All-Time NBA Centers: The Best of the Best

The National Basketball Association is home to some of the most talented athletes in the world. These athletes come in all shapes and sizes, but some of the most dominant players have been centers. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best centers in NBA history

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most dominant players in NBA history He was a 7-foot-1 center who could score, rebound and block shots Chamberlain set numerous NBA records including most points in a game (100), most points in a season (4,032) and most rebounds in a season (1,941). He also was a two-time MVP and a four-Ime Nba champion.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell is undoubtedly one of the best NBA centers of all time. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969, winning an astonishing 11 championships in 13 seasons. A five-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star, Russell was also named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996. At 6’10”, he was relatively short for a center, but made up for it with his remarkable athleticism and defensive prowess. He was an excellent shot blocker and rebounder, and helped revolutionize defensive strategy in the NBA. Bill Russell is truly one of the greatest players in Basketball History

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the All-time leading scorer in the NBA. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 14 seasons and was a six-time NBA Champion He was also a six-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 19-time All-Star.

Shaquille O’Neal

One of the most physically imposing players in NBA history Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant force on both ends of the court for 19 seasons. The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center was a four-time NBA champion three-time Finals MVP and 15-time All-Star during his storied career.

A native of New Jersey, O’Neal played collegiate basketball at LSU before being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft He quickly established himself as one of the league’s best players, winning Rookie of the Year honors while leading the Magic to the playoffs in his first season.

O’Neal continued to improvement over the next few years, averaging 28 points and 12 rebounds per game while being named an All-Star for the first time in 1994. He reached new heights in 1995-96 when he averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game en route to his first MVP Award The following season, he helped lead the Magic to their only NBA Finals appearance, where they fell to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.

After eight seasons with the Magic, O’Neal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent prior to the start of the 1996-97 campaign. He would go on to form one of the most dominant duos in NBA history alongside Kobe Bryant leading the Lakers to three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. He was named Finals MVP all three years and also won regular season MVP honors in 2000.

O’ Neal continued his dominance after leaving Los Angeles winning another championship with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2006. He retired following two seasons with Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and was inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Hakeem Olajuwon

Arguably the most skilled center of all time, Hakeem Olajuwon was a nightmare for opposing teams on both ends of the floor. He was an incredibly fluid athlete for a man of his size, and used his quickness and agility to great effect on defense, where he was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. On offense, he had an array of post moves that confounded defenders, and his soft touch around the rim made him one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history In addition to being a two-time NBA champion and one-time Finals MVP Olajuwon is also the only player in NBA history to win the season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season.

Moses Malone

Moses Malone is often cited as one of the best centers of all time. A three-time NBA MVP and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Malone was a dominant force in the paint during his 21-year career. He was an unstoppable scorer and rebounder, averaging 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game during his Hall of Fame career. Malone was also an excellent defender, averaging 2.1 blocks per game during his time in the NBA.

David Robinson

David Robinson is widely considered one of the best NBA centers of all time. He was a 10-time NBA All-Star a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame Robinson was also a groundbreaking player, becoming the first African American player to be named NCAA Player of the Year.

During his 14 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Robinson won an NBA Championship and was named the NBA MVP in 1995. He was also a two-time defensive player of the Year and led the league in blocks three times. In 1999, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history

Robinson retired from the NBA in 2003 and is now an active philanthropist. He has focused his efforts on education, establishing The Carver Academy in San Antonio and The Admiral Foundation to support youth programs.

Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing is a Jamaican-American former professional basketball player who played most of his career with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played center and was considered one of the best players in the NBA during his heyday. He was a five-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team three times. He won an Olympic gold medal with the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Robert Parish

Robert Parish is widely considered one of the best NBA centers of all time. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame he played 21 seasons in the NBA, winning four championships with the Boston Celtics He was a nine-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection.

Parish was known for his defense, rebounding and shot-blocking. He averaged 14.5 rebounds per game during his career, which is still the sixth-highest average in NBA History He also holds the NBA record for most games played with 1,611.

If you’re looking for a center to build your all-time NBA team around, Robert Parish is a Great Choice

Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo was born in Kinshasa, Congo in 1966. He is 7’2” and played Professional Basketball for 18 seasons. He is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

During his career, Mutombo blocked more than 3,000 shots, which is an NBA record. He also led the league in blocks three times. In 1999, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history