The prototypical basketball player in NBA 2K22 is the center. They leverage their superior advantage in height with strength and vertical leaping ability, enabling them to protect the paint. In today's game, they've become so strong that players are having to take their chance from the three-point line instead of attacking the paint these big men protect.
While almost all of them excel in the area of blocks and rebounds, the best of the best have picked up tools that keep them relevant on both ends of the floor. Whether it's passing from the interior or the three-point ball, these bigs in NBA 2K22 have talents of those beyond the average center.
10 Jonas Valanciunas - 83 OVR
As an exciting inside scorer and rebounder, Jonas Valanciunas is exactly what teams need their center to be. After stints with the Raptors and Grizzlies, he'll be headed for the Pelicans this upcoming season where he'll join Zion Williamson on the boards.
The timing of the trade is strange. Although he's on the older side, Valanciunas really came to life last season, posting his best career shooting percentage and rebounds per game. With how much he has improved, any steps forward would be thrilling for the New Orleans faithful.
9 Kristaps Porzingis - 84 OVR
The term "unicorn" has picked up traction and been applied to other players, but it is most often applied to Kristaps Porzingis. As an All-Rookie and one-time All-Star with the Knicks, he's been bringing his talents to Dallas and learning to play with an exciting young team.
His shooting and free throw shooting both improved during an injury-shortened season last year. Porzingis is good and getting better. If he stays healthy, the Mavericks will be championship bound.
8 Nikola Vucevic - 85 OVR
Nikola Vucevic put the magic back in Orlando. Despite his ability when he's in position, Vucevic is at his most special when he's out of position, able to score from mid-range and outside of the arc. Not just able to, he's rated at an A- or better at shooting from every spot on the court.
Somehow, he was let go by the Magic and found himself with the Bulls, where he predictably picked up right where he left off, earning another All-Star selection in his first year there. He's slowly adding passing to his game, notching triple-doubles with more regularity.
7 Deandre Ayton - 86 OVR
Here are some weird statistics: Deandre Ayton is the first player to ever be drafted first overall by the Suns. He's also the first player to ever be drafted by a team who is from a state where he also played college and high school.
Ayton has done Phoenix proud since before he was drafted, but made a splash in the NBA instantly by making All-Rookie in his first year. He was an instrumental part of the Suns run to the title series this last year, coming up clutch on both ends of the court in many of the postseason games.
6 Bam Adebayo - 86 OVR
Bam Adebayo is beginning to turn into a real headache for opposing teams. He was always solid with interior defense, making the All-Defensive in each of his last two years. And his scoring has been exactly what it needs to be from a center.
What sets him apart is his passing. Lately, Adebayo has been putting up an increasing number of triple-doubles, giving other players on the Miami Heat a chance to score when he's covered. As a more complete player, fans can be grateful for his strong work ethic.
5 Clint Capela - 86 OVR
Every center is expected to compete for rebounds, but few, if any, have the ability to chase a ball down like Clint Capela. When it comes to double-doubles, he is almost guaranteed to hit the mark in every game that he starts.
His field goal percentage is similarly unworldly. He refuses to take bad shots, helps out teammates on defense, and blocks opponents with his large wingspan. When it comes to being a center, Capela fills all the core components as well as anyone in the league.
4 Karl-Anthony Towns - 87 OVR
Karl-Anthony Towns has missed the last couple of All-Star games, which might make casual fans think he's not what he used to be. On the contrary, it's more accurate to say that other centers have finally caught up and learned to play with his tenacity.
Outside of just being flat-out great, Towns is the picture of health, not missing a start for his first 303 games before a car crash took him out for a couple of games. Having that kind of perseverance deserves to be honored, and "KAT" is the face of playing through adversity.
3 Rudy Gobert - 88 OVR
There are many simple lessons to learn when playing through MyCareer. Don't turn the ball over. Don't shoot with a defender nearby. And don't drive inside against the Jazz. Rudy Gobert will swat that ball into the next century and still manage to get the rebound.
"The Stifle Tower" didn't get that nickname purely because of his French lineage; he's widely considered to be the best interior defender in the game, forcing opposing teams to take ill-advised shots while he's in the paint.
2 Nikola Jokic - 95 OVR
Anybody hoping to build the best three-point shooter possible will want to pair up with the best passers around. The instinct is to look for small forwards and point guards for this, but Nikola Jokic has revolutionized passing from underneath the rim.
As last year's MVP, it's hard to say that anyone made more of a difference for their team than Jokic, who dominated in every phase of the game, looking like a tall Russell Westbrook on most nights. His talents have made the Nuggets one of the most unique teams of all time.
1 Joel Embiid - 95 OVR
Last year, fans took to social media to protest the selection of Nikola Jokic as the MVP over Joel Embiid. As a nod to these fans, NBA 2K22 has both players ranked at the top of their position, but gives Embiid the tiebreaker as the better player to open up the season.
Though both players were deserving, the outraged 76ers loyalists might have a point. Since being an All-Rookie in his first year, he's made the All-Star team in every season since. With an intimidating presence, he's got the ideal build for a perfect dunking machine.