Which team has the best starting center, and which one has the worst? The Sporting News is ranking every team's starter at each position for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Who says the center position is dead?
The last four MVP awards were awarded to the top two names on this list. There may be fewer post-ups in the league, but being huge still has its advantages. The talent among centers is deep.
Here are all 30 projected starters at center for the 2024-25 season, ranked 1 to 30.
POSITIONAL RANKINGS: PG | SG | SF | PF
NBA center rankings 2024-25
1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Jokic is coming off a well-deserved third MVP award in four years and a bronze medal for Serbia in the Olympics. He's still the best player in the world until proven otherwise.
Nobody can control the game like Jokic does. He's one of the best one-on-one scorers in the league and the best passing big man of all time. He's also a better defender than he appears thanks to his quick hands, good awareness and penchant for kicking passes to force offenses to reset.
MORE: Nikola Jokic could lead the NBA in scoring if he wanted
2. Joel Embiid, 76ers
Embiid's last season was even better than his MVP campaign two years ago, but he missed out on awards season due to injuries that limited him to only 39 games. His 34.7 points per game would have won him his third scoring title had he played enough games to qualify. He also pulled down 11.0 rebounds and dished out a career-high 5.6 assists per game.
Embiid is always going to fill up the box score due to his size and skill. He's a great rim protector and scorer who should be in the MVP discussion again this season.
3. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Wembanyama finished runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year as a 20-year-old rookie. His second season should be the one where he takes down the award. Nobody is better at intimidating opponents from trying layups. That's for good reason — he led the league with 3.6 blocks per game. His 1.2 steals per game came on some mind-bending acrobatic feats, often reaching from nowhere to take the ball away.
Wembanyama isn't quite as impactful yet offensively. He did average 21.4 points per game, but he needs to improve his 32.5 percent shooting from 3 and get more efficient in the post. Newcomer Chris Paul should help him dramatically there, setting him up for much easier baskets than San Antonio's below-average guards last season.
4. Anthony Davis, Lakers
Davis is one of the most feared defenders in the game when he's healthy. He's versatile enough to guard out on the perimeter, and his size and athleticism helped him finish fourth in the league with 2.3 blocks per game last season. He's a great lob catcher, finisher inside and rebounder.
While his jumper hasn't been nearly as good in recent seasons, Davis did flash some improved shooting range at the Olympics.
MORE: JJ Redick's vision for LeBron, other Lakers is genius
5. Bam Adebayo, Heat
Adebayo has earned five All-Defensive nominations, including a First Team selection last year. He's one of the most skilled defensive big men in the game. He can play in any scheme, including anchoring the Heat's devastating zone defense.
Adebayo is a good play-finisher and has tried to stretch out to 3 a little bit. He's one of the better passing big men in the league, particularly out of the short roll going downhill.
6. Domantas Sabonis, Kings
Sabonis is the double-double king. He set the record for consecutive double-doubles in the modern era last season by averaging a stellar 19.4 points and 13.7 rebounds to go along with 8.2 assists per game. He's one of the best passers from the elbows and a killer dribble handoff threat because of the solid screens that he sets for teammates.
Sabonis is not a great defender or rim protector, but he does a ton on offense and is a good defensive rebounder.
7. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
Towns is the self-proclaimed best shooting big man in the game. He may have a point. His 41.6 percent on 3s last season came on difficult looks, and not many 7-footers come close to that kind of accuracy.
Towns is more than just a shooter, though. He's good in the post and a solid (albeit overly ambitious) passer. Defensive awareness has always been an issue for him, but he has plus wings to help him in New York. His performance in the Western Conference Finals left a sour note on an otherwise solid 2023-24 season.
MORE: How Knicks, Timberwolves, Hornets fared in blockbuster Towns trade
8. Alperen Sengun, Rockets
Sengun is one of the flashier passers in the league. He averaged a career-high 5.0 assists in his third season, and that number should go up with more experience and better teammates this season. He creates open looks for teammates because of how clever he is in the post.
Sengun is one of the few old-school centers who can create real advantages down low, which helped him average 21.1 points per game last season and finish third in Most Improved Player voting. His lack of footspeed does limit him, as does his poor outside shooting.
9. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves
Gobert is the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year and led the Wolves to a No. 1-ranked defense thanks to his 2.1 blocks per game.
Gobert's rim protection is undeniable. He is a much more limited player offensively due to poor post moves, bad hands, a lack of passing skill and a limited jumper. He makes up for some of that with his rebounding and by being a lob threat.
Gobert's flaws make him a polarizing player.
