Who is the best Power Forward of all time? It's a task we're about to take. Ranking the best power forwards of all time won't be easy, but we'll get there.
Many young NBA fans have forgotten the rich history of the position. Ranking the greatest power forwards of all time would bring back the luster that was once attached to the “bruisers” of the game.
Some things to consider before we begin, I will be using Win Shares per 48 (WS/48), Box Plus Minus (BPM), Value-over-replacement-player (VORP), and their intangible contributions to winning as the primary bases for this ranking. I will also not include active players with less than 10 years of experience in the rankings as to judge players more fairly by a bigger sample size. So let's dive in.
Note: All players featured in this list played majority of their minutes at the power forward position per Basketball Reference.
Plot Twist: According to Basketball Reference, Tim Duncan played more than 50% of his games as a center, so no he's not on this list.
Before we going fully going, some honorable mentions prior to hitting our list of the best power forwards of all time.
Bobby Jones
Career Averages: 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks, 56.0% FG, 76.6% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.175 WS/48, 4.3 BPM, 41.0 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 0 Sixth Man of the Year: 1 (1983); All-NBA: 0x; All-Defensive: 8x First Team, 1x Second Team; All-Star: 4; Championships: 1 (1983)
Narrowly missing the cut, Bobby Jones's pedestrian numbers don't do justice for his impact on the court. A defensive menace and one of the nicest players to ever step on the hardwood, Jones was a quiet role model on the court.
Jones's wowed everyone with his grit, hustle, determination, and unselfishness. His long, lanky arms and unrelenting effort to disrupt every play earned him the nickname “The Secretary of Defense”. In an interview with NBA Today, former Sixers General Manager Pat Williams said, “Bobby Jones give you two hours of his blood, showers, and goes home.” And unlike other players, Jones never played dirty on defense. He once said, “If I have to use an elbow to get position, then I'm going to have to settle for another position.”
Jones was as honest as you can be in the NBA. In one rare instance, he addressed the referee not to complain, but to point out that the referee called the foul on the wrong player: It was Jones who committed a foul and not his teammate — this gave him his fifth foul of the game. Jones's Sixers teammate, Julius Erving, once remarked, “If I was going to ask a youngster to model after someone, I would pick Bobby Jones.”
Despite his many health ailments like asthma, an occasional tendency to suffer from epileptic seizure, and a chronic heart disorder (irregular heart beat), Jones never appeared in fewer than 70 games in a season. He finished his 12-year career with 8 NBA All-Defensive First Team selections and the inaugural NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Dennis Rodman
Career Averages: 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, 52.1% FG, 58.4% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.150 WS/48, 0.9 BPM, 21.0 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 0; Defensive Player of the Year: 2 (1990, 1992); All-NBA: 2x Third Team; All-Defensive: 7x First Team, 1x Second Team All-Star: 2x; Championships: 5 (1989-1990, 1996-1998)
Similar to Jones, Dennis Rodman affected the game in aspects other than scoring. The Worm's calling card was his elite defense and rebounding. Starting his career as a Small Forward for the Detroit Pistons often referred to as the “Bad Boys”, Rodman's hard-nosed approach gelled well with the team's philosophy.
In the early part of his career, Rodman most played as a backup to Adrian Dantley. In his rookie campaign, he averaged 15.0 minutes per game and produced measly numbers of 6.5 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Rodman continued playing off the bench in the succeeding years, serving as the team's energizer while the starters took a breather. However, when the Pistons lost starting Power Forward Rick Mahorn to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1989-1990 expansion draft, Rodman finally got his chance to shine. That season, he won his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award after starting the last 43 games of the regular season.
In the 1990-1991 season, his first full season as a starter, Rodman upped his averages to the tune of 8.2 points and 12.5 rebounds as he took home his second NBA Defensive Player of the Year nod. The NBA went as far as to say Rodman “could shut down any opposing player, from point guard to center.”
In the 1991-1992 season, Rodman seemed to be on a steady rise in his career, establishing himself as an all time great rebounder after finishing the season with a career-high 18.7 rebounds per game. However, off-court issues the following season — with the Pistons' coaching change and his divorce with long-time partner Annie Bakes — almost derailed Rodman's career. In 1993, Rodman was found in his truck with a loaded rifle on his hands.
