The scratches on Nikola Jokic’s arms tell a story of violence in the paint, but his eyes tell a different one. Watch him at the top of the key. He holds the ball like a grapefruit, looking almost bored while chaos swirls around him. Defenders panic. They fear the pass more than the shot. Across the court, a cutter flashes open. Nikola Jokic whips a no-look skip pass past a frozen LeBron James, hitting a shooter perfectly in the pocket. The net snaps. This is not the sheer force of Shaquille O’Neal shattering backboards. It is surgical. The result, inevitable. For years, pundits claimed the center position died with the three-point revolution. Yet still, the Serbian resurrected the archetype by inverting it completely. Critics usually demand athleticism or rim protection from their legends. However, Jokic dismisses these requirements with a shrug. His game relies on angles, leverage, and a supercomputer-like processing speed. Just beyond the arc, he operates as the league’s most efficient engine. Some now wonder if we are witnessing the Nikola Jokic greatest center since Shaq, changing the perception of dominance at the position. Consequently, this forces a hard question: What does dominance actually look like now?
The Shifting Landscape
We spent a decade eulogizing the big man. Teams got smaller, chasing speed and pushing seven-footers to the bench. The classic center became a dinosaur, trapped in the tar pits of pace-and-space offenses. Then a new evolutionary branch emerged. This modern era demands versatility that previous generations never imagined. A center cannot simply occupy space anymore; he must create it. To understand why Nikola Jokic claims the crown, look at the titans who roamed the paint after O’Neal’s prime faded.
The Great Turning Points
10. DeAndre Jordan
The night he turned Brandon Knight into a viral meme in 2013, a dunk so violent it felt like it ended the Lob City era right there. DeAndre Jordan led the league in field goal percentage for five consecutive seasons, peaking at 71% in 2016-17. He represented the final gasps of the center as a pure specialist. Jordan did not shoot. He simply dunked everything in sight. Despite the pressure to expand his game, he stayed in his lane. Ultimately, his limitations capped his team’s ceiling, proving that athleticism alone could no longer anchor a championship contender.
9. Karl-Anthony Towns
His 60-point explosion against the Spurs in 2022 showcased a shooting touch rarely seen from a seven-footer. Towns became the first center to win the Three-Point Contest, shooting nearly 40% from deep for his career. Towns ushered in the era of the stretch-five. He forced opposing bigs to leave the comfort of the paint. On the other hand, defensive inconsistencies often plagued his teams in critical moments. His talent is undeniable, yet his impact often feels theoretical compared to the heavy hitters on this list.
8. Bam Adebayo
The wrist-bending rejection of Jayson Tatum at the rim in the 2020 bubble didn’t just save a game; it signaled the death of the plodding center. Synergy Sports data consistently ranks Bam Adebayo in the top percentile for switching onto guards. Adebayo is the prototype for the switch-everything defense. He does not camp in the lane; he hunts on the perimeter. While his offensive bag lacks depth, his ability to facilitate from the high post mirrors a diet Jokic approach. Because of this loss of traditional size, he gains the speed to smother point guards.
7. Rudy Gobert
Anchoring the Jazz defense to the league’s top rating multiple times, turning the paint into a no-fly zone. The Stifle Tower tied Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace with a record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024. Gobert is a one-man defensive system. His presence alone guarantees a top-10 defense. But in May, those strengths become liabilities. Teams exploit his inability to punish smaller defenders on the other end. He remains the ultimate floor raiser but perhaps not a ceiling raiser. Years passed, and the narrative of his limited offensive utility clouded his historic defensive impact.
6. Pau Gasol
Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, where Gasol bullied the Celtics’ frontline to secure a second consecutive title for the Lakers. Gasol posted 19 points and 18 rebounds in that decisive game, cementing his status as a 1B option on a championship team. Before Jokic, Gasol set the standard for the skilled European big. He possessed soft hands, high IQ, and a mean streak. He bridged the gap between the post-up era and the finesse era. In that moment, he proved vital. Without him, Kobe Bryant likely remains at three rings.
