NBA Center tiers 2023-24: Finally, we have the final version of our 2023–24 positional rankings by tiers after gathering the best 25 players at every position, from power forward to point guard. With powerful players on both sides of the ball who are league MVPs and champions, the centre position in the NBA is as stacked as it has been in the last 20 years. The top 25 NBA Center tiers 2023-24 in the current game exemplify what the position has to offer.
Tier 1 (MVPs)
Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid
The two players who have combined for the previous three MVP titles since 2021—and perhaps a fourth this season—are at the top of the NBA Center tiers 2023-24 centres pyramid. With an average of 26.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game for the 43-20 reigning champs, Nikola Jokic is the Denver Nuggets’ leading player right now. If he were to win a third MVP in 2023–2024, he would become one of only nine players in history to have won three or more. Jokic’s Nuggets are now only one game behind the Thunder in the Western Conference lead.
The big man for the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid, appeared to be on his way to winning MVP for the second time in a row when a knee injury early in February eliminated him from the race. He amassed 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game across 34 games. The Sixers were vying for the top three East Coast slots alongside the Bucks and Celtics. They are now tied for sixth place and down to 35-28 sans Embiid, which perfectly captures the meaning of the phrase “valuable in every way.”
You might also be interested in reading this: The 2019 NBA Draft Class is Ranked by Tiers
Tier 2 (All-Stars)
Domantas Sabonis, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Bam Adebayo, Alperen Sengun, Victor Wembanyama
The second NBA Center tiers 2023-24 is incredibly gifted and includes all players who are either firmly established or on the verge of being in the Top 25 this season. For the Sacramento Kings, Domantas Sabonis has been having one of the most underappreciated outstanding seasons in recent memory. He is averaging 20.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 61.0% shooting from the field in 62 games. With a 36-26 overall record, he has often surpassed other top players at his position in head-to-head competition and has elevated the Kings back into a postseason contender.
Anthony Davis responded to all of his detractors before the 2023–24 season began. Although Davis’ consistency remains a problem, he has missed just four games out of 65, marking the first time since 2020 that he has been healthy. For the first time since 2021, he was chosen an All-Star, and he is now leading the race for Defensive Player of the Year. Davis is leading the 35-30 Lakers, who are currently holding onto ninth place in the Western Conference, with an average of 24.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game this season.
Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the cornerstone of the NBA’s top-ranked defence, has been leading the Defensive Player of the Year race for most of the season. For the Timberwolves, Gobert has had a tremendously successful comeback season, averaging 13.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. With the most win shares on the club, his revitalised defensive influence has helped Minnesota achieve one of their finest seasons ever, going 44-20 through 64 games.
Another NBA centre who is acquainted with Tier 2 on this list is Bam Adebayo. As a result of his development into a superior defensive player and a much better offensive player, Adebayo has continuously maintained his ranking in the league’s top 10. With 53 games played, Adebayo averaged 19.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks to help the Heat secure his second consecutive All-Star selection. The Heat are averaging 35-28 and are now sixth in the East in 2023–24 because of Adebayo’s superior offensive and defensive play.
Alperen Sengun, a third-year centre for the Houston Rockets, was probably denied the opportunity to play in his first All-Star game in 2023–2024. Sengun has fully realised his potential in 62 games with the Rockets, having shown glimpses of it in his previous two seasons. He averages 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 53.7% shooting. Despite the Rockets’ decline to 28-35 and 11th in the West this season, Sengun has become a real franchise cornerstone.
It was difficult for the last Tier 2 member in 2023–2024 to be admitted into this tier. Victor Wembanyama is already a top player in his position, despite his team’s appalling 2023–24 result. With averages of 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and a league-high 3.4 blocks per game, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick is easily winning Rookie of the Year. At just 20 years old, the prodigy has already proven he can compete with the NBA’s best centres, and he has painted a frightening picture of what opponents may face in the next 15 years.
Tier 3 (Exceptional)
Chet Holmgren, Kristaps Porzingis, Jarrett Allen
There are enough examples for all Tier 3 exceptional centres in 2023–2024 to be ranked higher on this ranking. Chet Holmgren, a rookie who is still very much in the running for Rookie of the Year, is without a doubt the leader of Tier 3. Holmgren’s impact on both ends of the floor has been a major factor in the 44-19 Thunder’s first-place finish this season, which has shocked everyone. Holmgren has averaged 17.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 54/39/78 shooting splits in 63 games.
Before the season even began, the Boston Celtics were regarded as having one of the strongest starting lines in basketball thanks to the summer arrival of Kristaps Porzingis. These assertions have been validated by his performance on the floor through 46 games for the top-seeded Celtics. Porzingis is averaging 20.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in his debut season with the Boston Celtics. He is also shooting 37.5% from three-point range and 52.0% overall. If Porzingis is fit for the postseason, he might play a significant role in helping Boston overcome its early deficit and capture their first NBA title since 2008.
With a 41-22 record after 63 games, Jarrett Allen is quietly enjoying a very good season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are in second place in the Eastern Conference. Allen’s season stats of 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game are identical to his 2022 All-Star performance. Allen’s skill, despite his underappreciation by most, comfortably secures him a berth in Tier 3 for centres in 2023–2024.
