With the era of three-point shooting in full swing, many pundits around the NBA predicted that big men will no longer be relied on unlike in the past. It’s safe to say that they are proven wrong as the last three MVP award winners were all centers.
It’s refreshing to see that even with today’s faster pace, big men still hold their ground and evolve their games to keep up with the ever-changing basketball landscape.
In today’s list, we will rank all NBA starting centers from 2023-2024 from worst to first.
30. Dereck Lively II – Dallas Mavericks
Lively is an unproven rookie but has the potential to be a Tyson Chandler 2.0 for Dallas in the future. According to early reports, it certainly looks like he’s getting the starting nod for Jason Kidd next season.
29. Daniel Gafford – Washington Wizards
Now that the Wizards are rebuilding, Gafford should be getting more minutes at the center spot. He needs to crash the boards more as he only averaged 5.6 RPG last season – a low number for a big man.
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28. Mark Williams – Charlotte Hornets
Williams had a good rookie season with the Hornets last year. Now with LaMelo Ball back, expect Williams to thrive in the middle, finishing lobs and getting easy baskets around the rim.
27. Mitchell Robinson – New York Knicks
Robinson is a serviceable big man with elite shot-blocking skills. The only knock on Robinson is his nonexistent jump shot and abysmal percentage at the foul line.
26. James Wiseman – Detroit Pistons
Wiseman is still 22 years old and has a lot of time to improve his game. He needs more time on the floor to develop and he’ll get that chance with the Pistons.
25. Kevon Looney – Golden State Warriors
Looney has remained an integral part of the Warriors’ dynasty since 2015. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to thrive. Looney knows what his role is within the team and he’s embraced it since day one.
24. Steven Adams – Memphis Grizzlies
Adams’ play has regressed in the last few years but he is still an effective screener and rebounder due to his strength and size. In addition, he’s a great mentor to all the young guys in the team.
23. Ivica Zubac – Los Angeles Clippers
Zubac has been pretty consistent for the Clippers within the last five seasons. He’s a nightly double-double threat and a decent defender in the league. He has a wide body that he uses well for screens in pick-and-roll action.
22. Jeremy Sochan – San Antonio Spurs
With Coach Pop telling everybody that he’ll play the 7’3″ Wembanyama at the four, Sochan will inevitably be San Antonio’s center next season. Although undersized, he displayed great potential as a rookie and will definitely be part of the team’s core moving forward.
21. Clint Capela – Atlanta Hawks
There was a time when Capela was considered a top-10 center in the league. His game regressed a bit with Atlanta but he’s still averaging a double-double for the last six seasons.
20. Chet Holmgrem – Oklahoma City Thunder
Holmgrem will finally have his long-awaited debut this season. He has the handles of a guard equipped with the ability to block shots as a big man. He has the potential to be a star in the league for years to come.
19. Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz
Kessler has been a revelation for the Jazz. He averaged an insane 2.3 BPG in his rookie year and is considered a vital cog in Utah’s future plans. He also had a great summer, playing for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.
18. Al Horford – Boston Celtics
Horford is no longer the savvy big man he once was, but he still remains effective at games due to his hustle and basketball IQ. He’s a respected veteran for the young Celtics and his value extends beyond the court.
17. Jusuf Nurkic – Phoenix Suns
Nurkic will not be tasked to score with Phoenix this season. But unlike Ayton, Nurkic is a good team defender and uses his body well to defend much more talented centers around the league. He also sets exceptional screens to give his teammates open looks on the perimeter.
16. Wendell Carter Jr. – Orlando Magic
Carter took a back seat due to Paolo Banchero’s rise as a rookie, but he remains a solid big man for the young Magic. He plays somewhat similar to Al Horford but with a much more developed three-point shot.
15. Nic Claxton – Brooklyn Nets
Claxton’s meteoric rise had fans drooling over his potential in the league. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective but thrives in his role in Brooklyn. He’s also one of the league’s best shot blockers, averaging 2.5 BPG last season.
14. Jonas Valanciunas – New Orleans Pelicans
The Lithuanian big man has been one of the most consistent big men in the league within the last decade. He can score and rebound efficiently on a nightly basis. Valanciunas is a player that you can rely on to perform well no matter what the circumstances are.
13. Jakob Poeltl – Toronto Raptors
Poeltl’s numbers may not pop out but his contributions on the floor have been very valuable for Toronto. He’s an exceptional team defender as he could rack up steals and blocks on any given night.
12. Nikola Vucevic – Chicago Bulls
Vucevic a reliable scorer from anywhere on the court and a great rebounder too. Still in his prime, expect Vucevic to sustain his production for three to four more years.
11. Brook Lopez – Milwaukee Bucks
Lopez went from being the main man in Brooklyn to becoming a solid role player for Milwaukee in recent years. He added a lethal three-point shot to his arsenal and continues to block shots at an outstanding rate today.
10. Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers
While Allen never made consecutive all-star appearances, his productivity remains the same on the floor. He’s an indispensable part of Cleveland’s core due to his size, strength and athleticism.
9. Deandre Ayton – Portland Trail Blazers
Ayton is one of the best big men in the league when engaged. He’s averaged a double-double since his rookie season. Now with the rebuilding Blazers, expect him to command the ball more and bump his numbers this season.
8. Myles Turner – Indiana Pacers
Turner’s game took a huge leap last season, averaging 18 PPG and becoming a consistent scoring threat for the Pacers. He can score anywhere on the floor and is also very good at protecting the paint.
7. Rudy Gobert – Minnesota Timberwolves
Gobert is perhaps one of the best defensive big men in league history. He’s won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and was named to nine NBA All-Defensive Teams throughout his career. He’s still finding his place with Minnesota where he and Karl-Anthony Towns currently share frontcourt duties.
6. Alperen Sengun – Houston Rockets
This may be a bit too high for Sengun, but at just 21, his game style is already compared to none other than former two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic. Sengun’s footwork and passing are exceptional for his age and he’s already looking like a young stud last season.
5. Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
Adebayo’s game is crucial to Miami’s success. During their recent finals run, he was the Heat’s second-best player alongside superstar Jimmy Butler. He still has plenty of room to improve now that he’s just entering his prime years.
4. Domantas Sabonis – Sacramento Kings
Sabonis’ fit with Sacramento has been seamless as he helped the Kings end their playoff drought last season. He’s a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. His pick-and-roll action with DeAaron Fox is one of the best in the league today.
3. Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers
Davis is arguably the best player for the Lakers in recent years. When healthy, he’s probably a top-five player in the league but the reality is that he hasn’t played more than 60 games within the past three seasons. His health will determine how far the Lakers will go as a team in the playoffs.
2. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
It’s hard to put Embiid at the number two spot as he’s deserving of being the first, but the reality is, in terms of leadership and pedigree, he’s right where he belongs. He was named the league MVP last season and also won the scoring award in the process. He’s one of the best players in the world today.
1. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets
Jokic deserves the number one spot on this list due to the fact that he just led the Nuggets to their first championship last season. He was the best player in last season’s playoffs, racking up triple-doubles with ease. He would’ve won an unprecedented third straight MVP if it wasn’t for voter fatigue and a late-season slump by Denver.
