All-Time Best Centers (NBA)

In order to evaluate each Center in a comprehensive manner, only Centers who have retired are included in these rankings.

1.      Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1989), 7-2 245 lbs.

Teams: Milwaukee, L.A. Lakers

NBA Finals Appearances: 10

NBA Titles: 6

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 2

Playoff Appearances: 18

NBA MVP: 6

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 10

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 5

All-Defensive Team Selections: 11

All-Star Games: 19

Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 55.9 FG%, 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG

2.      Bill Russell (1956-1969), 6-10 220 lbs.

Teams: Boston

NBA Finals Appearances: 12

NBA Titles: 11

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 6

Playoff Appearances: 13

NBA MVP: 5

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 3

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 8

All-Defensive Team Selections: 1

All-Star Games: 12

Career Stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 44.0 FG%, 1.5 SPG, 3.5 BPG

3.      Shaquille O’Neal (1993-2011), 7-1 325 lbs.

Teams: Orlando, L.A. Lakers, Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland, Boston

NBA Finals Appearances: 6

NBA Titles: 4

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 3

Playoff Appearances: 17

NBA MVP: 1

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 8

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 2

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 4

All-Defensive Team Selections: 3

All-Star Games: 15

Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 58.2 FG%, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG

4.      Wilt Chamberlain (1960-1973), 7-1 275 lbs.

Teams: Philadelphia, L.A. Lakers

NBA Finals Appearances: 6

NBA Titles: 2

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 1

Playoff Appearances: 13

NBA MVP: 4

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 7

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 3

All-Defensive Team Selections: 2

All-Star Games: 13

Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 54.0 FG%, 1.0 SPG, 5.0 BPG

5.      Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-2002), 7-0 255 lbs.

Teams: Houston, Toronto

NBA Finals Appearances: 2

NBA Titles: 2

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 1

Playoff Appearances: 15

NBA MVP: 1

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 6

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 3

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 3

All-Defensive Team Selections: 9

All-Star Games: 12

Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 51.2 FG%, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG

6.      David Robinson (1989-2003), 7-1 245 lbs.

Teams: San Antonio

NBA Finals Appearances: 2

NBA Titles: 2

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 0

Playoff Appearances: 12

NBA MVP: 1

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 4

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 2

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 4

All-Defensive Team Selections: 8

All-Star Games: 10

Career Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 51.8 FG%, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG

7.      Patrick Ewing (1985-2002), 7-0 250 lbs.

Teams: New York

NBA Finals Appearances: 2

NBA Titles: 0

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 0

Playoff Appearances: 11

NBA MVP: 0

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 1

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 6

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 0

All-Defensive Team Selections: 3

All-Star Games: 11

Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.4 FG%, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG

8.      Robert Parish (1976-1997), 7-0 240 lbs.

Teams: Golden State, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago

NBA Finals Appearances: 6

NBA Titles: 4

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 0

Playoff Appearances: 16

NBA MVP: 0

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 0

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 1

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 1

All-Defensive Team Selections: 0

All-Star Games: 9

Career Stats: 14.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 53.7 FG%, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG

9.      Alonzo Mourning (1992-2008), 6-10 260 lbs.

Teams: Charlotte, Miami, New Jersey

NBA Finals Appearances: 1

NBA Titles: 1

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 0

Playoff Appearances: 11

NBA MVP: 0

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 1

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 1

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 0

All-Defensive Team Selections: 2

All-Star Games: 7

Career Stats: 17.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 52.7 FG%, 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG

10.   Dikembe Mutombo (1991-2009), 7-2 260 lbs.

Teams: Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Houston

NBA Finals Appearances: 1

NBA Titles: 0

NBA Finals MVP Honors: 0

Playoff Appearances: 13

NBA MVP: 0

1^st Team All-NBA Selections: 0

2^nd Team All-NBA Selections: 1

3^rd Team All-NBA Selections: 2

All-Defensive Team Selections: 6

All-Star Games: 8

Career Stats: 9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 51.8 FG%, 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG