Ranking: The Top 30 centers for the 2024-25 season (2024)

2023-24 stats: 26.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.9 bpg, 58.3 FG%, 35.9 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,415,938 (projected 2nd overallin salary)

Unquestionably the best basketball player in the world today, Denver Nuggets superstarNikola Jokic is coming off a campaign in which he won his third MVP award in four seasons, in which he was named 1st Team All-NBA for the fourth time and in which he was named an All-Star for the sixth time.

Ultimately, Jokic wasn’t able to lead Denver to a second championship in a row but he did carry Serbia to a bronze medal in the Summer Olympics this offseason, so his year wasn’t empty of team hardware.

We already rank Jokic as a Top 30 player in NBA history and if anything, based on his accolades over the past five years, we might underrating him considering he has more MVP awards than a lot of the players just ahead of him on the list.

Regardless, Jokic hasn’t even turned 30 yet, so we’re excited to see where he lands in our all-time player ranking in five years based on how many more accolades he earns in his prime. The fact that Jokic’s game is not predicated on athleticism much at all makes us believe we could be looking at a LeBronJames-esque peak by the Serbian center, who can score, rebound and create at elite levels.

For the latest Nikola Jokic news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 34.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.7 bpg, 52.9 FG%, 38.8 3P% in 39 games
2024-25 earnings: $51,415,938 (projected 2nd overallin salary)

Had Philadelphia 76ers starJoel Embiid been healthier in 2023-24, he might have been looking at a second MVP award in a row, his numbers in limited action were that impressive.

Embiid led the league in scoring, though he didn’t qualify for the scoring title due to games missed, while also posting 11 rebounds nightly, over five assists, one steal and nearly two blocks per game. And he did that all while shooting almost 53 percent from the floor (39 percent from three) and facing opposing teams’ best big-man defender every night, even often staring at double-teams. Those are the numbers a modern-day Wilt Chamberlain might be posting if his prime were taking place today.

Embiid’s had poor injury luck in his career, and he has not been able to step up in the playoffs to get Philadelphia past the second round yet, but there’s no question he’s one of the greatest centers ever. Plus, for how much flak he caught for some of his play on Team USA this summer, the Americans very likely would have lost to Jokic’s Serbia in the semifinal if not for Embiid’s 19 points on eight-for-11 shooting, which included multiple clutch fourth-quarter buckets in what was a tight game. (He outscored Jokic in that outing, by the way, with six fewer shot attempts at that.)

That Olympic outing gives us hope Embiid could make a deep playoff run at some point, perhaps as soon as this year if the replacement of Tobias Harris withPaul George by the Sixers is as impactful as it should be.

For the latest Joel Embiid news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 24.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.3 bpg, 55.6 FG%, 27.1 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,219,440 (projected 16th overallin salary)

Coming off the healthiest season of his career based on games played, Los Angeles Lakers centerAnthony Davis remains one of the best big men in the league, an absolute monster on both ends of the floor thanks to his very unique quickness in a 6-foot-10, 250-pound package.

Davis possesses guard-like skills at his size, can face-up and score on slower-footed big men, hit shots off the dribble, drive and finish over anyone thanks to his unreal length, block shots at an elite rate, rebound extremely well on both ends and even do some light playmaking.

The former No. 1 overall pick has lived up to his draft billing and then some in his NBA career, and is another future Hall-of-Famer already on this list, which has been loaded with top-end talent so far. Speaking of which, Davis ranked as roughly a Top 10 player in the league according to VORP, WS/48 and BPM last season, and looks primed to take over the mantle for LeBron James and keep the Lakers in borderline contention whenever the four-time league MVP does finally decide to call it quits.

