Every NBA Team’s Best Center of All Time

These are the greatest centers to ever play for every franchise in the NBA.
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You already know that Bill Russell, Wilt and Kareem are going to be on this list - but some of the other names might come as a surprise. Here are the most productive and most influential centers for each NBA franchise.
Every NBA Team’s Best Center of All Time

[@nonstop]

Who's your favorite NBA center ever?

[@canthislegobrickget1ksubs41]

Shaq!

[@jordanspencerjr768]

PJ Tucker

[@speedygonzalez2795]

Shaq because of his insane strength and his agility. I also choose shaq as my favorite center ever because he has a very good personality.

[@shankirby9916]

Kareem abdul Jabbar

[@tydebosson9388]

My favorite of all-time is Hakeem

[@icuritaiseverus7556]

Funny thing is, Shaq theoretically could have been on this list for all the teams which were on the thumbnail xD

[@sue5013]

No no he’s got a point

[@queyno5420]

But you can also make an argument, that Shaq not Would be on this list for any Team he played for. Strange for a Player like Shaq 😂

[@dd08sgamebox88]

Your right but not Celtics Shaq lol

[@starkravinglad8099]

@@queyno5420 Dude, what?

[@jumisramen6854]

Everybody except Celtics shaq

[@sammysam2615]

I'm curious, did Pau and Marc just switch houses, cars, etc when each were traded for the other

[@PyroPuffs777]

Marc never played for the Lakers. His draft rights was the only thing the lakers traded away.

[@nicholaschristodoulou3821]

Its hard to tell if a joke

[@1stCommentCop]

Holy fuck he’s got a point

[@21rcampos]

@@PyroPuffs777 is that a joke? Marc played for the lakers in 2020-2021

[@PyroPuffs777]

@@21rcampos not when i made the comment. And Marc wasn’t traded for Pau to the lakers. They were traded for each other in 2008 before Marc had played in the NBA, where Marc’s draft rights were traded to Memphis and Pau was traded to LA.

[@ashtongodfrin6999]

Ben Wallace is perhaps the most underrated center in NBA history. 4 Defensive Player of the Year Awards and he helped the Pistons defeat the Shaq, Kobe, Payton, and Malone Lakers.

[@waynejohanson1083]

But do you take him over Lanier and Laimbeer.

[@ashtongodfrin6999]

@@waynejohanson1083 Nah. Just saying he's underrated.

[@EaglesPhilsPhan]

@@waynejohanson1083 I would. 100%.

[@brettreynolds1976]

@@EaglesPhilsPhan Damn straight! 👍

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@waynejohanson1083 I would take Big Ben over Laimbeer. Lanier - probably not, Ben a better defender but NOT by enough to make up for Lanier's offense.

[@marvinj1000]

2:05 did Brad just dunk on Michael Jordan

[@youngeweedwacker2923]

👀

[@stoopimayne515]

Im a big lebron fan but that shii dont mean non, its just two points

[@cumshot9247]

@@stoopimayne515 What? you just pulled Lebrons name out of yo ass

[@szxchy.]

@@stoopimayne515 your name speaks for yourself

[@storm_drex492]

Yea

[@samuelmohobo1388]

This dude really just said"11 championships in 13 seasons, enough said" lol

[@Navvye]

Enough said! No one comes close to Bill !

[@Jon47513]

@@Navvye he had a team of multiple hof, not rlly impressive if youve got that MUCH Help

[@Navvye]

@@Jon47513 No one comes close to bill as a winner, or as a center for the boston celtics, btw, he wasnt always favoured just so that you know, in the 1969 finals, the lakers had jerry west elgin baylor wilt and gail goodrich.

[@Jon47513]

@@Navvye your a boston fan huh?

[@Navvye]

@@Jon47513 Bruh im a diehard lakers fan, my fav player was kobe, but facts are facts

[@canthislegobrickget1ksubs41]

For the Celtics it’s obviously Tacko

[@highgroundvfx1848]

Lol true

[@LSkywalker-eu3jo]

Tacko isn’t just the Celtics greatest center, he is the GOAT

[@janeschroeder4855]

No

[@janeschroeder4855]

Tacko is not that good

[@devenjordan09]

@@janeschroeder4855 NOT ONE ORGANISM ASKED FOR YOUR OPINION

[@babacarsylla6958]

Why did he not put bol bol 😡

[@pranksterboy8371]

He is a small forward.

