NBA All-time Player Tiers: The 20 greatest centers ever, ranked
By Cal Durrett
Tier 2) MVP level
8) Nikola Jokic
7) David Robinson
6) Moses Malone
5) Hakeem Olajuwon
4) Shaquille O'Neal
Nikola Jokic is rapidly moving up the all-time centers list, especially after his 5-year stretch in which he won three League MVPs, a Final MVPs, and a championship. If he is able to keep up his rapid pace for three or four more seasons, he could easily climb into the top five.
It's a testament to how stacked center has historically been if David Robinson and Moses Malone are only the seventh and sixth greatest players at their position. Robinson was a dominant two-way superstar who led the NBA in scoring, including dropping 71 points in a game during the 1993-94 season. He also ranks as one of the greatest shot blockers in NBA history and is a former league MVP and a two-time champion.
Meanwhile, Malone was a dominant offensive player and rebounder who won league MVP three times an NBA Finals MVP, and a championship in 1982-1983. Hakeem Olajuwon's reputation has grown significantly since he retired and is now considered to be a top-five center. This is due to his elite post moves and terrific defense. He also carried the Houston Rockets to back-to-back championships during the 1990s that were loaded with talent.
Although Shaquille O'Neal was one of the most dominant players of his era, he comes in fourth on the all-time list. O'Neal was a prolific scorer, posting more than 27,000 points on terrific efficiency. However, had he shot better from the free throw line and taken better care of his body, it would have put him in the greatest player of all-time conversation. Instead, with four championships, three NBA Finals MVPs, and a league MVP, he'll have to settle for fourth.