Ranking The 25 Greatest NBA Centers Of All Time

Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG

Career Accolades: 8x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, Hall of Fame

Yao Ming was inspiring at the center position with elegance, international impact, and sky-high expectations. Over eight seasons with the Houston Rockets, he averaged 19.0 PPG and 9.2 RPG, earned eight consecutive All-Star nods, five All-NBA selections, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. 

His rookie season earned him an All-Rookie First Team honor, and he quickly became the face of the NBA in China, elevating the league’s global reach to a different level. But his story goes beyond stats. Yao became a cultural bridge, and all the injuries he suffered, which ended his prime, won't wash that away.

24. Bob Lanier

Career Stats: 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG

Career Accolades: 8x All-Star, Hall of Fame

Bob Lanier was a powerhouse with a soft touch, a commanding center presence with both strength and finesse. Across 14 NBA seasons, he averaged 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 3.1 APG, earning eight All-Star appearances and NBA All-Star Game MVP honors in 1974.

Off the court, Lanier's legacy was as noble as his play: despite knee issues, he remained a steady and loyal force for Detroit and Milwaukee, eventually being honored with jersey retirements by both teams. Known as a class act, Bob also gave back to the game post-career as a coach and NBA ambassador.

23. Alonzo Mourning

Career Stats: 17.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG

Career Accolades: 2005-06 NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x Blocks Champion, Hall of Fame

Alonzo Mourning was a defensive giant whose heart and defensive resilience defined his career. Over 15 seasons, he averaged 17.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 2.8 BPG, earning seven All-Star selections, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, two All-NBA teams, and a championship ring with the Heat in 2006.

What elevates Mourning’s impact is his off-court triumphs, battling and overcoming kidney disease earlier in his career, then returning to claim glory as the Miami Heat’s emotional linchpin, cementing his status as a franchise icon. There is no doubt that Alonzo is one of the most dominant centers of his era. 

22. Ben Wallace

Career Stats: 5.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.0 BPG

Career Accolades: 2003-04 NBA Champion, 4x All-Star, 5x All-Defensive Team Selection, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Rebounds Champion, Hall of Fame

If heart and effort were stats, Ben Wallace had a triple-double in everything that mattered. An undrafted center, he carved out a Hall of Fame career with averages of 5.7 PPG and 9.6 RPG, becoming a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Defensive Team member, four-time All-Star, rebounding and blocks champion, and the 2004 NBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons.

What Wallace lacked in scoring, he made up for in intimidation and tenacity, becoming the heart and soul of the Pistons’ defensive identity. He remains the only undrafted player in the modern era to enter the Hall of Fame, and is easily one of the 10 greatest defensive players ever, regardless of position. 

21. Dikembe Mutombo

Career Stats: 9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG

Career Accolades: 8x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection, 4x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x Rebounding Champion, 3x Blocks Champion, Hall of Fame 

Dikembe Mutombo was more than a defender; he was the most unforgettable rim protector of his era. Across 18 seasons, he averaged 9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and an astounding 2.8 BPG, earning eight All-Star nods, three All-NBA selections, six All-Defensive honors, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, and leading the league multiple times in rebounds and blocks.

His signature finger-wagging gesture after swats became cultural shorthand for “not in my house,” emblematic of his impact on the game and the psyche of opponents. His 3,289 career blocks rank second all-time, but his real mark might lie in his incredible philanthropic work off the court. 

20. Nate Thurmond

Career Stats: 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.1 BPG

Career Accolades: 7x All-Star, 5x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall of Fame

Nate Thurmond was the steel backbone of vintage NBA defenses, averaging 15.0 PPG and 15.0 RPG, adding 2.7 APG and 2.1 BPG across a rugged career that earned him seven All-Star appearances and five All-Defensive Team nominations. He was a force in the paint long before block tracking was normalized.

Thurmond's standout moment came in 1972, when he recorded the first-ever official quadruple-double (with points, rebounds, assists, and blocks), a testament to his laundry-list impact on both ends. Though he never won a title, his intensity, consistency, and defensive IQ endured, earning him both Hall of Fame status and reverence as one of the toughest bigs of his era.

19. Artis Gilmore

Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.4 BPG

Career Accolades: 6x All-Star, 1977-78 All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall of Fame

Artis Gilmore was a towering force with efficient scoring and fearsome defense. Averaging 18.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, and 2.4 BPG, the big man was recognized with six All-Star selections and a spot on the All-Defensive Team in 1978, and earned his Hall of Fame inductee badge for good measure.