[@builderdog3875]

@@pranksterboy8371 no wonder, bol bol way better than that jokic guy

[@gusfring8405]

@@builderdog3875 you've got to be joking

[@builderdog3875]

@@gusfring8405 i am lol

[@rinbutnotrin9836]

@@builderdog3875 bol bol is just tall and jokic is 100 times better than him

[@reubenisenberg8081]

What about Tyson Chandler for the Mavericks

[@croke835]

Boban deserves to be here for every team he’s been on

[@carti_f0r_president629]

The best Celtic center is taco Fall and the best nuggets center is bol bol my guy

[@jakefromstatefarm654]

its Tacko Fall

[@MrMsutton50]

It's bol bol my guy

[@amenkio]

bol bol is a SF

[@aidansrandomstuff6843]

@@amenkio no

[@kedda4515]

@@aidansrandomstuff6843 r/whoosh

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

3:06 Wilt had 2 years as a passing center - led the league in one of those in assists, was very close to that the year before (as partly mentioned in his 76ers entry). Bill and Bill (Russell and Walton) were no slouches at passing as centers either.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@Bluebirdfalling Never saw him play overseas, and he was past his prime in part due to injuries (and still good but NOT great) by the time he joined Portland. His SON is a far better passer already, has been getting better every year so far.

[@raymondhmuifoo11]

Kareem's passing is underrated as well.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@raymondhmuifoo11 Kareem was a good but not great passer. He is a bit underrated at it though - most folks don't even THINK about Kareem and passing.

[@theoneJulius]

!

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@mr.president5010 The best playmakers and passers weren't centers though. But that's outside of this topic's subject.

[@dirtysoap2169]

Honorable mention to the Knicks center Willis Reed

[@jujuju948]

It’s not an honourable mention, he straight up was better for NY than Ewing. 2 Rings, an MVP and the Finals MVP for both rings beating Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Ewing definitely has the edge in stats due to longevity, but Reed did what Ewing never could

[@swede4444]

I would have gone with Reed and given Ewing an honorable mention.

[@janeschroeder4855]

R.I.P Wes Unseld he was a awesome human being hopefully he and his family are doing good This is how much people hope Wes Unseld was still alive 👎

[@peternwanze5629]

Lol only 5

[@dopeguyonx798]

Imagine asking for likes

[@danieldeering860]

Using people’s death for likes

[@ibruuuh9192]

CLOUT CHASSER your so disrespectful

[@justainternetwonderer1273]

Ethan Hill yup

[@matthewskobkarev3662]

Please do Power Fowards

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

4:24 MEL DANIELS. I'd take him with zero hesitation over Rik - and it's not even close. I was expecting this snub though, since Mel never went to the NBA - though at least you mentioned him, which a lot of folks would not have done. For reference, Mel is THE ALL TIME ABA LEADER in rebounds, and wasn't too bad at scoring or blocking opponents too.

[@ValorValdus]

Dwight got 3 defensive player of the year awards and was a 5 time rebounds leader with the Magic i think he was a better magic than Shaq

[@Randomguy-my8hk]

Yeah your right shaq should've been for Lakers

[@Randomguy-my8hk]

@@Mitch-lq3ec I mean when they played for the Lakers

[@zatavionn]

@@Mitch-lq3ec shaq is a better laker than wilt and you can make an argument for shaq over kareem

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@Randomguy-my8hk Shaq wasn't even #2 for the Lakers, total career considered. Wilt and Kareem. Even limiting it TO the respective Lakers years would still leave Shaq behind Kareem - except for 1972 when Wilt showed KAREEM how it was done when the chips were down.

[@Randomguy-my8hk]

@@bricefleckenstein9666 shaq should if been for Lakers

[@raulmendozaruz8338]

Love your vids, keep going, and thks for help me to learn English and nba vocabulary 👍🏻

[@macdaddy67]

Fun Fact: Brad Daugherty is also co-owner of a NASCAR Cup Series team

[@NotGord]

Interesting

[@chancebaraks741]

I know Lanier was a beast for the pistons but I still would’ve picked my boy Big Ben, 1 of 2 people to win DPOY 4 times that alone is insane not to mention when he was on the pistons and his first few years with the bulls he made those defenses some of the best I would even say the 03-04 Pistons are the greatest defense ever

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

DPOY didn't exist during Bill Russell's era. Or even Wilt's.

[@smokeyjoe795]

Nate Thurmond. He was perhaps the greatest defensive center to ever play. Great rebounder. Not a great scorer but he was definitely a level above Ben Wallace on both ends.

[@justjilly1966]

Wilt’s statistical peak was with the Warriors. His overall peak as a player was with the 76ers.

[@masonganter-xz5ew]

Kind of the same thing

[@jujuju948]

I love Ewing but Willis Reed won two finals MVPs and a regular season MVP.

