Today's great centers are different from their predecessors in one key way: They are as athletic as many of the forwards of the “old” days and are so physically strong that they can dominate with sheer muscle. These large men are very fast. In many cases, they are built more like bodybuilders than the traditional centers ever were. Gone are the tall, skinny centers who dominated the game decades ago. Today's centers can slam dunk the ball with enough force to bring down high-tech rims and backboards, yet they can also run as fast as much smaller players.

Shaquille O'Neal: Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix

Though he is closing in on the end of his career, Shaquille O'Neal has been a winner, leading Los Angeles to three NBA titles in a row and bringing the Miami Heat its first NBA Championship along with guard Dwyane Wade. Literally an immovable object at 7 feet 1 inch and 325 pounds, Shaquille is the quintessential big man, dunking and banking in shots after taking passes from his teammates. An occasional actor off the court, Shaq has gotten mixed reviews for his rapping skills and is among the worst free throw shooters in the game. However, his 25-points-per-game average, coupled with more than 11 rebounds a game and countless blocked shots, gives his team a chance to win every time out and forces opposing offenses to design game plans that work around his considerable stature.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

Tim Duncan: San Antonio

An all-around player and a great teammate, Tim Duncan has been among the most prolific big men in the modern-day NBA, winning titles both with David Robinson and without him. Tim has been the league MVP and the NBA finals MVP. He is considered somewhat “old school” because he is very humble. For his jump shots he often banks the ball off the backboard, which is harder for defenders to stop and is regarded as a more reliable way to make a basket. Tim is just an inch under 7 feet tall, but he can run the floor with most forwards. He is also a very good defensive player. An excellent rebounder and scorer, Tim has been on the NBA's All-Defensive Team every season.

Matching Sets

A lot of players help with charities because they want to give back to their community. Sometimes people give so much that it can get confusing. Can you tell which sports equipment goes with which player?

Off the court, Tim founded the Tim Duncan Foundation, which raises money for educational opportunities, youth sports, and health research. The foundation sometimes gives free tickets to students who show they work hard and have high character. Tim started the organization to give back to the communities that mean the most to him — the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he grew up; North Carolina, where he went to college; and Texas, where he currently lives.

TIM DUNCAN

Yao Ming: Houston

Yao Ming is an international player who is bringing the NBA to entirely new audiences around the world. At 7 feet 6 inches, he is one of the tallest players in league history. With his kind demeanor and soft-spoken style — in his culture it is considered disrespectful to show other players up or to brag about yourself off the court — Yao is a fan favorite, and many in China stay up through the night to watch him play for the Houston Rockets.

YAO MING