Best Centers in NBA History

The Top Ten
1 Wilt Chamberlain Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936 in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999 in Los Angeles due to heart failure.

Wilt Chamberlain set the books by scoring the most points scored in a single game (100), most rebounds in a game (55), and most consecutive field goals (18).

He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors,... read more

Only 6 other players have had a 30/30 game, with 30 points and 30 rebounds, and none have doen it more than once; while wilt did it over 100 times.
No other player has had even one 40/40 game, and Wilt had 8 of them.
And then there is Wilts "Double-Triple-Double", where he had 20/20/20, which again no other player has ever done.
Blocks were not recorded officially during his career, but in his final year, the NBA was doing a few "test" games, and he had 26 blocks.
Simply the GOAT- Greatest Of All Time.

Anyone who thinks Chamberlain wasn't the greatest basketball player of all time not just center simply hasn't checked the numbers. Bill Russell who supposedly had Wilt's number managed to hold him to 40 points 28 rebounds who knows how many blocks they didn't count them and 12 assists avg. in their games. He would've fouled shaq out in the first quarter. He'd have averaged a triple double for a career if not quadruple if they kept all the stats.

2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Kareem (the player formerly known as Lew) and his Bucks stopped the greatest NBA winning streak. People say Kareem was young and Wilt was old but really, Wilt a veteran center who got worked by a 2nd year player. Kareem had Magic and Oscar (each never got a ring without Kareem) but Wilt had Jerry "the NBA logo" West and Gail Goodrich at the same time. Kareem didn't just change the rules (like the NCAA not allowing dunking) but he changed the way big man trained and conditions. Not just the greatest center, the greatest player of all time.

Kareem was an extremely skilled player that besides from shooting, could do everything else at a high level. People also tend to forget that as a Milwaukee Buck Kareem won them a championship and averaged up to 35 and 16 a game in 72.

Kareem had the most unstoppable shot in NBA history, the Sky Hook. Kareem hit many big shots over his illustious career, including game-winning shots against their bitter rival, the Boston Celtics. Kareem is also the NBA's All-time leading scorer. In his prime, nobody could even come close to stopping him. He is a true basketball legend.

3 Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player.

He improved in the playoffs, while Wilt and Kareem got worse statistically.

He outplayed all HOF centers during his prime in the post season, including Kareem 86', Parish 86', Ewing 94', Robinson 95' and Shaq 95'.

He is better than better than Russell defensively because he was a much better stealer, man defender (Wilt regularly destroyed him) and perimeter defender.

Russell also has an inflated defensive presence, due to favorable rules, like a smaller lane to patrol, no three second rule, stacked teams, lesser competition (athletically, skill-wise and economically) shorter playoff runs to a championship and one of the greatest coaches of all time in Red Auerbach. Olajuwon had no such advantages and is still close to Russell in defensive presence, which is why he is better overall.

He is the greatest two way center of all time and has absolutely no weakness in his game.

All time blocks leader ( Russell had Wilt and no one else to match up with). Simply put Hakeem dominated the best era of the position. Best footwork on both ends, quick, had the touch of point guards and the power and skills of the greatest centers. He would be my number 1 pick to start an all time team in real life if it was possible. Want proof he is the greatest center ever? Why does nobody ever ever have a problem with him being taken over the " best player of all time"? because he was The Dream. Oh and "Dream Shake" enough said!

4 Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. He is known for his fun, friendly personality, and is one of the most beloved athletes of all time.

If every NBA player in their primes lined up, and you could get the first pick to put one person on your team, you'd be a fool not to pick Shaquille O'Neal. No better teammate in the history of basketball. Who would you be more comfortable hitting the court with and being yourself, playing your game, knowing a guy like Shaq has your back... Nobody.

If Shaq played in the bad boys era or earlier, he probably would have legally killed a few people on the court. Not to mention, he was so dominate they started allowing zone defense. Without zone defense, he would have been even more dominate!

Prime Shaq was scary good and dominant. The Lakers Shaq was too big, strong, and powerful. I know that after Hakeem and Ewing retired, the competition at the five spot was a joke. However, Shaq the man for taking advantage of the lack of talent.

5 Bill Russell William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American retired professional basketball player. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969.

Russell should be #1 because he was way more committed to the game than Wilt and Shaq ever will be. His defense would slaughter Kareem and would match up well with Hakeem. He was a very elite defensive leader and, unlike Shaq and Wilt, cared more about his team than the media. Russell wasn't known for his offense but could score in the post if he wanted to.