Gilmore’s presence altered game plans; teams weren’t just battling his 7'2" frame, they were countering his fundamentally sharp post moves and rebounding mastery. A poker-faced big man, he left opponents guessing whether it was his block, tip, or hook that ended every possession.

 18. Joel Embiid

Career Stats: 27.7 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 BPG

Career Accolades: 2022-23 MVP, 7x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Scoring Champion

Joel Embiid is the modern center who has the talent to one day crack the top 10 list of all-time centers. He averages 27.7 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 3.7 APG, and stands as a 7-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA pick, 3-time All-Defensive member, plus the 2022-23 NBA MVP and 2-time scoring champ.

Embiid’s 2022-23 campaign was a masterclass in domination. He led his team to a 51-27 record and captured MVP honors as a dominant offensive and defensive anchor. Yet his greatness has been shadowed by durability concerns: injuries have consistently limited his availability, prompting criticism that his promise has yet to translate into deep postseason success. Still, there’s no denying his combination of size, skill, and impact.

17. Dave Cowens

Career Stats: 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Career Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 1972-73 MVP, 8x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1970-71 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

Few centers defied convention like Dave Cowens, standing just 6'9", he compensated with relentless energy, versatility, and smarts. As a Rookie of the Year (1971), 1973 MVP, two-time NBA champion (1974, 1976), 8× All-Star, 3× All-NBA, and 3× All-Defensive Team selection, he anchored the Celtics through a transitional era. 

Cowens was always dealing with bigger opponents, with hustle plays and rebounding tenacity that belied his size. He once averaged 20.5 PPG, 16.2 RPG, and 4.1 APG in his MVP season and embodied team-first basketball, fouled out a jaw-dropping number of games (an all-time top-20 total), yet never wavered in effort.

16. Dwight Howard

Career Stats: 15.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.9 BPG

Career Accolades: 2019-20 NBA Champion, 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 5x All-Defensive Team Selection, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 5x Rebounding Champion, 2x Blocks Champion, Hall of Fame

You don’t lead the league in rebounds five times and win three Defensive Player of the Year awards by accident. Dwight Howard selected 1st overall in 2004, amassed 15.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 1.8 BPG over an 18-year journey that included eight All-Star nods, eight All-NBA honors, and a 2020 title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Howard’s legacy pulses through his dominance on the glass and his dominant defensive presence. He ranks among the top in franchise records for Orlando and was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. Beyond the accolades, his emotional induction into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame illustrated how transformative he was to the organization as the best center in the world during his prime.

15. Robert Parish

Career Stats: 14.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG

Career Accolades: 4x NBA Champion, 9x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, Hall of Fame

One of the most durable NBA stars of all time, Robert Parish was the silent engine behind the Celtics' late 1980s dominance. Over a career defined by longevity, he collected four championships, nine All-Star appearances, and two All-NBA honors, while consistently posting near double-double numbers with 14.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG.

Parish’s legacy might be all about durability, though. He outlasted most of his peers, aligning with Boston’s superteam and setting the bar for reliability at center. The ‘Chief’ walked over frameworks of greats with productivity and floor presence, and no other player has yet to play as many games as Parish (1,611) - not even LeBron James (1,562).

14. Patrick Ewing

Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG

Career Accolades: 11x All-Star, 7x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1985-86 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame 

Patrick Ewing was Manhattan’s giant, anchoring the New York Knicks with raw power and primeval energy through a solid 15-year peak. He landed 11 All-Star nods, 7× All-NBA selections, and took home Rookie of the Year honors in 1986, all on the foundation of nearly 21 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 2.4 BPG production.

Beyond the numbers, Ewing was the heart of New York’s grit and basketball style. He helmed a defense-first identity, challenged Jordan-era dynasties, and remained a rare true center whose legacy can't be forgotten. The only reason Ewing isn't in the top 10 is that he never captured the elusive NBA title. 

13. Willis Reed

Career Stats: 18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Career Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 1969-70 MVP, 7x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, 1969-70 All-Defensive Team Selection, 1964-65 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

“World, meet Willis Reed,” he declared, walking onto the court injured in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals, inspiring a championship finish that became legend. That heart encapsulated his resume: 1969-70 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, seven-time All-Star, two-time NBA Champion, and Rookie of the Year.

Reed was the definition of postseason toughness and sacrifice. His mid-range touch, savvy post flair, and leadership drew cartoons of toughness. In that era of digging in the paint, Reed asserted a mental fortitude that made him the ultimate centerpiece of Knicks history and their most successful player.

