NBA 2K23 will release on September 9th, and there’s no doubt that it is the most anticipated video game among basketball fans. Many are excited for a new year of playing virtual basketball with their friends, and for good reason.
A yearly occurrence heading into an NBA 2K release is the reveal of player ratings for the new game. In this article, we will predict the NBA 2K23 ratings for the 10 best centers in the league.
10. Jonas Valanciunas – 84
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 17.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Jonas Valanciunas may be one of the most underrated players in the league. He is an elite post scorer and offensive rebounder, and his scoring was crucial for the New Orleans Pelicans throughout stretches last season. He also has some ability to stretch the floor, shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc. Although he struggles with defense and rim protection, there’s no doubt that Jonas Valanciunas is an overall positive player.
At the end of NBA 2K23, Jonas Valanciunas had an 83 overall rating. We give him a small rating boost in this scenario, upping his rating to 84. Part of that is due to his solid series against the Phoenix Suns, where Jonas Valanciunas proved that he can still thrive in a smaller offensive role. He was also excellent on the boards, getting 14.3 RPG during that time-span, with an astounding 5.5 offensive rebounds a game as well.
The goal for Jonas Valanciunas next season will be to improve his 3PT shooting and provide more floor spacing next season. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram will need some of their teammates to step up and be consistent 3PT threats besides CJ McCollum, and Jonas Valanciunas improving on that end will thus be key to the Pelicans’ success.
9. Clint Capela – 85
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 11.1 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Clint Capela clearly isn’t a star-level player, but as far as role players go, he is one of the best centers a team can have. He rolls to the rim, rebounds at a high level, and protects the rim. Players who can star in their role are extremely valuable to any team, and Clint Capela is certainly one of them.Â
In this set of predictions, Clint Capela gets an 85 rating. That is a solid rating for a top-10 center that isn’t quite a star. His defense is where Clint Capela will likely truly excel in 2K23, though he will be a serviceable player overall as well.
It will be interesting to see how the Atlanta Hawks utilize Clint Capela next season. While he does have a limited offensive game, that is not as big of a problem on the Hawks due to the presence of Dejounte Murray and Trae Young, both of whom can get him easy buckets at the rim. There is a chance that we see Clint Capela have a career year with the Hawks next season.
8. Kristaps Porzingis – 86
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 20.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.6 BPG
Kristaps Porzingis was once viewed as a future superstar during his time with the New York Knicks, but injuries have slowed his progress towards that goal. However, Porzingis is still an All-Star caliber player who is well known as a rim-protecting big man that can shoot at a high clip from beyond the arc. He shot 36.7% from beyond the arc on 4.6 attempts during his time with the Washington Wizards last season.Â
In our predictions, Kristaps Porzingis’ rating remains unchanged from 86, the final rating that he had in the previous installment of the game. He had an inconsistent year, but if he continues to play at the level that he did since getting to the Washington Wizards, then his rating will likely increase accordingly.
The two key things for Kristaps Porzingis next season will be to be consistent and available. He has had struggles with injuries in the past, but if he can stay healthy, then there is a chance that the Washington Wizards end up making the playoffs. Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal are a solid one-two punch, and we’ll see how they fare next year.
7. Deandre Ayton – 86
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 17.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Deandre Ayton has officially been signed to a max-level contract by the Phoenix Suns this summer. While he isn’t quite a top-tier center yet, he is certainly getting there. Ayton is already an elite defender who thrives when scoring near the basket. With more touches, he could potentially develop into that dominant big man that the Suns were hoping for when they drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick.
As of the end of NBA 2K22, Deandre Ayton was an 86 overall player, and that doesn’t change in our predictions. He was elite against the New Orleans Pelicans but faltered against the Dallas Mavericks in the second round. Thus, it is hard to elevate or reduce his rating on the basis of the playoffs ahead of next year.
The goal for Deandre Ayton next season will be to be more aggressive offensively. The Phoenix Suns need him to step up on that end of the floor as Chris Paul is aging, and won’t be elite forever. Hopefully, we see the Phoenix Suns move towards more of a Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker-dominated offense in the future.
6. Bam Adebayo – 87
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 19.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Bam Adebayo is an elite complementary star who thrives in a secondary role behind a top-tier offensive player. Adebayo is a defender that can guard all five positions, while also being an elite playmaker and transition scorer for the Miami Heat. While he is a bit undersized as a center and isn’t the best rim protector, Bam Adebayo is still a valuable player overall due to his contributions on both ends of the floor.Â
It is quite obvious that Bam Adebayo is an All-Star level big man that has shown he can be the second-best player on an Eastern Conference Finals team. He gets a small rating boost in our predictions from the 86 that he finished with at the end of NBA 2K22 due to his defense, as he consistently took on difficult assignments and excelled at guarding them during the playoffs.
The obvious objective for Bam Adebayo for next season will be to improve offensively. The Miami Heat struggled offensively outside of Jimmy Butler during the playoffs, and they’ll need a consistent No. 2 option who can produce against even the toughest defenses. If Bam Adebayo makes improvements offensively, then there’s no reason for him to not be considered a top-5 center in the NBA.
