While the position is not as important as it was a couple of decades ago, a high-impact big man in the middle can make a major difference for a team looking to compete for a playoff spot or a championship in the 2025-26 NBA season. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 NBA centers roaming the middle in the association right now.
10. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
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While he is not a starter, Naz Reid is still one of the best NBA centers right now. It is why the Wolves made sure to hold on to him with a $125 million contract despite having another player in our top 10, Rudy Gobert. Reid is a tweener like Adebayo, who is athletic and a versatile defender. Reid is a really good scorer, and his three-point game makes him a tough guard for many bigs around the game.
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9. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
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Jazz big man Walker Kessler has quietly turned into one of the better centers in the NBA. No wonder he has been the source of so much trade speculation the last two years. He led the league in blocks (2.4) and finished fourth in rebounds in 2024-25. Furthermore, his scoring has gone up each season, and he is still just scratching the surface of that element of his game heading into year four.
8. Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
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After acquiring him for the Lakers when he was just 21 years old seven years ago, Ivica Zubac has been a project for the Clippers. The years of hard work in developing him have paid off, and Zubac took a big leap forward, averaging 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds (fourth in the league) in 2024-25. LA has taken the NBA clay he was a few years ago and turned him into a borderline All-Star.
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7. Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
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The best way to describe Bulls center Nikola Vucevic is consistent. It seems like for much of his 14 years in the association, he puts up in the high teens for points per game, pulls in over ten boards, and is a rock-solid rim protector. He is far from the best center in the game, but he is the thesis of being an impact player every night at the five spot.
6. Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks
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Former Pacers center Myles Turner has never had stats that jump off the page — he’s averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds for his career. However, those in the know understand the role he plays in winning games. Especially as he developed his three-point game. The 10-year veteran played a huge role in Indiana getting to the East and then the NBA Finals the last two seasons, and it’s why the Bucks gave him a $108 million deal in the summer.
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5. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert is a throwback to the days of Dikembe Mutombo and Moses Malone. He is not out shooting threes and is average at the line. However, he has been one of the game’s best rebounders and rim protectors for a decade. There is a reason his teams almost always make the playoffs.
4. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
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In 2024-25, Rockets center Alperen Sengun proved the previous season was no fluke, and he is legitimately one of the best NBA centers right now and is still getting better. The 23-year-old earned All-Star honors for the first time last season as he averaged a 19-point and 10-rebound double-double and helped Houston emerge as one of the best teams in the West.
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3. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
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Heat star Bam Adebayo has been one of the best bigs in the game for much of his eight-year career. While he is only 6-foot-9, the three-time All-Star has played like a man much bigger as a high-level rim protector and rebounder for Miami. He is a fantastic athlete who can also handle the ball and is an underrated scoring threat.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
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Outside of Dirk Nowitzki, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is the greatest big man shooter of all time. Many thought that when he was traded to New York before the 2024-25 season he would have to make sacrifices to his game to be a good fit in Gotham. Instead, his numbers went up, and he had a career year as he averaged 12.8 boards and shot 42% from three. It is debatable if he is a true center, but in this era, he is a perfect example of what the position has evolved into.
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1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
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Nikola Jokic is not only the best center in the NBA right now, but a case can be made that he is the best player at any position on Earth. Is he a defensive ace? No. But there are a few elite players now that are. Besides his defensive deficiencies, there is little he can’t do on the offensive side of the court. He has a great inside game, but has limitless shooting range. Plus, he is one of the best passing big men of all time and is an absolute beast on the boards.
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