Nikola Jokić is the best center in the NBA.
That isn’t exactly a spoiler alert. But where do other stars such as Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid rank at their position?
Here are the top 10 centers entering the 2025-26 NBA season:
2025-26 NBA position rankings: Point guard | Shooting guard | Small forward | Power forward
Top 10 centers entering 2025-26 NBA season
Stats consist of points (PTS), rebounds (REB), assists (AST), blocks (BLK), steals (STL), turnovers (TO), games played (GP), field-goal percentage (FG) and 3-point field-goal percentage (3FG).
Honorable mentions
The first player to miss the cut was Isaiah Hartenstein, a skilled big man who excels at rebounding and passing but might make more appearances off the bench this season. Naz Reid is also a backup center who received consideration.
Kristaps Porzingis and Mitchell Robinson were in the mix as well. But injury concerns prevented both centers from making the cut after Porzingis played in 42 games last season and Robinson played in 17 games.
2024-25 stats: 15.6 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.5 AST, 2 BLK, 0.8 STL, 1.7 TO, 72 GP, 48.1% FG, 39.6% 3FG
There were plenty of candidates for this 10th spot. But of that group, Myles Turner is the most consistent contributor on both ends of the floor.
The 6-11 center averaged at least two blocks for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. He also shot a career-high 39.6% from deep on a career-high 5.5 attempts per game. And he played in 95 of the Pacers’ 105 games during their run to the NBA Finals.
Turner then signed a four-year, $107 million contract with Milwaukee this summer. It’s a new home for the 11-year pro, who’d spent his entire career with Indiana, but he’ll surely provide the same level of production.
2024-25 stats: 12 PTS, 10.9 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.4 BLK, 0.8 STL, 1.2 TO, 72 GP, 66.9% FG, 0% 3FG
Rudy Gobert is tied for winning the most Defensive Player of the Year awards (four) in NBA history. He also ranks ninth in All-Defensive first-team selections (seven).
And while Gobert landed on the All-Defensive second team last season, he still shined as a rim protector. Opponents shot 9.7% worse within six feet of the basket when he was the primary defender. That’s better than reigning Defensive Player of the Year winner Evan Mobley (minus-8.6%).
Gobert’s teams have also ranked in the top 10 for defensive rating in each of the last five seasons, going back to his days with Utah. The 33-year-old center is a clear floor raiser on defense, and he deserves a spot on this list despite some regression.
2024-25 stats: 13.5 PTS, 9.7 REB, 1.9 AST, 0.9 BLK, 0.9 STL, 1.2 TO, 82 GP, 70.6% FG, 0% 3FG
Donovan Mitchell made the All-NBA first team last season. Mobley made the All-NBA second team and was named the Defensive Player of the Year. And Darius Garland made his second All-Star appearance.
But don’t overlook Jarrett Allen, who did all of the little things to help Cleveland go 64-18. He set hard screens for the Cavaliers’ guards, caught lobs, crashed the glass, protected the rim and played in every game.
Allen also became the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 70% from the field (70.6%) and 70% from the free-throw line (71.8%) in a season. Even though he didn’t earn any accolades in the process, he has earned the eighth spot on this list.
2024-25 stats: 19.1 PTS, 10.3 REB, 4.9 AST, 0.8 BLK, 1.1 STL, 2.6 TO, 76 GP, 49.6% FG, 23.3% 3FG
Alperen Şengün received the nickname “Baby Jokic” early in his career. And while being compared to the best player in the world can lead to lofty expectations, the 23-year-old center hasn’t disappointed.
Houston won over 50 games last regular season for the first time since 2018-19, and Şengün served as its offensive hub with his ability to finish around the rim and make the right pass. The first-time All-Star was so much of a threat that he was double-teamed 749 times, according to the ALL NBA Podcast, which was second only to Jokić.
Of course, the Şengün-Jokić comparison isn’t an exact one. But Şengün is clearly doing something right if it’s even being made.