12. Bob McAdoo

Career Stats: 22.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG

Career Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 1974-75 MVP, 5x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x Scoring Champion, 1972-73 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

Bob “Mr. Clutch” McAdoo rewrote expectations for a big man with his fluid scoring range. A 1974-75 MVP, three-time scoring champion, Rookie of the Year, and two-time NBA champion, he brought 22.1 PPG and 9.4 RPG thanks to a silky jumper and scoring savviness.

He evolved like the game itself, from explosive young scorer in Buffalo to veteran glue in L.A. and Boston. His perimeter game foreshadowed the stretch bigs that define today’s offenses. McAdoo showed that bigs could be elegant, efficient, and essential across eras, making him an underrated pioneer among NBA centers.

11. Bill Walton

Career Stats: 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Career Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 1976-77 Finals MVP, 1977-78 MVP, 2x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1976-77 Blocks Champion, 1967-77 Rebounding Champion, 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year, Hall of Fame

Bill Walton was a crossover in every sense, part graceful baller, part defensive disruptor, and full-time icon. He dominated Portland’s 1977 championship run with averages near 18.6 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 3.25 BPG, earning Finals MVP before landing NBA MVP honors in 1978. He also topped the league in rebounds, blocks, and made both All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team that season.

But injuries loomed large throughout Walton’s career, yet he still captured a second title in 1986 as a Sixth Man with Boston. Post-retirement, he became a beloved broadcaster with a unique voice and personality, but his sheer dominance in the NBA during his prime can't be forgotten.

10. George Mikan

Career Stats: 23.1 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.8 APG

Career Accolades: 5x NBA Champion, 4x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x Scoring Champion, Hall of Fame

Think of George Mikan as the start of NBA center dominance. During the league’s infancy, he delivered 23.1 PPG and 13.4 RPG, powered the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles, and led the league in scoring three times. Mikan’s era-defining play reshaped rules (hello, goaltending and widening the lane) and legitimized the big man.

He may stand far away from today’s spotlight, but every low-post move and paint presence that followed exists because Mikan stood first. A foundational superstar, his impact is historic, and for that reason alone, he kicks off the top 10.

9. Wes Unseld

Career Stats: 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Career Accolades: 1977-78 NBA Champion, 1977-78 Finals MVP, 1968-69 MVP, 5x All-Star, 1968-69 All-NBA Team Selection, 1974-75 Rebounding Champion, 1968-69 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

Few players rewrote expectations like Wes Unseld: an MVP and Rookie of the Year in his first season (1968), leading Washington to glory, and blacked in by bruising rebounds more than buckets. He averaged 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, and 3.9 APG, earning Finals MVP and lifting a championship in 1978.

Unseld’s mastery was intuitive, with perfect outlet passes, timely screens, and a nose for the ball that transformed offense. He wasn’t a stat monster, but he was the factor that tipped games, seasons, and legacies. Unseld might be forgotten by many in the modern era, but we can't knock him out of the top 10.

8. David Robinson

Career Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG

Career Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 1994-95 MVP, 10x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 8x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year, 1993-94 Scoring Champion, 1990-91 Rebounding Champion, 1991-92 Blocks Champion, 1989-90 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

One of the best two-way players of all-time, David “The Admiral” Robinson led from day one, earning Rookie of the Year, then 1995 MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and two championships with San Antonio. He averaged over 21 PPG, 10 RPG, and 3 BPG at peak, and was physically on a different level than almost anyone else in the paint.

But Robinson’s resume wasn’t just his steady stats; it was the legacy he built. He transformed the San Antonio Spurs into a perennial contender, modeled professionalism, and anchored the franchise that would define sustained success generations later. There might have been no dynasty if not for the standard Robinson set.

7. Nikola Jokic

Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Career Accolades: 2022-23 NBA Champion, 2022-23 Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 7x All-Star, 7x All-NBA Team Selection

Nikola Jokic is unlike any center in NBA history. Averaging 21.8 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 7.2 APG across 745 regular-season games, he’s the first center in modern history to blend elite scoring, rebounding, and elite playmaking with such regularity. A three-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP, his crown was cemented when he led the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history.

Jokic's rise has rewritten the rulebook for big men: he’s the only NBA player ever to record a 30-point, 20-rebound, 20-assist game, and, in 2024-25, he posted one of the most dominant statistical seasons ever, averaging a triple-double. Legendary Warriors coach Steve Kerr has even opined that “he's probably the best center who's ever played”. Truly impressive praise for the big Serbian. 

