Ranking The 25 Best Centers For The 2023-24 NBA Season

• Nikola Jokic is the only center in the top 25 to win a Finals MVP award

• Joel Embiid is the only center to win the MVP and scoring title since Shaq in 2000

• Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have finished first and second in MVP voting in each of the last three seasons

We have reached the final installment of our positional rankings for the 2023-24 NBA season. Last month, we began our series by naming Stephen Curry the best point guard for next season. We continued on by crowning Devin Booker the King of the Shooting Guards. LeBron James held onto his top spot for small forwards as well and Giannis Antetokounmpo rightfully kept his place as the best power forward in the NBA for 2023-24. Now it is time to rank the giants in the middle. It is time to rank the 25 best NBA centers for the upcoming season. 

The center position in the NBA is extremely top-heavy, meaning some of the best talent the league has to offer are toward the top of the group while the rest fall somewhere in the middle when looking at the league as a whole. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid and Finals MVP Nikola Jokic are the easy selections for the top spots putting together historic seasons in their own right.

However, when looking around the NBA at the rest of the starting centers in the league, the rest of the list is not as easy to rank. That is why we are here to alleviate some of that pressure. Without any further ado, let us put an end to our 2023-24 positional rankings in an informative and entertaining style.

These are the 25 best centers for the 2023-24 NBA season.

25. Dwight Powell

2022-23 Stats: 6.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG

The fall of Dwight Powell down our rankings from last year is as disappointing as it gets for a Dallas Mavericks fan like me. When the Mavericks acquired him in 2014-15, the hope was he would develop into one of the most offensively sound centers in the game while providing at least average to good defensive effort. Nine seasons and a career-altering injury later, Dallas fans are all but kicking him out the door.

In 2023, Powell regressed even more so than in recent years down to less than 7.0 points per game on the offensive end while also becoming far less active on rebounds and defensively. Sure, he shot just over 70.0% from the field but on just 3.0 attempts which are all set up by Luka Doncic’s drive and dish opportunities at the rim and his whopping 2.0 offensive rebounds per game.

As much as Mavericks fans hope Powell can turn it around, the time has come for him to move on elsewhere if the Mavericks are serious about contending in the near future. Powell is probably best served in a role off the bench where he can thrive in short bursts of time instead of wearing down for 20.0 minutes per night.

24. Zach Collins

2022-23 Stats: 11.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Heading into the 2022-23 season, it had been three years since we last saw Zach Collins even somewhat healthy and able to play 60 games for an NBA team. Collins played just 11 games in 2020 and missed all of 2021 due to an ankle injury. In 2022, he would make just 28 appearances for the Spurs with four starts. In 2023, he would make a bit of a comeback, and heading into 2023-24, it looks as if he will play a much larger role.

In 63 games and 26 starts last season, Collins averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists while converting on a career-high 51.8% of his shot attempts. In 2023-24, Collins will be playing center next to the hottest prospect of the last 20 seasons, Victor Wembanyama. With all of the attention that Wemby will undoubtedly draw from defenses, this could be an even bigger season from Collins than the last.

Other than staying healthy, Collins’ main concern will be capitalizing on the opportunities afforded to him by playing next to such a talented big man as Wembanyama. One underrated aspect of Collins’ game is his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. With the spacing that the Spurs will have this season, we could see an uptick in his attempts from that range where he knocked down 37.4% of his shots last season. Cleaning up on the glass and making sure he is efficient with the shot attempts he does get will be what to watch for when it pertains to both Collins and the Spurs as a whole.

23. Jakob Poeltl

2022-23 Stats: 12.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG

While most centers use their strength and size to their advantage, Jakob Poeltl has implemented some other features in his game to make him one of the more intriguing big men in the game today. After four and a half seasons with the Spurs, where he averaged 8.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, Poeltl was shipped back to Toronto 46 games into the 2022-23 season. In 26 games with the Raptors to finish the season, Poeltl would average 13.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game to end the season on a high note.

