Best small forwards in history

Small forward has become the NBA’s money position. A 6-foot-4 winger who can pass to any player, shoot threes, and attack the basket is a front office’s wet dream. It’s no surprise that some of the best small forwards in NBA history are playing today. So who are the best small forwards of all time?

The best small forwards of all time

We’ve ranked the 15 best players ever at this position.

15) Carmelo Anthony

If we were listing the best scoring SFs in NBA history, Carmelo Anthony He would be in a lot of hiring queues.

Melo had an inside/outside game to die for. Whether it was pulling a defender back or clearing an opponent off the dribble, Anthony was going to get his comeuppance. Carmelo’s touch around the rim remains the envy of many, and he was one of the most beautiful scorers of all time.

14)Jimmy Butler

I know his raw stats aren’t on the same level as most of the other greats – but if you build a team with him Jimmy ButlerIt takes you to the play-offs. That can’t be said for every single one of the greatest small forwards of all time.

 



 



 



 

Butler led the Minnesota Timberwolves to the playoffs in 2018. Two years later, he led a weak Miami Heat team to the NBA Finals. He did the same in 2023.

If Jimmy G. Buckets is on your team, you’ll be competitive even if the rest of the roster says otherwise. This doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.

13) James Worth

Big Game James — is there a more prestigious nickname than the one bestowed upon him? James Precious?

Worthy’s reputation was well earned. Worthy got better as the playoffs approached, because that’s what greats do.

He was a small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers in their three championships in the ’80s and even won the Finals MVP award. None of his regular season stats jump off the page, but he almost always rose in the playoffs.

 



 



 



 

12) Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce never reached the heights of contemporaries Kobe Bryant And LeBron James – but he faced both.

Pierce was another great shooter in a long line of great Boston Celtic shooters. That alone would make him one of the best small forwards in NBA history. The Truth’s cold jump and current talent are the icing on the cake.

11) Paul George

If LeBron James your premium, luxury brand, small forward, the greatest model ever made – paul george it’s a step or two down from that. It’s like someone took LeBron and turned down most of the sliders. Pass vision and creativity are down considerably (though still above average), and three-point shooting is up slightly.

PG-13 went up against King James four times in the playoffs and held its own. He looked amazing beyond holding his own, but he was competing against one of the best ever, so he came up short.

We would view Paul George more favorably if he wasn’t in LeBron’s shadow. kawhi leonardbut I believe its Swiss army knife versatility and Hall of Fame-level defense make it one of the best SFs ever.

10)Dominique Wilkins

‘nik I collected the dunks In groups in the 80s and 90s. The Human Highlight Movie was posterized everyone.

He wasn’t just a flashy dunker either — Dominique Wilkins He also had a sick shot that would return when defenses flooded the paint. Even though Wilkins didn’t win a championship, he still brought out the best. michael jordan And Larry Bird. There’s no shame in putting up your shield against these myths.

To frame Dominique Wilkins’ ridiculous goal-scoring prowess, he has scored 25+ points in ten(!) consecutive seasons. Truly one of the best SFs ever.

9) John Havlicek

Being the Boston Celtics’ all-time leading scorer and eight-time NBA champion of the NBA’s greatest dynasty will get you on many lists. The best small forwards of all time are one of them. Hondo was the first great sixth man and paved the way for players such as: Manu Ginobili down the road.

He was the Celtics’ x-factor, constantly stressing opponents on both ends of the floor with his relentless drive and clutch play. Havlicek is also the star of the most famous radio talk show in NBA history.

8) Elgin Baylor

When Elgin Baylor He retired and averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds for his career. Maintaining that level of productivity throughout an entire career is insane. Unfortunately, Baylor’s time in the league was spent in the shadows. wilt chamberlain And bill russell.

He’s not remembered as one of the NBA’s greatest pioneers because he always played second fiddle to those guys and never got any accolades or championships.

He was the prototype of today’s small forwards. Baylor could shoot, attack the basket, pass and grab rebounds. The league’s first Swiss army knife.

7) Rick Barry

If you are not familiar Rick Barry, his career requires more reading. In a list of great strikers, Barry has a strong argument to be the best of the best. She’s one of the best free throw shooters of all time, and she did it grandma style.

He was a hybrid between his hair Steve Nash and Hulk Hogan. Rick Barry averaged over 30 points per game on four separate occasions and scored over 40 points in 16(!) different playoff games. It rose above 50 on three of these trips. He was a certified sniper.