Seemingly set for a downward spiral, Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. That season saw Rodman complete his shift from Small Forward to Power Forward as he formed a strong defensive frontline with MVP David Robinson. But in the following season, Rodman was marred with injuries and repeated clashes with the Spurs front office, leading to multiple team suspensions and missed games.
Rodman finally found his fit when the Chicago Bulls traded for him prior to the 1995-1996 season. His role in the Bulls' second three-peat forever changed his legacy. He paired Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen's offensive brilliance with his tenacity and hustle on the defensive end.
When the Bulls secured the title in Game 6 of the 1996 NBA Finals, Supersonics Coach George Karl even said “Dennis Rodman won [them] two basketball games. We controlled Dennis for four games. But Game 2 and tonight, he was the reason they were successful.”
In each of those two games, Rodman grabbed 11 offensive rebounds to tie the record of Elvin Hayes for the most offensive rebounds in an NBA Finals game.
Rodman may not have averaged double-digit scoring for his career, but his seven consecutive rebounding titles from 1991 to 1998 proves that the Worm will go down as one of the best rebounders the game has ever seen.
Top 10 Power Forwards Of All Time
It's finally come time for the sincere part of this process. Ranking the best power forwards of all time.
10. Tom Heinsohn
Career Averages: 18.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 40.5% FG, 79.0% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.150 WS/48
Awards: MVP Awards: 0; All-NBA: 4x Second Team; All-Star: 6x; Championships: 8 (1957, 1959-1965)
If we're talking about winning, then Tom Heinsohn has to be in the conversation. In his nine years playing for the Boston Celtics, Heinsohn won the championship eight times. That's a whopping 88.89% winning percentage. He is also the third winningest player in NBA history after teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones. Additionally, he won two championships as a coach for the Celtics in the 70s, bringing his grand total to 10 NBA titles.
Even though he was never considered the best player in those Boston championship teams playing alongside the likes of Russell, Bob Cousy, and Bill Sharman, Heinsohn nevertheless played a crucial role. The Boston native actually edged out his teammate Russell as the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year en route to winning their first title together.
In those loaded championship teams that focused on winning with teamwork, Heinsohn was considered the go-to offensive option. He led the team in scoring three times during his career, peaking at 22.1 points per game in the 1961-1962 season.
Heinsohn was nicknamed “Tommy Gun” by his teammates for his trigger-happy ways, but his teammates never seemed to fault him for it. In an interview with the Saturday Evening Post, Cousy shared, “Sure, he takes bad shots now and then. But over the long haul, the confident player is the one who takes initiative and wins the game for you.”
Additionally, Sharman considered Heinsohn's offensive repertoire as one of the most versatile, citing his exceptional body control as his bread and butter. His deadliest shot was a long-range jump shot he consistently launched from the corner and the top of the key. But apart from that, Heinsohn also possessed a deadly right-handed hook shot from the 5 to 15-feet range, a short-range left-handed hook shot, a one-handed set shot, and a variety of driving layup finishes.
In Game 7 of the 1957 NBA Finals against Bob Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks, Heinsohn showcased his scoring prowess as he scored 37 points in a thrilling 125-123 double-overtime win that secured Boston its first NBA title. Heinsohn may not be the most heralded player in Celtics history, but there is no doubt that he was a consistent contributor to winning.
9. Jerry Lucas
Career Averages: 17.0 points, 15.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 49.9% FG, 78.3% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.147 WS/48
Awards: MVP Awards: 0; All-NBA: 3x First Team, 2x Second Team; All-Star: 7x; Championships: 1 (1973)
Known for his remarkable rebounding and outside shooting, Jerry Lucas was well-ahead of his time both on and off the court. On the court, Lucas was a big man who was a consistent threat from the outside. Off the court, Lucas championed player empowerment before player empowerment was in fashion as he controlled his own fate.
Lucas was one of the most famous amateur basketball players in the late 50s and early 60s, but at that time, he surprisingly revealed that he had no intentions of playing professional basketball despite being drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1962 NBA Draft. He declined the Royals' contract offer and instead signed with the ABL's Cleveland Pipers because of a lucrative business-player contract offer.
In the 1963-1964 season, Lucas finally decided to play for Cincinnati, teaming up with All-Stars Oscar Robertson, Wayne Embry, and Jack Twyman. In his rookie season, Lucas posted eye-popping rebounding numbers, especially for a 6'8″ forward. he recorded four 30-rebound games, including one 40-rebound game. Today, he remains the only forward in league history to achieve that feat.
