The Greatest Centers In NBA History
These players are involved in offense, defense, rebounding, and just about everything in the paint. Increasingly, they're even coming into the fold beyond the arc. Here are the 35 greatest centers and power forwards in NBA history.
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As the era of “positionless basketball” progresses, the importance of a solid starting center (or power forward) has remained crucial for NBA teams.
These players are involved in offense, defense, rebounding, and just about everything in the paint. Increasingly, they're even coming into the fold beyond the arc. A solid seven-footer can give teams putback dunks, second-chance opportunities, and rejections on the defensive end of the floor — all crucial parts of the game.
A franchise big man can alter the direction of your franchise. Bill Russell’s arrival drove the Celtics to be the greatest dynasty in NBA history. Shaquille O’Neal’s acquisition instantaneously turned the Lakers and Heat, respectively, from mediocre to contending teams. And Anthony Davis has turned the Pelicans from an awful team, to a slightly less awful team. The possibilities are limitless with a franchise center, perhaps more so than with any other position on the NBA floor.
When it comes to the greatest of all time argument, there is a ton of room for debate. Unlike the greatest overall player of all time, which is Michael Jordan and not LeBron James, there are several players that can make the case for greatest center or power forward of all time. Bill Russell and his 11 championships make a solid case. As does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his all-time scoring record. Wilt Chamberlain, who once averaged 50 points per game one season, deserves some consideration for that post as well.
But Complex Sports has resolved to end this debate once and for all, with 100 percent accuracy and without any need for dissent. So without further adieu, here are the 35 greatest centers and power forwards in NBA history.
35. Marc Gasol
Years: 2008-Present
Teams: Grizzlies
Stats: 696 games, 15.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Accolades: 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 2013 Defensive Player of the Year
Gasol’s — and his Grizzlies —- have always unjustly flown under the radar. He’s been a pivotal part of the most successful small-market team recent NBA memory, averaging over 15 points and eight rebounds per game. Gasol is also one of the league’s best defenders; he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.
34. DeAndre Jordan
Years: 2008-Present
Teams: Clippers
Stats: 721 games, 9.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.7 BPG
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 2x rebounds leader
A lockdown defender and a magnetic rebounder, Jordan has established himself as one of the game’s best centers. He’s averaged 14.1 rebounds per game since the start of the 2013-14 season, and has led the league in field-goal percentage in each of the last five seasons.
33. Ralph Sampson
Years: 1983-1991
Teams: Rockets, Warriors, Kings, Bullets
Stats: 15.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 BPG
Accolades: 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1984 Rookie of the Year
His prime was short-lived, but few dominated like Sampson did in his heyday. He and Hakeem Olajuwon formed the “Twin Towers” that first made Houston a legitimate contender, culminating in an NBA Finals appearance in 1986.
32. Bill Laimbeer
Years: 1980-1994
Teams: Cavaliers, Pistons
Stats: 1,068 games, 12.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Accolades: 2x NBA Champion, 4x All-Star, 1x rebounds leader
Laimbeer was one of the most physical (and dirtiest) defenders of his day, which made him one of the poster children for the “Bad Boys” Pistons teams of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
31. Neil Johnston
Career years: 1951-1959 Team(s): Warriors Stats: 516 games, 19.4 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 2.5 APG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 3x scoring champion, 1x NBA Champion, 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA
Johnston was the Philadelphia Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain before Wilt Chamberlain; he won three consecutive NBA scoring titles from 1953-55, and won a championship in 1956. But at 6-foot-8, it’s just a tad unlikely that Johnston would be able to cut it as a center in today’s NBA. Just goes to show how much the game has evolved over time.
30. Al Horford
Years: 2007-Present
Teams: Hawks, Celtics
Stats: 698 games, 14.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Accolades: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA
Horford has established himself as someone who can score, shoot, distribute, defend. He can pretty much do anything on the court, and do it well at that. His lifetime three-point field goal percentage of .367 isn’t bad for a seven-footer, either.
29. Zelmo Beaty
Years: 1962-1969, 1974-75
Teams: Hawks, Lakers
Stats: 16.0 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x All-Star
“Big Z” was a standout for some solid St. Louis Hawks teams in the 1960s, averaging 19.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game from 1965-66 to 1968-69. Beaty then became one of the biggest names in the NBA to jump ship to the rival ABA, where he would continue to dominate while legitimizing the new league.
