Most people think of the NBA as a league dominated by superstar guards and wing players. But the best teams have always had a great center leading the way. In this article, we’ll look at the best centers of all time.
1. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is one of the best NBA centers of all time. He played during 1958–1973 for the San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chamberlain holds several NBA records, including most points in a game (100), most points in a season (4,032), and most rebounds in a game (55). He is also one of only two players to ever score more than 70 points in an NBA game. Moreover, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1960 and the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1961 and 1967.
Overall, Chamberlain’s size, strength, and athleticism made him an unstoppable force on the court.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for 20 seasons, winning six NBA championships, and was named MVP six times. Jabbar is also the league’s all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points.
Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force on both ends of the court. He was an excellent shot blocker and rebounder, and his trademark skyhook shot was nearly impossible to defend.
In addition to his individual achievements, Abdul-Jabbar also helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to some of their most successful seasons ever. He is unquestionably one of the greatest players in NBA history.
3. Shaquille O’Neal
Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall and weighing in at over 300 pounds, Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant force on the court. Along with his power and strength, Shaq was also known for his agility and coordination. He was a four-time NBA champion, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, and a 15-time NBA All-Star, during 1992–2011.
O’Neal’s physical dominance was matched by his mental dominance. He was known for his trash talking and his ability to get into the heads of his opponents.
4. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon played for the Houston Rockets for most of his career and was a key member of their back-to-back NBA Championship teams in 1994 and 1995.
Olajuwon was a great scorer and an excellent shot-blocker. He was named the NBA MVP in 1994 and was named to the All-NBA First Team six times. Olajuwon was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice.
Olajuwon was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. His number 34 jersey has been retired by the Houston Rockets.
5. David Robinson
David Robinson is widely considered one of the best NBA centers of all time. He was a ten-time All-Star and a two-time NBA champion.
Robinson was known for his exceptional shooting touch and had the ablity to score from anywhere on the court. Robinson was named the NBA MVP in 1995.
6. Bill Russell
Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. During his time with the Celtics, the team won 11 championships. Russell was a five-time NBA MVP and a 12-time NBA All-Star.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.
Russell was known for his defensive prowess. His defensive skills helped the Celtics become one of the best defensive teams in NBA history.
Russell’s individual accomplishments are impressive, but he is also remembered for his role in helping the Celtics become a dynasty. The Celtics won eight championships in a row from 1959 to 1966. They also won two more championships in 1968 and 1969. During this time, the Celtics were widely considered to be the best team in NBA history.
Bill Russell was an incredible player who had a huge impact on both ends of the court. He is rightfully considered one of the best NBA centers of all time.
The NBA has seen some great centers over the years, and it’s hard to narrow it down to just six. However, these six centers have truly left their mark on the game and are considered the best of all time.