Top NBA centers for 2022-23: Ranking all 30 starters

We’re ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Center is up next.

A few caveats before we begin — coaches don’t release their starting fives before tipoff of games, let alone in October when they’ve barely seen how their players perform together. These starting units for all 30 teams are my best guesses, but there will inevitably be some that I get wrong.

Some of these positions may also look a little funky. But what do you do with a team like the Raptors when their small forward, power forward and center are all between 6-7 and 6-9? Stick ’em all somewhere.

More and more, teams play a positionless form of basketball. As Jalen Rose noted in his live roasting of Skip Bayless, positions are more designations for fans than anything else these days.

With that out of the way, here are the 30 best centers for the 2022-23 season.

MORE: Offseason additions and departures for all 30 teams

NBA center rankings 2022-23

1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

Choosing between the two-time reigning MVP in Jokic or Joel Embiid to occupy the top spot on this list is splitting hairs. But Jokic gets the nod here because of his string of historic offensive seasons and much-improved defense.

He’s the best big man passer of all time, unstoppable in the post and his “Sombor Shuffle” jumper is a beauty to watch. He’s breaking advanced stats, but he was also the best offensive player in the league last year by the eye test and basic box score stats.

2. Joel Embiid, 76ers

Embiid is an elite defender, impossible to guard with only one player in the post and has shot over 37 percent from 3-point range in each of the past two seasons. His pick-and-roll chemistry with James Harden was the best in the league last year.

He’s a tough player that gritted it out through an orbital fracture and torn thumb ligament in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

3. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves

Gobert is far and away the best rim protector in basketball. He’s looked bad in the postseason, but he will finally have at least a few teammates that can guard capably in Jaden McDaniels and newcomer Kyle Anderson. The Wolves should improve from what was the No. 13 defense last season, and Gobert will likely be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation again.

Gobert is much more limited on the offensive end. He doesn’t have great hands, and he can’t do much else other than catch lobs for dunks. His post-ups are a disaster to watch.

Despite those weaknesses, his defensive impact makes him one of the best bigs in the league.

4. Pascal Siakam, Raptors

After a slow start to the season, Siakam was named to an All-NBA team by year’s end thanks to his 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He’s become a good playmaker and midrange threat, tasked with creating a lot of the team’s offense.

Defensively, Siakam is a disruptive player that is great both on and off the ball.

5. Bam Adebayo, Heat

Adebayo is probably the most versatile defender in the league. He’s earned All-Defense honors in three straight years and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.

He’s also a well-rounded offensive center, although he struggled in the Heat’s series against the Celtics.

6. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers

Allen is a shot-blocking force and a huge reason why the Cavaliers surprised everyone with a 44-win season.

He’s a terrific athlete that can get up for thunderous lobs. He was a well-deserving first-time All-Star last season.

7. Domantas Sabonis, Kings

Sabonis changed teams from the Pacers to the Kings, but his role has stayed mostly the same. He’s still the hub of the offense, using his plus passing and screening to set up teammates. He’s also a solid post-up player and rebounder.

While Sabonis competes hard on defense, ultimately he’s not a difference-maker on that end of the floor. His short wingspan makes it tough for him to protect the rim, dropping him a bit down this list.

8. Deandre Ayton, Suns

Ayton is one of the better two-way centers in the league. He’s a fierce rim protector and can guard a little bit on the perimeter, too. That’s helped him become one of the best pick-and-roll defenders in the league. His communication has also gotten better as he’s gained experience. 

While he hasn’t shot a ton of 3-pointers, Ayton’s got great touch on his jumper, and he’s been one of the best midrange shooters in the league. He’s also a solid play finisher, although he could stand to be more aggressive down low.

He has looked unhappy with the Suns in the preseason — it’s still unclear how that affects his play on the court.

9. Myles Turner, Pacers

Turner is one of the best rim protectors outside of Gobert. He’s never been named to an All-Defensive team, but he’s a top-five defender at his position because of that shot-blocking ability and good mobility on the perimeter.

Turner’s bread and butter on offense is his stretch shooting. Unfortunately, he hasn’t shot it that well. If he can get a little more accurate, then that would unlock the rest of his game.

10. Kristaps Porzingis, Wizards

Porzingis’ biggest flaw has been his availability. He’s averaged only 48 games played through his seven seasons.

He’s been a great rim protector and solid 3-point threat when healthy.