Poeltl gives the Raptors a noble yet fundamentally sound big man that they have been searching for ever since Marc Gasol left following their 2019 championship run. With his soft touch finishing around the rim and his feisty attitude when it comes to grabbing rebounds or blocking shots, Poeltl gives Toronto the big man they have been searching for.

Now, I am not expecting Poeltl to be as crucial to success as Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, or OG Anunoby will be for Toronto but his role will be a major part of where this team goes in 2023-24. He will serve as their primary interior defender and be looked to as the player who stops opponents’ possessions dead in their tracks. If he can do that at the same level or better than he did in 26 games for them last season, the Raptors should be fighting for a playoff spot at season’s end.

22. Mitchell Robinson

2022-23 Stats: 7.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.8 BPG

Last season, Mitchell Robinson made 58 starts for the New York Knicks in 59 total appearances. His interior defense was a breath of fresh air for a team that desperately needed it to come from somewhere considering their shortcomings over the last few seasons. Mitchell’s contributions as a shot-blocker, rebounder, and lob threat on offense helped the Knicks win 47 games and lock up the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Although his defensive effort would translate pretty well on their playoff run, his inability to be a factor on offense was a glaring issue. Yes, he grabbed 5.0 offensive rebounds per game for the Knicks in their 11 playoff games but he was barely a threat otherwise in their offensive scheme. In such an offensively charged environment as today’s NBA is, he received heavy criticism for his play on that end of the ball.

I would love to see Mitchell utilize his superb athleticism and ability in the paint even more in 2023-24 to take his game to the next level. Robinson has shown flashes of being able to contribute regularly on the offensive side but often finds himself being taken out of games by bigger and stronger opposing centers. If he can add some mass and ball skills to his game this summer, he has a chance to skyrocket way up this list by midseason. If not, he may be one of the names we are looking at as a trade chip for the Knicks come deadline time.

21. Jalen Duren

2022-23 Stats: 9.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Rookie Jalen Duren had the type of rookie season in 2022-23 that solidified his selection by the Detroit Pistons with their 13th overall pick. Duren played 67 games for the Pistons last season and was second among rookies in rebounds, third in blocks, and second in shooting percentage as well. Duren used his physical gifts and athleticism to gain an upper hand against some of the toughest matchups in the NBA last season, showing a maturity level that was ahead of schedule.

There is no other more important young player heading into the 2023-24 season than Jalen Duren for the Pistons. Yes, the return of Cade Cunningham and the growth of Jaden Ivey are looming but the Pistons want to make sure that they have their guy on the interior for the foreseeable future. Duren is going to have to show they can fully begin their journey into the future with their young core by improving as a defender and finisher at the rim if he is to solidify the Pistons are heading in the right direction after years in the basement of the NBA.

20. Jusuf Nurkic

2022-23 Stats: 13.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Since Damian Lillard entered his trade request earlier this summer, Jusuf Nurkic’s name has joined him in almost every trade rumor. In 2022-23, he proved that two things were true as far as his trade value was concerned. First, he is still an average to good NBA center who eats up space in the paint and provides a presence as a rim protector. Second, his inconsistencies and injury issues may mean it is finally time to move on in Portland.

For Portland, if they retain him, it is hard to admit that he isn’t still valuable to the team. Their defense has been far better with him on the court than without him. However, it is time to stop expecting him to be something he isn’t. Nurkic is going to have nights where he looks absolutely awful and other nights where he looks outstanding. He is also guaranteed to miss some time due to injury and he is also going to struggle from even the easiest spots to convert on the court. He is, however, developing an outside shot and providing a new weapon with his offensive game that is improving Portland’s overall performance.

Nurkic’s time in Portland may have run its course though and he may need to be one of the casualties of business to make way for the younger guys like Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe to take over.

19. Wendell Carter Jr.

2022-23 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Wendell Carter Jr. of the Orlando Magic is one of the most undervalued and underappreciated big men in the NBA today. When coming over from the Bulls in the Nikola Vucevic deal two years ago, I do not believe even the Magic thought they were getting a foundational piece of their rebuild in return but that is exactly what Wendell Carter Jr. has become.