[@emeanuele]

and he won those trophies when he faced off GOATs players.

[@johnanderson9765]

@@emeanuele That was the biggest mistake on the list, he didn't even mention Willis!

[@funnydude3071]

Bob Lanier wasn’t the second best center of the seventies, that title would go to Dave cowens who won an mvp and a couple of championships is the seventies

[@Navvye]

Yes sir!

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

It's a debate - and it's arguable that Dave was the second best player on his TEAM in most of the 1970s (to John Havlicek). Dave IS underrated though - he was built and played much in the mold of some nobody named Russell....

[@Navvye]

@@bricefleckenstein9666 Cowens > lanier.

[@jamintruth5719]

Bob Mcadoo: am I a joke to you.

[@smokeyjoe795]

Cowens got a gift MVP. He had no claim to that award other than I guess they got tired of giving it to Kareem. Cowens didn't come close to Jabbar that season. The 2nd best center of the 70s? That's a tough. There were alot of great centers. I might say Bob McAdoo based on 3 scoring titles and 1 MVP. Bob Lanier after him. He was more of a physical center than McAdoo. You gotta consider Artis Gilmore up there. He was a beast.

[@newnamek96]

Man, jordan wouldn't know how to act if he had artis Gilmore

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Probably VERY happy, MJ was capable of adapting to having GOOD players around him to at least some degree.

[@jamintruth5719]

😂

[@raymondhmuifoo11]

Kareem is STILL the best player to play for the Bucks and he only played SIX years.

[@FAVVIB3Stv]

Not anymore my guy

[@seek5808]

@@FAVVIB3Stv I don’t know

[@smokeyjoe795]

​@@FAVVIB3Stv your a comedian. There is nobody close to what Jabbar did for Milwaukee. Not even Giamns.

[@lukewilson1374]

2:47 did you just say that he is the best DEFENSIVE center in the NBA

[@James-de4wx]

I also heard that, that's why i came in comments section.

[@azizianas1532]

I think he meant offensive

[@jamintruth5719]

@@azizianas1532Mr Embiid is crying

[@saadmanbinwarsi719]

please do a greatest shooting guards from every nba team

[@rafaelcolon7545]

KAT for The Wolves was wild lol

[@Juju-bp6uy]

0:06 HE PUT STUDIO C’S SHOULDER ANGEL

[@aidan_is_spoon4524]

I know I saw it too. Used to be a GOATed channel but they all left.

[@Lucasts82]

frfr

[@mludj3631]

Kareem over Shaq in Lakers SMH put him in bucks

[@ShaSha-pj6jq]

Exactly what I was about to type smh. Shaq best center ever

[@theslothboy7498]

Alright listen up, Shaq is no where near the best Lakers best center position. And you ain’t gonna just disrespect Kareem like that. Kareem was a GOD. He is one Jordan levels of good as both a Buck and a Laker. I mean, look at the stats lol.

[@ShaSha-pj6jq]

@@theslothboy7498 I don’t see people talking about James Harden... look at the stats. Or ur telling me wilts the goat?

[@builderdog3875]

@@theslothboy7498 all kareem did was hook on 5ft 7in white migets

[@justacracker7926]

@@builderdog3875the average height was 6'6-7 when he played

[@donobriggs1344]

There is no possible way this channel only has 598K subs they deserve way more great work guys

[@kobiiiii_]

The best nonstop sports!

[@kevinnordquist1062]

for okc it is shawn kemp

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

11:33 Tim Duncan > David Robinson, but it's an argument. Keep in mind that Tim played CENTER for a large majority of his career, he was only a Power Forward for a few years early on when David was the "official" center (in practice, the Spurs actually had *2* Centers and no PF in their Twin Towers era).

[@ndeyediop179]

Can you do a video of best small forward from a team of all time

[@twisted6647]

CAN YOU DO EVERY NBA's TEAMS BEST POINT GUARD PLS

[@zachvandezande908]

Wish you give a mention to willis reed for the Knicks, guy who won them two championships

[@db7941]

Actually someone did come close to Alonzo Mourning's numbers he even averaged more points and rebounds...Al Jefferson

[@FarzanasLaw]

GOOD VIDEO!!!

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

10:55 The knock on Walton was his feet - like a certain NFL great (Bob Sanders), he lost more games injured than he played - but when he WAS healthy, talk about IMPACT. Unfortunately for Portland, Bill's best year was probably 1986 - where he won 6'th Man of the Year with the Celtics in more games played than any other year he was in the NBA.

