The 2010s saw the NBA enduring more changes than ever before when it came to the center position. NBA franchises used to build around centers as the most important part of their rosters. The 2007 NBA Draft saw the Portland Trail Blazers select Greg Oden over Kevin Durant due to the belief that a big man was needed to win a title.
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NBA franchises have gravitated more towards fast-paced offense and three-point shooting with guards and wings dominating the game. The Golden State Warriors’ success influenced the rest of the league. However, centers still have a huge role in the team makeup. The biggest difference is that they must do more than just camp in the paint and back up to the basket. Find out which big men evolved with the times to be the best centers of the 2010s.
10 Joakim Noah
The entire decade made Joakim Noah a strange center to rank. Noah was a defensive beast and perennial All-Star during the first half, but he was barely able to get an NBA job by the end of the decade.
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Two All-Star appearances, one Defensive Player of the Year Award and a first-team All-NBA spot showed his dominance with the Bulls. Noah even had a season with a top-five MVP vote as his overall impact was undeniable.
9 Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler started to find his ideal role in the NBA during the early half of the 2010s. The decade started with Chandler becoming the missing piece for the Dallas Mavericks during their 2011 NBA Championship run.
Chandler was among the best defenders in the league with one Defensive Player of the Year Award and one All-Star appearance. The offensive stats of Chandler were never dominant, but he was valuable in the pick and roll for many easy buckets that changed the game.
8 Joel Embiid
The end of the 2010s saw Joel Embiid emerging as one of the best players in the league and the face of the Philadelphia 76ers franchise. Injury issues in his first few NBA seasons caused concern for fans of Embiid, but he eventually showed his potential.
Embiid made two All-Star appearances and two All-NBA appearances to end the league. Many fans and pundits view Embiid as the top center in the league to start this new decade.
7 Nikola Jokić
Another center to end the decade as a rising superstar was Nikola Jokić. The Denver Nuggets allowed Jokić to mature throughout his first few seasons as the best player on the team. Jokić is a big man that can handle the basketball and set up his teammates for easy baskets.
Two All-Star appearances and two All-NBA selections show that Jokić was among the best players in the league at his position. Denver saw enough in Jokić to invest in him as the only superstar on their roster while looking to contend in the West.
6 DeAndre Jordan
The Los Angeles Clippers received the best work from DeAndre Jordan as a new top star of the 2010s. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Jordan formed a big three that the franchise hoped would have contended for a title, but that didn’t work out.
Jordan still achieved a lot during his time on the Clippers with three All-NBA selections and one All-Star appearance. The combination of efficient offense, outstanding defense, and elite rebounding made Jordan a top big man in the league.
5 Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard started to fall off as the 2010s moved on, but that shouldn’t take away from his overall greatness. The stints with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets saw Howard putting up the best numbers at the center position in the entire league.
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Howard made five All-Star appearances and five All-NBA selections during the decade. Few big men had the overall offensive game and elite defense of Howard until injuries and attitude issues caused him to fall off.
4 Al Horford
The consistency of Al Horford helped the big man become a top tier center in the league. Horford never put up the most exciting statistics, but he always contributed to winning teams with all-around great play.
The decade featured Horford making five All-Star appearances and one All-NBA selection. Horford played a huge role in the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics each having the best record in the Eastern Conference during the decade. They just kept losing to LeBron James.
3 Rudy Gobert
Many fans may second guess Rudy Gobert having such a high rank, but he has made some history at the center position. Few centers have ever dominated as much defensively as Gobert did in the latter half of the decade.
Gobert won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was in contention a few more times. The two All-NBA selections showed that voters respected his contributions at the end of the year. Gobert is proving the importance of defense at the center position.
2 DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins was the most dynamic center of the NBA in the 2010s. Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans fans saw Cousins putting up huge numbers to make four consecutive All-Star appearances.
Cousins received two All-NBA selections during his best years in Sacramento. The stats were second to none at the position with Cousins averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds for five consecutive seasons in a row before injuries slowed him down.
1 Marc Gasol
The contributions and success at every level of the game made Marc Gasol the best overall center of the 2010s. Gasol became arguably the greatest player in Memphis Grizzlies history with three All-Star appearances throughout the decade.
Those appearances and two All-NBA selections showed Gasol was at the top of the position during his prime. The defense of Gasol was exceptional as well with one Defensive Player of the Year Award. Gasol put his status in the conversation over the top by starting for the Toronto Raptors during their 2019 NBA Championship run.