28. Brad Daugherty
Years: 1986-1994
Teams: Cavaliers
Stats: 548 games, 19.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Accolades: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA
Prior to LeBron James, Daugherty was the best player in Cavs history. Daugherty would routinely carry the Cavs to the playoffs, much like LeBron does now. But unlike LeBron, Daugherty’s squads almost always got bounced in the first round.
27. Dan Issel
Career years: 1970-1985 Team(s): Denver Nuggets Stats: 718 games, 20.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG Accolades: 1x All-Star
Issel started off his career on fire with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels in 1970, as he led the league in scoring in his first season. He would later be a part of the Nuggets squad that made the jump from the ABA to the NBA when the two leagues merged, and continued to dominate well into the 1980s.
26. Ben Wallace
Years: 1996-2012
Teams: Wizards, Magic, Pistons, Bulls, Cavaliers
Stats: 1,088 games, 5.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.0 BPG
Accolades: 4x Defensive Player of the Year, 4x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 6x All-NBA Defensive Team: 2x Rebounds leader, 1x Blocks leader
Wallace was the basketball equivalent to a shutdown corner. His lifetime defensive rating of 96 is the fifth-best mark of any player in NBA history, making him as good a defender as there has ever been.
25. Anthony Davis
Years: 2012-Present
Teams: Pelicans
Stats: 383 games, 22.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.3 BPG
Accolades: 5x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 2x All-NBA Defensive Team, 2x blocks leader
Davis could be near the top of this list in a few years. He’s averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the last five seasons, including a whopping 26.8 points per game this year. Hopefully the Pelicans can build a solid supporting cast around him.
24. Yao Ming
Years: 2002-2010
Teams: Rockets
Stats: 486 games, 19.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG
Accolades: Hall of Fame, 8x All-Star, 5x All-NBA
Had it not been for injuries, Yao might have been at the top of this list. Standing at 7-foot-6, Yao averaged 19 points, 9.2 boards, and 1.9 blocks per game over the course of his career. Unfortunately, his career was essentially over by the time he turned 29, thanks to a series of injuries.
23. Alonzo Mourning
Career years: 1992-2008 Team(s): Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat Stats: 838 games, 17.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG Accolades: 1x NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 2x All-NBA Defensive Team Mourning made seven All-Star teams throughout his NBA career, and helped make the Hornets and Heat teams he played for into perennial contenders.
22. Dikembe Mutombo
Career years: 1991-2009 Team(s): Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks, Rockets Stats: 1,196 games, 9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG Accolades: 8x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, 4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 6x All-NBA Defensive Team
Mutombo’s 3,289 career blocks are the second-most in NBA history. And his signature finger wag might be the best celebration in NBA history.
21. Bill Walton
Career years: 1974-1987 Team(s): Trail Blazers, Clippers, Celtics Stats: 468 games, 13.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x NBA Champion, 1x MVP, 2x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 2x NBA All-Defensive Team, 1x Sixth Man of the Year
Walton’s NBA career pales in comparison to his all-time great college career, but he was still quite good in the Association. He was the star of the Trail Blazers’ only championship team in 1977, and won league MVP in 1978.
20. Bob Lanier
Career years: 1970-1984 Team(s): Pistons, Bucks Stats: 959 games, 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 8x All-Star
Lanier dominated on both ends of the floor with the Pistons and the Bucks, putting up a 111 career offensive rating and a 98 career defensive rating over his 14-year career. It’s not hard to see why both teams decided to retire his number.
19. Artis Gilmore
Career years: 1971-1989 Team(s): Kentucky Colonels, Bulls, Spurs, Celtics Stats: 909 games, 17.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.9 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 6x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Defensive Team
Aside from maybe Julius Erving, few players lit up the ABA like Artis Gilmore did. Gilmore was an ABA All-Star in all five of his seasons with the Kentucky Colonels, averaging 22.3 points and a whopping 17.1 rebounds per game in the league. When the Colonels folded, Gilmore was taken by the Bulls first overall in the dispersal draft of ex-ABA players by NBA teams. He continued to be a force in the NBA, making five All-Star teams with the Bulls and the Spurs during the 70s and 80s.
18. Bob McAdoo
Years: 1972-1986 Teams: Buffalo Braves, Knicks, Celtics, Pistons, Nets, Lakers, Sixers Stats: 852 games, 22.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x NBA Champion, 1x MVP, 5x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 1973 Rookie of the Year
McAdoo led the NBA in scoring three years in a row from 1974-1976 while playing with the Buffalo Braves (now the Clippers), and made five consecutive All-Star teams from 1974-78. He was later able to invent himself as a solid reserve player for the “Showtime” Lakers, and won two rings as a result.
