NBA 2K23: Best Teams To Play For As A Center (C) in MyCareer - Outsider Gaming (2024)

The center position is the anchor in the interior on both ends of the floor. Playing as such in NBA 2K is one of the most important roles in the game even if the position has seen a diminishment in its traditional focus in the modern NBA.

The current 2K meta relies a lot on contested shots. Having a player in front of you makes it harder to shoot than in recent versions.

Being a center also means you can dominate smaller competition. A post-up offense on a smaller defender usually means an easy two points.

Which teams are the best for a center in NBA 2K23?

There are a lot of teams in need of a center in the NBA. In 2K23, it’s all about what your teammates can do for you as you become the man in the middle.

It is also the era of stretch centers, which means there are many things your teammates can do for you on offense and defense aside from just relying on your rebounds and blocks.Note that you will begin as a 60 OVR player.

Which teams are the perfect landing spot for centers in NBA 2K23? Here are seven teams you can quickly become the center of the present and future.

1. Utah Jazz

Lineup: Mike Conley (82 OVR), Collin Sexton (78 OVR), Bojan Bogdanović (80 OVR), Jarred Vanderbilt (78 OVR), Lauri Markkanen (78 OVR)

Rudy Gobert became an All-Star because of his stellar defense (“Stifle Tower”), but relied on his teammates for offensive outbursts beyond put backs. Now that the French center will be playing for Minnesota, your teammates can afford you the same opportunities they did their former center. However, with the recent departure of Donovan Mitchell, you’ll need Utah’s guard rotation to quickly develop; setting early pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop chemistry with them wouldn’t hurt.

With Utah now firmly in a rebuild, you can quickly make your mark on the suddenly All-Star absent team. The team does have veterans like point guard Mike Conley and forward Rudy Gay, but many of their young players probably aren’t starters on contending teams. Newly acquired Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen – should he stay – haven’t shown to be consistently great yet. Show Utah you can be their next star at center.

2. Toronto Raptors

Lineup: Fred VanVleet (83 OVR), Gary Trent, Jr. (78 OVR), OG Anunoby (81 OVR), Scottie Barnes (84 OVR), Pascal Siakam (86 OVR)

Toronto’s roster has a lot of tweeners. The signing of Juancho Hernangomez doesn’t mean they have their center of the future.

It’s best to assume the center spot in Toronto to ease some of the pressure from Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet in NBA 2K23. There will also be scenarios where the scorers give you an opportunity to isolate in the post.

The ideal lineup in Toronto is probably VanVleet-OG Anunoby-Scottie-Barnes-Siakam-your player rather than Siakam at the five with Gary Trent, Jr. the starting two, so focus on upping your teammate grade each game as much as possible to receive more playing time. Allowing Siakam to play the four will open up space for you down low with his ability to hit from the outside.

3. Washington Wizards

Lineup: Monte Morris (79 OVR), Bradley Beal (87 OVR), Will Barton (77 OVR), Kyle Kuzma (81 OVR), Kristaps Porziņģis (85 OVR)

Kristaps Porziņģis, as tall as he is, has shown throughout his NBA career he is much more comfortable playing a stretch four rather than a five, bodies rocking into each other every possession underneath the basket. As such, Washington – a team that has been plagued by injuries at the center position over the past few seasons (just ask any fantasy player) – still has need for a bonafide starting five.

It’s a good thing you’re going to be a center who is entering the Wizards’ rotation without any defensive anchor. There aren’t any double-double guys in Washington aside from a Kyle Kuzma outburst at times, but there are plenty of transition players on the roster.

The Wizards are expected to play a running game, which plays in favor of a center like you because the offense begins from you after a defensive rebound. Also, add to that the opportunity to get some drop passes from a Bradley Beal isolation play and you should find many easy scoring opportunities as you develop your chemistry with franchise icon Beal.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (87 OVR), Josh Giddey (82 OVR), Luguentz Dort (77 OVR), Darius Bazley (76 OVR), Chet Holmgren

Oklahoma City’s roster boasts a couple of big men on their roster, but none of them is a center. Derrick Favors is a fairly good big man, but he’s now soundly in the “veteran role player” phase of his career..

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the ball in his hands a lot, but that’s because there is no credible second option. Even Josh Giddey is forced to play point because it’s only SGA who can decently score.

What this means for your center is a lot of opportunities to be a tandem with the budding star in SGA. There will be a lot of PNR and PNP for this team with your center.

Add to that a dish from Giddey or an SOS call from Chet Holmgren and Alex Pokusevski and you can grow with this young team into title contenders sooner rather than later.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

Lineup: John Wall (78 OVR), Norman Powell (80 OVR), Paul George (88 OVR), Kawhi Leonard (94 OVR), Ivica Zubac (77 OVR)

As many reinforcements as the Los Angeles Clippers obtained in the offseason, NBA 2K23 is a different story. While Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and John Wall will carry the offensive load, it doesn’t mean you can’t play a role in their rotation.

The three are known to haveoff nights, more so in the video game. Good defenses will prevent them from getting their usual looks and it’s where you go in.

George, Leonard, and Wall are isolation and transition players. It means they will need someone to receive their drop passes. It automatically means an easy two points for you on their normal coach’s playbook.

Ivica Zubac is probably best in more of a part-time role even as the starter, and you can quickly overtake those minute, too, with good, consistent play.

6. Sacramento Kings

Lineup: De’Aaron Fox (84 OVR), Davion Mitchell (77 OVR), Harrison Barnes (80 OVR), Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis (86 OVR)

Sacramento still doesn’t have the identity at the center position, particularly in NBA 2K. That said, the Kings’ roster should be more reliant on interior offense with you in the fold.

The acquisition of Domantas Sabonis means the inside will be open to you as Sabonis is more of a mid-range and long-range player. Richaun Holmes is there as well, but he’s better as the backup. It means you’ve got one of the best passing big men in the NBA as a frontcourt partner in Sabonis while being able to develop pick chemistry with both Sabonis and point guard De’Aaron Fox.

Positioning yourself well on the floor will generate good passes from Sabonis and Fox. It’s also going to make Fox think twice about running too much using his speed.

7. Orlando Magic

Lineup: Cole Anthony (78 OVR), Jalen Suggs (75 OVR), Franz Wagner (80 OVR), Paolo Banchero (78 OVR), Wendell Carter, Jr. (83 OVR)

While seemingly every top draft pick in Orlando since Dwight Howard has underperformed, you can change the modern history of the Magic – at least virtually – by proving to be the next great center in the young franchise’s history after Shaquille O’Neal and Howard.

Bol Bol is going to be better off as a small forward, even with his height, as his body isn’t suited for the physicality of the post. Mo Bamba has been the most recent center draft pick, but he’ll be entering his fifth season and isn’t likely to remain. You can become the one-two punch down low with top draft pick Paolo Banchero, anchoring Orlando for years to come.

Developing chemistry with Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and especially Franz Wagner will work wonders for your teammate grade and stats.

How to be a good center in NBA 2K23

It’s easy to score points as a center in NBA 2K. All you need is to set a pick for your point guard and you can roll to the basket and call for a pass or pop for a pass if you have good outside shooting. Further, grab as many rebounds to start fast breaks from defense and for easy putbacks on offense.

Since you’re playing in a video game, you’re likely going to put focus on your own center as the focal point on offense. It can successfully be pulled off if you go to the seven teams listed above.

As you go to a team which has teammates that compliment any center’s play style, you won’t have any problem being a good center in 2K23.Pick your team and become the next Shaq.

Looking for the best team to play for?

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