In each of the last two seasons, Carter has proved he is a vital part of what Orlando is striving for both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. His athleticism and physical condition allow him to move fluidly through the paint and provide a strong interior presence against the likes of Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.

He also continues to improve on the offensive end. In 2022-23, he averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game on 52.5% shooting. Although he is not their first or second option on that end, Carter has proved to be reliable when it comes to catching tough passes and finishing in the paint. He can also get hot at the right times as a shooter. If Orlando is to exceed expectations in 2023-24, Carter Jr. will be at the center of it with a young and determined core around him.

18. Steven Adams

2022-23 Stats: 8.6 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG

It may seem a little high to rank Steven Adams at number 17 heading into 2023-24 one season after missing 40 games and the most important games of the 2022-23 season. Many forget that Adams is just 30 years old heading into 2023-24 though, and still provides what many centers do not in this day and age as a leader and physically dominant big man in the paint.

It is amazing watching Steven Adams and how much he can frustrate an offense by simply using a level of physicality they aren’t used to. Adams will make sure he gets a body on his opponent and make rebounding a nightmare for any opponent that gets in his way or challenges for loose balls. Even if he doesn’t stretch the floor as a shooter or provide a solid offensive game in the post, Adams’ rebounding and defense make him a borderline top-15 center in the NBA to this day.

It is that leadership and physical nature that the Memphis Grizzlies will be needing out of Adams to begin the 2023-24 season and continue throughout. Without Ja Morant to begin the season, it will be interesting to see how the frontcourt duo of him and Jaren Jackson Jr. come together to alleviate some of the pressure they will be facing early on.

Update: Steven Adams has been ruled out for the entire 2023-24 NBA season due to a knee injury.

17. Robert Williams III

2022-23 Stats: 8.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.4 BPG

The 2022-23 season was yet another season in Robert Williams’ career in that he failed to play 40 games for the Boston Celtics. After being drafted by the Celtics in 2018, and making an All-Defensive Team in 2022, the expectations have been enormous for Williams annually. In his short five seasons on the court, Williams has played in 60 games just twice in a season while playing over 60 games once as well. It was more of the same in 2022-23 as he played just 35 games after recovering from knee surgery.

I am one of the ones who tend to be lower on Williams than most. There is no doubt that he is one of the most gifted defenders in the NBA when healthy, he just never is able to maintain a consistent bill of health. He is athletic, long, and has the defensive instincts you see from seasoned veterans rather than young stars of his caliber. Although his offensive game tends much left to be desired, he has even improved on that over the last few seasons as well.

We already know when he can be, but can he be on the court long enough to make an impact for the Celtics in 2023-24? This is as important of a season as ever for Boston who have been on the cusp of an NBA championship for what seems like his entire career. The Celtics will need Williams’ interior dominance to complement the game of Kristaps Porzingis if their gambles from this summer are going to pay off. If he is healthy and providing the same old rebounding and defensive effort we have seen from him, the Celtics can and will compete for an NBA title.

16. Walker Kessler

2022-23 Stats: 9.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.3 BPG

One of the more pleasant surprises from the 2022-23 season was the emergence of rookie Walker Kessler as a serious interior defender for the Utah Jazz. Kessler finished the season with 2.3 blocks per game in 74 appearances for Utah which ranked fourth in the NBA. His 173 total blocks also ranked fourth, just 20 behind the NBA’s leader Brook Lopez.

Kessler was also strong as a rebounder and finisher in the paint. He finished with 9.2 points per game on average but finished on 72.0% of his attempts, proving it may not be such a bad idea to start feeding the big man a little more and getting him more involved in their offense. For a Utah team whose rebuild has progressed slightly faster than anticipated, Kessler needs to continue to shine as the big man in the middle for their team, making fans and executives forget quickly about the Rudy Gobert era.

I am not looking for Kessler to lead Utah to a playoff spot or anything like that in year two. However, I will be looking for a stellar defensive performance while improving, even slightly, from an offensive standpoint. If these two things happen, Utah will surprise a lot of NBA fans and experts once again in 2023-24.