[@storm_drex492]

Bro I was about to say kg was the best timberwofles center but he was a power forward 😂😂

[@trybutfail375]

👀

[@darianh.2048]

Mark Eaton is not the NBA all time blocks leader it’s Hakeem Olajuwon

[@zamara8217]

Blocks per game smh

[@nancyzheng8479]

I see why u went with Shaq for Orlando, but I truly feel Dwight accomplished more and had a better career with the magic.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

If blocks had been counted in the 1960s and early 1970s, Wilt would probably be the all time BPG leader AND total blocks leader, then Bill - Kareem would be ahead of Hakeem on total blocks, and Nate Thurmond would probably be in the Top 5 on both somewhere.

[@kennyunderwood3602]

mark eaton for the jazz...and dan issell for denver scored over 27000 pnts and 11000 rebounds

[@lj2245]

Do this for every position

[@Efwin197]

Well wilt is also an all time great passing center look at his later years when he wanted to he could pass the heck outa the ball

[@alexguitxrron]

Do Pg

[@bjmartin1215]

Patrick Ewing was outstanding, no question about that. He played for the Knicks for a long time. However Willis Reed was at least as good a shooter, at least as good defensive, maybe better except for blocking shots, and a better rebounder. As far as best Knicks player, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Dave Debusschere, Bernard King, Carmelo Anthony, all are up there. Frazier was the best overall though. God bless you all 🙏🏻 🙏🏼

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

5:45 If you limit Wilt and Kareem to their years with the Lakers, I'd go with Kareem over Wilt - despite 1972. If you go with TOTAL CAREER, Wilt wins - but Kareem can make a strong argument of it.

[@jujuju948]

Wilt is the 3rd best center in Lakers history. Shaq is above him for sure as a Laker

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@jujuju948 Going with JUST their Laker years - perhaps. Wilt did get that knee injury/surgery that slowed him down noticeably VERY early in his Laker's years. Kareem does lose much of HIS prime due to early years on the Bucks. Shaq on the other hand was IN the core of HIS prime in his Lakers years.

[@smokeyjoe795]

Kareem is the greatest center of all time

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@smokeyjoe795 I can agree if you make that "one of the" instead of "the". But it's been a VERY long running debate, and I hold out for Bill Russell as *the* greatest. Bill in UNarguably the greatest Championship Winner in Basketball.

[@leogsparta6340]

Hakeem, hands down..

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

1:42 Artis might have been even better in his ABA years. Scary thought huh?

[@whynot7479]

2:04 DID THAT BRUTHA JUST DUNK ON JORDAN

[@zyconnn1675]

2:04 did he dunk over Jordan?

[@scizorbullet8185]

Yeah

[@zyconnn1675]

@@scizorbullet8185 dammmm

[@scizorbullet8185]

@@zyconnn1675 yeah lol but like most thing MJ tooke it personally and erased the cacs from existence with the shot

[@zyconnn1675]

@@scizorbullet8185 true

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Not as irritating to MJ as having Larry Legend nail a playoff game winning shot over MJ AND Pippen....

[@lukalaydonini8370]

Man, how does Jokic got in the place of the Nonono Mutombo in Nuggets all-time center?

[@chugkingchris]

And wilkens for Atlanta then!

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@chugkingchris 'nique was a FORWARD not a center.

[@joboomer4240]

OMG YOU SHOWED STUDIO C IN THE INTRO

[@dillianvinci7827]

Willis Reed has left the chat

[@Kingswag12]

👀

[@coltvlogs7745]

Lou-Al Cinder

[@danieldeering860]

Lew Alcindor. Lew is short for Lewis

[@bossfan49]

Kareem and Bill Walton, both out of UCLA almost back to back. That was a good run for the Bruins.

[@milesmalick4522]

*Selects Rik Smits* Jermaine Oneal: "Am I joke to you?"

[@chhris.4k472]

should’ve had shaq for lakers, dwight for magic

[@Navvye]

Are you ok? Shaq over the captain Kareem who won 5 titles? No way!

[@Reggie2kj]

Kareem was better than Shaq.

[@janeschroeder4855]

Why does this comment section have to be so mean and rude

[@evolancer211]

Seeing Bradley on here it's kinda sad. Just saw he was in a bicycling accident and was paralyzed.

[@Themegatrolll]

part of me wanted orlando to be dwight lol

[@Jus2K]

2:45 CAP

[@antonlovric261]

Name a better Nuggets center pls

[@Jus2K]

Dikembe Mutombo

[@Jus2K]

For defense btw

[@Randomguy-my8hk]

@@Jus2K no bruh diktambo was for Atlanta hawks

[@lule725]

@@Jus2K its not cap

[@alonshaham2077]

Rudy gobert over karl malone?!