Lucas was also an accurate shooter from the field which allowed him to put up huge scoring numbers efficiently. According to basketball pundits, Lucas had legitimate 20-25 feet range which forced opposing bigs out of the shaded lane. In his second and third seasons, Lucas averaged a 20-20 stat-line as the Royals' #2 scoring option. He put up 21.4 points and 20.0 rebounds in the 1964-1965 season and increased that to 21.5 points and 21.1 rebounds in the 1965-1966 season.
What allowed Lucas to thrive was his resiliency and ability to play big minutes for his team. He averaged upward of 41 minutes per game in his early years in Cincinnati and finished 8th all time in minutes played per game with 38.6 despite playing off the bench in his final two years.
Due to weight issues and a Royals coaching change in 1969, Lucas was traded to San Francisco and later to New York where he won his lone championship with Hall of Famers Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Dave DeBusschere.
Apart from his basketball achievements, Lucas showcased his business savvy off the court. By securing numerous endorsement deals and lucrative investments — like his famous fast food chain, Jerry Lucas Beef N Shakes, Lucas became one of only two or three millionaire players in the NBA.
8. Elvin Hayes
Career Averages: 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.0 blocks, 45.2% FG, 67.0% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.116 WS/48, 0.6 BPM, 21.4 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 0; All-NBA: 3x First Team, 3x Second Team; All-Defensive: 2x Second Team; All-Star: 12x; Championships: 1 (1978)
Considered one of the original bad boys of big-money sports, Elvin Hayes was often a misunderstood figure among his peers in the league. Much like many of the antagonists that have graced the league, everyone wanted to see Hayes fail.
An article by Sports Illustrated's John Papanek in 1978 shared a quote from Hayes after winning the 1978 championship, saying, “The one thing they've taken away from me that I feel I have deserved is the MVP. And I don't think I'll ever get it, because I think, more than anything else, people want to see me fail.”
According to Papanek's article, Hayes had many unpleasant run-ins with his teammates, coaches, and the sports media. This made him an antagonist even in his own circle. This was coupled with the fact that Hayes didn't win his first championship until his 10th season, with many saying he couldn't play winning basketball.
Hayes's resume never featured an MVP trophy despite posting MVP-like numbers for several years. Starting from his rookie season where he took the league by storm — winning the scoring title as a rookie with 28.4 points per game, the Big E would participate in 12 consecutive All-Star Games. He was also selected into an All-NBA team from 1973 to 1977 and again in 1979 and was one of the most durable players in the NBA with at least 80 games played in each his 16 seasons in the league.
At one point in his career, Hayes even put up a double-double in 55 consecutive games, a record in the post-Wilt Chamberlain era. Kevin Love came closest in the modern era with 53 consecutive games in the 2010-2011 season. Hayes was also a shot-blocking menace which earned him two All-Defensive Second team nods.
After teaming up with former MVP Wes Unseld in the Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Hayes finally cracked the winning column, reaching the NBA Finals for three years in 1975, 1978, and 1979. In Game 3 of their 1978 championship series versus the Seattle Supersonics, Hayes set an NBA Finals record for most offensive rebounds in a game with 11. He led the Bullets in that series with averages of 20.7 points, 11.9 rebounds , 1.4 assist, 1.6 steals, and 2.0 blocks.
In hindsight, despite his less-than-ideal off-court presence, Hayes is considered one of the greatest Power Forwards of all-time. He was conducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1990 and was selected as one of the Top 50 players all-time in the NBA's 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1996. But for his lack of consistent success, he falls to number 8 on this list.
7. Kevin McHale
Career Averages: 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.7 blocks, 55.4% FG, 79.8% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.180 WS/48, 2.5 BPM, 34.3 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 0; Sixth Man of the Year: 2 (1984, 1985); All-NBA: 1x First Team; All-Defensive: 3x First Team, 3x Second Team; All-Star: 7x; Championships: 3 (1981, 1984, 1986)
Despite having worse statistical numbers and never being a legitimate number one option for his team, McHale edges out Elvin Hayes at number 7 because of his ability to contribute to winning.
Forming 1/3 of the Celtics' formidable front court in the late 80s with Larry Bird and Robert Parish, McHale was known for his ability in the low post, his effort on the offensive glass, and his shot blocking instincts on defense.