5. Jarrett Allen – 87
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 16.1 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Jarrett Allen was a first-time All-Star last season, and his rim protection and interior finishing were key to the Cleveland Cavaliers having a much-improved record this year. They were 22-50 during the 2020-21 season and improved to 44-38 during the 2021-22 season. Obviously, there were other factors in play, but Jarrett Allen was clearly one of the catalysts that made it happen.
Jarrett Allen gets an 87 rating here, with a small rating boost from his final NBA 2K22 rating of 86. The small rating boost is due to him clearly being an impactful player and providing an effect on his team that goes beyond the box score. The Cleveland Cavaliers had a 9-17 record without Jarrett Allen, and it’s clear that they are simply not the same team without him.
The two primary targets for Jarrett Allen next season will be to make another All-Star game and help the Cleveland Cavaliers get to the playoffs. He is only 24 currently, and he still has the ability to improve even further. He is already an elite complementary player who can play off of an elite playmaker like Darius Garland, but if he continues to improve, then the Cleveland Cavaliers will be contenders in the Eastern Conference sooner rather than later.
4. Rudy Gobert – 88
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 15.6 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.1 BPG
Rudy Gobert is generally considered to be the best rim protector in the league, and he has won multiple DPOY awards as the anchor of the Utah Jazz defense. Gobert also is efficient offensively, shooting 71.3% from the field during the 2021-22 season. He was moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the offseason, and Rudy Gobert is viewed as a player that can be the sort of difference-maker to elevate the team to championship contention.
Rudy Gobert finished NBA 2K22 with a rating of 88, and there’s no real reason to modify that rating going into 2K23. He is still a top-20 player in the league due to his transcendent defense and can be an elite rim-running big man on offense. Gobert is without a doubt a valuable player, and it’s fair to say that he’s a top 5 center in the league by any metric.
During his career, Rudy Gobert has not been past the second round. Now that he’s on a stacked Minnesota Timberwolves, that could potentially change. The key for Rudy Gobert next year will be for him to prove that he can be as impactful in the playoffs as he is during the regular season, and now that he has the supporting cast, he could absolutely do so.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns – 89
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 24.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Karl-Anthony Towns is widely considered the best shooting big man in the game today. Once, he even claimed that he was the best shooting big man of all time, which was viewed as a hot take by many fans. However, he is definitely a sniper from beyond the arc: this season, Karl-Anthony Towns shot 41.0% from beyond the arc on 4.9 attempts a game.
In our predictions, Karl-Anthony Towns ends up with a rating of 89, which makes him the 3rd best center in the league. That is around where he is ranked in real life right now as well. While he might end up playing the PF position next season due to the Timberwolves moving for Rudy Gobert, his primary position in the game will still likely be the center position.
What holds Karl-Anthony Towns from being considered a true superstar is his lack of team success during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is clearly a talented and versatile offensive player on an individual level, but at some point, talent has to translate into wins and team success. The Timberwolves’ win-now move for Rudy Gobert means that the clock to get a championship is ticking, and we’ll see if Towns is able to bring the trophy to Minnesota with Anthony Edwards.
2. Joel Embiid – 96
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 30.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Joel Embiid is a throwback big man who dominates down low while also having elements of modern basketball in his game. He is a true three-level scorer, and we rarely see Embiid have trouble with any defender. On top of his offensive prowess, Joel Embiid is also a top-tier rim protector and defender, often deterring opponents from driving to the rim using his athleticism.Â
Due to him being elite on both ends of the floor, Joel Embiid gets a 96 in our 2K23 predictions. It is clear that Joel Embiid has a solid all-around game, which is why he was in MVP talks last season. This rating seems fair for a player who has little to no flaws in his overall skill set.
The Philadelphia 76ers have not been able to make it past the second round during Joel Embiid’s tenure. The objective for the whole team and obviously Joel Embiid will be to change that. The Philadelphia 76ers have a solid squad, and ultimately, it will be up to Joel Embiid to lead the team on a deep playoff run, and maybe we’ll even see him make the Finals.
1. Nikola Jokic – 96
2021-22 Regular Season Stats: 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Nikola Jokic won the 2021-22 MVP award, and there’s no doubt that many consider him the best center, and perhaps even the best offensive player in the game. His offensive numbers are absolutely jaw-dropping, and he is clearly the best passing big man of all time. While his defense isn’t necessarily that great due to his defensive limitations, Jokic noticeably was better on defense this past season as well.
Generally, Nikola Jokic is viewed as a top-5 player in the league, and his 96 overall rating in our predictions reflects that. That will land him in the top-5 players in the NBA 2K23, and his rating remains unchanged from NBA 2K22.Â
The goal for Nikola Jokic next season will be to help the Denver Nuggets make a deep playoff run. He will have Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back, and there’s no doubt that the Nuggets have enough talent to potentially make the Finals. Nikola Jokic has won a lot of individual awards in his career already, but winning a championship would definitely improve his legacy.Â
