The center position might be the most loaded position group in the NBA today, headlined by a couple of MVP frontrunners for 2026-27, as well as a former league MVP who didn't even crack the Top 8 (sorry, Sixers fans), and multiple up-and-comers with a lot of potential.
That doesn't even mention the fact that this position group also includes the player who broke Kobe Bryant's scoring record last season, or that the starting center for the 2025-26 NBA champions, an elite big man in his own right, is also listed here.
After discussing the top point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards in the league for 2026-27, today, we rank the Top 27 centers for this upcoming season.
Check out our final position ranking below.
Just missed
the cut: Deandre Ayton, Neemias Queta, Mark Williams, Nikola Vucevic
27. Moussa Diabaté (Charlotte)
2025-26 stats: 7.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.0 bpg, 63.1 FG%, 65.9 FT%
2026-27 salary: $2,461,462 (411th overall)
Role-playing big man Moussa Diabate had a breakout 2025-26 campaign, putting up career-highmarks across the board. He’s an extremely tidy finisher around the rim, making up for his total lack of range as a scorer to an extent. Diabate is also a plus-rebounder and shot-blocker, making an impact doing the dirty work on both ends of the floor.
Diabate is measurably impactful, too, as over the past two seasons, the French big man has made the Charlotte Hornets an impressive 9.9 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor. Diabate quietly ranked as roughly a Top 70 player in the league last season, based on per-minute and overall impact, according to BPM and VORP. His effort was rewarded as well, as Diabate won the NBA's Hustle Award for 2025-26. Considering this accolade is awarded based on a statistical formula, one that tracks "deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box outs," according to the NBA, that just goes to show how well-earned the honor was by Diabate.
We don’t think Diabate will blossom into some star or anything, but he’s definitely turning into one of the most underrated bigs in the league thanks to his tidiness on both ends.
For the latest Moussa Diabaté news and rumors, click here.
26. Nicolas Claxton (Chicago)
2025-26 stats: 11.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.1 bpg, 57.1 FG%, 61.6 FT%
2026-27 salary: $23,320,738 (79th overall)
A very mobile and quick big man, Nic Claxton is one of the better switch defenders among centers in the league, as he has the lateral quickness to keep with a lot of ball-handlers, at least in comparison to other 5s.
Claxton plays within his role and doesn’t try to do too much, setting screens, rolling hard to the basket and finishing with explosiveness around the rim. He isn’t much of a shooter, so he doesn’t shoot the ball much, but that does affect his output, as his poor shooting extends to the free-throw line. For a big man who doesn’t score much, also being a poor free-throw shooter really hurts his impact, as opponents often choose to foul him rather than give up a dunk.
Regardless, Claxton’s change of scenery this summer should be a positive for him, as things had gotten stale for him in Brooklyn. Maybe playing with a playmaker like Josh Giddey on the Chicago Bulls will help Claxton’s pick-and-roll finishing shine once again.
For the latest Nicolas Claxton news and rumors, click here.
25. Mitchell Robinson (Boston)
2025-26 stats: 5.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.2 bpg, 72.3 FG%, 40.8 FT%
2026-27 salary: $15,044,000 (121st overall)
Another traditional old-school center in that he won’t do much scoring outside of the paint, Mitchell Robinson left the New York Knicks this summer after helping the team break the franchise’s 50-year-plus championship drought. Robinson will join a Boston Celtics team that has high hopes for 2026-27.
It’ll be a battle between Robinson and Neemias Queta as far as who starts at the 5 for Boston next season, but Robinson has a longer history of being an effective NBA player, while Queta only broke out just last season, so we’re giving the nod in our exercise to Robinson.
Robinson is an extremely poor free-throw shooter, but he manages to be a positive-impact player anyway thanks to his activity level on defense and on the glass. Over the past two seasons, Robinson made the Knicks 2.7 points per 100 possessions better while he was on the floor, and that mostly has to do with his fantastic finishing ability down low. Robinson is a career 70.2 percent shooter from the floor because he pretty much only attempts dunks; just last season, he ranked second in the NBA in dunk percentage, i.e., the number of field-goal attempts he had that were dunks, at 51.5 percent.
Robinson is also a very adept rim-protector, using his 7-foot-4 wingspan to swat away opponent shot attempts near the basket.
So even without much of an offensive game, Robinson is a very solid role player who can either start or bring energy off the bench, making him a solid pickup by the Celtics this summer.
For the latest Mitchell Robinson news and rumors, click here.
24. Dereck Lively (Dallas)
2025-26 stats: 4.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 bpg, 61.1 FG%, 80.0 FT%
2026-27 salary: $7,238,897 (219th overall)
Explosive athlete Dereck Lively has great bounce and unreal length, with a reported 7-foot-7 wingspan and fantastic athleticism, allowing him to be a monster finisher around the basket. Lively is an elite lob threat, with the ability to suck in defenses when he dives hard to the basket, making him reminiscent of a young Tyson Chandler in that sense. Although Lively won’t provide much offense outside of finishing around the basket, he’s extremely tidy down low, boasting a career field-goal percentage of 72.5 percent.