5. Joel Embiid
Scoring 70 points against the Spurs in 2024, displaying a Kobe-esque array of mid-range jumpers and power moves. Joel Embiid became the first center since Shaq to win back-to-back scoring titles, averaging over 33 points per game in 2023. Embiid is the most physically gifted scorer of his generation. He combines Hakeem-like footwork with modern shooting. Hours later, fans still marvel at his production. Yet, his inability to stay healthy for a full postseason run leaves a what if hanging over his prime.
4. Anthony Davis
The game-winning three-pointer against Denver in the 2020 Western Conference Finals, yelling Kobe! as the ball tore through the net. Davis is one of the few players in NBA history to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks for his career. When engaged, Davis is perhaps the best two-way player on Earth. He functions as a guard in a giant’s body. His defense shut down the Miami Heat in the 2020 Finals. But inconsistency and a preference for the power forward spot keep him from the top tier of true centers. Before long, injuries often derail his rhythm.
3. Dwight Howard
The 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, where Howard decimated LeBron James’ Cavaliers with sheer athletic terror. Howard won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2011, a feat of dominance unmatched in the modern era. For a five-year stretch, Howard was the only player who mattered in the Eastern Conference. He was a physical marvel who could control a game without calling a play. At the time, he seemed unstoppable. While his post game never fully matured, his defensive peak rivals anyone in history.
2. Tim Duncan
The 2014 Finals, where an aging Duncan anchored the Beautiful Game Spurs to dismantle the Miami Heat Big Three. Duncan earned All-NBA/All-Defensive honors well into his late 30s, proving effective long after his athletic prime vanished. Although often listed as a power forward, Duncan played center for the latter half of his career. He prioritized angles and bank shots over highlights. His leadership created a dynasty. He is the gold standard for winning. However, his peak centers around the Shaq era, whereas the next man owns the current one completely.
1. Nikola Jokic
The entire 2023 NBA Playoffs, where he became the first player to lead the postseason in total points, rebounds, and assists. Nikola Jokic boasts the highest career Box Plus/Minus (BPM) in NBA history, surpassing Michael Jordan and LeBron James. This is the definitive argument. Jokic does not just play the position; he transcends it. He combines the passing of Magic Johnson, the touch of Dirk Nowitzki, and the rebounding of Moses Malone. His three MVP awards validate his statistical absurdity. During the Nuggets’ title run, he solved every defense thrown his way. If they blitzed him, he passed. If they switched, he bullied. If they dropped, he shot. Nikola Jokic is the greatest center since Shaq because he made the game look easy in an era designed to make it hard for big men.
The Horizon of History
The debate often centers on nostalgia versus evolution. O’Neal represented the pinnacle of physical imposition, a force of nature that necessitated roster changes just to absorb six fouls. Nikola Jokic represents the pinnacle of cognitive imposition. He beats you before the ball even moves. The players ranked behind him all lacked one critical element of his total package. Howard lacked the shooting, Towns lacked the defense, Embiid lacked the durability. The Nuggets’ franchise cornerstone proved that you do not need to jump over people to dominate them. You only need to think faster than they do.
As we look toward the next decade, the blueprint is set. Young big men now practice no-look passes and top-of-the-key threes. The center position is vibrant, skilled, and central to winning basketball again. Does a player exist who can eventually dethrone the Serbian? Perhaps. Finally, the argument is closed. The Joker holds all the cards.
Watch Nikola Jokic’s most incredible career assists
This video showcases the elite passing and basketball IQ that distinguish Jokic as a unique offensive hub in NBA history.
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FAQs
Why does Nikola Jokic feel cerebral on offense?
He reads the next rotation early and throws passes before defenders commit. He wins with timing, not speed.
What makes Jokic different from Shaq as a dominant center?
Shaq overwhelmed bodies in the paint. Jokic overwhelms decisions because he creates shots with passing and angles.
Did Jokic lead the 2023 playoffs in points, rebounds, and assists?
Yes. He topped the 2023 postseason totals in all three categories during Denver’s title run.
Which modern centers show how the position changed most?
The story highlights Jordan’s athletic peak, Towns’ shooting, Gobert’s defense, and Embiid’s scoring as key turning points.
Is the center position back in the NBA?
It evolved, not vanished. Today’s best bigs create offense and space instead of only occupying the paint.
