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JZ Courtside

The 10 Best Centers In The NBA Right Now!

Sep 30, 2026 · 51 min · 11 segments

LETS RANK THE TOP 10 CENTERS IN THE NBA AS WE HEAD INTO THE 2026-2027 SEASON!

Speakers: J.Z. CourtsideHost

Top entities: Rudy Gobert×24 Joel Embiid×22 Giannis Antetokounmpo×17 Chet Holmgren×15 Karl-Anthony Towns×10

Show signals: Audience≈2k followers

No. 10: Ivica Zubac2:19 – 5:33

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:19

Guys, at number 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:21

At number 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:23

This guy dropped by a few spots from last summer.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:29

I had him in my top 10, but he was a few spots higher, but he dropped.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:36

Avicii Zubats of the Indiana Pacers.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:40

As you guys know, he played about 50 games last year.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:42

He sat out for pretty much all the games for Indiana.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:45

If he sees Zubats, I think I had him at seven last year.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:48

I liked him much more defensively as well.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:52

And I feel like last year it plays a part with the Clippers being as bad as they were, especially at the beginning of the year.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:59

But it's very concerning with his fall off last season.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:03

He only averaged 14 points, just over 10 rebounds, two assists, half a steal, and less than a block.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:10

When I feel like Avicii Zubas was a really good shot blocker the season prior to that, um...

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:16

No, I think I'm just misremembering.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:18

Oh, wait.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:19

Yeah, there it is.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:19

There it is.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:20

Yeah, he averaged over a block, about a block and a half two years ago.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:25

So it's very disappointing that Avicii Zubats, for me, has dropped to 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:29

But I'll tell you why he is still top 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:32

Why he made the cut over some guys that I won't tell y'all just yet.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:36

Because I don't want to spoil the list up ahead.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:38

But Avicii Zubats, being in a new spot, he's turning 30 years old next season.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:45

Damn, he's a year older than me.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:47

And he's going to be on the Indiana Pacers.

Rudy GobertPersonMinnesota Timberwolves center
99%24 mentions
Joel EmbiidPersonPhiladelphia 76ers center and forward
98%22 mentions
Giannis AntetokounmpoPersonGreek-Nigerian basketball player
97%17 mentions
Chet HolmgrenPersonOklahoma City Thunder forward-center
96%15 mentions
Karl-Anthony TownsPersonNew York Knicks center and power forward
95%10 mentions
Minnesota TimberwolvesSports TeamBasketball team
94%15 mentions
NBASports OrganizationLeague
93%45 mentions
Nikola JokićPersonDenver Nuggets center
91%10 mentions
Ivica ZubacPersonCroatian basketball player
90%8 mentions
Jaylen BrownPersonAmerican basketball player
89%6 mentions
Indiana PacersSports TeamBasketball team
88%8 mentions
Mike BrownPersonAmerican basketball coach
87%3 mentions
Victor WembanyamaPersonSan Antonio Spurs center
86%11 mentions
LaMelo BallPersonAmerican basketball player
84%7 mentions
Pelle LarssonPersonMiami Heat guard
83%6 mentions
Wilt ChamberlainPersonAmerican basketball player
82%6 mentions
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
81%8 mentions
Alperen ŞengünPersonHouston Rockets center
80%4 mentions
Los Angeles LakersSports TeamBasketball team
79%2 mentions
Tyrese MaxeyPersonPhiladelphia 76ers point guard
78%4 mentions
Damian LillardPersonPortland Trail Blazers point guard
76%4 mentions
Ausar ThompsonPersonDetroit Pistons forward and guard
75%4 mentions
AppleCompanyTechnology company
74%1 mention
Cade CunninghamPersonDetroit Pistons point guard
73%5 mentions
Miami HeatSports TeamBasketball team
72%9 mentions
Philadelphia 76ersSports TeamBasketball team
71%4 mentions
Myles TurnerPersonMilwaukee Bucks forward-center
70%2 mentions
De'Aaron FoxPersonSan Antonio Spurs point guard
68%1 mention
Nikola PekovićPersonMontenegrin basketball player
67%1 mention
Christian BraunPersonDenver Nuggets guard
66%2 mentions
New York KnicksSports TeamBasketball team
65%3 mentions
Isaiah HartensteinPersonOklahoma City Thunder forward-center
63%2 mentions
Walker KesslerPersonUtah Jazz center
63%2 mentions
Domantas SabonisPersonSacramento Kings center and power forward
63%1 mention
All-NBA TeamEntityHonor
60%1 mention
Tyrese HaliburtonPersonIndiana Pacers guard
59%2 mentions
Jeremy SochanPersonPortland Trail Blazers forward
58%1 mention
TwitchEntityTelevision broadcaster
57%5 mentions
Erik SpoelstraPersonAmerican basketball coach
56%1 mention
Donovan ClinganPersonPortland Trail Blazers center
55%1 mention
Toronto RaptorsSports TeamBasketball team
53%1 mention
James L. DolanPersonAmerican businessman
52%1 mention
Killian HayesPersonFrench-American basketball player
51%1 mention
Jamal MurrayPersonDenver Nuggets point guard and shooting guard
50%3 mentions
Michael Porter Jr.PersonBrooklyn Nets forward
49%1 mention
Aaron GordonPersonDenver Nuggets power forward and small forward
48%1 mention
Western ConferenceSports OrganizationConference
47%2 mentions
LA ClippersSports TeamBasketball team
45%1 mention
Eastern ConferenceSports OrganizationConference
44%1 mention
Cooper FlaggPersonDallas Mavericks shooting guard and small forward
43%3 mentions