Unlike the other players featured on this list, McHale wasn't immediately given enough opportunities early in his career. In his first five seasons, McHale came off the bench behind Cedric Maxwell and played only 28.4 minutes per game. But much like Manu Ginobili in the modern NBA, what mattered more to McHale was winning, and coming off the bench never bothered him.
McHale's career finally broke out in the 1985-1986 season when Maxwell was sent to the Clippers in a trade that brought in former MVP Bill Walton to the Celtics. As a full-time starter, McHale averaged 22.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 assist, and 1.8 blocks.
In his best season in the 1986-1987 season, McHale finished fourth in the MVP race — behind Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and his teammate Bird — and was awarded his first and only All-NBA First Team selection behind his 26.1 point-9.9 rebound averages. McHale was also the first player in league history to finish a season shooting north of 60% from the field (60.4%) and 80% from the foul line (83.6%).
Asked to speak about his low post brilliance in the peak of his career, McHale responded, “When it went into what I called ‘The torture chamber', I knew it was in.”
But McHale always saved his best for the biggest stage. In the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals, McHale saved Boston's series with a huge block against Philadelphia's Andrew Toney which helped preserve the Celtics' 1-point lead. Boston came back from a 3-1 deficit in that series to advance to the NBA Finals and ultimately win it all.
In his last championship series in 1986 with Boston, McHale led all scorers with 25.8 points per game to win his third and final ring against the Houston Rockets.
Suffice to say, McHale's willingness to sacrifice individual numbers for team success and his ability to produce on the biggest stage puts him deservedly at number 7.
6. Dolph Schayes
Career Averages: 18.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 38.0% FG, 84.9% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.192 WS/48
Awards: MVP Awards: 0; All-NBA: 6x First Team, 6x Second Team; All-Star: 12x; Championships: 1 (1955)
In a time before floor spacing was considered important, there was Dolph Schayes. Known for his high-arcing shot that his teammates referred to as the Sputnik, Schayes was an anomaly of his time.
Basketball in the 50s was an era when everybody limited their shots to inside the paint. After all, there was no point shooting from the outside without a three-point arc. But Schayes, despite his 6'7′ frame (considered tall in the 50s), was deadly from the outside with his two-handed set shot. According to Hall of Fame Coach Alex Hannum, “He was the only guy who had legitimate 25-30 foot range. You could add five points to his career [average] if they had the three-point shot back then.”
Schayes' shot was unorthodox. He released the ball with two hands with his feet planted on the ground, but it proved effective. And he was far from a one-trick pony. Schayes could also light up opposing defenses with his one-handed runners.
When he broke his right wrist early in his career, Schayes was forced to adapt to playing with his off-hand. For six weeks, he dazzled defenders as a lefty. Once his wrist injury healed, Schayes became ambidextrous, developing the ability to shoot with either hands. And according to him, this improved his efficiency by 1000%.
As one of the pioneers of the league, Schayes amassed multiple milestones in the NBA record books. He was the first to surpass the 15,000-point mark, was the league leader in games played with 996 — and a league-record of 706 consecutive games played, and was the free throw king with 6,712 free-throw made. He also led the NBA in free-throw percentage thrice in 1958 (90.4%), 1960 (89.2%), and 1962 (89.6%).
Before the Dirk Nowitzkis and Kevin Garnetts, Schayes was the first to revolutionize the inside-outside game, using his outside shooting ability to blow by defenders for inside shots. For that reason, he is the best Power Forward never to win the MVP.
5. Bob Pettit
Career Averages: 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 43.6% FG, 76.1% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.213 WS/48
Awards: MVP Awards: 2 (1956, 1959); All-NBA: 10x First Team, 1x Second Team; All-Star: 11x; Championships: 1 (1958)
The NBA's first ever MVP in 1956, Pettit was a rare talent in the NBA. Playing as a center in college, the 200-pound Pettit lacked the strength to play the five spot in the NBA. As a result, Hawks coach Red Holzman transitioned him from a back-to-the-basket player into a face-up four.
Many were skeptical about Pettit's ability to excel in his rookie season, but he quickly proved his doubters wrong, averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award and getting selected to the All-NBA First Team.
Pettit's game was simple. In an interview with basketball historian Terry Pluto, Pettit shared, “Offensive rebounds were worth eight to 12 points a night to me. Then I'd get another eight to 10 at the free-throw line. All I had to do was make a few jump shots and I was on my way to a good night.”