15. Nic Claxton

2022-23 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.5 BPG

In an up-and-down season for the Brooklyn Nets, one player remained consistent from start to finish for the other New York team. Nic Claxton finished the season as a near finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award thanks to his 9.2 RPG, 0.9 SPG, and 2.5 BPG that helped the Nets maintain their playoff position even after the departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Claxton became not just an avid shot blocker, but one that altered shots as well and made opposing offenses gameplan around his presence. On top of his incredible defensive effort, Claxton averaged a career-high 12.6 points per game while leading the NBA in field goal percentage at 70.5% on 7.7 attempts. With his clear improvement as a big man in the NBA, Claxton increased his value with Brooklyn and along with Mikal Bridges, will be their most important player in 2023-24.

Claxton can easily get better as an offensive player but 12.0 to 15.0 points per game is as solid as it gets for a center these days. When combining that with his All-Defensive Team probability, he may even be able to lay claim to one of the better two-way bigs in the NBA by season’s end. I expect Claxton to be the catalyst behind any strong showing from the Nets throughout this season which could even result in another playoff berth for them in a tough East. Dare I say that an All-Star season could be in the future for him?

14. Ivica Zubac

2022-23 Stats: 10.8 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG

When it comes to his all-around performance, Ivica Zubac had the best season of his career for the Clippers in 2022-23. With a career-high in points, rebounds, and blocks, Zubac set the tone for the Clippers on most nights when they were missing one of their two stars, or both on the court.

Zubac has a nose for the ball on both sides of the floor and showed he has no intentions of ever shying away from where the action takes him. He is extremely active as a rebounder and gains possessions for his team on offense while routinely taking them away on defense. He also found a way to establish a better position and read his teammates better on offense, making him a much more viable threat as a scorer in 2022-23.

This is the type of play and energy the 26-year-old will need to display heading into an important season for the Clippers in 2023-24. With all eyes on the health of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, Zubac has a chance to quietly carry the team in their absence once again. With every passing possession and every passing victory, Zubac continues to be underrated by his peers and the NBA media. I am predicting that to come to an end in a monster year for the big man from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

13. Clint Capela

2022-23 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG

Clint Capela is one of those centers that every team wishes they could have on their roster. He is an old-school, traditional big whose main focus is on rebounding, defense, and scoring at the rim at an exponential rate. Capela provides all of these things and more for the Atlanta Hawks as he continues to thrive alongside a point guard like Trae Young.

Young’s willingness to get his bigs involved has worked wonders for Capela who has averaged a double-double in each of his last three seasons with the Hawks. On offense, he clogs the lane and finishes great from the low post, although he cannot step out too far before his efficiency dips significantly. On defense, he is one of the tougher matchups in the NBA with an edge to him that makes him difficult to gain a mental edge over.

Capela’s upcoming season with the Hawks is as important as any other season has been in his career. It is time for the big man to put up or shut up when it comes to his fit within Atlanta’s system and what they are striving for as a unit. If he continues to plateau on offense and regress even slightly on defense, we could see him traded at any point. If he improves in any of those areas, I believe he not only stays with the Hawks but helps them get back to being one of the more competitive teams in the NBA.

12. Alperen Sengun

2022-23 Stats: 14.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG

It is no secret that I am extremely high on third-year center from the Houston Rockets, Alperen Sengun. How could you not be? Sengun made a massive leap from his rookie season to his second year in Houston after taking the summer to work with Hakeem Olajuwon. He became much more fluid in the post and displayed a patient maturity level with the ball in his hands that most do not find until they hit their fourth or fifth seasons.

Sengun has all the tools in the world to become one of the best centers in the NBA when he finally hits his peak. I mean, you don’t earn the nickname “Baby Jokic” for no reason. As a scorer and defender, he is already more versatile than every other center I have named so far, and he may just be the most talented passer at the position other than Jokic himself.