Lively is also a very effective rim protector, blocking 1.5 shots per game for his career thanks to his length, hops and instincts as a shot-blocker. That level of two-way play has allowed the former Duke Blue Devil to make a huge impact in the NBA. Over his three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Lively has made the team 7.7 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor.
The biggest concern with Lively is his availability, as the big man has suited up in just 43 regular-season games over the past two campaigns, including just seven in 2025-26. That’s the biggest reason why we have him ranked this low, as Lively has the upside to be a Top 20 center in the league.
Here’s hoping for Dallas fans’ sake that those health issues are behind him now and that 2026-27 will be a year full of health for the bouncy 22-year-old.
For the latest Dereck Lively news and rumors, click here.
23. Walker Kessler (LA Lakers)
2025-26 stats: 14.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.8 bpg, 70.3 FG%, 70.0 FT% (five games)
2026-27 salary: $30,108,821 (63rd overall)
A long center with solid lateral quickness, Walker Kessler, one of the Los Angeles Lakers' big offseason additions, will need to prove that his impressive 2026-27 numbers weren't just small-sample-size theater after he was only able to suit up in five games last season due to a shoulder injury.
Kessler is one of the best shot-blockers in the game. Over the past four campaigns, the Auburn product ranks seventh in total blocks despite only playing in five games last season. What's more, in blocks per game, Kessler ranks second (2.4), behind only the player who finished at the top of this ranking.
Kessler did expand his offensive bag a bit last season, showing signs of being a capable three-point shooter (he attempted eight threes last season and made six), a skill set that would be a game-changer for him, as the archetype of floor-spacing rim-protector with mobility is hugely valuable in the modern NBA. Playing with a playmaker like Luka Doncic should also boost Kessler’s offensive output, as he’ll get some of the best looks at the basket he’s had since reaching the NBA.
There’s a non-zero chance we’re ranking Kessler too low here; we just worry a bit about his health. But the strong rebounder, shot-blocker and improving offensive big man could very well make this ranking look bad by the end of 2026-27.
For the latest Walker Kessler news and rumors, click here.
22. Kel'el Ware (Milwaukee)
2025-26 stats: 11.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1.1 bpg, 53.0 FG%, 39.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $4,654,920 (282nd overall)
Speaking of floor-spacing shot-blockers, new Milwaukee Bucks center Kel’El Ware fits that mold to a T.
Last season, Ware had his best season from beyond the arc, knocking down 39.5 percent of his three-point attempts. And he did that while blocking 1.1 shots per game on the other end, a number that would have been even higher if Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra trusted Ware to play more minutes. Ware averaged just 22.1 minutes per contest in 2025-26, 0.1 fewer than the number he averaged as a rookie.
Of course, Spoelstra, being one of the best head coaches in the game, had his reasons for not trusting Ware to play more minutes, and that was because the impact he made in Miami was negative, not positive. Ware made the Heat 6.2 points per 100 possessions worse during his time on the floor last season, though that might have had to do with the fact that he had to share the floor with another traditional center and a player who cracked the Top 6 of this ranking.
Either way, Ware will now be allowed to develop at his own pace, and his age (22), mixed with his wingspan (7-foot-4-plus) and shooting ability, leads us to believe he could have some upside as long as his focus remains intact, an area in which he struggled in Miami.
For the latest Kel'el Ware news and rumors, click here.
21. Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta)
2025-26 stats: 15.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 48.0 FG%, 37.6 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $16,120,000 (115th overall)
Another big man with some skill, Onyeka Okongwu has been in the NBA for six seasons already and yet, he appears to still be improving little by little. The former USC standout just had arguably the best season of his career, averaging a career-high in points, assists and three-point percentage, while showing what made him such an intriguing draft prospect.
Okongwu can not only do some shooting from beyond the arc with his feet set, but he can also handle the rock a bit, drive to the basket against aggressive closeouts and find teammates for good looks. He is also both a solid rim-protector and a pretty effective switch defender, thanks to decent lateral mobility and length, making him a versatile weapon on the less glamorous end of the floor.
As long as Okongwu’s three-point shooting last season wasn’t a fluke, he should continue being a plus-starter for the Atlanta Hawks, as he possesses a fun blend of skills. Okongwu can score from the outside on spot-up shots and from the inside on drives, and he can also protect the paint and switch against ball-handlers on the other end, all while being an underrated playmaker.
For the latest Onyeka Okongwu news and rumors, click here.
20. Derik Queen (New Orleans)
2025-26 stats: 11.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.9 bpg, 47.3 FG%, 26.1 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $5,416,080 (265th overall)
The modern NBA loves players with versatility, and Derik Queen fits the bill quite well in that regard, as he’s a center who makes up for his lack of size and athleticism by being an extremely skilled passer, especially for a center, while being able to score down low with craft. Queen won’t be leaping and finishing explosively over top-level NBA defenders anytime soon, but he can score with a mix of unorthodox hook shots and floaters near the rim.
Queen is also skilled enough to grab a rebound, bring the ball down the floor himself, set up the offense and hit the right player for easy buckets. The 21-year-old even earned the Baby Jokic nickname for his passing prowess, as he can hit cutting players with pinpoint bounce passes, even in half-court settings when the lane so often gets congested. Queen possesses the versatility to run the pick-and-roll himself as a ball-handler or be the screener and roll to the basket.
