The NBA Centers of all time: NBA Centers keep the opponent from shooting and making blocks with the skill of passing the ball. These players have to be taller in appearance and more energetic. Center players must fight, play close to the ball, and shoot-blocking.
The top 10 best NBA Centers of all time are Kareem Abdul, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlin, Shaquille Oneal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Davis Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Moses Malone, George Mikan, and Bill Walton.
The Center player keeps the opponent from shooting and makes blocks with the skill of passing the ball. These players have to be taller in appearance and more energetic. Center players must fight, play close to the ball, and shoot-blocking. Kareen Abdul is ranked first as the most significant center player playing for Los Angeles and Milwaukee Bucks. Center players have a great role to keep smaller players from coming into the lane to take shots. Before the start of any game, these players have to take jumps that occur in the center at half-court.
Kareen Abdul is ranked first as the most significant center player playing for Los Angeles and Milwaukee Bucks. Center players have a great role to keep smaller players from coming into the lane to take shots. Before the start of any game, these players have to take jumps that occur in the center at half-court.
Centers stand in the outfield and behind the second base meaning, they should position themselves at the distance of the second base. This is how crucial Center players are very competent and proficient players in history. In this list, we will deliver you some knowledge regarding the top 10 best NBA Centers of all time.
Who is the best NBA Center of all time?
The top 10 NBA Centers of All Time are 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 2. Bill Russell, 3. Wilt Chamberlain, 4. Hakeem Olajuwon, 5. Shaquille ONeal, 6. Moses Malone, 7. David Robinson, 8. Patrick Ewing, 9. Bill Walton, 10. George Mikan.
| Rankings | Top 10 best NBA Centers of All-Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 2 | Bill Russell |
| 3 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 4 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 5 | Shaquille ONeal |
| 6 | Moses Malone |
| 7 | David Robinson |
| 8 | Patrick Ewing |
| 9 | Bill Walton |
| 10 | George Mikan |
1. Kareem Abdul
Kareem Abdul is the best NBA Center of all time who played for the L.A Lakers during his era. During his era, he won five championships with the Lakers proving himself as one of the best centers ever. Also named the finest player of all time in NBA Sports, and named the goat with a two-horse race. This player won the longevity debate of all time, two Final MVP honors keeping this record for 14 years. This career wasn’t the longest but he dominated for so many years as the best NBA center of all time. He also won three of his six regular seasons, aged 75 right now, and started his playing career in 1969. Immediately after his career of playing, he joined the coaching career in 1998 as an assistant coach.
As a player, Kareem won the Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame which was inducted in 2006. He won almost everything in his career journey as a central player with 19 NBA All-Star, 10 All-NBA First Team awards with six NBA All-Defensive Second Teams.
2. Bill Russell
Bill Russell is an American professional player who played in the NBA league. He is well known as the top best NBA Center player of all time. This player started his playing career in 1956 playing in the position of center with the Boston Celtics. Bill won 11 NBA Championships with Boston, 12 NBA All-Star awards,s, and 8 All-NBA Second Team. Well, is known as the most decorated NBA Center player of all time who won every title in the history of the NBA League. He retired as an active player in 1969 starting his coaching career in 1966.
Bill won the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player as well as a head coach, he also won the FIBA Hall of Fame as a player. In 2006, he won the College Basketball Hall of Fame held. Represented the United States in the Olympic games in 1956 winning a gold medal for his national team. He had 14,522 points, 21,620 rebounds, and 4100 assists in his career journey as a center player. Unfortunately, this player died on July 31, 2022, aged 88. May his soul rest in eternal piece.
3. Wilt Chamberlin
Wilt Chamberlin is one of the top 10 NBA Centers of all time playing the position of center. He is an American professional basketball player who started his playing career in 1958. He joined Harlem Globetrotters in 1958 wearing shirt number 13. Wilt is ranked as the only player who had 100 points in one game, won 11 NBA rebounding championships, and 13 NBA All-Star Game MVPs in 1960. This center player won the Basketball Hall of fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame playing in the NBA league. He is the only player in NBA record to standard at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a single season.
When he retired he joined as a head coach in 1973 coaching San Diego Conquistadors. Wilt played 5 times which include; Harlem Globetrotters, Philadelphia Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers. Won almost all titles as the best center NBA player of all time, and also had 31419 points, 23924 rebounds, and 4643 assists in his career journey.