With the implementation of a new system and new personnel in Houston, I expect Sengun to be on the border of earning his first All-Star appearance in 2023-24. What Stephen Silas did not see in him, Ime Udoka is sure to elevate just as he did with the roster he had in Boston in 2022. The Rockets will not turn into a playoff team overnight but if Sengun improves across the board once again, you can bet on them being a lot closer than anticipated.

11. Jonas Valanciunas

2022-23 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

I have been on record the last few seasons stating my case for Jonas Valanciunas as the most underrated big man in basketball. Valanciunas has been an extremely valuable piece to the New Orleans Pelicans over the last two seasons and will continue that trend into 2023-24 and beyond.

Valanciunas is extremely valuable as an interior scorer, rebounder, and defender. He has averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game over the last four seasons while also being a consistent 14.0 to 18.0 points per game scorer. He also shoots 56.1% for his career so we know he is reliable with the ball in his hands in the paint as well.

The Pelicans have a ton of issues surrounding their team heading into 2023-24, mostly the health of stars Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. One thing they do not need to worry about is Valanciunas being on the court for them coming off a season where he played 79 games. Valanciunas will need to be just a little better offensively while bringing the same energy on defense if the Pelicans are to live up to the expectations that their fans and other members of the NBA community have for them.

10. Nikola Vucevic

2022-23 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Kicking off the top 10 centers for the 2023-24 season is Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic. Since joining the Bulls via trade during the 2020-21 season, Vucevic has been a solid addition to their team. He has averaged 18.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and missing just nine games in total. 

Despite some defensive issues that Chicago has chosen to live with, Vucevic has been one of the best centers in basketball on most nights. The issue is, many people were expecting the same Vucevic from Orlando where he was an All-Star for his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking abilities. However, he no longer serves that role and has sacrificed so much of his individual game to try and help the Bulls get back on track.

After signing a three-year, $60 million deal, Vucevic heads into the 2023-24 season once again as a part of Chicago’s core. While he needs to be better defensively, he also needs to be able to repeat his double-double performances from the last three seasons. The Bulls do not operate fluidly without Vucevic’s dominance on the boards and in the post on offense. Chicago will need the very best of Vucevic in order to get back to playoff basketball.

9. Myles Turner

2022-23 Stats: 18.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG

At just 27 years old, it is kind of hard to believe that Myles Turner’s best years could still be ahead of him. As one of the better two-way players at center in the NBA, Turner finally has the pieces around him in Indiana to help unlock his true all-around form. Turner is annually among the best shot-blockers in the NBA while also providing great offense and the 2022-23 season showed us the best may be yet to come.

In 2022-23, Turner was able to play over 60 games for the first time since 2020 and capitalized on his health and newfound teammates being pass-first players. He averaged a career-high 18.0 points per game last season while shooting a career-high 54.8% from the field. With competent guard play, Turner did not need to worry about taking his game to the perimeter as often last season and it paid off in a big way. Even if he is a 37.3% three-point shooter.

Turner’s role on the Pacers this season is one of the many reasons why so many fans are expecting a leap in the standings. He will still be their anchor on the defensive end but has found chemistry with Tyrese Haliburton that seems to have him enjoying the game again. My only question will be if Turner or the Pacers hit a lull in their season, how long before the annual trade rumors begin to swirl?

8. Brook Lopez

2022-23 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG

Brook Lopez showed us he had zero issues in turning back the clock with one of the best 2022-23 seasons for a center. Lopez’s brilliant 2022-23 campaign was highlighted by his incredible interior defense that, at times, had him looking like the backbone and anchor of the Bucks’ run to the top seed in the East. Of course, we all know Giannis was their MVP and nearly the league MVP as well but Lopez has a lot to do with their success.

It wasn’t just the fact that Lopez was nearly the Defensive Player of the Year or toward the top of the NBA leaderboard with 2.5 blocks per game. Lopez also averaged 15.9 points per game which was his highest total since the 2016-17 season with the Nets. Now, I have no doubt that Lopez can repeat his performance in 2023-24 but history tells me it is far more likely to regress rather than remain the same or get better.