Of course, his ultimate upside is going to depend on how much he improves as an outside shooter, as it’s simply going to be difficult for him to become an All-Star in the modern NBA if he continues to be a sub-27-percent marksman from three. But his rookie season did have moments of promise, so it’ll be exciting to see what he has in store for Year 2.
For the latest Derik Queen news and rumors, click here.
19. Alex Sarr (Washington)
2025-26 stats: 16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.0 bpg, 48.2 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $12,370,680 (154th overall)
How far has Washington Wizards big man Alex Sarr come since his 2024 Summer League showing, which included a historically poor 0-for-15 shooting game? Today, Sarr is one of the most promising young big men in the Eastern Conference, a modern center with the ability to shoot threes and protect the paint at a high level.
Last season, had Sarr played in enough games to qualify for Basketball-Reference’s ranking, he would have ranked Top 3 in block rate at 6.4 percent. Sarr also ranked No. 2 in the NBA in 2025-26 in blocks per game, showing how effective a shot-blocker his 7-foot-4-plus wingspan, his mobility and his instincts made him.
Sarr also uses his quickness well on the offensive end, as he has the burst to blow by slower-footed big men and finish around the basket with explosiveness. That’s on top of his quickly improving three-point shooting and his underrated nose for passing.
Of course, it’ll be interesting to see how Sarr meshes with the team’s established star big man, Anthony Davis, but considering Davis’ preference to play power forward, we think Sarr will remain the team’s starter at the 5. How well the duo plays together remains to be seen, as Davis and Sarr possess somewhat similar skill sets at these respective stages of their careers.
Regardless, we’re high on Sarr’s upside, as he has shown a lot of promise already, looking very much like he could turn into the player Washington drafted No. 2 overall back in 2024.
For the latest Alex Sarr news and rumors, click here.
18. Isaiah Hartenstein (Oklahoma City)
2025-26 stats: 9.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.0 spg, 62.2 FG%, 62.1 FT%
2026-27 salary: $23,148,148 (81st overall)
A role player through and through, Isaiah Hartenstein has never and will never be an All-Star. However, he’s extremely impactful in his role, as evidenced by his being a starter during the team’s championship run in 2024-25.
Hartenstein sets strong screens, rolls hard to the basket and can either finish around the rim or set up teammates spotting up from the outside, as he’s a very good passer out of the short roll. He also fights hard on the glass, isn’t scared to put his body on the line to earn his team extra possessions and can block some shots. All of those skills make up for the fact that Hartenstein doesn’t shoot threes and doesn’t have any sort of a post game of which to speak.
The Oregon native made the Thunder 6.2 points per 100 possessions better while he was on the floor in 2025-26, which should prove to young players everywhere that no matter how limited your skill set is, you can still make a huge impact on a championship-caliber team if you just play the game the right way, master the small things and play with great effort on both ends.
For the latest Isaiah Hartenstein news and rumors, click here.
17. Naz Reid (Charlotte)
2025-26 stats: 13.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 bpg, 45.6 FG%, 36.2 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $23,275,862 (80th overall)
After being one of the league’s best sixth men over the past three seasons, even winning the Sixth Man of the Year award outright in 2023-24, Naz Reid was traded to the Hornets this summer, where he could slot into the same role behind Diabate.
It’s not out of the question that Reid starts at power forward, either, but truth be told, the last time he played more minutes at the 4 than the 5 (2023-24) was also the last time he had a negative swing rating.
It’s also possible Reid starts over Diabate, but Charlotte might not want to stymie the 24-year-old’s impressive progress by moving him back to the bench.
Regardless, Reid was a great pickup by Charlotte, as his ability to shoot (the LSU product has hit 38.4 percent of his threes over the last three seasons) or drive the ball and finish around the rim is quite impactful and will provide the team with a different look than Diabate; the former providing skill and the latter providing endless energy.
For the latest Naz Reid news and rumors, click here.
16. Donovan Clingan (Portland)
2025-26 stats: 12.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 bpg, 52.0 FG%, 34.1 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $7,519,920 (215th overall)
Portland big man Donovan Clingan has developed quickly since being drafted seventh overall in 2024, going from being more of a screen-and-roll big man who stuck to finishing around the rim to already averaging over three three-pointers per game last season and hitting 34.1 percent of them in his sophomore campaign.
If Clingan continues to improve as a shooter, the Blazers will have an extremely impactful player on their hands, as the former UConn star is already the best offensive rebounder in the NBA (he led the league last season in offensive rebounds with 4.5 per game) and an excellent rim-protector. Just imagine Clingan adding above-average spot-up three-point shooting to that already-impressive mix.
Clingan has monstrous length, with a near 7-foot-7 wingspan, which he uses wonderfully to protect the paint. Clingan ranked eighth in the NBA last season with 1.7 rejections per game, and his block rate (5.5 percent) ranked fifth in the league. The big man isn’t just long, but he’s also deceptively quick and has a great nose for rejecting opponent shot attempts near the paint.
For the latest Donovan Clingan news and rumors, click here.
