Ranking the top 5 small forwards in the Western Conference ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season

As the 2021-22 NBA season appears on the horizon, we are ranking the top five players across positions in each conference. Trae Young and Steph Curry led the pack for the point guard spot in their respective conferences, while James Harden and Devin Booker were at the forefront of the shooting guards in the Eastern and Western conferences. Kevin Durant ranked numero uno among the small forwards in the East.

Our rankings for the Western Conference took into consideration many ball players. Kawhi Leonard didn’t make it to the list simply because he is expected to miss a large chunk of the regular season. Mikal Bridges, the 25-year-old Phoenix Suns star, was also in the mix, but needs to up his game considerably if he has to make it to this elite tier of small forwards who are listed down below.

#5 Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors)

Andrew Wiggins has now spent seven years in the NBA. However, ever since being traded from Minnesota to the Golden State Warriors in February 2020, Wiggins’ shooting efficiency has increased from 44.1% to 47.4% from the field, and from 33.2% to 37.5% from downtown. He averaged 18.6 ppg last season, posting career numbers from the field (47.7%) and long-range (38.0%).

With Klay Thompson expected to be back for Golden State early this season, the expectation from Wiggins will be if he can do better than Harrison Barnes did for the Warriors. While it is clear that Wiggins is no Kevin Durant, he is certainly a better player than Barnes. If the Warriors, with Steph Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Barnes could go 73-9 in 2015-16, can Wiggins replace Barnes in that foursome to help Golden State land an NBA title? The passage of time will give us the answer to that question, but one also hopes that Wiggins not taking the vaccination against COVID-19 doesn’t become a problem for the Warriors.

#4 Michael Porter Jr (Denver Nuggets)

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Five

The proof of the pudding is in eating it. The fact that Michael Porter Jr has just inked a new five-year that is guaranteed for $145.3 million with the Denver Nuggets is proof of the belief the Nuggets have in him. Porter averaged 19.0 ppg in 2020-21, his second NBA season, a leap of nearly 10.0 ppg from his rookie year where he averaged 9.3 ppg. He shot an incredible 54.2% from the field and 44.5% from the three-point line while making that jump. That he made 170 triples is an indication of his volume-shooting ability.

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But Porter must get better on defense and with his playmaking ability. He just had 70 assists (1.1 apg) against his name for all of the 2020-21 NBA season. And with backcourt teammate Jamal Murray expected to miss the opening part of the upcoming season, Porter will have to shoulder a lot more responsibility alongside NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. If Porter can improve upon his weaknesses while giving Jokic the necessary support in Murray’s absence, he could make his NBA All-Star debut sooner rather than later.

#3 Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)

New Orleans Pelicans v Portland Trail Blazers

Ever since he moved from the LA Lakers to join the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019, Brandon Ingram seems to have come into his own. He has averaged 23.8 ppg in both his seasons at the Pelicans, but notched up a career-best 4.9 apg in 2020-21. His three-ball game has also seen an upswing, with Ingram shooting 38.6% from downtown in his two seasons at New Orleans compared to the 32.9% he shot with the Lakers. He also won the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award after making the move to New Orleans.

With Zion Williamson also showing tremendous improvement in 2020-21, the expectation in New Orleans would be that Williamson and Ingram would combine to carry the team into the 2022 Playoffs. Besides setting that goal for team success, Ingram should also target making his debut All-Star appearance in 2022.

#2 Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)

Los Angeles Clippers v Utah Jazz - Game One

Paul George will be a mainstay for the Los Angeles Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard expected to miss the bulk of the regular season. But that may not be such a bad thing since George really improved his game in Leonard’s absence in the 2021 postseason.

While George averaged 26.9 ppg and 9.6 rpg over the course of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 29.6 ppg and 11.0 rpg in the eight games that Leonard was absent. He had a couple of monster outings in that phase, going for 37 points and 16 rebounds in Game 5 versus Utah and then putting up 41 points (career-high), 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals in Game 5 versus Phoenix. Sadly, the Clippers lost the series to the Suns, but George certainly came away from the playoffs improving his reputation as Playoff P.

#1 LeBron James (LA Lakers)

At 36, LeBron James is no longer capable of the athleticism and speed that he was capable of in his early years in the league. But he is still a very good player. Good enough to lead the pack of small forwards in the Western Conference after spending 18 years in the NBA. Although injuries limited him to just 45 games last season, and his scoring average (25.0 ppg) dropped to its lowest since his second NBA season, he shot a super-efficient 51.3% from the field and averaged 7.7 rpg and 7.8 apg to go with it.

James will get some relief from ball-handling responsibilities with the addition of Russell Westbrook to the Lakers roster. His workload and minutes will still have t be managed. But if he can lead his team to another NBA championship in 2022, he will solidify his GOAT status even more.

Also Read: Who is Paul George’s to-be-wife, Daniela Rajic?

Edited by Arnav Kholkar