Pettit dominated every Power Forward matchup in the late 50s and early 60s. He could flat out score and rebound as his averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds ranked 8th all time and 3rd all time, with the latter falling behind only to Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. On top of that, he won the scoring title twice and was a rebounding champion once, even averaging 27.9 points and 20.3 rebounds in the 1960-1961 season (Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry Lucas are the only other players to achieve a 20-20 season).
In his 11 seasons in the league, Pettit made the All-NBA First team ten times and an All-NBA Second Team selection in his final year. He also made the All-Star game every season and was crowned All-Star Game MVP four times.
Accolades and gaudy numbers aside, Pettit was a proven winner. After losing out to the the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics in the 1957 NBA Finals, Pettit came back stronger in 1958. He scored a then-playoff record 50 points in their 110-109 title-clinching Game 6 to dethrone the defending champions.
4. Charles Barkley
Career Averages: 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 55% FG%, 73.5% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.216 WS/48, 6.1 BPM, 80.5 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 1 (1993); All-NBA: 5x First Team, 5x Second Team, 1x Third Team; All-Star: 11x; Championships: 0
Better known today for his antics with Shaquille O'Neal on the show Inside the NBA on TNT, Barkley was one of the dominant forces in the late 80s and early 90s. Only 6'6″ in height (many say he's only really 6'4″), the Round Mound of Rebound played well over his undersized frame. His boundless energy was a sight to behold, slamming down monstrous slams and skying high for rebounds over bigger guys.
Despite his limited offensive repertoire and without a consistent outside jumper — shooting only 26.6% from beyond the arc and 42.4% of his shots coming within 3 feet of the basket since shooting splits began to be tracked in the 1996-1997 season, Barkley could overpower his way inside to score in bunches.
The 1993 MVP was also a menace on the offensive glass, finishing 5th all time in offensive rebounds per game with 4.0 and is the only player in the top 20 leader board below 6'7″. His combination of relentless hustle, excellent positioning, deceptive speed, and natural-born athleticism allowed him to collect loads of offensive rebounds to score on easy put-backs.
Because of that, Barkley is the second player in NBA history after Wilt Chamberlain to amass 23,000 points, 12,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists in his career.
Along with his talent on the court, Barkley's personality extended well beyond the court. On March 6, 1991, Barkley was involved in a spitting incident with a fan. According to sources, the fan was heckling racial slurs at him which prompted him to spit at the fan. But instead, his saliva hit a young girl, prompting the NBA to suspend him for a game with a fine of $10,000.
Like many Hall of Famers in the 90s, one glaring hole in Barkley's resume is his lack of an NBA championship. In his early years in Philadelphia, Chuck never made it out of the Eastern Conference Finals playing alongside NBA legends Juluis Erving and Moses Malone, falling in five games to the Boston Celtics during his rookie season. When Dr. J retired and Malone traded to the Washington Bullets, Barkley became the franchise player of the Sixers, but this resulted in even less playoff success as Philly never came closer than the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
He came closest in the 1992-1993 season when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Teaming up with the likes of Kevin Johnson, Tom Chambers, Danny Ainge, and Dan Majerle, Barkley led the Suns to an NBA-best 62-20 record and finally reached the NBA Finals in his 7th NBA season.
Before the series, Barkley was quoted telling Michael Jordan that it was “destiny” for the Suns to win the title. However, John Paxson's game-winning triple in Game 6 shattered Chuck's quest for the coveted championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnAr4I3-Z48
In the 1996-1997 season, Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets in his last ditch attempt to win a title. Forming a formidable trio with Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler , the Rockets blazed through the regular season with a 57-25 record. However, Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz were simply too much as Houston fell in six games in the Western Conference Finals.
Injuries plagued Barkley in the succeeding seasons as he concluded his 16-year career in 2000 without a championship ring.
3. Kevin Garnett
Career Averages: 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 blocks, 49.7% FG, 78.9% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.182 WS/48, 5.6 BPM, 96.9 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 1 (2004); Defensive Player of the Year: 1 (2008); All-NBA: 4x First Team, 3x Second Team, 2x Third Team; All-Defensive: 9x First Team, 3x Second Team; All-Star: 15x; Championships: 1 (2008)
A lanky 6'11” forward, few in the league's history can match up to KG's combination of intensity, defensive ability, and versatility. The Big Ticket holds a rare distinction of being one of only four players in NBA history to have won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Awards, which is a testament to his consistent two-way brilliance.