For the latest Anthony Davis news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.6 bpg, 46.5 FG%, 32.5 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,768,664 (projected 129th overallin salary)

It goes to show just how loaded the center position is in this day and age that we just went from two perennial MVP candidates and a third guaranteed future Hall-of-Famer to now, the most promising prospect in recent league history, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is special for so many reasons, particularly the fact he’s 7-foot-4 with a reported 8-foot wingspan to go with his unreal quickness for his size and otherworldly skill level. If you agree with what we wrote about Anthony Davis having guard-like skills, then Wembanyama might as well be a 7-foot-4 Chris Paul because his ball-handling and off-the-dribble scoring ability put pretty much every other player on this ranking to shame. He at times resembles an even biggerKevin Durant out there on offense, able to knock down shots on pull-ups, step-backs and crossovers, all while defending at the level of Davis, a scary mix of two all-time greats.

Wembanyama just became the first rookie in league history to earn 1st Team All-Defense honors and he was even getting shouts to earn Defensive Player of the Year in his inaugural campaign, giving us little doubt he’ll eventually win that award, more than likely multiple times.

That’s not the only major accolade we see Wembanyama winning in the future, as the French center has potential league MVP written all over him, he should be that dominant on both ends of the floor. He’s got a great mentality, too, really seeming to value winning over personal glory, as evidenced by his reaction when his French national team fell to Team USA in the gold medal game at the Olympics this summer.

@bleacherreport

Wemby was emotional after France lost to USA in the Olympic final 😓 (via @Raphadobrazil) #victorwembanyama #basketball #nba #olympics #lebron

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In all, the Spurs have a truly special talent on their hands and we can’t wait to see how his game grows from his rookie to his sophom*ore campaigns.

For the latest Victor Wembanyama news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 19.4 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 8.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 59.4 FG%, 37.9 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $40,500,000 (projected 26th overallin salary)

If he didn’t peak in the era of Jokic, Sacramento Kings big manDomantas Sabonis would be seen as one of the best playmaking centers of all time, as he’s putting up seven assists per contest over the past four seasons. That’s no easy feat for a center, we’ve just become desensitized to it due to Jokic’s utter playmaking brilliance.

On top of the plus-passing, Sabonis is also a monster rebounder, leading the league in nightly boards over the past two seasons at 12.3 and 13.7 respectively in 2022-23 and 2023-24. That’s to go with being a great face-up scorer with solid post moves down low; Sabonis can hit jumpers or drive by slower-footed bigs, or beat up smaller defenders in the post for easy lefty finishes.

The one area in which Sabonis is lacking is as a defender, as his quick first step doesn’t translate to the less glamorous side of the floor on switches, nor does he protect the rim one iota, which has made it difficult for the Kings to play good enough defense to really contend for anything but a playoff spot in the West.

For what it’s worth, the Kings were 2.1 points per 100 possessions worse with Sabonis on the floor last season.

Still, Sabonis is an All-NBA-level center, even earning MVP votes over the past two campaigns, so Sacramento is almost certainly still glad it made theTyrese Haliburton-for-Sabonis swap.

For the latest Domantas Sabonis news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.9 bpg, 52.1 FG%, 35.7 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,848,340 (projected 39th overallin salary)

Right on the cusp of that All-NBA distinction over recent years, Miami Heat big manBam Adebayo has made back-to-back All-Star appearances, helped lead the Heat to the Finals two years ago and just won a gold medal with Team USA this summer. That’s to go with five straight All-Defensive Team honors and a Top 5 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the last five campaigns, peaking with a third-place finish in 2023-24.

What’s more, Adebayo is far from just a defender, as the former Kentucky Wildcat also has a blossoming offensive game, possessing the ability to hit pull-up, off-the-dribble jumpers and spot-up looks from the midrange. He can also grab a rebound and bring the ball down the court, can pass at a high level for a center – just maybe not on that Jokic/Sabonis level – and rebounds very well despite being just 6-foot-9.

All Adebayo is really missing is that reliable three-point jumper, though if his Team USA stint this summer is any indication, there’s a chance that could be coming at some point. If the 27-year-old can at least hit spot-up corner three-pointers, that would open up his already impressive offensive game even more.

For the latest Bam Adebayo news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 14.0 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 2.1 bpg, 66.1 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $43,827,586 (projected 15th overallin salary)

The heavily criticizedRudy Gobert gave his detractors some ammunition this summer when he got benched during France’s run to the gold-medal game. With France struggling in exhibition games and early in the tournament, French head coachVincent Collet went with Wembanyama and a smaller lineup around him, using Gobert as a deep bench piece who didn’t see that much action in the knockout rounds.