Still, Lopez’s ability as both an interior nightmare for opponents as well as a more than decent three-point shooter gives Milwaukee a significant advantage heading into 2023-24. While being able to slow down even the best centers in the game, Lopez can make them uncomfortable on defense by dragging them further away from the paint than they’d like. I have no doubt that he will have another season worthy of his top-10 ranking here today.

7. Jarrett Allen

2022-23 Stats: 14.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG

After spending his first three seasons in the NBA in Brooklyn with the Nets, Jarrett Allen has unlocked a different level of play since joining the Cavaliers in 2021. In 2022, he became an All-Star for the first time averaging career-highs in points and rebounds while shooting 67.7% from the field. Although his 2022-23 season would say that he regressed a bit, Allen was just as effective for a Cavaliers team with championship aspirations.

Allen is enormously important to the Cavaliers’ game plan both as an interior defender and rebounder. Over the last two seasons though, Allen has shown an even brighter upside as an interior scorer which has been good news for a team that awaits Evan Mobley’s leap in that department. His defense and rebounding remain the most important traits that he possesses but it is always nice to be able to contribute offensively as well.

As a lob threat for guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, Allen has proven to be the most effective as well as an offensive rebounder. He has shot over 64.0% in each of his last two seasons for Cleveland and averaging between 14.0 and 16.0 points per game has been a huge boost to their offense. I expect Allen to be on the cusp of another All-Star appearance next season as they head into their second year with coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Mitchell handling the ball with Garland.

6. Deandre Ayton

2022-23 Stats: 18.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG

I have heard all of the criticism of Deandre Ayton’s game over the last year-plus yet my opinion of him as a borderline top-five center has not changed. Ayton displays extremely fine touch around the rim for a center as well as an adept ability to knock down mid to medium-range jumpers when afforded the chance.

Ayton may be a little timid at times in fighting for rebounds and on the defensive front but makes up for it in other ways on the court. As a defender, he has shown the ability to be able to step out on smaller forwards and hold his own on the perimeter. As an offensive player, he has been much more aggressive in following teammates’ shots as well as his own trying to earn extra possessions for his team.

With an offense led by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal in 2023-24, Ayton could prove to be the most important member of the Suns if he is to remain with the team. Averaging an 18.0 point double-double is no easy task yet Ayton makes it seem almost effortless which shows me that with a bit more determination, he can easily be a 20/10 player. In this high-powered offense, that could be right around the corner and prove to be what is missing from Phoenix as their championship piece.

5. Rudy Gobert

2022-23 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG

I understand that most fans want to write off Rudy Gobert just one season into his new stint as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves but I am here to tell you why that is a cop-out. Did the Timberwolves give up way too much in the trade with Utah to get him? Yes. Is Rudy Gobert still a top center in the NBA despite a “down season” in Minnesota in 2022-23? Also, yes. Both things can be true at the same time.

Gobert, regardless of numbers, is still one of the better interior defenders in all of basketball not only because of his abilities as a shot-blocker but also because of his ability to read offenses and be in the right place at the right time. Although he cannot guard the pick-and-roll as elite as he once could, Gobert’s production as a stationary paint defender or even off-the-ball helping from the weak side is still among the best in the NBA.

The Timberwolves have a ton of pressure on them this season to try and unlock Go9bert’s abilities on the offensive side of the ball, especially with the attention Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards draw to themselves. Gobert is great around the rim but needs to find ways to establish a position in the post rather than waiting for plays to develop his way. Even a slight adjustment to that part of his game could result in another All-Star appearance for the French big man, and maybe a trip past the first round for the Timberwolves.

4. Domantas Sabonis

2022-23 Stats: 19.1 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

After spending five seasons with the Pacers and unlocking his all-around game with them during that time, Domantas Sabonis was traded to Sacramento in 2022 with the thought being he and De’Aaron Fox could take the Kings to the next level. In 2022-23, Sabonis’ first full season with the team, that is exactly what transpired as the duo both earned All-Star appearances and led the Kings to their first playoff berth in 17 years.