Drafted straight out of high school in the 1995 NBA Draft, Garnett led a cellar-dwelling Minnesota Timberwolves franchise that never won more than 29 games in a season to a title contender. From 1997-2004, KG led the Timberwolves to 8 consecutive playoff appearances, peaking in 2004 when Minnesota paraded their strongest lineup to date.
That year, Garnett won his first MVP trophy behind career-high averages of 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks. He, along with former All-NBA First Team member Latrell Sprewell and former All-Star Sam Cassell, towed the Timberwolves over the Nuggets and Kings to finally reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. There, they faced and eventually lost to the loaded Los Angeles Lakers squad bannered by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
After missing the playoffs in the next few years, Garnett's fortune changed when he was involved in a blockbuster trade to the Boston Celtics in 2007, teaming up with Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to form a formidable Big 3. That Celtics squad finished with an NBA-best 66-16 record and posted the biggest single-season turnaround from a 24-58 record the season prior. Garnett won the Defensive Player of the Year award for his efforts while finishing third in the MVP race behind Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul.
Garnett's brilliance that season along with Pierce and Allen propelled the Celtics to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1986, when Larry Bird led the franchise to their 16th title. With the Lakers also experiencing a resurgence with their superstar duo of Bryant and Pau Gasol, this revived the classic Lakers-Celtics rivalry in the 2008 NBA Finals. KG was brilliant in that series, averaging 18.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks. In Game 6, Garnett capped off the Celtics' championship run with 26 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and a massive +32 BPM.
The Big Ticket had one last shot at a ring in 2010 in a rematch with Kobe and the Lakers, but the Mamba dug deep and ultimately defeated Boston in a seven-game series.
Later in his career, Garnett was involved in another blockbuster trade that sent him and Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets. He ended his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016 with several key milestones. KG is the all time leader in defensive rebounds with 11,453, 4th all time in minutes played with 50,412, and is only one of three players to accumulate 25,000 points, 14,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists — the other two being Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
In hindsight, KG was never the most dominant offensive force in the league, but what he brought to the table was an unmatched intensity and will to win every game.
2. Karl Malone
Career Averages: 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 51.6% FG, 74.2% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.205 WS/48, 5.1 BPM, 99.0 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 2 (1997, 1999); All-NBA: 11x First Team, 2x Second Team, 1x Third Team; All-Defensive: 3x First Team, 1x Second Team; All-Star: 14x; Championships: 0
Consistency and longevity. These are the two words that best describe the Malone. With 19 seasons under his belt, the Mailman played 80 or more games in 16 of those seasons, finishing his career 2nd in the all-time leader board for minutes played with 54,852, 2nd all-time in points scored with 36,928, and 7th all time in total rebounds with 14,968.
Malone also holds the record for most free throws made and attempted with 9,787 and 13,188 respectively and is tied with Kobe Bryant for the 2nd most All-NBA First Team selections with 11.
The Mailman was primarily known for his offense throughout his career. He averaged more than 20 points per game in 17 of his 19 seasons and was the focal point of the Jazz offense. His deadly pick-and-roll game with long-time teammate John Stockton was almost unstoppable as he utilized his burly strength inside coupled with his mid-range game to present a counter against whatever the defense threw at them.
Despite being know more for his offense, Malone's defense didn't lag behind. The 6'9″ forward was an immovable mountain in the post, bagging four All-Defensive Team selections, three of them being First Team selections from 1997-1999.
Behind Malone's two-way brilliance, Utah never missed the playoffs in all of his 19 seasons. However, playoff success was hard to come by in his earlier years in the league, bouncing out of the first round in four of his first five seasons.
In the 1991-1992 season, Malone and the Jazz finally broke through, reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time in his career. There they faced Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trailblazers where The Mailman averaged 29.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in a six-game series defeat.
Malone continued to tread borderline success, reaching the the Western Conference Finals two more times in 1994 and 1996 before finally breaking through to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
This would be the closest The Mailman would ever get to a title as Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls always seemed to have an answer against them, defeating the Jazz in six games in those two finals series.
As many basketball fans say, the only knock in Malone's resume is the visible absence of a championship ring on his fingers. His demise was a combination of injury woes, bad matchups, and a certain Airness.