Still, that’s nowhere near enough for us to knock Gobert in this ranking, as the double-double machine is a fantastic finisher around the basket to go with his obviously elite defensive impact, which earned him the fourth Defensive Player of the Year award of his career in 2023-24. Gobert also played a large part in getting his Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season, so his last year has had plenty of team success despite his somewhat rough go with France.

The Gobert detractors will likely never lay off when it comes to the French big man, using his limited offensive game and poor defense on ball-handlers against him, but there’s no question the 32-year-old is one of the best defenders of all time and a future Hall-of-Famer.

For the latest Rudy Gobert news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 21.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.7 bpg, 53.7 FG%, 29.7 3P% in 63 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,424,654 (projected 237th overallin salary)

A promising center with a decently high ceiling thanks to his offensive game, Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun has been described as a Jokic Lite in the past, a big man who can score at a high level in maybe not the most orthodox ways and also create for teammates with flashy passes.

Sengun has a funky offensive game, making him a tough cover for opponents who often have no clue which way he’s going to turn next. A face-up specialist with driving ability, Sengun finished third in the Most Improved Player vote last season and might have gotten more consideration if he didn’t miss nearly 20 games due to injury.

Houston should be getting huge value out of Sengun in 2024-25 considering he’s set to be paid just $5.4 million next season. If Sengun even just replicates his 2023-24 output next league year while earning that salary, the Rockets will be getting a steal value-wise when it comes to their starting center, who already got All-Star consideration last season.

We think All-Star for Sengun in 2024-25 is a perfectly reasonable expectation.

For the latest Alperen Sengun news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 16.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.3 bpg, 53.0 FG%, 37.0 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $10,880,640 (projected 155th overallin salary)

The second-place finisher in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023-24, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren had a great inaugural campaign in the Association, flashing immense skills on both ends of the floor, primarily as a face-up scorer with driving ability but also as an elite shot-blocker, one who ranked in the Top 5 in nightly rejections last season.

Holmgren’s narrow shoulders and lack of strength could be a hindrance as far as projecting his overall ceiling but he does seem like a player who could be an All-Star one day. We’d just like to see what his Year 1 to Year 2 jump looks like before making any bold proclamations about him.

Overall, Holmgren, who’s basically a wing who plays center, does have plenty of upside and we’re excited to see what he looks like in his sophom*ore season, especially on the offensive end of the floor if his three-point shooting takes a leap.

For the latest Chet Holmgren news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 20.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.9 bpg, 51.6 FG%, 37.5 3P% in 57 games
2024-25 earnings: $29,268,293 (projected 54th overallin salary)

2023-24 was pretty much a microcosm of big man Kristaps Porzingis’ career. He played like an All-Star but missed 25 regular-season games and then another 12 playoff games due to injury, ultimately sitting out most of the Boston Celtics’ championship run.

It was truly unfortunate as p*rnzigis had acclimated beautifully to playing with Boston, scoring at a high level, rebounding, blocking shots and hitting deep threes to open up the rest of the Celtics’ potent offense, fitting in wonderfully to the team’s championship puzzle.

Here’s hoping for better health for Porzingis in 2024-25, as the original Unicorn was one of the first modern big men to revitalize the decaying center position eight years ago when he got drafted by the New York Knicks.

For the latest Kristaps Porzingis news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.9 bpg, 52.4 FG%, 35.8 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $19,928,500 (projected 87th overallin salary)

One of the NBA’s unicorns thanks to his ability to block shots and hit threes, the Indiana Pacers’Myles Turner has been playing some of the most impactful basketball of his career over the past few seasons, peaking in 2023-24 as he helped play an instrumental role in Indiana’s Eastern Conference Finals charge.

Turner isn’t a star but he’s a good starting center, more productive than a role player as he can do plenty of face-up scoring as opposed to needing to be spoon-fed finishes like some other big men. Roughly a Top 100 player according to just about every advanced analytic, Turner enters 2024-25 with it being a contract year for him, even more motivation for the former Texas standout to have a career season.