He’s also a world champion and a legendary jerk. The season after leading the Golden State Warriors to an NBA championship, he left the team in the seventh game of the Western Conference Finals because he felt they wouldn’t be able to join him in a fight anytime soon. He is one of the best small forwards of all time and one of the best players of the 70s, but he is rarely talked about because no one likes him. Rick Barry, ladies and gentlemen.

6)Scottie Pippen

If michael jordan He says he’s the best teammate ever, there’s already strong evidence that he’s one of the best SFs of all time. But if you want to know a little more about someone’s resume, he’s fifth all-time in playoff defensive win shares, a six-time NBA champion, seventh all-time in regular season steals and second all-time in playoff steals. .

Scottie Pippen He was a 1.80 tall octopus who could do anything. When you watch him on defense, it feels like he takes up half the field and stifles his opponents’ offense.

Offensively, he was an excellent cutter, cutter and shooter. Always in the right spot, ready to play the smart game. As MJ said, the perfect teammate. You couldn’t create a more versatile player in the lab than this.

5) Kawhi Leonard

When all is said and done, Kawhi Leonard’s scoring stats will fall behind most of the guys on this list. Injuries kept him from posting productive numbers. It doesn’t matter because as long as he’s healthy and Leonard is one of the best small forwards in NBA history on the court. You can make a strong argument that at his peak he was the best two-way winger of all time.

Not only does Leonard erase his opponent’s best player, he’s also the guy you trust to make the game-winning shot. His mid-range game is reminiscent of Jordan, even contested shots look easy. Kawhi’s playoff credentials are excellent; No one becomes a two-time NBA Finals MVP by accident.

4)Kevin Durant

He won’t be considered many people’s favorite player, but Kevin DurantHis ability to score goals is undeniable. Seven meter sniper can shoot him any place. It is impossible to defend it.

Whether KD has his back to the basket in the painted area or is lying beyond the three-point line, it’s money. If your team is playing against Durant, he feels like a cheat code. There is no defense for someone with his size, reach and touch; You pray everyone else misses their shots.

Like any starter, having Durant on your team guarantees you’re in contention for a title. We may never understand his quirky Twitter persona off the field, but don’t let that overshadow his wizardry on it. When all is said and done, he could climb even higher on the list of the best small forwards of all time.

3)Julius Erving

Dr. J made basketball great. HE pioneered the dunk contest and I turned the game into art. Just throwing the ball into the basket was not enough Julius Erving – He suspended himself in the air and performed acrobatics before coming back to earth. The high-flying aviator is one of the few players who can truly say he changed the game.

It’s not like he was just an actor, the Doctor was also one of the winners. He was a two-time ABA champion and won the NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. Erving didn’t just dunk, his tricks were legendary. Loaded with an array of sweaters and equipped with a delicate touch, Dr. He didn’t want to be stranded on an island with J.

2) Larry Bird

Armed with a lethal shot, insane passing vision and gift for the gab, Larry Bird was a legend from the moment he stepped on the field. Three-time MVP and champion helped save the NBA Magic Johnson In the 80s. Whether it’s restoring victory for the Celtics, scoring 40 points with his left hand, or fighting Julius Erving, go to war The legend’s career in the Lakers consisted of important moments.

Hicks from French Lick won’t chase you out of the gym running his mouth, either. He was one of the best passers of all time and would boost the morale of his teammates by putting the ball in the perfect spot. When the moment came, it was never too big for Larry Bird, establishing him as one of the best small forwards of all time.

1) LeBron James

If you want a glimpse of how selective and uncaring we are as a society, consider this: LeBron James has won four NBA championships, four Finals MVPs, a four-time league MVP, and eight(!) consecutive NBA Finals appearances (ten in total). ) and some people Still Look at his career as a disappointment.

The man was a basketball prodigy who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in high school, deserved that fame, and became the best small forward ever.

But all those speaking out are still trying to discredit his career and say he is overrated. Even becoming famous when you’re young is enough to ruin most people’s chances of success.

LeBron overcame this, accomplished almost everything you can achieve as an athlete, and became the second-best basketball player of all time.

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Who is the NBA’s GOAT small forward?

LeBron James is arguably the best small forward ever. There may be debate as to whether James is the overall GOAT, but he rounds out this category.

Who is the best small forward hitter of all time?

Dominique Wilkins is the greatest dunker in NBA history and clearly the best dunker among small forwards.

Did Charles Barkley play small forward?

Charles Barkley occasionally moved down the stretch and played small forward, but was predominantly a power forward.

Did Scottie Pippen play small forward?

Yes, Scottie Pippen’s primary position was small forward. Pippen played in the triple with Michael Jordan in the doubles.

Can Kobe play small forward?

Yes, Kobe Bryant occasionally played small forward, but he was primarily a shooting guard.