15. Myles Turner (Milwaukee)
2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.6 bpg, 44.0 FG%, 38.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $26,584,164 (71st overall)
In a sort of last-ditch effort to build a roster impressive enough to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee, the Bucks picked up floor-spacing big man Myles Turner in the summer of 2025.
That effort failed; the Bucks’ season was a disaster, Antetokounmpo left and the team is now somewhat stuck with Turner, who has three seasons left on his deal, with a player option on the final year worth over$29 million.
Of course, that’s not to say it was Turner’s fault Antetokounmpo left, but he didn’t help matters much. Turner posted a career-low field-goal percentage last season while averaging a paltry 5.3 rebounds per game. The Texas product also continued to provide next to nothing as a passer.
Turner did alright within his role as a shot-blocking floor-spacer, averaging 1.6 blocks per game while hitting 38.3 percent of his threes, but he didn’t impact games much. Turner made the Bucks just 1.0 points per 100 possessions better while he was on the floor in 2025-26, a mark that wasn’t close to good enough to help Milwaukee win games and convince Antetokounmpo the team could win at a high level.
Turner remains a solid starting center, but considering he’s now 30 years old, it’s safe to say now that he’s never going to improve his rebounding or playmaking. The big man will continue to be a positive-impact player thanks to his outside shooting on one end and shot-blocking on the other, but he has a ceiling on his impact that isn’t all that high due to his other limitations.
For the latest Myles Turner news and rumors, click here.
14. Kristaps Porzingis (Golden State)
2025-26 stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 bpg, 44.6 FG%, 33.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $20,000,000 (94th overall)
It’s unfortunately nothing new for Kristaps Porzingis, but his biggest issue over the past two seasons has been his availability, as he has faced both health problems and actual physical injuries, including to his back, knee, Achilles and ankle. Porzingis has suited up in just 74 games over the past two seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, and that’s while his production has dropped.
In 2025-26, Porzingis’ 16.7-point-per-game average was the second-lowest mark of his career, while his 33.8 percent shooting mark from three was the third-lowest. Porzingis isn’t as mobile as he was in his athletic prime before all the injuries, which used to be one of his more standout skills, as you don’t come across relatively quick 7-foot-2 giants all that often.
Even so, the Warriors signed Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million extension this summer with a player option in Year 2, so the team must be banking on the big Latvian having better luck health-wise going forward. Also somewhat comforting is the fact that Porzingis did have a positive swing rating (plus-1.9) last season, so he helped the team while he was out there, even despite his poor shooting. Perhaps with a more Porzingis-like shooting season, the big man can have a big 2026-27 with the team, which will need a lot out of him, as they will remain without Jimmy Butler for a good stretch of the campaign.
For the latest Kristaps Porzingis news and rumors, click here.
13. Ivica Zubac (Indiana)
2025-26 stats: 14.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.8 bpg, 59.8 FG%, 71.1 FT%
2026-27 salary: $19,550,160 (96th overall)
The player outside of the Top 10 on this list that we might be most excited to see in 2026-27 is Ivica Zubac, as he’s about to be setting screens and catching lobs from the best playmaker he’s ever shared the floor with, Tyrese Haliburton.
Zubac is a throwback big man, possessing great size and strength and lumbering strength but lacking foot quickness. Even so, Zubac can finish around the basket with soft touch over either shoulder, as well as gobble up rebounds and protect the paint at a solid level. His best skill might be his screen-setting, as not only is he a true 7-footer, but also has a strong and broad frame.
In his last full season with the Los Angeles Clippers, 2024-25, Zubac ranked in the NBA’s 79th percentile in finishing out of the pick-and-roll as the screener, producing 1.25 points per such possession, a higher mark that year than Anthony Davis (1.23 PPP) and Domantas Sabonis (1.22 PPP).
Playing alongside Haliburton, being the elite table-setter and offensive engine that he is, makes us think Zubac should eclipse that mark in 2026-27. It’ll also be fun to see Zubac play alongside one of the better power forwards in the game, Pascal Siakam, although the fact that Siakam isn’t the best three-point-shooting 4 could lead to some clunkiness, at least early on in the season.
Still, Zubac was a great pickup for the Pacers, and we think he could quietly have a big 2026-27.
For the latest Ivica Zubac news and rumors, click here.
12. Jarrett Allen (Cleveland)
2025-26 stats: 15.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 spg, 63.8 FG%, 70.9 FT%
2026-27 salary: $28,000,000 (66th overall)
A long, athletic big man with great quick-leaping ability, Jarrett Allen is one of the most efficient finishers in the league, possessing reliable hands and explosive finishing around the basket. Allen is a career 64.1 percent shooter from the floor, even leading the league in that metric in 2024-25 at 70.6 percent.
Allen’s 7-foot-6 wingspan is one of the longest in the NBA today, and he uses it well to be a major lob threat, as well as to secure rebounds and block shots. The biggest issue with Allen, outside of his inability to score outside of the paint, is that he’s not the strongest big man, often getting pushed out of his spots near the rim. What’s more, despite his monstrous length and impressive athleticism, Allen barely averages over one block per game for his career.