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11. Robert Williams III, Celtics

12. Brook Lopez, Bucks

13. Clint Capela, Hawks

14. Wendell Carter Jr., Magic

15. Jakob Poeltl, Spurs

• Williams is one of the best athletes in the league. He covers immense ground defensively, making it extremely difficult to score anywhere near the rim. He’s also a terrific lob threat and underrated passer. Another offseason surgery on his knee is troubling, though.
• Lopez isn’t as mobile as other centers on this list. He’s trying to stay in the paint as long as possible. That’s because he’s great at altering shots when he’s in there. He’s changed from a post threat to more of a stretch big later in his career.
• Capela’s effectiveness was limited by Achilles soreness early in the season, and he later suffered a hyperextended knee. Despite a down season, he still provided good rim protection and a vertical threat for the Hawks’ offense.
• Carter finally started letting his 3-pointer fly last season. He only hit on 32.7 percent of those looks, but that new element opened up the rest of his game. He’s been a solid rebounder, passer and defender for the Magic.
• Poeltl has a unique game. He’s a great athlete and a top-tier defender. Offensively, he struggles badly from the line and can’t shoot 3-pointers, but he is a good pick-and-roll partner. He uses an ugly but effective push shot to keep defenses honest.

16. Nikola Vucevic, Bulls

17. Jonas Valanciunas, Pelicans

18. Kevon Looney, Warriors

19. Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers

20. Steven Adams, Grizzlies

• Vucevic has been a bit of a disappointment for the Bulls scoring-wise. At 31.4 percent last season, his 3-point shooting fell off a cliff. But he is still effective as a screener and passer. He’s an average team defender, but he does have flaws there with his lack of vertical explosion and mobility.
• Valanciunas has one of the best pump fakes in the league. He has become a good 3-point shooter to balance out his strong post game. While he brings definite value on offense, his lack of mobility limits his defensive effectiveness.
• Looney was an NBA Playoff hero for the Warriors, consistently providing offensive rebounding, toughness and defense. He’s a limited offensive player, but he makes tons of winning plays and screens well for their other stars.
• Nurkic is a solid all-around center. He can defend at the rim, pass and score. He is limited by his mobility a bit and his inability to shoot 3-pointers.
• Adams is one of the strongest players in the league. He is also a great teammate, smart defender and good passer, particularly on backdoor cuts. He does have limitations as a scorer, and his career 54.7 free throw percentage is rough.

21. Mitchell Robinson, Knicks

22. Ivica Zubac, Clippers

23. Nic Claxton, Nets

24. Alperen Sengun, Rockets

25. Isaiah Stewart, Pistons

• Robinson is a great lob threat and shot blocker. He is elite at the things he does well. But he’s not much of a passer, and he can’t stretch the floor at all.
• Zubac isn’t flashy and doesn’t ever shoot from 3-point range, but he is a solid starting center in the league. He’s a good defender, screener and finisher at the rim.
• Claxton is a nice rim protector with decent switchability. His struggles shooting from outside and the free throw line make him difficult to play, though, especially with Ben Simmons also on the Nets’ roster.
• Sengun is one of the most fun passers in the league. He plays with creativity and craft. He’s not the fastest guy in the league, but he finds ways to be effective.
• Stewart, affectionately known as “Beef Stew,” is a very good rebounder and defender that can switch capably out on the perimeter. He’s a limited offensive player.

26. Mason Plumlee, Hornets

27. JaVale McGee, Mavericks

28. Damian Jones, Lakers

29. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Thunder

30. Walker Kessler, Jazz

• Plumlee was a stopgap solution for the Hornets’ center problems last season. He’s a veteran that won’t get you killed, but it’s a position that they’re looking to upgrade long-term.
• The Mavericks brought in McGee to be a vertical lob threat for Luka Doncic and a shot blocker. It’s a good, limited role for him.
• Jones went from bouncing around the league to potentially starting on the Lakers. (Thomas Bryant is also in the running.) He’s a good athlete and might have some stretch shooting capability.
• For the No. 32 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Robinson-Earl has already exceeded expectations. He’s undersized at 6-9, but he competes hard on defense and positions himself very well for a young player. He’s a good athlete that can block shots. And he showed some shooting ability last season, hitting 35.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
• Taken with the 22nd pick of this year’s draft, Kessler is a bit of a project. He’s a good shot blocker, but he will probably struggle to score.