Sabonis was at the forefront of the franchise’s turnaround, leading the NBA with 12.3 rebounds per game and dishing out 7.3 assists per game on top of it. When you factor in his 19.1 points per game on 61.5% shooting, Sabonis’ offensive game made him one of the top big men in basketball fueled by the pick-and-roll offense he would run with the guards of Sacramento, specifically Fox.

Sabonis has helped the Kings and their fans find energy in their building that hasn’t been there since Chris Webber and Mike Bobby donned the purple and black in the early 2000s. There is serious buzz about this team being a championship contender in the near future and as long as Sabonis keeps up his play from 2022-23, that is a reality for their franchise.

3. Bam Adebayo

2022-23 Stats: 20.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG

For anyone who had any doubts as to where Bam Adebayo stood as a center in the NBA, the 2022-23 season put all of those to bed. We have always known, especially over the last four seasons, that Adebayo is one of the most talented defenders in the NBA. He can seriously defend all five positions on the court effectively, and if he takes aim at one specific one, they are lost for 48 minutes.

What Adebayo did in 2022-23, was add an offensive part to his game never quite seen before from him even against the toughest of competition. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points per game on 54.0% shooting during the regular season, a career-high for the sixth-year big man. This carried over to the playoffs somewhat as he had to step up numerous times when Jimmy Butler or others failed to perform and helped lead them to their second NBA Finals appearance since 2020.

Adebayo is very clearly the Heat’s second-best player behind Butler and is the only one who offers such versatile and effective defensive prowess. If Bam can continue to tap into his offensive repertoire while maintaining Defensive Player of the Year level defense on the other side, I see no reason the Heat cannot get back to the NBA Finals once again. I know I am done doubting their abilities as a team.

2. Joel Embiid

2022-23 Stats: 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG

It may seem crazy to have the reigning MVP of the NBA not ranked at number-one at their position but with centers, an exception had to be made. Joel Embiid had the best season of his career in 2022-23, leading the NBA in scoring for the second straight season with 33.1 points per game on 54.8% shooting. What was most impressive about this scoring title from Embiid was that he went back to his best offensive moves, his mid-range shot, and his back-to-the-basket game that is so dominant.

The most underrated part of Embiid’s game has become what he provides as a defender as well. For the second straight season, Embiid averaged 1.0 or more steals as well as 1.5 or more blocks per game and just missed out on All-Defensive Team honors. Embiid’s defensive effort was a welcomed sight for a Philadelphia team that desperately needs an interior force on that side of the ball.

Now, you may point to the 76ers’ meltdown in the NBA playoffs as a reason EMbiid “did not deserve” MVP, but it’s a regular-season award, deal with it. Embiid will have the 76ers in contention for a top spot in the East once again just as he always does regardless of where James Harden is. He is one of the most dominant forces in the NBA and the only center outside of the player who sits at number one who has a case for that title.

1. Nikola Jokic

2022-23 Stats: 24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Nikola Jokic was so good during the regular season and playoffs, that he ran away with the top spots for centers heading into 2023-24. As a passer, playmaker, and scorer at the center position, there was simply no player better or more conducive to his team’s success than Nikola Jokic. While his regular season was great and fell just shy of averaging a triple-double, his playoffs were even better as he led the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history.

In the NBA playoffs, Jokic was unstoppable with 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game as the Nuggets went 16-4 on their championship run. Jokic picked apart defenses almost effortlessly, finding teammates for easy baskets while also creating them for himself regularly. It was almost comical watching defenses confused and bewildered at his skill and although he doesn’t look the part, quickly gained the national attention he rightfully deserved.

As long as Nikola Jokic is healthy and on the court, the Denver Nuggets should be considered the favorites to repeat as NBA champions. It has been proven that no matter what defense is sent his way, Jokic will always find a way to exploit it and lead his team to victory. As the greatest second-round draft pick in NBA history, Jokic has already exceeded expectations for his NBA career by a mile. At just 28 years old though, he is not nearly done adding more hardware to his trophy case. 

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