For the latest Myles Turner news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 16.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.1 bpg, 63.4 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 77 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,000,000 (projected 85th overallin salary)

Veteran big man Jarrett Allen helps form a very athletic frontcourt alongside blossoming power forwardEvan Mobley for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Mobley ranking as the No. 9 power forward in our recent ranking.

Allen is more limited offensively than Mobley, as he’s not even going to shoot midrange jumpers a lot of the time, let alone three-pointers, but he’s one of the best around-the-rim finishers in the league, shooting 63 percent from the field for his career. The big man is also a very adept pick-and-roll finisher, possessing good hands to catch passes in traffic, and the length and athleticism to finish above the rim over defenders. On the other end, Allen uses his quick hands and timing to block shots and pick up deflections leading to steals, so his value is very much on both sides of the floor.

The Cavs extended Allen’s contract this summer but that reportedly won’t stop teams from registering trade interest in him, so that will be something to keep an eye on with Allen in 2024-25.

For the latest Jarrett Allen news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 18.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.8 bpg, 48.4 FG%, 29.4 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $20,000,000 (projected 85th overallin salary)

Two-time All-StarNikola Vucevic is now 33 years old, and although his production remains pretty decent – averaging an 18-and-10 double-double is no joke after all – his impact to winning has been pretty poor over recent seasons, particularly due to his bad outside shooting and lackluster defending.

Over the past three seasons combined, Vucevic is shooting just 33.2 percent from three, hitting rock bottom in 2023-24 at 29.4 percent. Vucevic used to be able to score and rebound well enough to be hugely impactful on a nightly basis but that hasn’t been the case over the past two campaigns, as the Chicago Bulls have been 7.2 points per 100 possessions worse with their starting center on the floor since 2022-23.

Still, not many centers can match Vucevic when it comes to face-up scoring and rebounding, so he remains one of the better starting pure centers in the Eastern Conference. Maybe he’ll rediscover his outside shooting stroke in 2024-25 – offseason pickup Josh Giddey and his playmaking might be able to help with that.

For the latest Nikola Vucevic news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.9 bpg, 47.7 FG%, 41.4 3P% in 81 games
2024-25 earnings: $13,986,432 (projected 117th overallin salary)

One of the best utility bigs in the league, Minnesota’sNaz Reid can either come off the bench and make high-level plays or even start from time to time, where he handles the complementary role quite well thanks to his ability to space the floor from three or drive and finish around the rim on hard closeouts by defenders.

Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 (he’s that effective coming off the bench), thanks in large part to his career-high 41.4 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. The former LSU Tiger even saw a lot of minutes in closing lineups in the playoffs last season, at times in favor of Karl-Anthony Towns, which will be something to keep an eye on as Minnesota’s payroll is set to get pricey over the coming years. (The Wolves project to have the second-highest payroll in the league this upcoming season.)

All in all, Reid is a smooth scorer, much more comfortable purely getting buckets than a lot of other centers, and we expect another great year out of him in 2024-25.

The fact he’ll be earning just under $14 million next season makes us think he’ll be one of the best value contracts in the league this upcoming campaign, as most of the advanced metrics had Reid as a Top 75 player in the league last year, while he won’t be even Top 115 in salary in 2024-25.

For the latest Naz Reid news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 16.7 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.8 bpg, 57.0 FG%, 10.0 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $34,005,126 (projected 43rd overallin salary)

Former No. 1 overall pickDeandre Ayton has had a pretty disappointing NBA career all things considered.

On one hand, he did play a part in his former team, the Phoenix Suns, making it all the way to the NBA Finals in 2020-21. On the other hand, that didn’t stop the Suns from trading him just a few years later to the Portland Trail Blazers, pretty much giving up on their former top overall draft pick.

