Similar to the point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, and power forwards of the past five drafts, there have been talented centers in the recent drafts. Here are the top centers from each of the past five drafts, spanning from the 2019 NBA Draft to the 2023 NBA Draft.
Top Centers From Each of the Past 5 Drafts
2019: Nic Claxton
The Brooklyn Nets drafted Nic Claxton with the 31st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and he has developed into one of the better defensive bigs in the league. Standing at 6-foot-11, Claxton has the size, athleticism, and fluidity to serve as a versatile defender. He has proven to be a great shot blocker and overall rim protector. Throughout his career, Claxton averaged over 1.8 blocks per game, demonstrating his prowess as a shot blocker. He has great defensive instincts and awareness, making him a solid anchor to a defense. Furthermore, Claxton has shown the ability to switch onto the perimeter. He has the foot speed to keep up with guards, showing that he can guard across multiple positions. Additionally, he is a great rebounder on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Claxton’s quickness and athleticism give him a distinct advantage in transition. He has shown that he can outrun opposing bigs on the break and finish powerfully at the rim. Additionally, Claxton’s physical gifts allow him to be a great lob target. Due to his defense and athletic contributions on offense, there is no doubt that Claxton has been the top center of his class.
2020: Onyeka Okongwu
The Atlanta Hawks drafted Onyeka Okongwu with the 6th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Despite being from a weaker draft for centers, Okongwu has become a quality big for the Hawks. He has shown himself to be a good defender at the center position. Furthermore, he has been a decent rebounder at both ends of the floor. Okongwu has shown himself to be a decent shot blocker and rim protector. Offensively, Okongwu became a double-digit scorer last season and continued that trend into the 2025 season. He has made good off of lobs and dump-offs from players like Trae Young or Jalen Johnson. Okongwu has done better than any of the other centers in his class. Thus, he is the top center from the 2020 class.
2021: Alperen Sengun
The Houston Rockets obtained the draft rights to Alperen Sengun, the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, in a trade with the Thunder. Since his draft, Sengun has developed into an absolute offensive menace for Houston at the five position. The big from Turkey plays with great physicality when attacking the rim. He has shown that he can easily move aside most players in his path. Additionally, he has a bevy of post moves and great footwork to shake defenders. Sengun plays the game with great poise and patience and never forces anything.
A key part of Sengun’s offensive game is his playmaking, he has great court vision and feel for the game. He has shown that he can make split-second decisions to get the ball to an open teammate. Sengun’s ability as a passer helps open up his inside game, he operates well in the pick and roll as he possesses a deadly short roll game. While Sengun isn’t the best defender, he has improved to be an adequate defensive big. Due to his size, he can’t be easily moved off the block. Furthermore, Sengun is a strong rebounder on both ends of the floor and has averaged 9.3 rebounds a game in the past three seasons. With his skills, there is no doubt that Sengun is the top center from his draft.
2022: Chet Holmgren
The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren with the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. While Holmgren didn’t play in the 2022-2023 season due to injury, he amazed the league in the 2023-2024 season, his official rookie season. With his combination of quickness, athleticism, and size, Holmgren has shown himself to be a force on both sides of the floor. He has been an insane shot blocker and overall rim protector. Holmgren knows how to utilize his length to bother shots or passes. He has natural defensive instincts and awareness, rotating and helping when he’s needed. Furthermore, Holmgren possesses a high basketball IQ and a great feel for the game. Holmgren’s ability to guard in space and defend across multiple positions makes him one of the most impactful defenders in the league.
Offensively, Holmgren has shown that he can effectively score on all three levels. He has a great touch in the paint and can counter defenders with his mid-range game. His athleticism and quickness make him a deadly transition force and a great lob threat. He operates well in the pick and roll and can be utilized for pick and pops. Holmgren can effectively extend his range beyond the three-point line, he notably shot 37% on 4.3 attempts per game last season. Not only can he score, but he can find the open man and get them the ball. Even missing his first season, Holmgren has shown that he is the best center in his class.
2023: Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama with the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wembanyama has only been in the league for a single year, but he has been one of the most transformative players to have ever played in the league. Standing at 7-foot-4 with an 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama possesses the size, length, athleticism, quickness, and fluidity to guard anyone on the court. Furthermore, Wembanyama’s size and length allow him to cover much more space on defense than anyone else in the NBA. He has been a terrifying force at the rim, blocking shots and providing rim protection at an elite level. Wembanyama is great at using his length to bother shots or passes. Specifically, he is good at reading passing lanes and using length to force turnovers. He can just stuff jump shots as they are being released.
Offensively, Wembanyama can effectively score on all three levels. He possesses good touch around the rim and can score off the bounce, in post-up, or as the roller. Additionally, he is a terrific rebounder on both ends of the court, creating more scoring opportunities. Unsurprisingly, Wembanyama is also a great lob threat and has a ridiculous lob radius. He can knock down mid-range jumpers and threes, including pull-ups. However, he does need to improve the consistency of his three-point shooting. Additionally, Wembanyama can pass the ball a bit and has the vision to find the open man. Without a doubt, Wembanyama has been the top center of his class and one of the best bigs in the league.