[@elijahmorris9864]

The 67 title for the 76ers with Wilt Chamberlain was not the first title in that franchise history, that same franchise under the name of the Syracuse nationals won a title and 55. At the time their best player was Dolph Schayes.

[@ummmuhhh2832]

Me: Siri, how good was Wes Unseld in his prime? Siri: How good was Ryan's toy reviews in his prime. Me: HOW GOOD WAS WES UNSELD IN HIS PRIME!? Siri: I found 6 results of Ryan's toy reviews cherry pie

[@Carlos-fs6sw]

Shaq was the best center in Orlando, LA, and Miami

[@onixonps4412]

For the Pistons How is it not bill lambeer

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Bill wasn't a great center - he was decent when he played the game instead of playing THUG, but not great.

[@elijahmorris9864]

You didn’t even mention George Mikan’s name for the Lakers for shame.

[@lesterharris8002]

I would say Dan Issel for Denver and Tom Chambers for Phoenix

[@toomaskocys5460]

Hakeem is the best center all time ❌🧢

[@supersmashplush6749]

Yes someone agrees

[@NotGord]

Kareem is the best center of all time

[@allanhouston6759]

Shaq.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Hakeem has a case for GOAT - but overall I'd put Wilt ahead of his as an individual player. It's a legitimate argument though.

[@LJDP74]

Fun fact my thumbnail in the list it should be shaq in Miami and Orlando dwight Howard

[@dvxr_yt1628]

10:04 didn’t know that was a team 😂

[@squishybison564]

It was a team in the 1960s. Also, in the earliest years of the NBA, the Lakers were in Minneapolis as the Minneapolis Lakers.

[@lukecash3500]

Dude Bill Walton was fucking awesome. The defensive win shares tell some more of the story than the basic stats but really the stats don't tell his story. Watch him play and forget about who's scoring or rebounding and you'll understand.

[@kentfreeman8674]

Bob Mcadoo was a surprise cause I wouldve went Lopez got Lakers right considering got alot to choose from Gasol was good choice

[@21rcampos]

For the "Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets" it has to be Biyombo!! ...Alonso Mourning is from another franchise, Mourning played in another franchise, the "charlotte Hornets / New Orleans Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans" where Anthony Davis is the best center

[@jrbandala1757]

It should be tyson chandler for the mavs

[@jameskonnovitch]

Hakeem "the Dream Shake" Olajuwon was and still is in my opinion the GOAT center - for his all around game.

[@bolbol9118]

This guy must have never seen me

[@GameTim3G]

What about Tyson chandler for Mavericks.Championship and dpoy in 2011

[@nathaniellippert9238]

Basketball is one of the few sports you can be 6'7" and be considered short for your position

[@marjanmitkovski6545]

My favorite C Darko Milicic

[@ej8188]

he really put shawn bradley

[@TheBronke]

Ilgauskas is best cavs center for me. Big Z one of the best cavalier in their history. Greetings from Lithuania!

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

9:06 Patrick must feel a bit outnumbered there, surrounded by 3 Celtics (Larry Legend, Kevin McHale, and The Chief)....

[@timmyg831]

Lakers Shaq was more dominant than Lakers Kareem. Kareem was at his best in Milwaukee.

[@smokeyjoe795]

Jabbar was more dominant. Just as good offensively and much better defensively. Kareem started in 1 1975.

[@giovanniciccone1323]

In my team in 2k Artie Gilmore is beast at blocking and post scoring

[@darriuswilliams6007]

Ionno if I remember amari playing center or chris bosh

[@jessicaobrien9009]

What center is doing a one handed full court shot and making it last time I checked it was Steven Adams

[@pierrecalderone]

Eaton should've been the choice for Utah.

[@theycallmedom4157]

If Davis was listed as a center wouldn’t that make Duncan a center too? He played a lot of years at the 5 and it’s the position he won 3 of his 5 championships. I’m just looking for consistency.

[@marvinj1000]

R.I.P Bill Russell

[@danatremblay591]

For Oklahoma City it should be Steven Adams

[@kappapride4551]

the disrespect on The Mail Man

[@ananokukulava3413]

my favorite center is bill walton.

[@preetsingh7257]

Kat is a generational talent Lol🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@krystalarnoldsen8349]

For the paicers you forgot jremaine o neal

[@IQBazae69]

For trail blazers it has to be arvydas sabonis he played his all career there he's one of the best shooting and passing big men

[@tyso_nm]

for Seattle/OKC i think shawn kemp should be there or even a honourable mention

[@theslothboy7498]

Power forward