Regardless, Allen makes a big impact when he’s on the floor. In his five full seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has made the team 4.6 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor, and prior to last season, he had helped anchor back-to-back defenses that ranked inside the league’s Top 8 in defensive efficiency (Cleveland was No. 7 in least points given up per 100 possessions in 2023-24 and No. 8 in 2024-25). That’s even more impressive when you consider how flimsy the team’s backcourt was defensively those years.
What's more, Allen uses his quickness and length to be a monster on the offensive glass, giving Cleveland plenty of extra buckets on put-back chances. Allen ranked in the NBA's 95th percentile on put-backs last season, producing 1.45 points per possession on the play type, the No. 10 mark league-wide among players with at least 50 games played on the campaign.
Boasting paint deterrence, elite finishing and good decision-making (Allen won’t ever try to do too much), Allen is one of the better starting centers in the East these days.
For the latest Jarrett Allen news and rumors, click here.
11. Jaren Jackson Jr. (Utah)
2025-26 stats: 19.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.4 bpg, 47.6 FG%, 35.7 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $49,000,000 (21st overall)
The Utah Jazz took a massive swing when they decided to trade for Jaren Jackson Jr., shipping the Memphis Grizzlies three first-round picks and more for the former Michigan State standout. Jackson Jr.’s resume warrants such a trade return, too, as the mobile big man has two All-Star selections under his belt, as well as two 1st Team All-Defenses, one 2nd Team All-Defense and one Defensive Player of the Year award.
Jackson is another in a long line of, well, long modern centers, as the 27-year-old carries a 7-foot-5 wingspan. What differentiates him is that he’s also extremely mobile laterally, allowing him not only to block shots at a high level (Jackson Jr. has led the league in nightly rejections twice in his career) but also to defend switches quite well, especially for a center.
Jackson Jr. ranks fifth in total blocks since getting to the NBA in 2018-19 with 846, and every player ahead of him on the list has played at least 18 more games than him in that stretch. In fact, the three players who top the list have played 231-plus games more than Jackson Jr. in that timeframe.
His quickness and switchability come at a cost, however, as Jackson Jr. is a very poor rebounder, securing just 5.6 nightly rebounds for his career. What’s more, although Jackson is a somewhat respectable outside shooter (over the past four seasons, the big man is shooting 35.1 percent from three on over five attempts per game), while having some skill as a ball-handler, allowing him to put the pressure on the rim on drives, he gets tunnel vision with the ball in his hands. Too often, Jackson Jr. will look for his own shot rather than feed teammates with easy opportunities. Jackson Jr. has 869 career turnovers to just 696 assists.
Although many are excited about Jackson Jr. and his fit with frontcourt mate Lauri Markkanen, we actually have some concern, as neither is much of a rebounder or playmaker, while both like spacing the floor. Markkanen has a more versatile offensive bag, as he’s a comfortable midrange pull-up and post-up scorer, but even then, the two bigs are mighty similar skillset-wise.
Maybe that concern is for naught, and Jackson Jr. will play power forward in 2026-27, Markkanen small forward and Jusuf Nurkic center, but if each player is starting in their best position next season, that won’t be the case. Jackson Jr. is an elite defender and a plus-offensive player, but he does have his flaws, so we’re just curious how head coach Will Hardy will mask them when Markkanen’s flaws are so similar to Jackson Jr.’s.
For the latest Jaren Jackson Jr. news and rumors, click here.
10. Rudy Gobert (Minnesota)
2025-26 stats: 10.9 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.6 bpg, 68.2 FG%, 52.6 FT%
2026-27 salary: $36,500,000 (47th overall)
Despite being in his mid-30s, French center Rudy Gobert remains one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA, using his massive size, strength and length to be a major deterrent close to the basket. Gobert earned 1st Team All-Defense honors last season and finished fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year vote as he anchored a Timberwolves defense that ranked eighth league-wide in defensive efficiency.
Gobert is who he is at this point, an elite finisher near the basket, but someone who won’t score outside of the paint or be all that effective defending switches. Still, Gobert is so massive and adept in his role as a paint protector and finisher that he more than makes up for those faults.
Gobert is also an underrated pick-and-roll finisher. In 2025-26, the Saint-Quentin native ranked in the NBA’s 80th percentile in pick-and-roll finishing as the screener, producing 1.27 points per possession out of the play type, a better mark than Nikola Jokic, who created 1.25 points per possession last season on the same play type.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Minnesota is a better team with Gobert on the floor; last season, Gobert made the team 3.9 points per 100 possessions better when he was in the game.
For the latest Rudy Gobert news and rumors, click here.
9. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)
2025-26 stats: 26.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 bpg, 48.9 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $57,736,350 (6th overall)
We know Philadelphia 76ers fans are likely not thrilled with this ranking, but it must be noted that our decision has a lot to do with his health, which has always been the biggest problem surrounding Joel Embiid. And it’s not just his health, either, as Embiid’s output even when he has played lately isn’t what it was in his prime.
From 2020-21 to 2023-24, a four-season stretch when Embiid was at his peak, the big man averaged 31.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks on 52.2 percent shooting, winning MVP once and finishing second in the vote two other times during that stretch.