17. Dwight Howard
Years: 2004-Present
Teams: Magic, Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets
Stats: 1,009 games, 17.1 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG
Accolades: 8x All-NBA, 8x All-Star, 5x rebounds leader, 5x All-NBA Defensive Team, 3x Defensive Player of the Year
He’s a bit of a joke now, but Howard was one of the game’s best players just a few years ago. From 2007-08 to 2012-13, he averaged 20.0 points per game, led the league in rebounding five times, and carried the Magic to an NBA Finals appearance in 2009. It’s a shame Howard can’t play like that anymore.
16. Nate Thurmond
Career years: 1963-1977 Team(s): Warriors, Bulls, Cavaliers Stats: 964 games, 15.0 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.1 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 7x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Defensive Team
Thurmond was the first homegrown star the newly-minted San Francisco Warriors had ever developed. He made seven All-Star teams in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and made an All-NBA Defensive Team five times.
15. Robert Parish
Career years: 1976-1997 Team(s): Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls Stats: 1611 games, 14.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, all-time games played leader, 4x NBA Champion, 9x All-Star, 2x All-NBA
Aside from Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, no player had more to do with the Celtics’ success in the 1980s than Robert Parish. Parish made nine All-Star teams in 11 seasons from 1981-1991, and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.
14. Walt Bellamy
Career years: 1961-1974 Team(s): Bullets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, Jazz Stats: 1043 games, 20.1 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 4x All-Star, 1962 NBA Rookie of the Year
Bellamy may have been the best center of the 1960s not named Wilt or Russell. Averaging 26.8 points and 16.5 rebounds per game from 1961-62 to 1962-66, Bellamy dominated on both ends of the floor by a wide margin.
13. Wes Unseld
Career years: 1968-1981 Team(s): Baltimore Bullets Stats: 984 games, 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 1x NBA Champion, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1969 NBA Rookie of the Year
Unseld played his entire 13-year career with the Bullets, and still stands as the greatest player in Bullets/Wizards franchise history. His resume includes a league MVP, a Finals MVP, and a championship in 1978 — the only title in franchise history.
12. Elvin Hayes
Career years: 1968-1984 Team(s): Rockets, Bullets Stats: 1,303 games, 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 1x NBA Champion, 12x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 2x All-NBA Defensive Team
Like Unseld, Hayes was also a pivotal part of the 1978 Bullets team, as the two provided for one of the best frontcourt duos in league history. Hayes was also a star over three different decades, having made the All-Star team every year from 1969-1980.
11. Patrick Ewing
Career years: 1985-2002 Team(s): Knicks, Sonics, Magic Stats: 1183 games, 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 11x All-Star, 7x All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year, Ewing will always be on any shortlist of best players to not win a ring. Too bad he didn’t play in the super team era, because then he could have joined the Bulls and actually won one. And maybe he would have won one anyway had John Starks not decided to go AWOL in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals.
10. Dave Cowens
Career years: 1970-1983 Team(s): Celtics, Bucks Stats: 766 games, 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x NBA Champion, 1x NBA MVP, 7x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, 3x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1971 Rookie of the Year,
Cowens, John Havelchick, and Jo Jo White helped bring about Celtics championships in 1974 and 1976. This period of Celtics history is sometimes overlooked because it took place between the Russell and Bird dynasties, but it deserves a lot more attention than it gets. As does Cowens, whose 95.52 defensive rating is the second-best mark in league history.
9. Willis Reed
Career years: 1964-1974 Team(s): New York Knicks Stats: 650games, 18.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 1x NBA MVP, 7x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 1x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1965 Rookie of the Year The image of Reed walking out of the Madison Square Garden tunnel ahead of Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals is one of the most iconic in NBA history. Reed was the centerpiece of two Knicks championship teams, back when “Knicks” and “championship” could still appear in the same sentence.
8. Moses Malone
Career years: 1976-1995 Team(s): Buffalo Braves, Rockets, 76ers, Bullets, Hawks, Bucks, Spurs Stats: 1,329 games, 20.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 1x NBA Champion, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 8x All-NBA, 2x All-NBA Defensive Team The late great Malone won three MVP’s from 1979-1983, led the league in rebounding six times, and was the centerpiece of the Sixers’ last championship in 1983.