Physically and skill-wise, Ayton has a ton of potential, as he’s quite athletic and has great size for a center, with the quickness needed to thrive in the modern NBA, as well as a solid shooting touch from the short midrange. But his feel for the game just isn’t all that great (whenever he touches the ball, he’s either looking to score or kick it out to reset the offense, rarely making high-level passes leading to assists), for his solid midrange stroke he doesn’t shoot threes and he doesn’t defend anywhere near as well as he should considering his length and leaping ability.

Maybe 2024-25 will be the year Ayton can put it all together more consistently, as he does have All-Star potential, is still just 26 years old and will still be on a Portland team with next-to-no expectations. But it’s gotten to the point where we’re going to have to see it to believe it when it comes to Ayton starting to reach that higher ceiling.

For the latest Deandre Ayton news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 8.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.4 bpg, 74.7 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $5,014,409 (projected 248th overallin salary)

After a very strong rookie season, Dallas’Dereck Lively heads into 2024-25 with heightened expectations, potentially even to earn a starting job for the Mavericks depending on if he can outplay Daniel Gafford in training camp and the preseason.

Lively is an explosive athlete around the rim with quick feet and elite finishing touch, a monster of a big man perfectly suited to finish lobs and dump-offs from a playmaker as great as Luka Doncic. Lively produced a beastly 1.39 points per possession (PPP) as the pick-and-roll roll man in 2023-24 to place him in the league’s 86th percentile. The Duke product should be able to improve on that mark as a sophom*ore in the NBA, too, as he gets stronger and more accustomed to the league’s physicality, a scary proposition for Mavs opponents in 2024-25.

In all, we’re pretty high on Lively even if his upside is diminished by his lack of outside-the-paint scoring. When you’re as good as he is at finishing near the rim while also swatting away shots and protecting the paint on the other end, that’s the kind of player you can win a lot of games with, as Dallas hopes to find out over the coming years.

For the latest Dereck Lively news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 11.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.1 bpg, 62.9 FG%, 20.0 3P% in 71 games
2024-25 earnings: $27,556,817 (projected 57th overallin salary)

A mobile big man on defense who almost has the Adebayo quality of being able to defend guards as a center, the Brooklyn Nets’Nicolas Claxton was rewarded by the team for his development by signing a $100 million deal with the franchise this summer.

Claxton is a great rebounder, an underrated passer, especially out of the short roll, a top-notch shot-blocker and he can even hit short midrange jumpers from time to time.

He does lack some of the size to battle it out with bigger centers on some nights but overall, he’s a positive-impact player and one of the better starting centers in the East, one who just does his job, makes energy plays and won’t try to do too much beyond his capabilities.

For the latest Nicolas Claxton news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 7.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 64.4 FG%, 33.3 3P% in 75 games
2024-25 earnings: $30,000,000 (projected 48th overallin salary)

Although his raw scoring and rebounding numbers might not reflect it, new Oklahoma City Thunder player Isaiah Hartenstein had a great 2023-24 season, consistently making winning plays for New York to the point he made the team an almost preposterous 11.0 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor.

Hartenstein can do a bit of everything besides score at a high level, as he rebounds, boxes out, does the dirty work, sets hard screens, moves the ball well and even racks up steals and blocks, making it clear why the Thunder were interested enough in him to sign him to a contract worth nearly $90 million this offseason despite his averaging under eight points last season.

His low-usage style will fit in perfectly with what the Thunder were lacking last season, as the team appeared one starter-level center away from making a deeper playoff run. Hartenstein should adapt wonderfully to the project Oklahoma City has going on, finishing plays set up by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and helpingChet Holmgren, who’s a bit lacking in the strength department, man the frontcourt a bit more physically.

For the latest Isaiah Hartenstein news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 12.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.5 spg, 2.4 bpg, 48.5 FG%, 36.6 3P% in 79 games
2024-25 earnings: $23,000,000 (projected 73rd overallin salary)

The agelessBrook Lopez continues to trek along as a solid starting center, posting a decent 2023-24 season after reportedly spurning the Rockets last summer to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lopez’s two main skills are as a shot-blocker and a three-point shooter from the 5-spot, ranking third in the NBA in blocks per game at 2.4 while hitting a solid 36-plus percent of his three last year.

