. By revisiting the list of every Lakers center since 2021, we can trace exactly how this weakness has evolved and why fixing it is the key to restoring L.A.'s contender status.

2020-21 NBA Season

Andre Drummond - 11.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 BPG (21 Games)

Marc Gasol - 5.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG (52 Games)

Montrezl Harrell - 13.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG (69 Games)

The Lakers’ center rotation in 2020-21 was a classic case of quantity over quality. Andre Drummond arrived midseason, putting up a double-double (11.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG) in 21 games but failing to make a defensive impact when it mattered most in the playoffs. 

Marc Gasol brought veteran smarts and spacing, but at 36, his 5.0 points and 4.1 boards per game weren’t moving the needle. Montrezl Harrell, despite leading the trio in scoring (13.5 PPG), struggled mightily on defense, especially in pick-and-roll coverage. The Lakers were bounced in Round 1 by Phoenix, and their unstable center rotation was widely seen as a key weakness.

2021-22 NBA Season

Anthony Davis - 23.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.3 BPG (40 Games)

LeBron James - 30.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG (56 Games)

Dwight Howard - 6.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG (60 Games)

By 2021-22, the Lakers were leaning heavily on Anthony Davis at center, but injuries limited him to 40 games. His production (23.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG) was elite when he played, but the Lakers couldn’t count on his availability. LeBron James, now 37, even soaked up center minutes at times, posting an incredible 30.3 PPG season but leaving L.A. vulnerable defensively. 

Dwight Howard, back for another run, gave the Lakers 6.2 points and 5.9 boards per game but wasn’t close to his prime self. This patchwork approach didn’t hold up, and L.A. missed the playoffs entirely, finishing a miserable 33-49.

2022-23 NBA Season

Anthony Davis - 25.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG (56 Games)

Thomas Bryant - 12.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG (41 games)

Wenyen Gabriel - 5.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG (68 games)

In 2022-23, Davis returned to more consistent health and put together a dominant season at center (25.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.0 BPG), leading L.A. to the Western Conference Finals. However, beyond AD, the depth remained shallow. 

Thomas Bryant provided solid offense (12.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG) before being traded midseason, and Wenyen Gabriel brought energy in spot minutes (5.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG). But once again, the Lakers’ center rotation crumbled without Davis on the floor. The playoff run masked long-term concerns, as the supporting bigs were clearly not championship-caliber.

2023-24 NBA Season

Anthony Davis - 24.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.3 BPG (76 games)

Jaxson Hayes - 4.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG (70 games)

Colin Castleton - 1.5 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.0 BPG (16 Games)

The 2023-24 campaign saw Davis carry the heaviest load yet at center, posting monster numbers (24.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.3 BPG) across 76 games. Yet, the lack of credible backup bigs cost the Lakers in key moments. 

Jaxson Hayes (4.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG) brought athleticism but was inconsistent and defensively unreliable. Rookie Colin Castleton barely saw the floor, playing just 16 games. Denver exposed the Lakers’ soft center depth in another early playoff exit, and it became obvious that L.A.’s center situation was still broken without Davis' heroics.

2024-25 NBA Season

Jaxson Hayes - 6.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG (56 Games)

Trey Jamison - 2.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG (22 Games)

Alex Len - 2.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG (10 Games)

By 2024-25, the Lakers’ center situation hit rock bottom. After trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic at the deadline, L.A. was left with Jaxson Hayes (6.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG) as the top big man, a clear downgrade from the All-NBA caliber production Davis once provided. Trey Jamison and Alex Len offered minimal impact, combining for under 5 points and 6 rebounds per game. 

Opposing teams dominated L.A. inside, and their first-round loss to Minnesota was a brutal reminder that the Lakers no longer have a defensive anchor in the paint. Their lack of size and rim protection has become the franchise’s most glaring need heading into the summer.

Lakers Must Acquire Center This Offseason

If this ugly timeline shows anything, it’s that the Lakers have fumbled the center position for four years running, and after trading Anthony Davis, they no longer have the luxury of masking it. Rob Pelinka must act decisively this summer. 

This team, built around LeBron James (turning 41) and Luka Doncic (an offensive genius but defensive liability), can’t survive another season getting bullied in the paint. Lakers fans have seen the results this season because losing in five games in the first round was surprisingly disappointing. It’s time to get serious about size, defense, and interior dominance again.

Luckily, we've already mapped out the blueprint. In our feature, we broke down how Memphis’ DPOY big man could transform L.A.'s defense. Or if they want more options, check for names ranging from Myles Turner to Walker Kessler. 

Even one of our latest columns makes it clear: the front office is hunting for their next franchise anchor. After years of stopgaps, this summer must be the one where the Lakers finally fix their center spot or risk wasting what's left of their championship window.