However, over the past two seasons, in the 57 regular-season games that Embiid has appeared in, he has averaged just 25.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 blocks on 47.5 percent shooting, looking like the injuries are starting to catch up to him.
Even so, Embiid remained hugely impactful for the Sixers, as the 32-year-old made Philadelphia 7.6 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the floor last season. Had Embiid played enough games to qualify, the star center would have ranked 10th in BPM (plus-4.9) and Top 25 in WS/48 (0.163) in 2025-26, so he remains an elite player when healthy.
The question is: How healthy will he be?
If Embiid has good luck health-wise (for once) and plays at least 65 games, he could easily be a Top 5 center in the league in 2026-27, thanks to his ridiculous level of skill at his massive size. But that’s a pretty big if, which is why we ranked him as conservatively as we did for this exercise.
For the latest Joel Embiid news and rumors, click here.
8. Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento)
2025-26 stats: 15.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 0.9 spg, 54.3 FG%, 72.7 FT% (19 games)
2026-27 salary: $45,472,000 (27th overall)
It may sound hypocritical to say we’re worried about Embiid’s health heading into next season and have Domantas Sabonis, who appeared in just 19 games in 2025-26, ranked ahead of him, but the margin between the two players in our vote was razor thin, and Embiid could have easily finished ahead of Sabonis here. But the Lithuanian big man has a much cleaner injury history than Embiid, so we had to take that into account.
While Embiid's biggest question mark is his health, Sabonis' is: Can he be a winning player?
Sabonis’ individual production is impressive, as prior to last season, he had a three-season stretch in which he put up 19.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game on 60.0 percent shooting from the floor, even earning MVP votes in two of those campaigns. Sabonis is one of the best rebounders in the league. He also has a strong midrange face-up game thanks to his ability to hit jumpers or use his quick first step and strong shoulder to drive and finish around the basket. He’s also a very solid playmaker, ranking second just to Jokic among playmaking centers; Sabonis just isn’t as flashy with his passing.
Even so, it’s difficult to win in the NBA with a center anchoring the paint who provides next to no defense, and that’s the case with Sabonis. He doesn’t block shots due to his poor wingspan (Sabonis’ length measures in at just over 6-foot-10), and he’s slow-footed laterally, so he gets exposed when asked to switch.
As such, Sabonis has only made the Sacramento Kings 0.7 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor over the past three seasons. Even in the aforementioned three-year stretch in which Sabonis was getting MVP love, the Kings made the playoffs just once and never made it out of the first round.
Production-wise, Sabonis is elite. But when it comes to his ability to be the best or second-best player on a championship-caliber team? That remains highly questionable.
For the latest Domantas Sabonis news and rumors, click here.
7. Jalen Duren
2025-26 stats: 19.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.8 bpg, 65.0 FG%, 74.7 FT%
At the time of this writing, Jalen Duren remains without a team for 2025-26, as negotiations between the big man and the Detroit Pistons have hit a stalemate.
Regardless, we’re here to project players’ performances for 2026-27, not analyze their free-agent negotiations, and clearly, we’re quite high on the Sharon Hill native for next season.
The biggest reason for Duren’s explosion last year was his improved confidence offensively; Duren went from mostly sticking to the paint to becoming a much more self-assured ball-handler, allowing him to drive the ball more often and even go to pull-up midrange jumpers from time to time. Duren went from attempting just 33.2 percent of his shots from three-to-10 feet from the basket in 2024-25 to 42.6 percent of his shots coming from that range last year. He also shot a respectable 57.0 percent from that tricky part of the floor, so he was a true threat from the short midrange.
Add that to Duren’s freakish athleticism and length (the 22-year-old boasts a 7-foot-5-plus wingspan), and you can see why he broke out as explosively as he did, going from good starter to All-NBA player from one year to the next.
The question is: Has Duren hit his ceiling?
There’s at least somewhat of a possibility that that’s the case, as Duren has shown absolutely zero interest in extending his range to the three-point line. There also might be some concern projecting him hitting an even higher level after the playoff run he just had, in which he regressed back to his earlier-career self. In the 2026 postseason, Duren averaged just 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 51.4 percent shooting from the floor, a far cry from his regular-season marks.
Regardless, we remain high on Duren, as we can excuse his 2026 postseason as part of his growing pains. We think we’ll see more of regular-season Duren in 2026-27, and perhaps even a level-up as he continues to gain confidence in at least his midrange shooting.
For the latest Jalen Duren news and rumors, click here.
6. Bam Adebayo (Miami)
2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 44.2 FG%, 31.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $49,488,300 (18th overall)
The odds of Bam Adebayo, who arrived in the NBA as purely an energy big man, pick-and-roll, paint-bound finisher, being the one who would go on to break Kobe Bryant’s modern scoring record had to be extremely slim and yet, that’s what happened on March 10, 2026, when Adebayo scored 83 points against the Wizards.
Adebayo has done a great job of refining his game, becoming a skilled midrange pull-up shooter, one who can finish in a variety of ways, including turnarounds and fadeaways. Adebayo is even starting to gain confidence as a three-point shooter, as he shattered his previous career-high mark last season when he launched 5.5 threes per contest. Granted, he still needs work on his shooting accuracy, as Adebayo shot just 31.8 percent from beyond the arc in 2025-26.