Lopez, now 36, isn’t as quick as he once away (and he was never that quick to begin with), limiting his impact a bit, and we might be getting closer to the point where he’s no longer a 30-minute-per-game player like he has been over the last two seasons.

But even if he goes to a smaller role, we think he can still make a good impact in 20-minute spurts considering how great of a shot-blocker he remains to this day.

For the latest Brook Lopez news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 11.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.9 spg, 2.1 bpg, 72.5 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 74 games
2024-25 earnings: $13,394,160 (projected 119th overallin salary)

Another highly efficient finisher out of the Dallas frontcourt,Daniel Gafford led the NBA in field-goal percentage in 2023-24 at an astounding 72.5 percent. As a member of the Mavericks, that number was actually 78.0 percent over 29 games, an astonishing mark that makes us think Gafford could have a big 2024-25, at least when it comes to finishing plays.

Gafford is athletic and has good length and strength, which helps him finish around the basket, even against bigger defenders. He also uses his athleticism and length well on defense, where he blocked over two shots nightly last season, which played a large part in Dallas making that trip to the Finals.

With a full training camp and preseason with the team, Gafford should have an even better 2024-25 and we’re excited to see what that might look like both for the former Arkansas standout and the Mavericks as a whole.

For the latest Daniel Gafford news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 10.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, 51.0 FG%, 24.4 3P% in 76 games
2024-25 earnings: $18,125,000 (projected 96th overallin salary)

When the Sunsgave up on Ayton, they brought in veteran big man Jusuf Nurkic to replace him in the starting lineup, and Nurkic acquitted himself nicely in his first season with the team, averaging a double-double while doing some nice things as a playmaker and shot-blocker.

Still, Phoenix struggled on the year mostly due to its lack of a pure point guard on the roster, which the team went out and fixed this summer by adding Tyus Jones andMonte Morris to the rotation. Perhaps those additions will help Nurkic focus less on playmaking from the elbow and more on finishing around the rim.

For the latest Jusuf Nurkic news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.8 bpg, 55.9 FG%, 30.8 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $9,900,000 (projected 164th overallin salary)

If there has ever been a player who could see a bounce-back production-wise after joining a new team, it’s Lithuanian big manJonas Valanciunas, who joined the Washington Wizards this summer after two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Valanciunas just two seasons ago was putting up 18 and 11 per night in New Orleans but saw his role diminish greatly since then. But now joining a Wizards team so lacking in frontcourt depth and overall talent, Valanciunas, who’s still just 32, should start to get way more looks on a nightly basis.

Will it lead to many wins for the Wizards? Almost certainly not but if nothing else, it will be fun to watch a throwback post-up big man like Valanciunas go to work on the low block in 2024-25.

For the latest Jonas Valanciunas news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.4 bpg, 50.8 FG%, 40.7 3P% in 82 games
2024-25 earnings: $12,578,286 (projected 133rd overallin salary)

One of the better floor-spacing centers in the league, Milwaukee’sBobby Portis hit nearly 41 percent of his triples last season while further contributing off-the-dribble buckets for the Bucks.

Portis is also a solid rebounder on the offensive end and plays with a good amount of energy. He’s also a great pest who can really get under opponents’ skin with his antics – and we mean that as a positive, at least if you’re a Bucks fan.

On the other end, his defense is pretty nonexistent as he doesn’t block shots nor does he move his feet well enough to defend positively on switches but even so, his offense is good enough that he’s a positive-impact player when he’s out there.

For the latest Bobby Portis news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 12.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.1 bpg, 64.9 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 19 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,094,280 (projected 272nd overallin salary)

A back injury limited second-year centerMark Williams to just 19 games for the Hornets last season, which is a shame because he was playing some very solid basketball before going down, averaging nearly a double-double while rejecting over one shot per game and hitting almost 65 percent of his field-goal attempts.

Williams is like an early 2010s throwback center in that he’s not going to post up much or space the floor but he is quite athletic and long, so he can finish out of the pick-and-roll, above the rim and over defenders with strength, he’s just not going to grab a rebound and bring the ball down or launch threes.

