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Every successful team in the
National Basketball Association (NBA) needs a big man in the middle, who protects his own goal while scoring with high efficiency.
We take a look at the top 10 best centers in the history of the NBA.
10. Bill Walton
Points 6,215 (13.3 ppg)
Rebounds 4,923 (10.5 rpg)
Assists 1,590 (3.4 apg)
The retired center led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Championship in 1977 as he established himself as one of the best players during his playing days.
Walton won another NBA title, playing with the Boston Celtics in 1986 and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
Although Walton's career was hampered by multiple foot injuries requiring numerous surgeries, he was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1977 and NBA MVP in 1978.
Coach Jack Ramsay, in 2010, called Walton the best Portland Trail Blazer, "hands down no question," when speaking on Oregon Live.
"Walton could do everything, he had great timing, complete vision of the floor, had excellent fundamentals and was a great passer, both in outlet passes and in the half court.
"He loved playing basketball, just loved it, practices, games ... especially away games. He loved to win on the opponent's court. And he had a great head, a very dedicated team player."
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9. Patrick Ewing
Points 24,815 (21.0 ppg)
Rebounds 11,617 (9.8 rpg)
Blocks 2,894 (2.4 bpg)
The 57-year-old played most of his career as the starting center of New York Knicks and also played briefly with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic.
Ewing is an eleven-time all-star and named to seven All-NBA teams and the Knicks appeared in the NBA Finals twice (1994 and 1999) during his tenure.
The Knicks legend averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, and averaged better than a 50% shooting percentage in 1,183 games over 16 seasons,
8. Moses Malone
Points 29,580 (20.6 ppg)
Rebounds 17,834 (12.2 rpg)
Assists 1,936 (1.4 apg)
The Philadelphia 76ers legend was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times and he was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA Team selection.
Malone, who sadly died in his sleep at the age of 60 in September 2015, led the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA championship in 1983, winning both the league and Finals MVP.
Known for being a tireless and physical player, Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.
7. Hakim Olajuwon
Points 26,946 (21.8 ppg)
Rebounds 13,747 (11.1 rpg)
Blocks 3,830 (3.1 bpg)
The 57-year-old led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Olajuwon, who was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016, was nicknamed "The Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream".
The Dream ended his career as the league's all-time leader in blocks (3,830) and is one of four NBA players to record a quadruple-double.
6. David Robinson
Points 20,790 (21.1 ppg)
Rebounds 10,497 (10.6 rpg)
Blocks 2,954 (3.0 bpg)
The San Antonio Spurs legend is a 10-time NBA All-Star, the 1995 NBA MVP, and a two-time NBA champion (1999 and 2003).
Robinson is nicknamed the Admiral based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy and he is widely considered one of the best centers in NBA history
The two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee is the only player from the Naval Academy to play in the NBA to date.
5. Wilt Chamberlain
Points 31,419 (30.1 ppg)
Rebounds 23,924 (22.9 rpg)
Assists 4,643 (4.4 apg)
The basketball legend played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
Chamberlain, who holds numerous NBA records in scoring, rebounding, and durability categories, won two NBA championships and earned four regular-season Most Valuable Player awards.
He is the only player in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season, which he accomplished seven times.
4. Bill Russell
Points 14,522 (15.1 ppg)
Rebounds 21,620 (22.5 rpg)
Assists 4,100 (4.3 apg)
The Boston Celtics icon played for the team between 1956 to 1969 and he achieved a lot of success while playing for the NBA giants.
Russell is a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, and he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships during his 13-year career.
He and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record of the most championships (11) won by an athlete in a North American sports league.
"I played because I enjoyed it. but there's more to it than that," Russel said on ESPN.
"I played because I was dedicated to being the best. I was part of a team, and I dedicated myself to making that team the best."
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3. Tim Duncan
Points 26,496 (19.0 ppg)
Rebounds 15,091 (10.8 rpg)
Assists 4,225 (3.0 apg)
The 44-year-old spent his entire 19-year playing career with San Antonio Spurs where he enjoyed a lot of success in the NBA between 1997 and 2016.
Duncan, who also flourished as a power forward, is a five-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP and a 15-time NBA All-Star.
Furthermore, Duncan is the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.
2. Shaquille O'Neal
Points 28,596 (23.7 ppg)
Rebounds 13,099 (10.9 rpg)
Blocks 2,732 (2.3 bpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers legend played for six teams over his 19-year career and he is considered one of the best centers in NBA history.
O'Neal won won three consecutive championships with Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and he also clinched the coveted title with Miami Heat in 2006.
He is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year (2000); the other players are Willis Reed and Michael Jordan.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Points 38,387 (24.6 ppg)
Rebounds 17,440 (11.2 rpg)
Assists 5,660 (3.6 apg)
The basketball icon dominated the NBA for 20 seasons while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member.
The living legend is the NBA's all-time leader in points scored (38,387), games played (1,560), minutes played (57,446) and field goals made (15,837).
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