'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett spent his first 12 years of his career playing with a Minnesota Timberwolves franchise that had not played in the NBA Playoffs before.
Even with teammates who were not close to his level, Garnett took the team to eight straight playoffs appearances and even won the NBA MVP award in the 2003-04 season while leading the team to the Western Conference Finals.
Garnett was a great offensive player and was also a solid defender. When he went to the Boston Celtics in 2007 along with Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce, the Celtics were a transformed team.
Garnett showed tremendous leadership at Boston as the Celtics won the 2008 title after a big regular season. He was the team leader in defense, and it earned him the NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors. That made him just one of five players to win both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
#3 Charles Barkley
The Round Mound of Rebound, Charles Barkley dominated the power position despite being 6' 5''.
At the start of his career, Barkley played for the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Julius Erving and Moses Malone. However, he found a way to score and impose his presence from his rookie year (averaging 14 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes per game).
Barkley became a superstar whose effort and imposing presence on the board and the team's fast breaks were incredible to see. 'Chuck' also dominated the post by using his strength and skills.
The player had 11 NBA seasons with at least 20 points and ten rebounds per game; all 11 seasons came on the trot from his second year in the league to his twelfth.
His career averages in the playoffs were even better (23 points,13 rebounds and four assists per game on 51% shooting). Though an NBA ring eluded him, Barkley spent his prime playing without any superstar or a HOF player around him.
Barkley won one MVP award, went to 11 All-Star games and was selected in as many All-NBA teams.
#2 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best power forwards in the history of the NBA. Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks during a tremendous NBA Playoffs run in 2011, winning the title after defeating the reigning champions LA Lakers (who had Kobe Bryant), the OKC Thunder (who had Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook) and the Big-Three Miami Heat in the Finals.
Nowitzki had a great career. He won one MVP award and averaged 21 points and eight rebounds per game. He had 13 seasons of at least 20 points per game and is just one of seven players with at least 30,000 points in their NBA careers (Karl Malone is the only other power forward with 30,000 career points).
Nowitzki added the 2011 NBA Finals MVP award to his impressive resume that also has 14 All-Star games and 12 All-NBA selections. The German is the all-time leader among power forwards in Offensive Win Shares with 143.77 (sixth all-time in the NBA overall).
#1 Tim Duncan
Perhaps it is no surprise to see the name topping this list. Though he was listed as a center for more than half of his career, Tim Duncan is universally recognized as the greatest power forward in NBA history.
Five NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs (including one in just his second year in the league), three NBA Finals MVPs and two regular-season MVPs glitter the most impressive resume of any power forward in the history of the NBA. In fact, Duncan's resume may be good enough for the top five players ever to have graced the competition.
Of course, one can go by his 26,496 points scored, but Duncan was also one of the greatest defenders ever in the NBA. He was selected to 15 All-NBA teams and a record 15 All-Defensive teams during his career.
Duncan's PER ranks third among all power forwards. Once he established himself as a winner and a playoff performer, his regular-season numbers dropped a bit as he strived to excel in the NBA Playoffs. That is why stats may not always tell the complete story of his greatness.
Nevertheless, Duncan averaged 19 points,11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game during his career. He had some of the greatest runs in the NBA Playoffs, especially in 2003, when he averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks per game.
Also read: Top 5 prospects for the Golden State Warriors in the upcoming NBA Draft 2020.
Guess the Lakers players!
