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Forward-center is a basketball position for players who play or have played both forward and center on a consistent basis. Typically, this means power forward and center, since these are usually the two biggest player positions on any basketball team, and therefore more often overlap. Forward-center came into the basketball jargon as the game evolved and became more specialized in the 1960s. Other terms, such as point guard, small forward and power forward, have come to describe similar subcategories of players, even as center, forward and guard are the only actual positions on most basketball teams.

Typically, a forward-center is a very talented forward who also came to play minutes at center on teams that needed help at that position. Or he could be a somewhat floor-bound center, under seven-feet tall at the NBA level, whose skills also suit him to a power forward position, especially if that team does have a better center. Current forward-centers of note include Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Brand, Troy Murphy, and Andrew Bogut, among others.

Center and forward typically have different skills sets. Common to both of them are scoring, passing and rebounding. A power forward who is a forward-center is also usually a strong inside defender, something a center also is usually expected to be. Since a forward-center is not usually seven-feet or taller, perimeter shooting skills are usually needed to compensate for lack of height or size near the basket.

In the NBA, the first forward-centers were Nate Clifton, Harry Gallatin, Dolph Schayes, Clyde Lovellette and Bob Pettit. Each of these players performed duties at both positions to make their teams contenders for championships.

Other notable forward-center greats include : Jerry Lucas, Dave Cowens, Mel Daniels, Willis Reed, Dan Issel, Wes Unseld, Bob McAdoo, Elvin Hayes, Kevin McHale, Alvan Adams, Jeff Ruland, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Christian Laettner and Shawn Kemp, among others.