The 2026-27 regular season starts in a couple of months. All 30 NBA teams will soon prepare for the new campaign. It's time to look around the Western Conference as this year will surely be another jam-packed race among several teams.
Over the next few days, Thunder Wire will rank the 15 West starters among the five positions. Let's look at the 15 best starting centers in the Western Conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to be happy with Isaiah Hartenstein. He's had the best two-year stretch of his career since his arrival. So much so that they prioritized bringing him back this summer with a fresh new contract. The double-double machine has been a key starter.
Here are the rankings for each West starting center:
1. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
2025-26 stats: 25.0 PPG,
11.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 51.2% shooting, 34.9% 3-point shooting in 64 games
It didn't take long for Wembanyama to take over the league. By the end of his third season, he was squarely in the race for best player in the world and had led the Spurs to the NBA Finals. Better get used to the 22-year-old playing deep into the year. He's set up to win the 2026-27 MVP award by a pretty wide margin. The entire NBA world is just gushing over crowning him the undisputed best player. It's become a buzzword over the years, but his defense is truly generational. He completely changes the halfcourt geometry by himself. The 7-foot-4 center is easily the best rim protector in the league and has slept-walked his way to two-plus blocks a game. The offense is starting to catch up, too. At a scarily fast rate. He was a superb-efficient 25-point scorer this past season. Despite his mammoth size, he can handle the ball like a maestro. He showed he can stretch the floor and hit jumpers over defenders. And once he catches the ball anywhere near the paint, it's an easy bucket. No matter what measure you use, Wembanyama is well on his way to being the NBA's best player. It's already happened to some. And more will soon join that opinion over the next couple of years as he truly hits his prime.
2. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2025-26 stats: 27.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 10.7 APG, 56.9% shooting, 38.0% 3-point shooting in 65 games
I mean, we all know who Jokic is. He's a three-time MVP winner. The 31-year-old is one of the era-defining NBA superstars of the 2020s. He's well on his way to the Hall of Fame and has a real chance to become a top-10 great when it's all said and done. He continues to put up ridiculous video-game numbers. It was another season where he averaged a superb-efficient 28-point triple-double. Soon, he's going to snatch that crown away from Russell Westbrook. He's a one-man offense and has been the best player in the world for the last half-decade. Even with the Nuggets' recent playoff disappointments, that has had nothing to do with him. He's accomplished about everything you can think of at this point in his career. At the peak of his powers, he's one of the best scorers, playmakers and rebounders in the league. The advanced metrics and NBA nerds absolutely love him. It should be another year where he's in the MVP conversation.
3. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves
2025-26 stats: 10.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 68.2% shooting, 0.0% 3-point shooting in 47 games
Underappreciated because he plays in the golden age of big men, Gobert has quietly put together a Hall-of-Fame career. He's one of the best defenders in league history. Point blank. A four-time Defensive Player of the Year and perennial All-Defense member shows that. Not a whole lot of people can say they have the same resume. One of the greatest rim protectors ever completely changed the geometry of that side of the ball. Opposing teams give second thoughts before attacking him in the paint. There's a reason why he's constantly helped his team be a contender. Even with his lackadaisical offensive game. Don't expect much creativity on that side of the ball. He's purely a play-finisher who's a plus-rebounder. Despite the pedestrian box-score stats and constant ridicule, he always grades out as an advanced-analytic darling who gets misjudged on a grand stage. He's one of the best of his era.
4. Alperen Sengun, Rockets
2025-26 stats: 20.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 51.9% shooting, 30.5% 3-point shooting in 72 games
The top three are all-timers. Now, let's move on to the rest. Sengun remains one of the more polarizing franchise pillars. On the one hand, the career accolades speak for themselves. He's a two-time All-Star and has constantly been a double-double machine. The Rockets have built their entire system around his strengths. On the other hand, the lack of postseason success is becoming noticeable. He's yet to win a playoff series in Houston. All while being either the best or second-best player in all of their respective runs. As awesome an offensive hub as he is, there appear to be limitations. It's almost a fundamentally flawed plan to build your franchise around a center who can't shoot and is a negative on defense. It's a tough predicament to be stuck in as better alternatives aren't clearly there.
5. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
2025-26 stats: 9.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 62.2% shooting, 0.0% 3-point shooting in 47 games
Since he joined the Thunder, Hartenstein has enjoyed his best years. Both from an individual and team standpoint. He's turned into a double-double machine whose importance to OKC's success has skyrocketed. To the point that he turned into a must-keep this summer. The 28-year-old helped them win an NBA championship as a full-time starter. He's also single-handedly saved their rebounding and size woes. On top of that, he's sprinkled in some secondary playmaking. When the Thunder added him, he was viewed as the biggest free-agent signing in franchise history. He's more than lived up to that moniker as a grand-slam addition.
6. Domantas Sabonis, Kings
2025-26 stats: 15.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 54.3% shooting, 18.5% 3-point shooting in 19 games
Wasting away on the Kings, Sabonis has faded into irrelevance. Little of that is of his own doing, though. He remains a double-double machine. Sacramento has built its offense around his post-playmaking talent. You can give him the ball down low and expect him to either bully his way to a layup or show off his passing skills. That said, you're seeing the limitations of a non-shooting big being your franchise player. Sure, it's possible. But it requires a lot of maintenance to truly make it work. He's a perennial All-Star and puts up numbers, but has rarely been part of a high-winning situation. As the Kings are on the cusp of a rebuild, it will be interesting to see how they handle his future. It feels to me like he's better suited to a Robin-esque role than being asked to play Batman.
7. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers
2025-26 stats: 12.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 52.0% shooting, 34.1% 3-point shooting in 77 games
One of their bright spots from last year, Clingan has started to figure things out at the NBA level. The 7-foot-2 behemoth has fortified Portland's frontcourt. His unique size gives them new elements on both sides of the floor. The double-double machine also unlocked an ability that I admittedly didn't think he'd get — an outside jumper. He didn't take a humongous amount, but enough to suggest he has room to grow. On defense, he completely engulfs the paint as one of the top shot-blockers in the league. The NBA is trending towards these Godzilla-sized centers being a must-have. And Clingan was part of the trend early on. Now, he's prospering in Portland.
8. Walker Kessler, Lakers
2025-26 stats: 14.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 70.3% shooting, 75.0% 3-point shooting in 5 games
The Lakers are gambling big time with Kessler's arrival. Not only did it cost most of their cap space, but they also sent some attractive draft picks to the Jazz. Going through a roster makeover, Los Angeles is betting on the 7-foot-2 center to mesh well with Luka Doncic. The talent has never been in question. He's been a double-double machine his whole career. He's an elite play-finisher who can also protect the rim. Those types of centers are always in demand. But his durability has been his biggest weakness. He hasn't played a full season in four years. He missed most of last year due to shoulder surgery. Utah tanked his entire tenure there, as well. So it will be interesting to see how he handles actual expectations for the first time in his NBA career.
9. Zach Edey, Grizzlies
2025-26 stats: 13.6 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 63.3% shooting, 20.0% 3-point shooting in 11 games
Another dominant super-sized center. Edey has been a double-double machine since he joined the NBA. The 7-foot-3 center is one of the largest human beings in the league. He's another great play-finisher who is a shot-blocking threat. The Grizzlies can safely drive to the basket, knowing he'll be there to clean up their messes with second-chance points. Alas, he also went through an injury-riddled year. His ankle seemingly can't heal. He's had two ankle surgeries that cost him most of last season. That's a scary thing to deal with as a seven-footer. Lower extremity injuries notoriously shatter big men's ambitions. Let's just hope this isn't the start of a disturbing trend for Edey. He's been an awesome addition who has helped Memphis win games.
10. Dereck Lively II, Mavericks
2025-26 stats: 4.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 61.1% shooting, 0.0% 3-point shooting in 7 games
Speaking of centers that can't stay healthy. Perhaps nobody has had worse injury luck than Lively II. He played a key role in the Mavericks' 2024 NBA Finals run. Since then, though, he's barely played. Constant foot surgeries have completely sidelined him for the last two years. He's entering the last year of his rookie-scale contract. That means it's going to be incredibly important to be healthy. The 22-year-old is a sound rim-runner who can catch lobs and throw down dunks. He must play up to that level again. Especially if he's hoping to get the bag in his contract negotiations.
11. Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors
2025-26 stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 44.6% shooting, 33.8% 3-point shooting in 32 games
Another talented player who has struggled with health. Porzingis joined the Warriors as a mid-season acquisition. In his limited time, he provided some much-needed talent. The 31-year-old was a complementary scorer. He's a lob threat and can stretch the floor. The 7-foot-2 plays closer to a tall wing instead of a traditional textbook center. That said, he has a proven track record. He helped the Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship. Since then, he's bounced around a bit. But has remained a winning role player who can upscale as a scorer when he gets on a heater.
12. Jusuf Nurkic, Jazz
2025-26 stats: 10.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 50.3% shooting, 35.2% 3-point shooting in 41 games
Another double-double machine. Nurkic enjoyed a productive year on the Jazz. Albeit it was cut short due to injury and tanking. Now, though, Utah is entering the upcoming year with real expectations. He figures to play a part in it. The seven-foot center is a bruising body. He can crash the glass and finish around the paint. Not as quick as he used to be, his slow-footed nature could cause some defensive problems. That said, his sheer size will make him a plus on offense. He's bounced around the league for a little bit. It will be interesting to see if the 32-year-old can have a career resurgence.
13. Mark Williams, Suns
2025-26 stats: 11.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 64.4% shooting, 100.0% 3-point shooting in 60 games
Part of the Suns' feel-good story, Williams gave them real size. He joined them after three years with the Hornets. He played a career-best 60 games and was a constant play-finisher. Most of his points came deep in the paint. Either in dump-off passes or second-chance buckets. He was also a plus defender. The 24-year-old had a honeymoon phase with his new team. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic changes this upcoming year. Especially if Khaman Maluach knocks on the door for an opportunity.
14. Derik Queen, Pelicans
2025-26 stats: 11.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.7 APG, 47.3% shooting, 26.1% 3-point shooting in 81 games
After a controversial trade to ensure they landed Queen, he had an up-and-down rookie season. Some nights, he looked like the bowling-ball version of Jokic — stuffing the stat sheet and getting triple-doubles. Most nights, though, the 21-year-old looked extremely raw and like a ball of clay. Your imagination can go far with his potential. But the limitations are visible. He's undersized as a traditional center and is a slow-footed defender. Those two variables could absolutely tank his career if he doesn't improve them. We'll see as he enters his second year in New Orleans and is one of the most important players for its future.
15. Brook Lopez, Clippers
2025-26 stats: 8.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 42.8% shooting, 36.0% 3-point shooting in 75 games
Somehow, Lopez is still hanging around. The 38-year-old has amazingly stuck around for 19-plus seasons. To show how ancient he is, he spent his rookie year in New Jersey. Yep. He's been in the league for a minute. The outside jumper has lengthened his playing career by a decade. The seven-footer is a pioneer on that front as one of the first true stretch bigs. On the Clippers, he'll get starting reps. Mostly because LA doesn't really have any alternatives. Its in the infancy stages of a rebuild.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Ranking Western Conference centers: Where does Isaiah Hartenstein land?