7. George Mikan
Career years: 1949-1956 Team(s): Minneapolis Lakers Stats: 379 games, 22.3 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.7 APG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 4x NBA Champion, 4x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Mikan was the first true NBA superstar. He was named the greatest player of the first half-century by the Hall of Fame. He dominated the league back when it was just a startup, carrying the Minneapolis Lakers to five league championships in six years from 1949-1954. Without Mikan’s star power, the NBA might not have ever gotten off of the ground.
6. Hakeem Olajuwon
Career years: 1984-2002 Team(s): Rockets, Raptors Stats: 1238 games, 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 9x All-NBA Defensive Team The No. 1 overall pick in 1984, “The Dream” bought the Rockets two rings in between ‘90s Bulls three-peats — no easy task. His 1994 season stands out as one of the greatest ever: He became the only player to ever win MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. He also has the most blocks in NBA history.
5. David Robinson
Career years: 1989-2003 Team(s): Spurs Stats: 987 games, 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 2x NBA Champion, 1x MVP, 10x All-Star, 10x All-NBA, 1x Defensive Player of the Year, 8x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1990 Rookie of the Year Robinson’s aforementioned conventional stats are obviously impressive. But believe it or not, his advanced stats are even better: he’s fourth all-time in PER, eighth all-time in VORP, and is fourth all-time in defensive rating. In the former two categories, he’s second all-time among centers. So as great as you thought “The Admiral” was, the advanced stats indicate he’s even better.
4. Shaquille O’Neal
Career years: 1992-2011 Team(s): Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavaliers, Celtics Stats: 1,207 games, 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG Accolades: Hall of Fame 4x NBA Champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP, 1x NBA MVP, 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA, 3x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1993 Rookie of the Year
Few players in the NBA are more iconic, recognized, and beloved by fans than Shaquille O’Neal is. O’Neal’s four championships, 15 All-Star appearances, 14 All-NBA appearances, and MVP title make him one of the most accomplished players to ever play the game, never mind centers. Off the court, Shaq is also one of the most recognized NBA players, as he’s also a rapper, businessman, reality TV star, police officer, video game protagonist, and an actor. Even if you hate the Lakers, there’s no way you can hate Shaq.
3. Wilt Chamberlain
Years: 1959-1973 Team(s): Warriors, 76ers, Lakers Stats: 1045 games, 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG Accolades: Hall of Fame, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 4x NBA MVP, 13x NBA All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team, 2x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1960 NBA Rookie of the Year
Looking at Chamberlain’s stats is so much fun, because they’re literally insane. Like the fact that he averaged 50.4 points per game and 25.7 rebounds per game in the 1961-62 season — the year that he scored 100 points. That obviously could never happen today, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Wilt led the league in scoring in each of his first seven NBA seasons, making him one of the game’s most recognizable faces in the early days of the league.
2. Bill Russell
Years: 1956-1969
Teams: Celtics
Stats: 963 games, 15.3 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG
Accolades: Hall of Fame, 11x NBA Champion 5x MVP, 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 1x All-NBA Defensive Team, 5x rebounds leader
No team has dominated quite like the Russell-led Celtics of the ‘50s and ‘60s did.
But first, let’s start with Russell’s individual stats: He averaged 15.2 points per game and a whopping 22.5 rebounds per game for his career. Russell is perhaps the best defensive player of all time, having led the league in defensive win shares in 12 of his 14 NBA seasons.
And Russell’s Celtics never stopped winning: They won a whopping 11 championships in 13 seasons from 1957-1969, including eight straight from 1959-66. In fact, Russell won the last two championships of his career as a player-coach in 1968 and 1969. Let’s see Michael Jordan do that.
If you thought the Warriors’ dominance makes basketball boring now, they don’t even come close to the Celtics back then. And Russell was the backbone of that dominance.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Years: 1969-1989
Teams: Bucks, Lakers
Stats: 1,560 games, 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG
Accolades: Hall of Fame, All-time leader in points, field goals, field goal attempts, 6x NBA Champion, 6x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 19x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, 11x All-NBA Defensive Team, 2x scoring leader, 4x blocks leader, 1x rebounds leader, 1970 Rookie of the Year
There’s plenty that can (and has) been said about Kareem’s legacy. But nothing speaks more aptly to his ability than the accolades listed above. Few NBA players — let alone centers — have accomplished (or will ever accomplish) what Abdul-Jabbar has in the NBA. And for that, he stands as the greatest center of all time.