And now that the team picked up superstar power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason, Adebayo improving that outside shooting is going to be pivotal in deciding if Miami is going to be a good team or a true contender. If Adebayo somehow becomes a 37 or 38 percent spot-up three-point shooter, the Heat could surprise some teams come playoff time.
Either way, Adebayo remains an explosive finisher near the basket thanks to his strength and athleticism, though he is prone to missing some short looks around the basket here and there when he isn’t able to dunk the ball; his floater touch is lacking.
Even so, Adebayo is quite skilled, possessing the ability to grab a rebound and bring the ball down himself, as well as create for teammates at an underrated clip. He’s also a good rebounder on both ends, and has really developed his ability to get to the free-throw stripe, an important skill for All-Star-caliber players.
Adebayo’s best skill is still his defending, however,, as not only is he strong enough to bang with fellow bigs down low, but he also has excellent mobility for a player of his size, allowing him to not just be an able switch defender, but a quite effective one. Adebayo has earned All-Defensive Team honors in six of the past seven seasons.
Maybe we’re sleeping on Adebayo a bit by not having him in the Top 5 here, as he’s one of the best two-way players in the league who is just missing a reliable three-point shot to be a true perennial All-Star. If nothing else, we’re excited to see how he meshes with Antetokounmpo this year, as the pairing has huge upside but could go through some growing pains, with neither player being the most confident outside shooter.
For the latest Bam Adebayo news and rumors, click here.
5. Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)
2025-26 stats: 17.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.9 bpg, 55.7 FG%, 36.2 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $41,240,250 (35th overall)
Thunder big man Chet Holmgren cracks our Top 5 centers for 2026-27, which may seem bold, especially considering how his Western Conference Finals went, and considering some of the players he’s ranked ahead of, but we are taking a look at Holmgren’s entire body of work last season, as well as projecting some level of improvement.
Holmgren improving in 2026-27 is far from out of the question, as analytically, he’s coming off the best season of his career. The former Gonzaga standout ranked 14th in the NBA in BPM last season and 24th in VORP, elite marks which were rewarded with an All-Star nod for the big man, as well as a 3rd Team All-NBA appearance, a 2nd Team All-Defense selection and a second-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year vote.
Holmgren makes up for his complete lack of strength by using his freakish length (the center boasts a 7-foot-6 wingspan) and fantastic quickness for a big man to protect the rim at a high level. Over the past three seasons, the Minneapolis native ranks fourth in the league in total blocks (392), establishing himself as one of the best paint protectors in the NBA over that stretch.
Holmgren can also handle the basketball on the other end, as well as hit threes or midrange jumpers, either with his feet set or off the dribble, boasting a solid face-up game. Holmgren’s length and decent athleticism also allow him to be an effective lob threat near the basket.
Of course, Holmgren’s biggest flaw is a bit of an issue, one that was exposed in the Western Conference Finals by the player who finished at the top of this ranking. As mentioned before, he really lacks strength and doesn’t play with enough toughness at times. It’s just hard to say that his flaws are bad enough that the Thunder can’t win a championship with him as a major piece, because the team was able to do just that in 2024-25.
For the latest Chet Holmgren news and rumors, click here.
4. Alperen Sengun (Houston)
2025-26 stats: 20.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 51.9 FG%, 30.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $35,642,202 (49th overall)
Often called Baby Jokic early on in his career, Rockets big man Alperen Sengun is the second-best passing center in the league, possessing a great nose for hitting either teammates cutting to the basket or those spotting up for open looks from the outside.
Sengun’s face-up game is fantastic, as he can either hit short midrange jumpers over smaller defenders or finish with craft closer to the rim. Sengun boasts an abundance of moves to finish near the rim on post-ups, and has the ability to finish with either hand, making him a conundrum for defenders to figure out. Couple that with his passing ability and it’s easy to see why he was able to make back-to-back All-Star appearances.
However, considering his lack of athleticism, Sengun is going to need to improve that three-point stroke if he’s going to become a perennial All-NBAer, which he has the potential to be. Sengun is a career 28.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc, a paltry mark for a stretch-5.
On the other hand, defensively, Sengun is more effective than one might expect based on his athletic limitations. He has quick hands that help pick up steals when opposing bigs try and put the ball on the floor against him, and he also has great timing defending the rim, allowing him to block shots here and there.
Overall, Sengun is already one of the better centers in the NBA; he’s really just missing a three-point shot from being the total package offensively. We’re going to bank on the team’s hiring of legendary shooting coach Chip Engelland this offseason as a potential sign that Sengun will finally improve his three-point stroke in 2026-27, hence why we ranked him as high as we did.
For the latest Alperen Sengun news and rumors, click here.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns (New York)
2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 50.1 FG%, 36.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $57,078,728 (8th overall)
Ranking as a Top 25 player in the league last season, according to VORP and BPM, Karl-Anthony Towns definitely got a bump in his ranking here after helping the Knicks break their 50-year-plus championship drought in 2025-26.
