The Best NBA Centers of 2023-2024 Rankings

The final few days of March 2024 of the 2023-2024 NBA season is here as the best players around the NBA look to propel their teams to the NBA playoffs. As you start to look around the NBA the game is loaded with a long list of talented players including at the center position that features two of the best overall players in the league. One of those centers landing at the top of the Top 10 NBA Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. Jokic, who is a two-time NBA MVP, continues to do it all for the Nuggets while looking to lead them to back-to-back NBA Championships.

Jokic is one of a handful of players around the NBA pushing to average a triple double this season but is the closest to the accomplishment. An accomplishment that would be spectacular for a big man to achieve including averaging at least 10 assists per game. Overall Jokic ranks among the top 12 in the NBA in scoring, rebounding, assists, and field goal percentage through his 70 games played this season.

Joining Jokic among the best centers in the NBA include Joel Embiid of the New York Knicks who is injured, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets, and potential NBA Rookie of the Year Award winner Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. 

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best NBA Centers 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Clint Capela

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Just missing the Top 10 NBA Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Atlanta Hawks veteran big man Clint Capela. The 10-year NBA veteran continues to be a reliable option down low while providing the Hawks a player who can play on both ends of the floor while also being strong down underneath the basket.

Capela who has spent the past four seasons with the Hawks is currently averaging 11.4 points per game to go along with 10.5 rebounds and 33 double doubles on the season.

The 33 double doubles lands Capela 14th in the NBA while also being just one of 12 players to post 10 points and 10 rebounds per game this season.

Jusuf Nurkic

Team: Phoenix Suns

When you think of the Phoenix Suns roster it is almost guaranteed one player that is often overlooked is the former 2014 NBA Draft first round pick Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic, who is in his first season with the Suns, is averaging 11.3 points per game to go along with 11 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

However, the versatile big man has also added one blocked shot and one steal per game while providing a spark on both ends of the hardwood.

Despite the drop off in scoring, Nurkic continues to shoot 51.6 percent from the floor while being one of the last scoring threats on the roster.

Top 10 Best NBA Centers 2024 Rankings

10. Myles Turner

Team: Indiana Pacers

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 NBA Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Indiana Pacers veteran big man Myles Turner who is on the verge of posting his second straight season averaging at least 17 points per game.

Despite the additions to the roster, Turner is still one of the key weapons while also ranking among the best shot blockers in the NBA. Turner, who is in his ninth season with the Pacers has been a key piece of the Pacers success this season while holding onto one of the top six seeds within the Eastern Conference.

To go along with 17 points per game Turner has also added 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over 70 games played this season.

9. Jarrett Allen

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

One team that continues to rank among the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season is the Cleveland Cavaliers who have a very young and talented roster.

One of those young stars is the former Texas Longhorns big man Jarrett Allen who will turn 26 in late April. Allen, who is in his third full season with the Cavaliers is one of 12 NBA players to post at least 10 points and 10 rebounds per game this season.

With just under a month left in the regular season, Allen is currently ranked 8th in the NBA in rebounding while posting 10.7 rebounds per game. To go along with the 10.7 rebounds per game, Allen has also averaged 16.3 points per game to go along with his third season averaging a double double. 

8. Jalen Duren

Team: Detroit Pistons

Another talented young star slowly making a name for himself around the NBA is the second-year star from the Memphis Tigers Jalen Duren.

Duren who got off his career strong as a rookie has taken his game to the next level this season improving a wide range of his statistics including pushing his scoring average from 9.1 points per game to 13.8 points per game.

To go along with that production increase, Duren has also increased his rebounds per game from 8.9 to 11.9 pushing his season average for both scoring and rebounds to over 10 per game.

While the Detroit Pistons continue to look to build a contender, the upside of Duren is as good as any center in the NBA.

7. Nikola Vucevic

Team: Chicago Bulls

One of the oldest centers to land on the list of the best centers in the NBA list is the Chicago Bulls veteran Nikola Vucevic who is currently 33 years old.

