Top NBA Centers Ranked: 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Tiers

Explore Jeff Edgerton's comprehensive guide ranking the NBA's top 30 starting centers, featuring tiered analysis and key insights for the upcoming fantasy basketball season.

September 22, 2025

Top NBA Centers Ranked: 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Tiers

By:

Jeff Edgerton

September 22, 2025

Unlike our previous articles covering Guard and Forward tiers, ranking centers is a bit simpler. We have ample evidence to predict who the 30 starting centers will be when the regular season begins, which makes the list easier to assemble. In this article, we'll arrange the players into five tiers, including a list of honorable mentions who will also have an impact.

TIER 1

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets : My first two selections probably belong in their own tier, so we'll call them "1a" and go from there. Jokic isn't just a great center—he's a multi-category behemoth who threatens the triple-double threshold nightly. Put simply, he's redefined the center position, and other teams do their best to find a special player who can fill the same role. That's a tall order, because Jokic is one of those once-in-a-generation players who can do it all.

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs : Wembanyama went down with a season-ending DVT injury in his shoulder in mid-February, but he still finished in the Top 20 in eight-category leagues. That gives you an idea of the torrid pace he was setting. In his first season, he averaged 3.8 blocks AND 3.1 three-pointers per game, a feat unmatched in NBA history. If anyone can challenge Jokic's supremacy, it's probably Wemby, who will continue to develop as a multi-category star as long as he stays healthy. He's been cleared to play and should be a full go for training camp.

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

TIER 1

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings : I will rank Sabonis higher than most, but all you have to do is look at his historical numbers to justify the boost. Two seasons ago, Sabonis recorded more triple-doubles than Nikola Jokic but went largely unnoticed in the MVP race. He fell off that number a bit after playing only 70 games last season, and additions like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine eased the big man's pressure to score. He set a career high last season with an average of 13.9 rebounds per game, and supplemented that with averages of 19.2 points and 6.0 assists.

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks : Although Father Time is nipping at his heels, Davis still has a lot of gas left in the tank. Despite his longevity, injuries have always been a concern. Over the past five seasons, he's appeared in an average of 51.8 games and is also coming back after eye surgery to repair a detached retina. Davis couldn't have found a better spot to land, as the Mavericks have a deep depth chart of big men who can provide support for Davis and keep him fresh for critical moments. Dallas gave up a lot to acquire him, so the pressure is on for him to have a career year.

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks : Towns flourished in his first season with the Knicks, as the move to full-time center seemed to suit him well. He averaged 12.8 rebounds per game and made plays all over the court as a scorer. He averaged 24.4 points per game via points in the paint, mid-range shots, and a much-improved perimeter game. It's possible that new head coach Mike Brown could take steps to alter Towns' role and move him back out to the four, but it's smarter not to fix what isn't broken.

TIER 2

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers : We'll try to answer the same question we ask about Embiid every season—can he stay healthy? When he's on the court, few can match his scoring and defending capabilities, but he's a frustrating fantasy prospect. He made only 58 appearances over the past two seasons, which is a far cry from paying off an early-round fantasy draft pick. He's in Tier 2 based on his raw potential, but his propensity for injury is a glaring issue.

Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder : Holmgren was a key piece of the Thunder's championship title run despite missing three months of the season. He averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 32 games, and also led the team with 2.6 blocks per game. His foot injury is behind him, and his fantasy potential is uncapped if he can stay on the floor. While Holmgren isn't a conventional center in most schemes, he's a constant presence under the basket and will often man the five when Isaiah Hartenstein isn't on the court.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat : Few centers have matched Adebayo's consistency over the past few seasons. The durable Kentucky product has played at least 71 games over the past three seasons and has displayed apt scoring and rebounding throughout. He'll remain a primary engine in Miami's offense. In terms of a safe ROI, Adebayo is probably at the top of the list, as the addition of Kel'el Ware will help keep the veteran fresh after the youngster proved his viability at the five position over the last season.

Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks : Only time will tell if Turner's arrival bears the expected fruit. After a long tenure with Brook Lopez, Turner is Milwaukee's new big man, although Bobby Portis is still around to pick up some minutes. Turner's results will depend heavily on his integration with Giannis Antetokounmpo. If we use Pascal Siakam as a comparison, Turner's presence was a great benefit to his teammate. He picked up most of the dirty work and allowed Siakam to score at will. The Bucks hope he can fill a similar role.

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets : Will Kevin Durant's presence help or hurt Sengun's bottom line? If we were talking about the 2015 version of Kevin Durant, I'd be slightly worried. The 2025 version is a different story. Durant will still be the aggressive defender he's always been, but as his age catches up with him, his days of mixing it up inside are mostly behind him. With a superior center like Sengun under the basket, Durant won't be concerned about rebounds, and it's what Sengun does best. Sengun averaged 10.3 rebounds per game last season and had one 20-rebound result to his credit. He's not a great free-throw shooter, but his overall field goal percentage (49.6) is pretty good. Sengun suffered a mild decline in points last season, but his averages should still hover around 20 points per game.

TIER 3

Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls : Like Adebayo, Vucevic has been incredibly consistent throughout his career. He's averaged a double-double in 11 of his 14 years as a pro, and he's currently on a seven-year streak in the category. He'll return with a virtually identical core this season, so while there aren't any significant upgrades, Vucevic's production should remain steady due to the lack of competition on the depth chart.

Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers : Last season was a bellwether moment for Zubac, who had spent most of his career platooning with other centers. Over most of his career, he rarely saw more than 25 minutes on the floor, but the 2024-25 season revealed a thin depth chart where Zubac would be called upon to shoulder a heavier load. He tackled the challenge with aplomb and finished with the best season of his nine-year pro career. In the offseason, the Clippers added Brook Lopez and John Collins to shore up the frontcourt, so Zubac may revert to the kind of usage he had in previous seasons. They didn't acquire Lopez so he could sit on the bench, so the team must have some concern about Zubac's usage despite going injury-free through 80 games. If he goes back to his customary usage, he would have to be dropped a tier in this list.

Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers : Clingan started 37 of 67 games last season, and he'll begin the year atop the depth chart at the center position. His standout play convinced the team to move on from Deandre Ayton, although Robert Williams, Duop Reath and rookie Yang Hansen loom in the wings. None of the three big men poses a serious threat to Clingan's role at present, and the Trail Blazers are depending on a breakout year from the sophomore.

Kristaps Porzingis, Atlanta Hawks : After playing only 42 games last season with Boston, Porzingis was dealt to alleviate cap stress and will enter a situation in Atlanta that is muddy at best. There's no denying Porzingis' talent, but health has always been a concern for him. To manage him effectively, the Celtics played him from the bench, and he may find himself in a similar role this season. Atlanta already has a great center in Onyeka Okongwu, so it's anyone's guess how Porzingis will be utilized. He's not mobile enough to man another position with any reliability, but it will be hard to keep him off the floor. He is a skilled defender and a frequent height mismatch against opponents.

Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies : While the Grizzlies also have Santi Aldama on the roster, Edey is assumed to be Memphis' center of the future. He'll begin the season on the injury report after offseason knee surgery, and the hope is that he's packed on some weight during his rehab. One knock on Edey is his spindly, injury-prone frame, which appears unfit to last for a full season in the NBA. He'll need more conditioning to reach peak effectiveness, but he'll get every opportunity to prove his worth once he returns to the team in November.

TIER 4

Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons : Duren continued to develop in his third pro season, averaging a solid 11.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 78 games. Duren ended up as a steal in category leagues where rebounds and blocks are counted, but he won't fly under the radar anymore after last season's result. Detroit's roster is intact from last season, and while Cade Cunningham's production is integral to Detroit's success or failure, Duren should meet or possibly exceed his results from last season and make a solid contribution.

Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves : Over his six seasons with the Timberwolves, Reid's role has continued to increase. The former Sixth Man of the Year saw another increase in usage last season, averaging 27.5 minutes per game while setting career-high averages of 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Reid's success is capped when Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are injury-free, but he'll consistently be the first man off the bench and could get some surprise boosts if Gobert or Randle miss multiple games.

Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks : We referenced Okongwu in the Porzingis outlook, but we're compelled to place Okongwu here despite the apparent lack of clarity at the position. Okongwu already experienced success in fending off challenges (i.e., Clint Capela), so it's odd that the Hawks would put him in this position again. He's certainly proven his worth after starting 40 of 74 games last season with averages of 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The Hawks will get their money's worth out of Porzingis, and the result could be a platoon situation at center.

Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors : You may have missed it if you don't follow the Raptors, but Poeltl had a career season, averaging career highs of 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals. An injury limited him to 57 games, but the Raptors have apparently seen enough to convince them. He penned a four-year extension with the team and is now the long-term option at center. Although he's way down the list for those who missed his excellent 2024-25 result, an updated roster that's fully healthy could vault Poeltl's fantasy viability into the elite range.

Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers : Allen and Evan Mobley suffer from a massive case of negative correlation, and it's a prime reason why Allen has dropped to this tier. While there's plenty of opportunity to be had, the instances where both players outperform their projections are few and far between. Despite that issue, Allen is usually the better rebounder (9.7 per game in 2024), and he'll cede scoring to Mobley more often than not. Allen is projected to average about 30 minutes per game, so he's a safe bet for steady production.

TIER 5

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors : The Warriors depended on Green to man the five with more frequency last season. Due to Green's age, that might not be sustainable for much longer. The Warriors haven't made any headway in signing another center, so they will try to keep developing Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis in hopes that they can one day take the mantle. Moving forward, we could see more of Green in an everyman utility role rather than a regular starter at the five, especially if the Warriors can retain Jonathan Kuminga.

Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns : A failed physical kept Williams from joining the Lakers, but the Suns addressed their needs on draft night by making a deal with Charlotte. The Suns have had trouble cementing the center spot over the past couple of seasons, and they hope Williams will be the answer. Williams has all the skills to make a big impact in the Suns' high-tempo offense, but the Duke product's resume is tainted by a lack of durability. He appeared in only 106 games over his first three seasons, so there is some risk associated with choosing Williams.

Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers : Although Ayton will join a new team in hopes of a career revival, it's prudent to temper one's expectations. Now in his eighth season, Ayton has failed to live up to his potential after making a splash with Phoenix. He's still a very capable rebounder when healthy, but his durability is in question after playing only 95 games over the past two seasons. If he can stay on the floor, he should be able to partially fulfill the Lakers' needs inside after losing Anthony Davis, but Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber will be available off the bench if things go south.

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz : Kessler would have earned a higher mark in previous seasons, but Kyle Filipowski's incremental improvement hurts Kessler's outlook. The duo worked fine together when Lauri Markkanen was sidelined, but there was a problem upon his return. Filipowski was playing too well to be benched, and more playing time was key to his development. A concussion sidelined him at the end of the season, and Filipowski shone in relief with a 30/18 being the highlight. There's no doubt that Kessler will still have a sizeable role, but for a team that's thin at other positions, Kessler could be in a different uniform by season's end.

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves : With every passing season, Gobert ages and sees adjustments in production, and the 2024-25 season was no different. He saw fewer minutes, fewer points and fewer rebounds over his 2023-24 campaign, often losing time to Naz Reid. The standout play of Julius Randle also gobbled up some of Gobert's production, but by no means should we count Gobert out as a good contributor, especially as a rebounder. He'll hold excellent value in category leagues, and although he tends to score in single digits, his skills off the glass will help assuage that deficiency.