10. Draymond Green, Warriors
Green's availability has been a major issue due to suspensions and injuries. He's still a brilliant defender and a good passer when he's not getting thrown out of games.
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11. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers
12. Myles Turner, Pacers
13. Brook Lopez, Bucks
14. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
15. Ivica Zubac, Clippers
- Allen is one of the best leapers in the game. His 170 dunks last season ranked seventh in the league. He dramatically improved his passing, averaging a career-high 2.7 assists in 2023-24 and having more of the offense run through him. He's a good defender who can wall off the paint, along with a great rebounder.
- Turner is a stretch big who hit 35.8 percent of his 3s for the Pacers last season. He's great in the short roll due to his superb shooting on midrange shots. He's a good shot blocker, but his overall defense has taken a hit from previous years where he was elite.
- Lopez is entering his age 36 season. Back injuries have been an issue for him, but he's held up well in recent years. He's still a great shot-blocker and 3-point shooter.
- Hartenstein proved that he is a starter-level player in the league. He has a surprisingly effective flip shot, is a good passer and plays mistake-free on both ends of the floor.
- Zubac has become a more effective offensive player due to his chemistry with James Harden in pick-and-rolls. He's a big body that can rebound well and finish at the rim.
16. Al Horford, Celtics
17. Wendell Carter Jr., Magic
18. Jakob Poeltl, Raptors
19. Deandre Ayton, Blazers
20. Nic Claxton, Nets
- Horford is entering his age 38 season. He's still effective and has become a reliable 3-point shooter. He will play a lot due to Kristaps Porzingis' injury to start the year.
- Carter doesn't take anything off the table. He's a good scorer, can shoot and pass a bit, and plays smart defense. But he's not elite at any one skill.
- Poeltl is a solid screen-setter and roller who uses an effective push shot instead of any sort of jump shot. His free throw shooting limits his effectiveness, but he's a good athlete who plays great defense, passes well and can finish near the basket.
- Ayton saw a slight dip in his scoring, down to 16.7 points per game with the Blazers last season. He played better to close the year, averaging 23.2 points and 12.4 rebounds over the team's last 15 games.
- Claxton is one of the most versatile big defenders in the league. He's good at moving his feet on the perimeter and is a quality shot-blocker. He's a good lob threat but has a limited jumper.
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21. Clint Capela, Hawks
22. Dereck Lively II, Mavericks
23. Jusuf Nurkic, Suns
24. Jonas Valanciunas, Wizards
25. Nikola Vucevic, Bulls
- Capela averaged a double-double last season, pulling in 11.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He's still one of the best offensive rebounders in the game and a good rim protector, but injuries have slowed him down and he's not finishing as well at the basket as he once was.
- Lively should earn the starting role over Daniel Gafford this season. Lively is a good shot blocker and finisher at the rim who has shown some passing chops in short roll situations. He flashed some 3-point shooting in the NBA Finals, but he attempted only two during the regular season.
- Nurkic is a do-your-job center. He sets good screens and rebounds for the Suns' more talented scorers. He's been an iffy finisher in recent seasons, but he's a big body who can pass well and patrol the paint.
- Valanciunas has one of the best pump fakes in the game. He's an improved 3-point shooter and a huge body that can get a ton of offensive rebounds. His poor foot speed does make him a bit of a defensive liability.
- Vucevic still packs box scores, but he's one of the worst rim protectors in the league and he struggles to guard out on the perimeter. His 3-point shooting has completely abandoned him. But he does have high skill in the post and is a good defensive rebounder.
26. John Collins, Jazz
27. Jalen Duren, Pistons
28. Mark Williams, Hornets
29. Zach Edey, Grizzlies
30. Daniel Theis, Pelicans
- Collins looks fully recovered from a hand injury that hurt his shooting two seasons ago. He was back up to 37.1 percent from 3. He's a good rebounder and scorer but his production hasn't really led to winning anywhere.
- Duren looked like he was taking a leap at the start of the season, but a nasty ankle injury derailed his year. He still averaged 13.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, dominating on the offensive glass.
- Williams took the starting job away from Nick Richards at the end of last season due to his stellar defense and rim running. He's a limited center but good in his role.
- Edey enters the NBA as one of the league's most massive players. He's primarily a post-up threat and can't move his feet well, but he's a great scorer from down low. It will be interesting to see how his game translates.
- Theis is a veteran who won't make a lot of mistakes, but he's not dynamic enough to be a starting-caliber center. The Pelicans have hinted that they may start wing Herb Jones at center, but Theis is the best traditional 5 on their roster.
