NBA Rankings: Top 10 small forwards in the history of the league

LeBron James is one of the greatest small forwards of all time
LeBron James is one of the greatest small forwards of all time

Small forwards have been essential pieces for their teams throughout NBA history. Many small forwards have led their franchises, as the position has often been filled with superstars, who can excel at almost every aspect of the game.

NBA Rankings: Top 10 small forwards in the history of the league

In this edition of our NBA Rankings, we will take a look at the Top 10 small forwards in the history of the league.


#10 James Worthy

Big Game James: NBA.com
Big Game James: NBA.com

This one was definitely a close call between James Worthy and Adrian Dantley, with Big Game James getting a slide edge, probably due to reason he got his nickname, and his NBA Finals MVP from 1988.

Worthy was a seven-time NBA All-star who was a big part of three NBA titles won by the 'Showtime' LA Lakers during the 1980s. Although he wasn't a leader in a team that included Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy was selected twice to All-NBA teams during his tenure.

Worthy managed to average 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists in his career on 52% shooting. In the NBA Playoffs, Worthy averaged 21 points per game. His greatest performance in the playoffs came in 1988, when he averaged 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block per game.

He was named the 1988 NBA Finals MVP after scoring 28 and 36 points in games six and seven of the Finals, with the Lakers down 3-2 to the 'Bad Boys' Detroit Pistons. In game seven, Worthy had 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.


#9 Scottie Pippen

Pippen was a great defender and a point guard-like player: NBA.com.
Pippen was a great defender and a point guard-like player: NBA.com.

Second-best player on arguably the greatest team of all time, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, Scottie Pippen was revolutionary for the small forward position. Pippen could score, pass, rebound, and play defense at an elite level.

Pippen's career will always be linked to Michael Jordan, which will always color his illustrious achievements, depending on how much credit you give to Jordan or Pippen.

Regardless, Pippen unarguably deserves his spot on this list. His career averages were fantastic. In his 17 seasons in the NBA, Pippen averaged 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game. He won six titles with the Bulls, was named 10 times to the NBA's All-Defensive teams, and had seven All-NBA selections.

#8 Dominique Wilkins

The Human Highlight Film
The Human Highlight Film

Dominique Wilkins was an unbelievable dunker who was also a great scorer. Even though he never led the Atlanta Hawks to the NBA Finals, he had some incredible NBA Playoffs battles against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.

Wilkins' Hawks had no business pushing the 1980s Boston Celtics in an NBA Playoffs series. They managed to do it mostly because Wilkins was on the lineup and guiding the team.

Wilkins averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists during his career, which was worthy of Hall of Fame enshrinement. Wilkins averaged at least 25 points per game in 10 of the 15 years he played, and averaged at least 30 per game in two years. He earned nine NBA All-Star selections, a scoring title, and seven All-NBA selections.

Wilkins was also one of the league's best in-game dunkers of all-time.


#7 Kawhi Leonard

2019 NBA Finals - Game Six
2019 NBA Finals - Game Six

Kawhi Leonard has earned his place as a top 10 small forward of all time due to his scoring prowess, his NBA Playoffs resume, and the defensive abilities that he has deployed throughout his ongoing NBA career.

One of only three players to win an NBA Finals MVP with two different teams, Leonard is certainly a solid playoff performer, despite his more recent failure in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

Even though his career started as a role player for the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard earned a bigger role for the team and was the best player on the squad when they won the 2014 championship in style against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.

Leonard won the Finals MVP in 2014, and then did it again in 2019 for the Toronto Raptors, defeating Kevin Durant and Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors.

A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Leonard also has four seasons of at least 20 points scored per game and three years with at least 25 points per game. He's been selected six times to the NBA All-Defensive teams, four times to the All-NBA squads, and to four All-Star games.


#6 Rick Barry

Barry was not only an unorthodox free-throw shooter. NBA.com
Barry was not only an unorthodox free-throw shooter. NBA.com

Rick Barry couldn't simply be out of this list after the unique career he had.

Before Julius Erving, Larry Bird, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant came in, Rick Barry was probably among the top 3 small forwards to have every played. In 10 NBA seasons, Barry averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game.