2024-25 stats: 23.8 PTS, 8.2 REB, 4.5 AST, 0.9 BLK, 0.7 STL, 3.3 TO, 19 GP, 44.4% FG, 29.9% 3FG
Embiid was by far the toughest player on this list to rank.
The superstar center was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2022-23. But he has only suited up for 65 of Philadelphia’s 171 games (38%) since then, including the play-in tournament and playoffs.
ESPN’s Shams Charania also reported on Sept. 26 that there isn’t a definitive timeline for Embiid to return after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April. I’m ranking Embiid sixth with the potential to either climb into the top five or fall out of this list entirely.
2024-25 stats: 16.8 PTS, 12.6 REB, 2.7 AST, 1.1 BLK, 0.7 STL, 1.6 TO, 80 GP, 62.8% FG, 0% 3FG
At 28 years old, Ivica Zubac finished second in Most Improved Player voting last season. He had more years of NBA experience than any of the other 13 players who received a vote.
It was a late leap by Zubac, who delivered the best season of his 10-year career. He dominated on the glass, ranking fourth in rebounds per game (12.6). He averaged a career-high 16.8 points on great efficiency. And he made 80 regular-season appearances, which ranks second only to Allen on this list.
Zubac also earned an All-Defensive second team selection, and he impressed during a first-round playoff series by making life difficult for Jokić. Denver ultimately won in seven games, but Zubac won the respect of many with a stellar campaign.
2024-25 stats: 19.1 PTS, 13.9 REB, 6 AST, 0.4 BLK, 0.7 STL, 2.9 TO, 70 GP, 59% FG, 41.7% 3FG
Domantas Sabonis is another player in the Jokić mold.
The 29-year-old center punishes defenders in the paint with his size and strength. He punishes opposing defense when double-teamed by finding the open man. And he’ll even punish those who give him too much space on the perimeter by knocking down the occasional 3-pointer.
Unfortunately, Sabonis also gets punished on defense more than you’d like for a starting center. But his blend of size, strength and skill can’t be denied.
2024-25 stats: 24.4 PTS, 12.8 REB, 3.1 AST, 0.7 BLK, 1 STL, 2.7 TO, 72 TO, 52.6% FG, 42% 3FG
With Embiid sidelined for most of last season, Towns was easily the best center in the Eastern Conference.
The highly-skilled 7-footer shot 42% from deep, which is the highest percentage of anyone on this list. He also broke defenses down with fadeaway mid-range jumpers and tough finishes at the rim, making him a threat from everywhere on the court.
Similar to Sabonis, Towns has his struggles on defense. But he’s the best 3-point shooting center of all time, and his versatile scoring is good enough to earn the third spot on this list.
2024-25 stats: 24.3 PTS, 11 REB, 3.7 AST, 3.8 BLK, 1.1 STL, 3.2 TO, 46 GP, 47.6% FG, 35.2% 3FG
Yes, Wembanyama only played in 46 games last season. Yes, health concerns prevented others from making this list.
But Wembanyama is the exception. An anomaly in every sense of the word. The 7-3 center is a mobile Monstar who can score from both inside and outside the arc. And he averaged a league-leading 4.9 combined steals and blocks, which would’ve guaranteed him the Defensive Player of the Year award had he met the 65-game requirement.
Wembanyama is already a borderline-top-10 player in the NBA with just over 100 career games played (117). And at only 21, he’s just scratching the surface. He’s the league’s most promising young star, and he’s its second-best center entering this season.
2024-25 stats: 29.6 PTS, 12.7 REB, 10.2 AST, 0.6 BLK, 1.8 STL, 3.3 TO, 70 GP, 57.6% FG, 41.7% 3FG
Şengün and Sabonis have drawn comparisons, but there’s only one Jokić.
There’s only one active center in the NBA who has won three Most Valuable Player awards. There’s only one center in league history who has averaged a triple-double in a season. And there’s only one center who deserves the top spot on this list.
Jokić isn’t just the best player at his position. He’s the best player in basketball.
Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.