The center position has undergone quite the transformation lately.
It wasn’t in the best of shape a few seasons ago, but the emergence of Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid has breathed new life into the position, as has the addition of a number of talented bigs in recent drafts, headlined by Bam Adebayo and Deandre Ayton. There’s also a lot of untapped potential when it comes to the likes of Christian Wood, Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams III.
RANKING ALL 30 STARTERS: PG | SG | SF | PF
While there are no surprises at the top of The Sporting News’ center rankings entering the 2021-22 season, the list gets quite interesting after No. 2. Adebayo, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert each have a case for the No. 3 spot, and there are a number of players in the mix to land in the top 10.
A quick note: Montrezl Harrell, Al Horford and Nerlens Noel aren’t included because we’re ranking all 30 starters, and they aren’t projected to start at center for their respective teams.
Got it? Great. Now, onto the rankings…
NBA center rankings 2021-22
1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
In leading the Nuggets to the third-best record in the Western Conference with averages of 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists on .556/.388/.868 shooting splits last season, Jokic ran away with the MVP award by earning 91 of a possible 101 first-place votes. He improved in just about every way imaginable from previous seasons, even on the defensive end.
Jokic’s improvements as a shooter from both midrange and 3-point range make him a nightmare matchup for opposing centers. His size and skill, meanwhile, give him the ability to pick apart any mismatch in the post. And, of course, not only is Jokic arguably the best passing big man the NBA has ever seen, but he’s also arguably the best passer in the league right now. Doubling him is usually a losing game.
The icing on the cake: Jokic has been nothing short of incredible in his three postseason runs to date, leading the Nuggets to the second round twice and the Western Conference finals once. With his resume, he’s more than worthy of the No. 1 spot.
2. Joel Embiid, 76ers
Embiid might have won MVP last season had injuries not limited him to 51 games for the second season in a row. In addition to averaging a career-high 28.5 points, he grabbed 10.6 rebounds, dished out 2.8 assists and recorded 1.4 blocks per game.
On the strength of Embiid’s two-way play, the 76ers finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Of course, things went south for the 76ers in the playoffs, but he still did his thing despite dealing with a small meniscus tear in his right knee.
Like Jokic, Embiid improved quite a bit last season. He continues to grow as a passer, and his development into one of the league’s best midrange shooters has taken his post game to another level. Factor in his defense, and there isn’t that much of a gap between him and Jokic for the crown of best center in the NBA.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves
It’s easy to forget that Towns received the most votes among general managers for which player they’d most want to build around back in 2017.
He hasn’t quite lived up to those incredibly high expectations, but Towns earned back-to-back All-Star selections in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and he probably would’ve earned two more All-Star selections had he appeared in more than 85 games over the last two seasons. He’s an effortless scorer, knockdown shooter, capable passer and big-time rebounder.
The knock on Towns to this point of his career has been his defense, but there’s no denying his talent offensively. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that he’s the most skilled scoring big man we’ve seen in a long time — maybe ever.
4. Rudy Gobert, Jazz
Gobert is already one of the most decorated defenders in NBA history with three Defensive Player of the Year awards and five All-Defensive First Team selections to his name. The only players with more Defensive Player of the Year awards are Dikembe Mutombo (4) and Ben Wallace (4). The only big men with more All-Defensive First Team selections are Dennis Rodman (7), Bobby Jones (8), Tim Duncan (8) and Kevin Garnett (9).
Gobert isn’t known for his offense, but he’s a relentless screener as well as an effective roller and cutter. He also gobbles up offensive rebounds. His limitations have become more of a factor in the playoffs, but his defensive prowess alone makes him one of the league’s best centers.
5. Bam Adebayo, Heat
It hasn’t taken Adebayo long to establish himself as one of the best defenders in the league, earning back-to-back All-Defensive Second Team selections. He’s also emerged as one of the best passers at his position. His 5.3 assists per game over the last two seasons rank behind only Jokic (7.7) for most among centers. He still has room to grow as a shooter, but Adebayo made encouraging strides from midrange last season.
Still only 24, it’s scary to think that Adebayo’s best years are still way ahead of him.
