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The forward positions are arguably the ones with more progression than any other in the history of the sport. In the NBA, small and power forwards have leading roles in their teams, both in offense and defense, with these two key positions featuring a plethora of all-around, versatile and athletic players.
Players in the power forward position do not just score, rebound and fill the lanes in transition. Today, power forwards can also handle the ball, shoot from the three-point line and also guard the other team's best perimeter player.
NBA Power Rankings: Top 5 active power forwards in the league
The power forward position features a bevy of top players. On that note, let us have a look at the top 5 power forwards in the NBA right now. Without further ado, let's get started.
#5 Kevin Love
Kevin Love is a solid NBA power forward who is efficient even when his team is not destined for much success.
Love had another solid season in 2019-20; he scored 18 points, had 10 rebounds, and produced three assists per game on 45% from the field, 37% from the three-point line and a staggering 85% from the FT line.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who are currently in a rebuilding phase, won 16 of the 56 games Love started in.
Among all active power forwards in the NBA, Love ranks tenth in points per game and fourth in rebounds per game. He also ranks third in three-point percentage and second in FT percentage.
Last season, he was second in Defensive Rebound Percentage, ranking just behind Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
#4 Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo had a career-year with the Miami Heat in the 2019-20 NBA season. The 23-year-old led the team in rebounds, blocks and field goals made per game during the regular season. He was also the leading player in his team in terms of Defensive Rating (106).
In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Adebayo was a double-double player (18 points and 10 rebounds per game) and a solid passer, averaging 4.4 assists a night. In Win Shares during the regular season, only two power forwards ranked better than Adebayo; they were Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis.
In the NBA Playoffs last season, Adebayo helped the Miami Heat reach the Finals after ranking in the top 10 in total points, rebounds, assists, Win Shares, Value over Replacement and Win Shares per 48 minutes.
Adebayo's defense was tremendous in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. He was especially impressive in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, where he performed a game-winning block on Jayson Tatum in OT in game one.
#3 Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis is a 7' 3" phenomenon in the power forward position in the NBA. The Latvian found some consistency with the Dallas Mavericks after missing the entire 2018-19 season with a torn ACL.
Porzingis helped the Mavs find a playoff spot with a 43-32 record as he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game.
However, his main weakness was his shooting efficiency, as he shot only 42% from the field. He could be more efficient in offense if he takes advantage of his size inside, but he is being used differently by his franchise at the moment.
Porzingis averages seven attempts from the three-point line and makes nine two-point attempts per game. He is efficient, but he could be better in creating more space on the perimeter, as there are not many defenders who can contain Porzingis inside.
He ranked sixth in PER, points per game and rebounds per game among players in his position in the NBA last season. He also ranked fifth in three-point shots made per game among all power forwards.
#T1 Anthony Davis
This is a tough one. Anthony Davis could not edge out reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo to top the list outright.
Anthony Davis was a key player in the LA Lakers' 2020 NBA championship run, leading the team in points per game during the regular season and the NBA Playoffs.
Among all power forwards last season, Anthony Davis was second in points per game in the regular season (26.1).
In the Playoffs, he led the NBA in total points with 582 and was first in both Offensive Win Shares with 3.3 and Win Shares with 4.5. Davis also led the Lakers in Offensive Rating during the NBA Playoffs.
In the regular season, Davis finished second in PER (27.4), fifth in True Shooting Percentage, second in Box Plus/Minus and second in Value over Replacement.
#T1 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo became the third player in NBA history (after Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon) to win the NBA Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.
He was stellar in the 2019-20 regular season and was the best player in the league during that stage of the competition. He averaged 30 points, 14 rebounds and six assists per game on 55% shooting.
The Greek Freak also established a new single-season record for PER by tallying a score of 31.9. He led the league in Defensive Box Plus/Minus, Box Plus/Minus, Defensive Win Shares and Defensive Rating categories.
Antetokounmpo led all power forwards in every major stat categories. However, he shares the number one spot with Davis because the latter showed a more complete game during the NBA Playoffs.
Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Miami Heat won't entertain any requests for Bam Adebayo.
