Ranking the top 10 Centers for the 25-26 season

I will admit, there is definitely a biased reason I’m doing the centers first. There is something beautiful about watching a giant — the .001 of the population — make a block, get a rebound, maybe even a dunk. It may not have as much flash as a point guard, but the good old center takes the cake for me. This list is my prediction of the ranking when the season concludes.

Honorable Mentions:

 Anthony Davis (Dallas Mavericks)

It’s not that AD isn’t elite, it's that he’s made it clear he wants to play power forward, not center. In his short time with Dallas, we already saw him get that wish. He’s still one of the best big men in the league, but since he’s shifted away from the center role, I can’t put him on this list.

Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Sabonis is still a very good player, but when your team has a losing record and you play 70 games, it’s hard to give him more than an honorable mention.

10. Jaren Jackson Jr.(Memphis Grizzlies)

Triple J came off a down year, but he’s still a great player. He already has a DPOY on his resume, just turned 26, and can be a strong piece alongside Ja Morant. He averaged the 3rd most Points of all Centers, but lacked heavily in all other categories. If he stays consistent and avoids foul trouble, there’s no reason he can’t climb back up this list.

9. Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Gobert is never going to wow anyone on offense, but he doesn’t need to. He’s still an elite rim protector, rebounder, and the anchor of Minnesota’s defense. Four Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight All-Defensive selections prove how dominant he’s been.

8. Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)

Bam is the engine that keeps the Heat running. He may not always light up the scoreboard, but he is an amazing glue piece. His versatility makes him one of the most valuable centers in the league, even if his offense sometimes feels limited.

7. Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Holmgren is already living up to the hype. His rim protection is elite, and his outside shooting makes him a perfect fit in OKC’s young core. He already has a ring, got paid, and will very quickly rise on this list.

6. Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets)

Şengün has been a revelation for Houston. He’s crafty in the post, already one of the best passing big men in the league, and he’s only getting better. At just 22, he’s the clear cornerstone of the Rockets’ future. If his defense takes another step forward, he could skyrocket up this list.

5. Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers)

As hard as I try to keep my bias out of it, I’ll admit I’m a big Zubac fan. I’m glad he finally blossomed last season and got more recognition. Unfortunately, at 28, I’m just not sure he will climb higher on this list. But when you watch him play, his intangibles are truly a spectacle. He consistently ranks in the top 10 in key stats, and when you put it all together, he’s a great center.

4. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

The former MVP is such a hard player to rank. When he plays, he is in the MVP conversation. Unfortunately, he doesn’t play enough. At 31 and far removed from his last elite season, it feels like we are on the dark side of his career. I think that his days of elite basketball are over, and while we still will see good hoops, it won't be top 3 ever again.

3. Karl Anthony-Towns (New York Knicks)

The Knicks made a big splash last offseason, acquiring KAT from the Timberwolves. While heavily criticized at the time, it turned out better than anyone expected. KAT averaged the second-most points per game with 25 and was second in rebounds with 14. Even in the Big Apple, he is somehow underrated.

2. Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

This could be one of the “hotter” takes on this list, but if he’s healthy, how do you bet against the 7’3 Alien? He should already have 2 DPOYs after just two years of basketball. He’s an elite blocker and yet somehow still has a good 3-point shot. There’s a reason he’s called an alien, and at only 21, he’s second on my list.

1. Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

The only easy player on this list to rank. Not only is he the best center, he’s the best player in the world. Like fine wine, he somehow gets better with age, averaging a near 30-point triple-double, something only MVP Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson have done. He has 3 MVPs, scoring titles, and is a beast all around.