6. Nikola Vucevic, Bulls
Vucevic is coming off the best season of his career, earning his second All-Star selection with averages of 23.4 points, 11.7 assists and 3.8 assists per game. He’s one of the league’s best shooters at the center position as well as one of the best back-to-the-basket scorers.
Playing for a Bulls team that is dead set on making the playoffs, Vucevic could have a lot more eyeballs on him this season.
7. Deandre Ayton, Suns
Ayton hasn’t reached the same heights as Trae Young and Luka Doncic since being drafted No. 1 in the 2018 NBA Draft, but he put his potential on full display in Phoenix’s run to the NBA Finals last season. He remade himself on the biggest stage, filling in the gaps with his rim-running and cutting while anchoring what turned out to be the third-best defense in the postseason.
Ayton could have a chip on his shoulder this season if he and the Suns can’t come to an agreement on a contract extension.
8. Clint Capela, Hawks
Capela continues to get better. He’s been a dynamic lob threat for a while now, but he led the league in rebounds for the first time in his career in 2020-21 and worked his way onto some Defensive Player of the Year ballots.
His play in the regular season and playoffs helped him earn a two-year extension this offseason, keeping Atlanta’s core under contract for the foreseeable future.
9. Myles Turner, Pacers
Turner has already led the league in blocks twice, peaking in 2020-21 with an average of 3.4 blocks per game. Had he not been limited to 47 games, he probably would’ve earned more All-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Year love.
He’s turned into more of a four on offense to better complement Domantas Sabonis. The fit can be clunky at times, but Turner has shown signs of being a capable 3-point shooter.
10. Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers
Availability has been a problem for Nurkic over the last couple of seasons, as he played in only eight games in 2019-20 and 37 games in 2020-21. Still, he’s a walking double-double with some solid passing chops and defensive instincts.
The Blazers were an absolute disaster defensively last season, but the numbers pointed to them being pretty dang good when Nurkic was on the court. They were also a completely different team when he was on the court in Portland’s first-round loss to Denver.
11. Jonas Valanciunas, Pelicans
12. Christian Wood, Rockets
13. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers
14. Brook Lopez, Bucks
15. Richaun Holmes, Kings
16. Ivica Zubac, Clippers
17. Mitchell Robinson, Knicks
18. Robert Williams III, Celtics
19. Steven Adams, Grizzlies
20. Jakob Poeltl, Spurs
- Few players inflict as much pain on a nightly basis as Valanciunas does. The bruising center scored the sixth-most points in the paint and the second-most points off putbacks last season. It’s not going to be fun facing him and Zion Williamson.
- Wood might have the best chance of shooting up this list the next time we do it. He had a breakout season in 2019-20, then followed it up by averaging 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds in 41 games in 2020-21. With a core of Wood, Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., the Rockets could have something special.
- Lopez is a big reason for Milwaukee’s success over the last few seasons. His 3-point shooting provides important space for Giannis Antetokounmpo to do what he does best on offense, and he has become an elite interior defender, earning an All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2019-20.
- Robinson and Williams are in a similar boat. They’re elite shot blockers with out-of-this-world athleticism who haven’t been able to stay healthy and have a tendency to rack up fouls. If they can avoid injuries, this could be the season they break out.
- Poeltl held opponents to 50.2 percent shooting at the rim last season, making him one of the most effective rim protectors in the league.
21. Blake Griffin, Nets
22. Wendell Carter Jr., Magic
23. Isaiah Stewart, Pistons
24. Mason Plumlee, Hornets
25. Maxi Kleber, Mavericks
26. Kevon Looney, Warriors
27. Thomas Bryant, Wizards
28. Dwight Howard, Lakers
29. Khem Birch, Raptors
30. Isaiah Roby, Thunder
- Griffin’s days of being an All-Star might be over, but he proved that he still has something left in the tank with his play down the stretch of last season. He did all of the little things needed on a team built around three stars.
- The No. 16 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Stewart averaged 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in the 14 games he started as a rookie.
- Birch had the best stretch of his career when he joined the Raptors last season, bumping his averages up to 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. The Raptors can only hope that’s a sign of what’s to come.
- Watching Roby break Vucevic’s ankles last season was all I needed to see to be excited about his potential.