Top 10 NBA Centers 2023 Rankings

Ranking the best Centers of the 2022-2023 NBA season as Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic lead the way. Also where Deandre Ayton, Kristaps Porzingis, Bam Adebayo and more rank

By admin | March 9, 2023

The battle for the NBA MVP Award will potentially come down to the NBA’s top two centers after the two finished 1-2 in each of the past two seasons. Those two centers are the Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid and the Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic.

As these two centers have ranked among the best centers in the NBA over the past few seasons, they both land among the Top 10 NBA Centers 2023 rankings list as the second half of the 2022-23 NBA regular Season gets set to tip off.

When you start to look at the performance of both Embiid and Jokic on the hardwood, each are as talented as any centers in the NBA while leading their teams into playoff contention.

As Embiid and Jokic continue to play at a high level this season, they are just two of the long list of talented centers in the NBA that have produced at a high level across the first half of the 2022-23 NBA schedule.

A list that includes the Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis as well as Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls, and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. Here is a look at the Top 10 NBA Center Rankings 2023.

Honorable Mention

Rudy Gobert

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Just missing the Top 10 NBA Centers 2023 ranking list is the Minnesota Timberwolves first year center Rudy Gobert. Gobert, who the team acquired from the Utah Jazz during the NBA off-season was expected to form a dynamic big man duo with Karl-Anthony Towns.

However due to injuries with Towns the tandem have only played 21 games together this season. Nonetheless Gobert continues to be a menace on the glass this season while averaging 11.6 rebounds per game as well as a solid shot blocker with 1.3 blocked shots per game. In addition to those numbers Gobert is averaging 13.3 points per game this season.

Clint Capela

Team: Atlanta Hawks

When you start to look around the NBA at the center position the position continues to evolve as players with size have transitioned to both the power forward and small forward positions.

Nonetheless the play at the center position has also evolved with more versatile big men playing at a high-level while being able to stretch the floor. One of those centers that can run the floor with the best centers is the Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela.

Capela is averaging 12.2 points per game this season to go along with 11.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocked shots while shooting 61.3 percent from the field.

Top 10 NBA Centers

10. Nic Claxton

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NBA Centers 2023 rankings list is the Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton. Entering the season high expectations were set on the Nets big man while being a key piece in the team’s success this season alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Fast forward a few months and now Claxton is one of the key reasons the Nets have been successful while the other two have found new homes.

That said, while Claxton lacks the points and scoring as some of the other big men around the NBA, he makes up for it on the defensive end of the floor while averaging two blocked shots per game with nine rebounds. The future looks bright for the Nets big man as he continues to develop at the NBA level.

9. Brook Lopez

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks 34-year-old big man continues to play at a high-level year in and year out while providing the team another big man to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Lopez has been tremendous on the defensive end of the floor this season averaging a career high 2.4 blocked shots per game while posting 6.2 rebounds per game.

On the offensive end of the floor Lopez is strong posting 14.5 points per game while shooting 37.4 percent from behind the three-point line and 50.7 percent from the field.

Add that with the veteran leadership he brings to a very talented Bucks team this season and they are one of the teams to watch come the NBA Playoffs.

8. Alperen Sengun

Team: Houston Rockets

Another bright spot from the 2021 NBA Draft this season has been the Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun. Sengun, who the team acquired in a trade during that NBA Draft from the Oklahoma City Thunder has taken a big step forward in his second season in the NBA.

After averaging 9.6 points per game last season to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The Rockets big man has posted career highs this season averaging 15.1 points per game to go alongside 8.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. In addition, his play on the defensive end of the floor has been strong while posting one blocked shot per game this season.

7. Myles Turner

Team: Indiana Pacers

It’s hard to tell where the future of the Indiana Pacers is going as the team is loaded with a ton of young talent. However, one veteran in the middle of all that young talent is the team’s former 1st round pick of the 2015 NBA Draft Myles Turner.

Turner, who played his college basketball with the Texas Longhorns has ranked among the NBA’s best big men since arriving. This season Turner is averaging 17.5 points per game to go along with eight rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

The 17.5 points per game and eight rebounds are both career highs while also setting a career high with a 53.3 percent shooting percentage from the field this season.