The 13-year-old veteran continues to be a reliable starter this season while posting his seventh straight season averaging at least 17 points per game and seventh straight season averaging at least 10 rebounds per game.

Through 68 games this season the Bulls veteran has posted 41 total double doubles while averaging 18 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game.

Despite often getting overlooked by the bigger name centers, Vucevic is well deserving of a spot among the best centers in the NBA.

6. Bam Adebayo

Team: Miami Heat

How can you not include Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat among the best centers in the NBA? Adebayo who has appeared in 61 games this season for the Heat is currently one of 12 players in the NBA to average at least 10 points per game and 10 rebounds per game this season.

Overall Adebayo has averaged 19.7 points per game to go along with 10.6 rebounds. More importantly is the aggressive style of play Adebayo brings to the floor including on the defensive end of the floor while averaging one blocked shot and 1.1 steals per game.

Among the group of talented centers in the NBA, the Heat star is one of seven to record at least 35 double doubles on the season.

5. Alperen Sengun

Team: Houston Rockets

Rounding out the Top 5 centers landing on the Top 10 NBA Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Houston Rockets 21-year-old center Alperen Sengun.

Sengun who has been one of the most improved players in the league since arriving during the 2021 NBA Draft has continued to develop into one of the best centers in the NBA.

In his third season Sengun has pushed his career scoring high to 21.1 points per game while also averaging career highs in rebounds with 9.3 and assists with five per game.

In addition, the Rockets young rising star has also shot an impressive 53.7 percent from the floor over 63 games this season.

4. Karl-Anthony Towns

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves 

As you look at the Minnesota Timberwolves roster, the team is built around a dynamic big man tandem of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Towns is a strong weapon who brings so much to the Timberwolves roster including being one of two members of the roster to average at least 20 points per game joining Anthony Edwards.

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves who currently sit in second place in the Western Conference, Towns went down with a knee injury that required his meniscus to be repaired which will sideline the All-Star for the remainder of the 2023-2024 NBA season. 

3. Victor Wembanyama

Team: San Antonio Spurs

The favorite to win the 2023-2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama has not disappointed during his first season in the NBA ranking as the best rookie as well as one of the best overall centers in the game.

The San Antonio Spurs center is as talented and athletic as any player in the NBA while also being a strong shooter from all over the hardwood. The seven-foot four-inch center is currently averaging a double double over 64 games played this season adding 20.7 points per game and 10.3 rebounds.

Even more impressive has been Wembanyama’s impact on the defensive end of the floor ranking first in the league posting 3.5 blocked shots per game. To go along with the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, the Spurs rookie is also a strong candidate to take home the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

2. Joel Embiid

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Despite having played in only 34 games this season it is nearly impossible to leave Joel Embiid off the list of the best centers in the NBA. The face of the Philadelphia 76ers organization was having a tremendous 2023-2024 NBA Season before going down.

Prior to going down, Embiid was leading the NBA in scoring while averaging a career high 35.3 points per game.

In addition, the 76ers veteran was also averaging 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game at the time of the injury ranking him among the best rebounders in the league. The 76ers center is expected back this soon with a chance to add to his current resume this season.

1. Nikola Jokic

Team: Denver Nuggets

In at number one on the Top 10 NBA Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Denver Nuggets center and two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

Jokic is one of those players that can do it all while being a proven threat to score but also a threat to find the open man to help set up his teammate when opposing teams double team him.

This type of production has helped Jokic to rank among the top 12 in scoring, rebounds, and assists per game this season. With just a few days remaining in March, Jokic is averaging the 12th most points per game (26.1), fourth most rebounds per game (12.2), and fourth most assists per game (9.0).

In addition, Jokic currently ranks second in the NBA in double doubles (59) and triple doubles (22) while helping the Denver Nuggets to the best record in the NBA Western Conference.

How would you rank the best NBA Centers so far into the 2023-2024 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the NBA Power Rankings.

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