You people underestimate the skill of Bill Russell. He was the best shot blocker in NBA history and he has the most rings in NBA history. He is so much better than Kareem and Shaq. Russell should be in the top 3

The fact is Russell dominated Chamberlain and every other center he played. He was THE force to be reckoned with in the NBA and would, likely, still dominate. No Contest at all!

6 David Robinson David Maurice Robinson is an American former professional basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association for his entire career.

David Robinson, so amazing, now this guy has the heart of a true champion, there's been just a hand full of people that can carry their team on the shoulders, and David is most to have done that all trough out his carrer, verry sucessfull person, high achiever, left a big hole in the NBA when he retired.

More speed and agility than people gave him credit for. Absolutely dominant on both ends of the court. Excellent on and off the court.

Love his game, and I'm not even a Spurs fan! No one brings up his name into conversation when debating the best bigs of all time, such a SHAME!

7 Moses Malone Moses Eugene Malone was an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association from 1974 through 1995. The center was named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times and was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection.

His only issue was that he played on so many teams, he doesn't get much credit. The man finished in the top ten in scoring seven times and top ten in rebounds ten times. He was simply a consistent machine.

Moses Malone is one of the greatest to play in nba.

8 Patrick Ewing Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5, 1962) is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current head coach of the Georgetown University men's basketball team.

I have to say but this guy has a good three point shot that pretty much accurate, he's just missing a championship ring. But he so close against Olajuwon in 1994. He was owned by the Dream Shake

Ewing was awesome. Very underrated. Carried a very offensively mediocre team on his back for 15 years. Took the Knicks to the 2nd round or further 9 years in a row (maybe 10).

Very productive big and I liked his jumper it was probably the best from a center! He played with the knicks and never won a title, which prevents him from being top 5 in most peoples eyes

9 George Mikan George Lawrence Mikan Jr., nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association.
10 Yao Ming Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball executive and retired professional basketball player who played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

Yao Ming is such a great player. See him play against other tall centers, he can dominate.

Seriously? he should be on the top 10 list! he shut down shaq on they're ever matchup

The Contenders
11 Bill Walton

Injuries (foot) were the bane of this phenom; Kareem once referred to him as Dr Scholl

12 Tim Duncan Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player who has played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association.

In the discussion for G.O.A.T.! A career and approach to the game that may never be matched by a player of the same position

13 Dwight Howard Dwight David Howard is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association.

He is the best
He could shoot threes
He is the best three point shooter in the world
He is the goat

14 Nikola Jokic Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.

Best all around center ever!

15 Dikembe Mutombo

Defensively he was a god like Hakeem and Bill Russell!
4 time defensive player of the year baby!

He was a beast in his prime, but not that good after.

He is #2 in the all time block list!

16 Tyson Chandler Tyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association.

Alonzo Mourning was better than Tyson Chandler, even though he is very talented.

Are you kidding me, he's not better than Alonzo Mourning!

Ben Wallace should be in this place.

17 Arvydas Sabonis

Greatest Center of All-Time.
Best passing big ever, excellent shooter, killer post game and oh yeah he was 7'3"

A shooting guard in a body of a centre. Best centre of ever stepped Europe.

If not cold war and injuries he would've been the best off the best...

18 Ben Wallace Ben Camey Wallace is an American retired professional basketball player. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996. In his NBA career, Wallace played with the Washington Bullets/Wizards, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
19 Robert Parish

I see 5 or 6 guys listed ahead of chief that should not be he was a champion more often than most of the centers listed ahead of him. He may have been 3rd option on offense but made big contributions during the the years the Celtics won titles he faced many of the top centers in history when he played and held his own

The chief did everything well great at the goal defender and was dependible scorer in the post. Would have had better stats if not for bird and mchale he made the perfect celtic

20 Alonzo Mourning

Because he's behind bums like Tyson Chandler, Yao Ming and Bill Walton. Those guys aren't better than the ZO. Nor are they better than Dikembe.

21 Joel Embiid Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association.

Not enough games under his belt. When he gets to 174 games played call me

22 Willis Reed

Seeing him in his prime against the top centers (whether in playoffs or not) should convince anyone of his greatness.

23 Bob Pettit Robert Lee Pettit Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA.

Power forward. What's with you people

One of the earlier stars, Russell had placed him on his all time team

24 DeMarcus Cousins DeMarcus Amir Cousins is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association.
25 Vlade Divac
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