But it's not fair to say the 2-time MVP didn't have his chances as Malone tended to shy away from the big moments. In numerous occasions, The Mailman missed crucial shots and free throws that would've tipped the game in their favor. The most notable one would be Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
With 18.9 seconds left, the Jazz were up by one. All the Jazz had to do was maintain their lead, but they blew it. Malone was operating in the low post when Jordan stole the ball from behind which led to his famous shot over Byron Russell to seal the series.
That was an encapsulation of Malone's career in big moments, his inability to close out games. For that reason, Malone falls to number 2 on our list of best power forwards of all time.
1. Dirk Nowitzki
Career Averages: 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks, 47.1% FG, 38% 3pt, 87.9% FT
Advanced Stats: 0.193 WS/48, 4.5 BPM, 84.8 VORP
Awards: MVP Awards: 1; All-NBA: 4x First Team, 5x Second Team, 3x Third Team; All-Star: 14x; Championships: 1 (2011)
Dirk Nowitzki should always be credited as the man who revolutionized the modern Power Forward position. Arguably the greatest European player ever, Nowitzki transformed the four spot from the bruisers of the 90s into the skilled bigs of today who can shoot, dribble, and pass.
Coming into the league from Europe at the age of 20, Nowitzki didn't project as a superstar early in his career. In his rookie campaign, the German legend looked out of his league against the more athletic NBA forwards, averaging paltry numbers of 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of play. Many fans also criticized his horrendous defense, with some calling him “Irk Nowitzki” and purposely omitting the “D”.
But Nowitzki was a quick study. In his third year in the 2000-2001 season, Nowitzki jacked up his averages to 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists and was selected into the All-NBA Third team for the first time. He also led the Mavericks to a 53-29 regular season record en route to their first playoff appearance since 1990. The highlight of that playoff run saw Nowitzki score 42 points and grab 18 rebounds in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
In the 2003 playoffs, Nowitzki showcased his ability to perform in the clutch. In Game 7 of their first round series versus Portland, the German forward delivered a clutch three with 1:21 minutes left to ice the game and the series. He later said that “This was the most important basket of my career.” Later on in the second round against Sacramento, Nowitzki once again delivered with 30 points and 19 rebounds in Game 7 to tow Dallas into the Western Conference Finals.
After a string of disappointing playoff defeats in the succeeding seasons, Nowitzki finally led Dallas to their first ever NBA Finals appearance in 2006. To get there, the 7'0″ forward willed his team to a Game 7 victory against the Spurs in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, where he completed a three-point play to force overtime en route to scoring 37 points and 15 rebounds. He also put up 50 points in a crucial Game 5 win against his former teammate Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals.
In a highly controversial finals series against the Miami Heat, Dallas won the first two games but dropped the last four, partly due to Nowitzki's poor performance in the final three games where he made only 20 of his 55 shots attempted.
The 2010-2011 season was the highlight of Nowitzki's career. He defeated the Trailblazers in the first round and then swept the defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the second round. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals versus the OKC Thunder, Nowitzki set an NBA record of 24 consecutive free throws made. This was also the most free throws made in a game without a miss.
Back in the finals for the second time in his career, Nowitzki did not let the title slip away as he led Dallas to a surprising upset against a Miami squad powered by LeBron James, Wade, and Chris Bosh.
In his 21 seasons with Dallas, Nowitzki completely altered the course of the Mavericks franchise with his ability to score from anywhere on the court. His patented one-legged fadeaway is one of the most unblockable shots in NBA history and has even been adapted by today's NBA superstars like Kevin Durant and James.
The 2007 MVP also led the franchise to 15 playoff appearances, 2 NBA Finals appearances, and its first-ever NBA championship. He also finished 6th in the NBA All Time Scoring List with 31,560 points and 11th in the all time three points made list with 1,982 (the next big man on the list is #48 Ryan Anderson with 1,325 makes).
But what truly sets Nowitzki apart from the others in this list is his ability to lead his team to win at the highest level. In his 2011 championship run against the Miami superteam, Nowitzki never crumbled, consistently willing his team to win. In Game 6 of the series, Nowitzki scored 18 points in the second half to seal the championship for Dallas, bagging the NBA Finals MVP award with averages of 26.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 36.8% shooting from deep.
At the end of the day, all that matters is winning, and Dirk was a winner.
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