6. Moses Malone

Career Stats: 20.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Career Accolades: 1982-83 NBA Champion, 1982-83 Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, 6x Rebounding Champion, Hall of Fame

Moses Malone was a rebounding juggernaut and a lone paint maestro. Averaging 20.6 PPG and 12.2 RPG over 1,329 games, he was a three-time MVP and secured an NBA title and Finals MVP in 1983, anchoring Philadelphia’s championship drive. His 19-year career also included 12 All-Star nods, eight All-NBA selections, and multiple rebounding titles, earning him Hall of Fame induction in 2001.

Known as “Chairman of the Boards,” Malone stood third all-time in combined ABA/NBA rebounds (17,834), and ranked in the top ten in scoring, too. More than his numbers, Malone was the ultimate finish-line crusher and is truly underrated considering how he was immovable in the paint.

5. Wilt Chamberlain

Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG

Career Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 1971-72 Finals MVP, 4x MVP, 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, 7x Scoring Champion, 1967-68 Assist Champion, 1959-60 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

Wilt Chamberlain put up stats like no one ever did and is one of the most unstoppable forces in NBA history. He averaged 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, and 4.4 APG across 1,045 games, winning four MVPs and earning two championships. His accolades include the 1960 Rookie of the Year, a Finals MVP in 1972, and 13 All-Star selections.

Wilt completely dominated the game during his era. He dropped 100 points in a single game, tallied 55 rebounds in another, won seven consecutive scoring titles and 11 rebounding titles, and once averaged 50 points per game over an entire season. His dominance forced the NBA to change rules: widening the lane and outlawing offensive goaltending. Top 5 center ever? Without question.

4. Hakeem Olajuwon

Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG

Honors: 2x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 1993-94 MVP, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x Rebounding Champion, 3x Blocks Champion, Hall of Fame

Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was more than just a dominant center; he was an artist in the paint with supreme skills. With career averages of 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, and 2.5 APG, he captured two NBA championships (1994, 1995), earned both Finals MVP honors, and claimed the 1993-94 MVP title thanks to his unmatched defensive and offensive synergy. 

He collected 12 All-Star nods, 12 All-NBA selections, 9 All-Defensive honors, 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards, and led the league in blocks and rebounds multiple times. He anchored Houston’s back-to-back title runs during Jordan’s temporary absence and became a symbol of hope and excellence for the city. Had Hakeem played with some of the all-time great players like others on this list had, we could be looking at a player with an even greater resume.

3. Shaquille O'Neal

Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG

Career Accolades: 4x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP, 1999-00 MVP, 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Scoring Champion, 1992-93 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

Shaquille O'Neal was a bulldozer at the rim, transforming brute strength into absolute dominance. He averaged 23.7 PPG and 10.9 RPG, captured four championships (three straight with the Lakers, one with Miami), earned MVP (2000), three Finals MVPs, two scoring titles, and 15 All-Star selections among an illustrious list of honors.

But Shaq’s immortality stretches past his dominance in the paint; his athleticism was truly underrated because he could run up and down the floor with ease, considering he stood 7'1" and 320 lbs. Sure, he remains a larger-than-life figure off the court, but that doesn't even do justice to how dominant Shaq was during his prime.

2. Bill Russell

Career Stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

Career Accolades: 11x NBA Champion, 5x MVP, 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Team Selection, 1968-69 All-Defensive Team Selection, 4x Rebounding Champion, Hall of Fame

Talk about winning games, Bill Russell redefined what it meant to be a champion. Over 13 seasons, he collected an unmatched 11 NBA championships, two as player-coach, plus a Hall-of-Fame resume including five MVPs, 12 All-Star selections, and unrivaled dominance in rebounds and defense.

Russell’s legacy is both foundational and revolutionary. His defensive intelligence and team-first mentality forged the greatest era the NBA has ever seen. If All-Defensive Teams, Defensive Player of the Year awards, and even stats such as steals, blocks, and deflections were tracked, there might have been no doubt who the greatest defender ever was.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG

Career Accolades: 6x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 6x MVP, 19x All-Star, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 11x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Scoring Champion, 4x Blocks Champion, 1969-70 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame

No one towers above history like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the GOAT of centers. Averaging 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.6 BPG, he was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before LeBron James surpassed him and a titan of consistency with six MVPs, six championships, two Finals MVPs, and selections across 15 All-NBA and 11 All-Defensive teams.

Kareem’s elegant skyhook became basketball’s most unstoppable shot, and his longevity, 20 seasons of elite impact, cemented his place in both court history and broader culture. From his first Adidas signature shoe to his role as a social justice advocate and author, his excellence transcends basketball records. It resonates as a testament to intellect, grace, and lasting greatness.