Centers in NBA 2K26 have more variety than ever before. While I admit that this position has been the victim of a lot of fadeaway threes before the Season 2 patch, this is no longer the case. The meta has now shifted, and Centers are once more the target of assists for an alley-oop or a baseline dunk.
The best part about building a Center after the patch is that you now have a variety of options. You can be like Wemby, who can shoot from anywhere, you can create a build like a-la Shaq and punish everyone in the paint and dominate the rebounds, or maybe you want a balanced build that can pretty much do anything, because you can do that too.
With that said, let's go over the best center builds in NBA 2K26.
7'4" Wemby Build
- Height: 7'4"
- Weight: 244 lbs.
- Wingspan 7'4"
- Archetype: Backline Post-Scoring Dimer
This is the most versatile big man that you can make. At 7'4", you can shoot over everyone but still have enough athleticism to drive and dunk to the rim and play solid defense against your matchup. Think of this build as a more athletic version of Yao Ming or Jokic.
Attribute Breakdown
Finishing | Shooting | Playmaking | Defense | Rebounding | Physical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Close Shot: 82 | Mid-range: 80 | Pass Accuracy: 87 | Interior Defense: 88 | Offensive Rebounding: 70 | Speed: 57 |
Driving Layup: 70 | Three-Point: 69 (89 with Cap Breakers) | Ball Handle: 65 | Perimeter Defense: 38 | Defensive Rebounding: 90 | Agility: 43 |
Driving Dunk: 70 | Free Throw: 89 | Speed with Ball: 41 | Steal: 43 | Strength: 84 | |
Standing Dunk: 90 | Block: 90 (+3 Cap Breakers for Gold Paint Roller) | Vertical: 70 | |||
Post Control: 87 |
- Build Specialization: Shooting
With an 89 Three-Point rating (after cap breakers), you'll have access to the Legend Set Shot Specialist badge and a Hall of Fame Limitless Range badge. You're literally playing like Wemby or a better version of Chet Holmgren who can space the floor and hit open shots.
But you're not completely a one-dimensional center either, since you also have a Gold Post Fade Phenom and Gold Post-Up Poet, which makes any mismatch against smaller players in the post a nightmare to deal with.
The only weakness in this build is your lack of speed against faster slashing centers, but I'd argue that you can win those matchups each time by being able to stretch out the floor for your other teammates while you make yourself open to hit three-point shots.
7'0" Parks and Rec Center Build
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 250 lbs
Wingspan: 7'5"
Archetype: Diming Glass Guardian Riser
Attribute Breakdown
Finishing | Shooting | Playmaking | Defense | Rebounding | Physical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Close Shot: 75 | Mid-range: 70 | Pass Accuracy: 87 | Interior Defense: 82 | Offensive Rebounding: 88 | Speed: 68 |
Driving Layup: 53 | Three-Point: 80 | Ball Handle: 52 | Perimeter Defense: 60 | Defensive Rebounding: 94 | Agility: 55 |
Driving Dunk: 73 | Free Throw: 66 | Speed with Ball: 28 | Steal: 60 | Strength: 91 | |
Standing Dunk: 90 | Block: 88 | Vertical: 82 | |||
Post Control: 61 |
- Build Specialization: Shooting
This version is essentially a park version of my Wemby build, but gets you better mobility, defense, and rebounding while still being able to shoot midis and threes at the cost of sacrificing being a post threat. This build lets you play like Myles Turner.
Now that the patch has been released and fades have been nerfed, PGs are now looking for assists, and this is where you come in. Because you're a mobile 7'0", that can shoot and dish out dimes, you're a constant pick-and-pop threat who's able to punish the defense in more ways than one.
On the defensive end, you'll still be able to fulfill your role as a center since you have the Legend Boxout Beast badge and a Gold Rebound Chaser badge, which you can upgrade later on to Hall of Fame with a cap breaker.
7'2" Inside Center Build
Height: 7'2"
Weight: 273 lbs
Wingspan: 7'6"
Archetype: Post Bully Board Enforcer
This last build is all about fun and breathing in the nostalgia of '90s basketball. You can't shoot, but you're a rebound beast and an elite rim runner. You can use this enforcer build in MyCareer or whenever you want to lock in solely as a cutter and paint protector when you're playing online.
Attribute Breakdown
Finishing | Shooting | Playmaking | Defense | Rebounding | Physical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Close Shot: 82 | Mid-range: 44 | Pass Accuracy: 25 | Interior Defense: 93 | Offensive Rebounding: 95 (Improve to 99 with Cap Breakers) | Speed: 51 |
Driving Layup: 60 | Three-Point: 25 | Ball Handle: 42 | Perimeter Defense: 44 | Defensive Rebounding: 94 (Improve to 99 with Cap Breakers) | Agility: 38 |
Driving Dunk: 63 | Free Throw: 69 | Speed with Ball: 27 | Steal: 48 | Strength: 93 | |
Standing Dunk: 95 (Improve to 99 with Cap Breakers) | Block: 93 | Vertical: 70 | |||
Post Control: 85 |
- Build Specialization: Finishing
You're a prime Shaq or David Robinson, literally locked into the post playing pure '90s to early 2000s basketball. This build is all about getting physical and parking yourself at the dunker's spot. But unlike the players of the past, you're not completely helpless thanks to your ability to shoot your free throws.
Now, the question you might be thinking is if there is a point in creating a non-shooting center and if it's possible to be used in random recs. The answer is yes. Why? For the simple reason that some squads will always need inside centers.
For example, if you're in a team with very good guards or offensive players, they won't ever need you to score a point for the team, but you can bet that they're going to need someone who's going to anchor the defense, be the rim protector, grab rebounds, set screens, and do all the dirty work that doesn't appear in the stat sheet. Sure, it's more of a role-player type of situation, but winning games is exactly that: getting stops, securing boards, and scoring on the other end.
And there you have it! The best Center builds you can use in NBA 2K26. If you're more of a Power Forward, you can check out my Best Power Forward Builds to find one that fits your playstyle.
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