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Seven Most Overrated NBA Centers

by Jeremy Block - 6/23/2025

Most overrated NBA centers Rudy Gobert

Being a center used to mean owning the paint and dominating with size and brute force. Now, the game’s changed, but some big men still get more credit than they deserve(d), thanks to inflated stats, selective memory, or just old-school hype. 

If your favorite center is about to take a hit on this list, don’t get salty or overreact—try to understand. Being overrated means their reputation doesn’t quite match the reality on the court. They might have been good, but not nearly to the level people made them out to be. Let’s look at seven centers who earned more hype than they deserved.

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Dwight Howard

The basketball world once believed that pure athleticism and rebounding could carry a player to legendary status. Dwight Howard’s 11.8 rebounds per game and three Defensive Player of the Year awards backed that up on paper. But offense was a whole other story. His free throw percentage hovered under 57% for most of his career, and that weakness turned him into a liability in close games. Teams would foul Howard intentionally in crunch time, knowing he couldn’t convert.

On offense, Howard pretty much stayed stuck in dunk-and-putback mode. He never developed a reliable post game or any shooting range, which basically handed defenders the green light to leave him wide open. The numbers back up his rebounding and defense chops, but calling him a “one of the greats” is definitely overselling it.

Dikembe Mutombo

Blocking shots was practically his calling card. Dikembe Mutombo swatted away 2.8 shots per game over a nearly two-decade career. But if you thought he could score or create on offense, think again. Mutombo averaged only 7.8 points per game and shot 68% from the charity stripe, which makes it clear offense wasn’t his gig.

His offense was basically “catch, turn, and awkward layup”—not exactly lighting up the scoreboard. Big men are supposed to draw fouls and score when they can, but he made opponents feel safe daring him to shoot. Sure, his shot-blocking was unbelievable, but blocks don’t win games alone, no matter how flashy the finger wag is.

Rudy Gobert

I’m bracing for the hate on this one, but facts don’t care about feelings. Sure, Rudy Gobert won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and averaged 2.1 blocks per game. Offensively, though? Unless the ball’s flying to him for an alley-oop or dunk, good luck finding his game. It’s like he vanishes the second he has to do anything creative or shoot a jumper.

With just 64% shooting for his career at the stripe and averaging under 13 points per game, it’s safe to say he’s not much of a threat when the ball is in his hands. Think about it: he doesn’t stretch the floor or create scoring chances and basically disappears when asked to operate outside the paint. Defense wins games, sure, but expecting him to carry a modern offense? That’s a pipe dream. His defensive presence is great, but the hype around him? Totally overblown.

Rik Smits

A 7’4” center with a smooth jumper, Rik Smits had the look of a dominant big man. He averaged a solid 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds over 12 seasons, which sounds solid until you realize he rarely made a real impact when it mattered most. His offense was decent but inconsistent, mostly relying on contested mid-range shots and basic post moves without ever forcing defenses to adjust.

As for defense, Smits was often a liability. The Dutchman may have swatted 1.3 blocks per game, but his lack of physicality allowed opponents to frequently bully him in the paint. For a guy with his size and skill set, expectations were high, but his overall contributions fell short of the hype he got during his career.

Nene

Entering the league with size and a smooth jumper, Nene looked like a future star. Over a 17-year career, he averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting roughly 54% from the floor. On paper, that’s respectable. But in reality, his career was one long stretch of "pretty good, when available.”

His only All-Star selection in 2009 was a nice little career souvenir, but let’s not pretend it meant he ever took over the league. Nene never led a team deep into the playoffs, never anchored anything except the second unit, and spent most of his career as that guy who was ok when healthy—which, let’s be honest, wasn’t often enough. Overrated? Absolutely.

Andre Drummond

There’s no denying Andre Drummond put up video game numbers—12.5 points and 13.3 boards per game over his career and multiple seasons leading the league in rebounds. Sounds impressive, until you actually watched the games. Despite Drummond’s rebounding dominance, his teams didn’t win, he didn’t elevate anyone around him, and he often looked completely lost if the play didn’t involve a missed shot landing in his hands.

Offensively, he was a mess. Clunky post moves, a non-existent jumper, and a free throw percentage that made coaches break into cold sweats. And defensively? He wasn’t anything to ripe home about. Look, Drummond brought size to the table, but he was slow and constantly getting taken off the dribble, making him a liability in pick-and-roll situations. People love to shout, “He averaged 15 and 15!”—cool, and that led to what, exactly? A forgettable playoff resume and a bunch of empty box scores.

Bill Walton

It’s wild how much credit a player can get for a career that barely got off the runway. An MVP, two rings, and a handful of highlight years bought Walton a legacy that sounds a lot bigger than what the box scores actually say. He had vision, he could rebound, and when his body cooperated, he was genuinely great to watch.

But unfortunately, his body fell apart. He cracked 60 games in a season only twice and spent most of his later years as a well-liked reserve for the Boston Celtics. Look, averaging 13.3 points and 10.5 boards is solid, especially given the injuries, but it’s not exactly era-defining. The praise he gets today leans more on potential and personality than actual production. 

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