And that’s perfectly fine as Williams is athletic enough to excel in his role as a rim-diving center who protects the rim on the other end. We think Williams could have a solid third season if he can stay healthy, especially with playmakers as adept as LaMelo Ball and Vasilije Micicthrowing him lobs.

For the latest Mark Williams news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 11.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.5 bpg, 57.1 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 73 games
2024-25 earnings: $22,265,280 (projected 79th overallin salary)

It feels like yesterday that the Atlanta Hawks acquiring big manClint Capela from the Rockets was huge news. And early on, the hype was warranted, as Capela’s first season in Atlanta saw him average 15.2 points, a league-leading 14.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks on over 59 percent shooting from the floor. Capela earned Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year award votes that year.

Now, Capela has been the subject of what feels like annual trade talks. If the Hawks do want to deal the still-just-30-year-old center, they might have an easier time of it at this upcoming deadline considering Capela is about to be on the last year of his contract.

Capela might have lost a step athletically but he’s still a good rebounder and finisher around the basket, and could help out a contender in need of some toughness down low.

For the latest Clint Capela news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 11.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.3 spg, 1.2 bpg, 64.9 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 68 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,743,210 (projected 142nd overallin salary)

What does it say about the strength of the center position these days that we’re outside of the Top 25 and still listing solid-starter-level players like Los Angeles Clippers big man Ivica Zubac? (For comparison’s sake, just go look at our Top 30 power forwards and peep No. 26 through No. 30 and compare it to the next players on this list, including Zubac.)

Regardless, Zubac is more of a limited big man but can be quite effective in his role, rebounding well, setting elite screens and blocking shots down low. He may not be able to close games every single night due to his limitations but in 25-minute spurts, he can do some damage.

For the latest Ivica Zubac news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 13.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.8 bpg, 61.9 FG%, 0.0 3P% in 61 games
2024-25 earnings: $4,536,840 (projected 261st overallin salary)

One of the lone bright spots over recent years for the Detroit Pistons has been the early emergence of big manJalen Duren, who already averaged a double-double in his second season, doing so while shooting nearly 62 percent from the floor.

Oh, and even though the season ended months ago at the time of this writing, Duren still hasn’t even turned 21 years old yet, indicating he’s got huge promise as a player. The fact Duren can even pass the ball a bit out of the short roll is yet another reason to buy stock in him as a player now before it gets too pricey.

For the latest Jalen Duren news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 8.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.0 bpg, 51.1 FG%, 41.9 3P% in 65 games
2024-25 earnings: $9,500,000 (projected 168th overallin salary)

One of the few remaining players from the 2007 draft class along withKevin Durant andMike Conley, Boston’sAl Horford is still an impactful player when he’s out there, a big man who can hit threes, especially from the corners, as well as keep the ball moving, battle on the glass and provide great leadership. That Horford started so many games during the Celtics’ recent championship run – as a 38-year-old, no less – just speaks to how solid of a role player he remains at this point in his career.

For the latest Al Horford news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2023-24 stats: 11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.5 bpg, 52.5 FG%, 37.4 3P% in 55 games
2024-25 earnings: $11,950,000 (projected 141st overallin salary)

Despite being in the NBA since 2018-19, the Orlando Magic’sWendell Carter Jr. is still just 25 years old. Now, that doesn’t mean we think he’s got some huge untapped ceiling that he’s going to reach at this point but as is, he’s a pretty solid starting center, a big man who can space the floor a bit and do some face-up scoring.

For the latest Wendell Carter Jr. news, rumors and salary info, click here.

2024-25 earnings: $12,600,000 (projected 132nd overallin salary)

Veteran big manSteven Adams missed all of 2023-24 due to injury but looks set to return in 2024-25. We expect to see the same ole’ Adams when he gets back, an elite screen-setter who boxes out extremely well even if he doesn’t always nab rebounds at high numbers himself. Adams is also a solid finisher around the basket and an all-around well-liked player in the NBA.

For the latest Steven Adams news, rumors and salary info, click here.