Team strategySports > Basketball
National Basketball AssociationSports > Basketball > Professional basketball
NBA competitionSports > Basketball
Basketball statisticsSports > Basketball
NBA roster constructionSports > Basketball > Team strategy
NBA center rankingsSports > Basketball > Professional basketball > National Basketball Association
Center performance analysisSports > Basketball > Player evaluation
Advanced player productionSports > Basketball > Basketball statistics
Center fit with offensive and defensive schemesSports > Basketball > Team strategy > NBA roster construction
Playoff performance and team projectionsSports > Basketball > NBA competition
2025-26 contender and postseason outlookSports > Basketball > NBA competition > Playoff performance and team projections
Player evaluationSports > Basketball
Professional basketballSports > Basketball
Sports
BasketballSports

No. 10: Ivica Zubac2:19 – 5:33

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:19

Guys, at number 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:21

At number 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:23

This guy dropped by a few spots from last summer.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:29

I had him in my top 10, but he was a few spots higher, but he dropped.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:36

Avicii Zubats of the Indiana Pacers.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:40

As you guys know, he played about 50 games last year.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:42

He sat out for pretty much all the games for Indiana.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:45

If he sees Zubats, I think I had him at seven last year.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:48

I liked him much more defensively as well.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:52

And I feel like last year it plays a part with the Clippers being as bad as they were, especially at the beginning of the year.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

2:59

But it's very concerning with his fall off last season.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:03

He only averaged 14 points, just over 10 rebounds, two assists, half a steal, and less than a block.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:10

When I feel like Avicii Zubas was a really good shot blocker the season prior to that, um...

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:16

No, I think I'm just misremembering.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:18

Oh, wait.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:19

Yeah, there it is.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:19

There it is.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:20

Yeah, he averaged over a block, about a block and a half two years ago.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:25

So it's very disappointing that Avicii Zubats, for me, has dropped to 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:29

But I'll tell you why he is still top 10.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:32

Why he made the cut over some guys that I won't tell y'all just yet.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:36

Because I don't want to spoil the list up ahead.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:38

But Avicii Zubats, being in a new spot, he's turning 30 years old next season.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:45

Damn, he's a year older than me.

J

J.Z. CourtsideHost

3:47

And he's going to be on the Indiana Pacers.

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