4. Shaquille Oneal
Shaquille Oneal is a professional American NBA former player who is now a sports analyst. He played in the NBA league playing as the center player with Orlando Magic. Shaq started his playing career in 1992 playing for a long career of 19 years period. Played 6 times that including; Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. He has an incredible career history of winning so many titles as a Center player in NBA history. Represented the United States in the Olympic games held in Atlanta in 1996 winning a gold medal for his National team.
Shaq won the FBA World Cup gold medal in Toronto in 1994 representing his National team. He also won the Basketball Hall of Fame, and College Basketball Hall of Fame inducted in 2014. Looking at his career stats, he has 28596 points, 13099 rebounds, and 2732 blocks during his career in the NBA. As a Center player, he wore shirts 32, 34, 33, and 36.
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon was nicknamed the Dream of NBA sports of his era. He was a Nigerian American former professional basketball center player of all time. Hakeem started his playing career in 1984 playing for Hoston Rockets wearing number 34. This center player is ranked 5th as the top best NBA Center of all time who won almost every title he wanted in his life. Hakeem won the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and the FIBA Hall of Fame award. Represented the United States in the Olympic games held in Atlanta winning a gold medal in 1996. He led the Rockets team to back-to-back NBA championship titles in 1994 and 1995. Hakeem also led the rebounding title in his league two times with three times blocks, he was the first non-American center player to win the NBA MVP award.
Played for two teams namely Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. Looking at his career stats, he had 26946 points, 13747 rebounds, and 3830 blocks.
6. Davis Robinson
Davis Robinson is one of the top 10 best centers in the NBA of all time who played in the NBA league as an NBA center player. He started his playing career in 1989 playing for San Antonio Spurs. Davis is a former professional basketball player who was nicknamed the Admiral. As a Center player, he won the FIBA Americas Championship title in 1992 in Portland. Davis represented the United States in Olympia Games winning two gold medals and one bronze medal for his National team. He is one of the greatest centers in both college basketball and NBA history. In the career of his playing, he had 20,790 points, 10,497 rebounds, and 2,954 blocks. Right now he is aged 57, he was in round one in the 1st overall NBA draft in 1987.
7. Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing is a professional Jamaican basketball former player and currently a head coach of Georgetown Hoyas. He started his playing career in 1985 as a center NBA player with the New York Knicks. Ranked 7th on our list of the top 10 best NBA centers of all time. Patrick was selected as a first-rounder by New York Knicks in overall NBA draft competitions. He is currently a head coach with Georgetown Hoyas to present. Played for New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, and Orlando Magic, and won several awards like 11 NBA All-Star, and 6 All NBA Second Team. Represented the United States in Olympic Games winning 2 gold medals and another gold win in the Americas Championship. Looking at the stats he achieved, he had 24815 points, 11617 rebounds, and 2894 blocks in his career journey.
8. Moses Malone
Moses Malone is an American professional and former American Basketball Association player. He was a center player and top 10 centers in NBA history and was selected in round 3 by the Utah Stars in the ABA draft. Started his playing career in 1974 playing with Utah Stars, Spirits of St Louis, Buffalo Braves Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Bullets. He also won 12 NBA All-Star, 6 NBA rebounding leaders, and 3 NBA Most Valuable Players. This center player won the Basketball Hall of fame. This career of ABA and NBA stats are 29580 points, 17834 rebounds, and 1889 blocks. After his playing career, he joined as a head coach from 2006 up to 2009.
9. George Mikan
George Mikan is an American professional NBA center player who started his playing career in 1946. He won the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, and the College Basketball of Fame was inducted in 2006. Played for Chicago American Gears and Minneapolis Lakers and ended his playing career in 1956. Won 5 BAA Championships, 4 NBA All-Star, and 6 All NBA First teams. Considered the greatest player of the first half-century. He also became the founder of the American Basketball Association serving as a commissioner of the league. This player played in both NBL and BAA leagues. After his playing career, he joined his coaching career in 1957.
10. Bill Walton
Bill Walton is a former professional American NBA player of all time playing in the NBA league. He is top 10 NBA centers of all time aged 69 years right now. Bill started his playing career in 1974 playing as a center wearing numbers 32 and 5. Played for Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego, and Boston Celtics. He won the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. During his career as a center NBA player, he won several awards including 2 NBA Champions, 2 NCAA Champions, and 2 NBA All-Star awards. In his career NBA, he had 6215 points, 4923 rebounds, and 1590 assists. Completed his playing career in 1988, and also defeated another NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 1986.
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