6. Nikola Vucevic

Team: Chicago Bulls

As you start to look around at the best centers in the NBA, one player that stands out is the Chicago Bulls big man and former Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic.

The Bulls big man currently ranks 6th among all centers while averaging 17.9 points per game. In addition, Vucevic has posted 37 double doubles this season while averaging 11.5 rebounds per game to go along with 3.4 assists per contests.

5. Kristaps Porzingis

Team: Washington Wizards

Rounding out the top five on the Top 10 NBA Centers 2023 rankings list is the Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis, who the Wizards added last year, has been a solid addition to a lineup that includes Kyle Kuzma and Bradley Beal. Entering the 2022-23 NBA All-Star break the Wizards big man ranks 3rd in the NBA in scoring among all centers while averaging 22.8 points per game.

In addition to the 22.8 points per game Porzingis has averaged 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season while also posting 17 double doubles to go along with 1.5 blocked shots per game.

4. Deandre Ayton

Team: Phoenix Suns

Much of the success that Phoenix Suns has had over the past few seasons has come from their talented lineup that includes Deandre Ayton. Ayton, who was the 1st overall pick during the 2018 NBA Draft ranks among the best centers in the NBA.

The Suns big man is currently one of nine NBA centers averaging a double double this season while posting 18.7 points per game to go alongside 10.1 rebounds.

While he lacks the other statistics other centers post including averaging just two assists per game, he makes up for with his ability to slow down opposing scorers looking to attack the glass.

Ayton continues to develop as one of the NBA’s top centers and should see his potential rise as opposing defenses will have to look to slow down Kevin Durant in the second half of the 2022-23 NBA season.

3. Bam Adebayo

Team: Miami Heat

One of the top centers in the NBA year in and year out has been the Miami Heat’s center Bam Adebayo. Adebayo, who was drafted by the Heat during the 2017 NBA Draft from the Kentucky Wildcats is like many of the younger stars finding ways to develop from one year to the next.

That is the case this season as the six-year veteran is averaging a career high 21.6 points per game this season while averaging 10 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. In addition, Adebayo is shooting 54.4 from the field and 80.5 percent from the free throw line this season.

2. Nikola Jokic

Team: Denver Nuggets

As you look at the two best centers in the NBA you could have easily flipped a coin and flipped them in the rankings list as both are worth the spot.

In the end you just can’t look past what Nikola Jokic continues to do on the floor night in and night out while leading the Denver Nuggets to the best record in the NBA Western Conference.

After winning his second NBA MVP league award last season many players questioned, he didn’t do enough to earn the award. Fast forward to this season and the Nuggets big man is looking to join Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook while finishing an NBA Season averaging a triple double.

Currently Jokic is averaging 24.7 points per game to go alongside 11.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game. In addition, Jokic has added 1.3 steals per game while shooting 63.2 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from behind the three-point line.

While the argument can be made for Embiid since he is averaging more points, the argument for Jokic is his decision to pass the ball more leading the team to that first-place position?

1. Joel Embiid

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

As you look at the two best centers in the NBA you could have easily flipped a coin and flipped them in the rankings list as both are worth the spot.

In the end, as much as Joel Embiid continues to tear up the floor at the center position, he just can’t get past Nikola Jokic at the spot.

Nonetheless it is hard to take anything away from the Philadelphia 76ers star who ranks 2nd in the NBA in scoring while averaging 33.1 points per game.

In addition, Embiid ranks 6th among centers while averaging 10.2 rebounds per game while also adding 1.5 blocks, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. The stat line is stuff as Embiid looks to make a run at his first NBA MVP award this season.

Update: As was stated earlier this can go either way… and it has. Joel Embiid as a defensive player makes a difference that I give him the nod over Nikola Jokic. Embiid holds his own in the Center position better than Jokic. Jokic is getting beat by those that are not on this top 10 list while Embiid can guard Giannis Antetokounmpo to Bam Adebayo.

How would you rank these NBA Centers in the 2022-2023 NBA Season Rankings? Rank below to be added in the NBA Power Rankings. Stay tuned by the links below for the best shooting guards and more up next.