Towns’ averages actually went down in the postseason, as the former Kentucky star put up just 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in 19 playoff appearances, but his three-point shooting got red-hot. Towns hit 45.6 percent of his threes in the 2026 postseason, which proved hugely impactful for the Knicks, as the big man made the team an astounding 12.3 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor in the playoffs. Considering how close some of New York’s wins were, particularly in the Finals, it can’t be overstated how important Towns was to the Knicks winning the 2026 title.
Towns is an excellent modern center, possessing a strong face-up game, great post-up scoring, fantastic rebounding and the ability to block shots. He’s got multiple ways to beat you offensively, including even creating for teammates, and cleans up on the defensive glass to finish out possessions for his team.
He’s become somewhat underrated over recent seasons, but we’re here to remind everyone that the big man is one of the league’s best bigs, especially on the offensive end. Few centers can match his skill level and efficiency with the ball in his hands.
For the latest Karl-Anthony Towns news and rumors, click here.
2. Nikola Jokic (Denver)
2025-26 stats: 27.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 10.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 56.9 FG%, 38.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $59,033,114 (2nd overall)
For the first time in years, Nikola Jokic did not finish our center ranking in first place, and it has nothing to do with any sort of fall-off with the superstar Serbian. It’s just that we think the player who took his place could win MVP next season.
If anything, Jokic is still considered the best player in the NBA, according to multiple metrics, including BPM, VORP and PER and looking at his raw numbers it’s easy to see why. Jokic led the NBA in rebounds and assists per game last season, averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive season, while ranking eighth in points per contest.
Jokic is hyper efficient as a scorer, too, shooting nearly 57 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three. He is a great outside shooter, but where he is unstoppable is in the short midrange area, as he possesses beautiful touch around the basket, as well as the dexterity to finish shots from all sorts of angles.
Jokic’s shooting marks are absurd. Despite not being known for his athleticism, he’s a 75.5 percent shooter from 0-to-3 feet from the basket, and a 58.9 percent shooter from 10-to-16 feet from the basket. For comparison’s sake, Duren, a freak athlete with fantastic length, shot 74.9 percent last season from within three feet of the basket.
Even Jokic’s defensive struggles are somewhat overblown, as the big man has quick hands that help him pick up steals and cause some havoc on the defensive end. In fairness, he doesn’t block shots and he is somewhat plodding, hurting him on switches; Denver has ranked bottom 10 in defensive efficiency over the last two seasons, and Jokic being the defensive anchor down low has played a part in that.
Regardless, Jokic, the best passing center the game has ever seen with outrageous efficiency as a scorer, is still hugely impactful. His on/off splits are almost video game-like; over the past five seasons, in over 12,300 minutes played (i.e., a massive sample size), Jokic has made Denver 18.2 points per 100 possessions better while on the floor.
Whether Denver can win another title in the Jokic era will depend in part on the team’s complementary pieces. If fully healthy, it wouldn’t surprise us to see Jokic lead the Nuggets back to the promised land in 2026-27.
Even if he doesn’t, he remains one of the three best players in basketball.
For the latest Nikola Jokic news and rumors, click here.
1. Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)
2025-26 stats: 25.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 3.1 bpg, 51.2 FG%, 34.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $16,868,013 (112th overall)
The player who overtook Jokic in our ranking, Victor Wembanyama, has more than lived up to the hype so far after being the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
Wembanyama has exponentially improved since getting to the NBA, peaking (for now) last season, posting career-high marks in BPM, VORP and WS/48. According to all three metrics, Wembanyama was a Top 5 player in the league, and it wouldn’t surprise us if he improved on that this upcoming season.
Wembanyama is a create-a-player type of talent, standing at 7-foot-4, boasting an 8-foot wingspan and possessing guard-like skills, playing like a supersized version of Kevin Durant. Wembanyama can hit opponents with crossovers, knock down step-back jumpers, pull up from the midrange to hit shots and finish explosively around the basket. Wembanyama has been a mediocre shooter from three so far in his career, with a 34.2 percent career three-point mark, but he has an aesthetic jumper, so we think that number could improve, especially when we compare it to his career 81.7 percent mark from the free-throw stripe.
Of course, Wembanyama’s game has its warts outside of his mediocre three-point stroke - he can get pushed around down low, as well as stopped from getting to his spots due to his lack of strength - but he’s such an overwhelming two-way force that he remains hugely impactful anyway.
Wembanyama made the Spurs 16.0 points per 100 possessions better during his minutes last season. Even in the playoffs, that number was an extremely impressive 14.1 points per 100 possessions, so his game translated when things mattered most. The fact that he was able to lead San Antonio to knock off the reigning champion Thunder in the Western Conference Finals last season in just his third career campaign speaks to his ridiculous potential. In that series, a seven-game win for the Spurs, Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.7 blocks on 40.0 percent shooting from three, giving us a glimpse of the level of player he has the chance to become.
As long as Wembanyama continues to improve on his decision-making with the ball in his hands and settles less often for difficult shots, his otherworldly talent should firmly have him in the MVP conversation.
For the latest Victor Wembanyama news and rumors, click here.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Ranking: The Top 27 centers for 2026-27