An NBA champion and Finals MVP in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors, Barry played in eight NBA All-Star games, once led the league in points and steals, and six times in free-throw percentage. He averaged 90% on free throws over his NBA career, due to his underhanded shooting motion.


#5 Elgin Baylor

Baylor is a legend of the LA Lakers. USA Today
Baylor is a legend of the LA Lakers. USA Today

Elgin Baylor might be remembered for losing all of his seven NBA Finals appearances, but his prowess at the small forward position will always stay with those who have seen his career.

Baylor averaged 27.4 points per game over his career, which is the third-highest average in NBA history, and the highest ever for a small forward. Baylor is just ahead of LeBron James' 27.1 PPG career average.

Baylor also averaged 14 rebounds - the highest for a small forward in the history of NBA basketball - and four assists per game. Baylor's 61 points in game five of the 1962 NBA Finals were the highest-ever in the NBA Playoffs until Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Boston Celtics in 1986.

Baylor was selected to 11 All-Star games and 10 All-NBA teams.

#4 Julius Erving

Dr J remains an NBA icon
Dr J remains an NBA icon

'Dr J' was a unique basketball player and a social phenomenon for his style and looks. Julius Erving was an iconic basketball player who was a superstar both in the ABA and the NBA.

In the NBA, Erving played 11 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, reaching four NBA Finals and winning a title with the team in 1983.

In his 11-year NBA career, Erving averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks per game on 50% shooting from the field.

He also won two ABA titles.

In the NBA, Dr J won the NBA MVP in 1981, the first SF to win the award. He was selected to the NBA All-Star game in every year of his career.


#3 Kevin Durant

Los Angeles Lakers v Brooklyn Nets
Los Angeles Lakers v Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant's career in the NBA has been tremendous. Though he was heavily scrutinized after his shocking move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016, Durant is still considered as a top 3 player in the current NBA. Many still consider him the best player in the league.

Durant has one MVP and two Finals MVP awards to his name. He is also a four-time scoring champion, Rookie of the Year winner, and 10-time All-Star.

Durant's career average of 27 points per game ranks sixth in NBA history. He is also a 49% shooter from the field and an 88% shooter from the free throw line.

In the Playoffs, Durant has a career average of 29 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 48 percent shooting.


#2 Larry Bird

Bird is arguably a Top 5 player in NBA history.
Bird is arguably a Top 5 player in NBA history.

Larry Bird was the greatest small forward in the history of the game for almost everyone, before LeBron James entered the NBA. There are still many who would argue that he still holds that place.

During his unique career, Larry Bird won three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics. From his on-court ability to his trash talking, he was the complete package.

Bird averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals per game over his career. In 13 NBA seasons, he was selected to 12 All-Star games, 10 All-NBA teams, and three All-Defensive teams.

Bird won the NBA MVP for three consecutive years from 1984 to 1986, being the last to do it in the history of the league, and also won two Finals MVP.

In the 1984 NBA Finals against the Showtime Lakers, Larry averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists in the series, while shooting 48% from the field, earning Finals MVP honors.

In 1986, Bird again was big for the Celtics, averaging a near triple-double — 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and three steals per game — winning the Finals MVP once again.


#1 LeBron James

 LeBron won his 4th championship and Finals MVP with the Lakers this year
LeBron won his 4th championship and Finals MVP with the Lakers this year

The King is simply number one in most lists that rank NBA players. LeBron James is the greatest small forward in the history of the NBA.

James averages 27 points per game in his career, to go along with 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. An all-around player, LeBron can be considered one of the game's greatest-ever scorers — he has the 3rd-most points of all time, with 34,241 — and also the greatest passers ever. He has racked up 9,346 assists in his career, which is eighth-most of all-time, and the most for a small forward.

The King is a four-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time regular-season MVP. He has played in 10 NBA Finals, and has won four championships with three different franchises. He is also the only player to have won the Finals MVP with three teams.

In the NBA Playoffs, James is a 29/9/7 player on 49% shooting, and is also the Playoff leader in games, wins, points, field goals, free throws, and steals.


Also read: NBA Trade Options: The best and worst-case scenarios for Jae Crowder.

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Edited by Deepit Magee