Tier 4
Nikola Vucevic, Jalen Duren, Jusuf Nurkic, Myles Turner, Ivica Zubac, Mitchell Robinson, Brook Lopez, Dereck Lively, Jonas Valanciunas, Clint Capela, Mark Williams
Our most plentiful tier, Tier 4 of the NBA Center tiers 2023-24, features 11 players who are poised to make a significant impact for their clubs. For a number of years, Nikola Vucevic has been hovering between Tiers 3 and 4, but this season, he appears to be somewhat declining. Vucevic has averaged 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in 58 games with Chicago. His defensive flaws have been a major concern for Chicago, who are now tenth in the East and 31-32 on the season.
Jalen Duren, a large player in his second year with the Detroit Pistons, has advanced significantly in 2023–24. Duren has been excellent in 47 games played, averaging 13.9 points and 11.8 rebounds on 62.8% shooting, despite the Pistons’ elimination from the playoffs once more. Duren has demonstrated his ability to be the Pistons’ focal point going forward, joining forces with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivery to form a youthful core for Detroit.
Jusuf Nurkic, who was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Damian Lillard this offseason, has played a significant role in the team’s late-season ascent up the Western Conference rankings. Nurkic has averaged 11.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game while playing in the paint. The Suns have gone 37-26 through 63 games and are now sixth in the West thanks to his relentless pursuit of extra possessions and effort on both ends of the court.
Myles Turner, a big man with the Indiana Pacers, is enjoying one of his greatest all-around seasons in the previous five years. Turner is averaging 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game through 60 games in 2023–24. His emergence as a formidable two-way player has contributed to the Pacers’ 35-29 record through 64 games and eighth-place finish in the East.
Ivica Zubac has long been underestimated by the NBA community and media, yet in 49 games for the Clippers in 2023–24, he has been merely mediocre. Zubac is presently leading Los Angeles, who are fighting for the top spot in the West rankings, with an average of 11.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The Clippers, at 40-21, are just 3.0 games behind first place in the Western Conference in fourth place.
The void left by Mitchell Robinson’s injury after just 21 games for the New York Knicks this season was evident in their defensive strategies. Robinson’s ability to modify and block shots helped the Knick’s defence, even though he is still not a particularly good offensive option. Before the injury, Robinson was averaging 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. If he is well enough to participate in the playoffs this season, he might be a real X-Factor for them.
It appears that in 2023–24, a season after coming dangerously close to winning Defensive Player of the Year, Brook Lopez’s deterioration is now beginning to be observed. With 61 starts this season, Lopez—who turns 36 in two weeks—is averaging 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game for the Bucks. With 64 games played, Lopez and the Bucks are 41-23. Come playoff time, they expect to see more reliable performance from their 7-footer.
The Dallas Mavericks have greatly benefited from the arrival of rookie Dereck Lively this season. He has developed into Luka Doncic’s go-to offensive rebounder and lob threat. He has proven to have good defensive instincts and a willingness to go aggressive when necessary. With a 35-28 record and an average of 8.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game through 45 games, Lively has the Mavericks right in the middle of the postseason chase.
Despite being a constant presence for the 38-35 fifth-place Pelicans, Jonas Valanciunas has also found himself in Tier 4 this season. Valanciunas is averaging 13.3 points and 9.5 rebounds through 63 games for New Orleans, a team that is vying for its first straight trip to the playoffs since 2018.
The way the Atlanta Hawks have played this season has allowed Clint Capela to have another quiet one. Through 55 games played, he has averaged 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds, while his club is stuck in the worst play-in slot at 29-34. In 2023–24, Capela may be wrapping up his final season wearing the Hawks outfit.
Mark Williams, the big guy for the Charlotte Hornets, is a major surprise as the final member of Tier 4 for centres this season. Williams had a fantastic start to the season, averaging 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game through 19 games. However, a back ailment that disabled him in December seemed set to keep him out of the game for the remainder of it. Williams did, however, demonstrate to the organisation that he is capable of taking over as the team’s starting centre going forward provided he can maintain his fitness.
Tier 5 (X-Factors)
Deandre Ayton, Wendell Carter Jr., Walker Kessler
The x-factors are the last three players that complete our list of the top 25 centres for this season. After a turbulent time with the organisation, Deandre Ayton was thrilled to be moved to Portland this past summer. Ayton is shooting 57.0% from the floor and averaging 14.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 40 games for Portland this season. Regretfully, his defensive shortcomings and unwillingness to put in the work have been evident for the 18-45 Trail Blazers.
Wendell Carter Jr. has struggled with injuries throughout 2023–24, which has significantly reduced his performance and role with the Orlando Magic. Carter has averaged 11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 37 games. For the most part of the season, his club, which is presently 37-27 and fifth in the East, has been successful without him, which has raised rumours that he may be traded this summer.
Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz is the last player listed in the top 25 for centres in 2023–2024 thus far. In his second season, Kessler’s defensive presence has once again amazed coaches and teammates. Kessler is averaging 8.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game while playing primarily off the bench. Regretfully, with a record of 28–36 and a 12th-place finish in the West, the Jazz are almost eliminated from the postseason picture in 2023–24.
Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz is the last player listed in the top 25 for centres in 2023–2024 thus far. In his second season, Kessler’s defensive presence has once again amazed coaches and teammates. Kessler is averaging 8.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game while playing primarily off the bench. Regretfully, with a record of 28–36 and a 12th-place finish in the West, the Jazz are almost eliminated from the postseason picture in 2023–24.
These are the NBA Center tiers 2023-24. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
