Who is the top 10 centers of All time?
In the past team could not win a championship without dominant centers. Similarly, the majority of the NBA MVPs were won by centers.
Since the last few decades, centers’ positions have considerably changed. But new generations of big men are trying to shift the balance of power back to centers.
10 Best Center of All time
10. Willis Reed
- Championships: 2
- Honors: 1969 MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Selection, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1964 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
Reed won 2 Finals MVPs and 2 NBA titles with the New York Knicks. Reed is a valued member of the Hall of Fame and a 7-time All-Star who is in the top ten list of the greatest centers ever.
9. Wes Unseld
- Championships: 1
- Honors: 1968 MVP, 1977 Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Selection, 1968 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
Unseld captured an NBA title and NBA Finals MVP in 1977, along with the league MVP and Rookie of the Year in 1968-1969. Clearly, Unseld is a top-10 center ever and one of the icons of “old-school center basketball.
8. Patrick Ewing
- Championships: 0
- Honors: 11x All-Star, 7x All-NBA Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1985 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
He never won a title, but made 11 All-Star teams and is a member of the Hall of Fame. Ewing is top-ten because of his consistent run with the New York Knicks, and there is no debate.
7. Moses Malone
- Championships: 1
- Honors: 3x MVP, 1982 Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
The late and great Moses Malone won everything in the league, including NBA titles and a Finals MVP. He was the epitome of an old-school dominant center, using force and skill to own the boards and paint.
6. David Robinson
- Championships: 2
- Honors: 1994 MVP, 10x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Selection, 8x All-Defensive Team Selection, 1991 Defensive Player of the Year, 1993 Scoring Champion, 1991 Blocks Champion, 1989 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
He won an MVP Award, had leadership qualities, defenses the rim well, and was a beast on defense. As one of the most iconic and respected Hall of Famers ever, Robinson barely misses the top five.
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
- Championships: 2
- Honors: 1993 MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 3x Blocks Champion, Hall Of Fame
Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon took advantage of Michael Jordan’s absence in 1994 and 1995, winning two straight titles and Finals MVPs. Hakeem had everything, winning DPOY and also an MVP Award. Hakeem is top-five and there is zero question about that.
4. Bill Russell
- Championships: 11
- Honors: 5x MVP, 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Selection, 1968 All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall Of Fame
The greatest winner of all time, Russell won 11 rings as part of a Boston Celtics dynasty. Nobody defended the rim like Russell, and he might have had the greatest defensive impact ever. As a pure leader and winner, Russell is clearly a top-five center ever.
3. Wilt Chamberlain
- Championships: 2
- Honors: 4x MVP, 1971 Finals MVP, 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection, 7x Scoring Champion, 1959 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
Wilt was larger and more athletic than everyone he played against during his time, which might have helped him achieve his greatness. But he got there anyways and is a legend of the game as the third-best center ever.
2. Shaquille O’Neal
- Championships: 4
- Honors: 1999 MVP, 3x Finals MVP, 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Scoring Champion, 1992 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
3 Finals MVPs, 4 rings, and the most dominant physical force ever. He owned the boards and intimidated teams more than any big man ever. Even as a huge human being, Shaq was very athletic and skilled and that is the reason he is number 2 on this list.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Championships: 6
- Honors: 6x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 19x All-Star, 15x All-NBA Selection, 11x All-Defensive Team Selection, 2x Scoring Champion, 4x Blocks Champion, 1969 Rookie of the Year, Hall Of Fame
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best center of all time. Kareem was a dominant player all the way into his 40’s and was a force on both ends of the floor.
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