We like to rattle on about it being a golden era for point guards in the NBA, but the league is absolutely loaded with talent out on the wing as well. Not only does the small forward position feature some of the best two-way players on the planet; it’s a role that continues to evolve and defy description. Today’s small forwards are stuck in a sort of limbo between the frontcourt and backcourt and are often expected to be proficient at both.
In order to survive, they have to be able to handle the rock like a point guard, create for themselves, and knock down three-pointers. They also have to be versatile enough to post-up when necessary, defend sometimes four or five positions, and be able to pass the ball and help find open shots for their teammates.
It’s one of the most fascinating positions in sports, and today we celebrate with our ranking of the NBA’s very best swing-men.
10. Harrison Barnes
There were a lot of questions surrounding Harrison Barnes after his dreadful Finals performance last spring. It was a brutal and unforgiving shooting slump that carried into both the Rio Olympics and the NBA preseason.
It had a lot of folks wondering whether the Mavs had made a huge tiny little mistake. Yet even with the way Dallas struggled at the start of the season, Barnes quickly proved that he’s capable of being a No. 1 option on offense and the centerpiece the organization can build around for the future.
9. Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins set a Minnesota Timberwolves franchise record by scoring 20 or more points in 19 consecutive games. That’s right, not even Kevin Garnett or Kevin Love accomplished that feat during their long and illustrious tenures with the organization.
He saw that streak snapped in a loss to the Spurs, but it underscores just how deadly an offensive threat the spindly third-year swingman has become. Wiggins still has a long way to go, particularly on the defensive end, which was widely considered one of his biggest strengths when he first entered the league.
If he can learn to leverage that length and athleticism, there’s no reason why can’t become one of the best two-way players in the NBA along with a few other names higher on this list.
8. Carmelo Anthony
It’s become nearly impossible to compartmentalize Carmelo Anthony’s play from the dystopian wasteland that is the Knicks organization.
Their win/loss record doesn’t help matters much either, but none of it changes the fact that ‘Melo is still one of the best pure scorers in the NBA.
His defense has always been a major point of contention, however, and with his plus/minus numbers currently dipping their toes into the red, it’s difficult to justify putting him any higher on this list.
7. Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward has really come into his own lately, both on the court and in terms of that magnificent pompadour.
For the past couple of years, the Jazz and their young core have been threatening to finally get over the hump, and they’ve done that in a big way as they’ve vaulted up the standings in the West.
Hayward’s play in 2016-17, which earned him his inaugural All-Star appearance, has been the engine behind much of that success.
6. Paul George
It’s difficult not to think of Paul George’s life and career as being divided into two parts, i.e. before and after the catastrophic leg injury that almost prematurely ended his basketball career. Against significant odds, he’s re-established himself as one of the very best two-way players in the league since his return.
The Pacers are still a playoff team with him, but it’s a far cry from those days prior to the injury when he was battling it out against LeBron James and the Big 3 Heat in the conference finals every year.
There were plenty of trade rumors surrounding George at the February deadline, and although nothing came to fruition, a change of scenery this summer might be just what he needs to revive his career in earnest.
5. Jimmy Butler
The shift over to small forward in order to make room for Dwyane Wade to play his natural position certainly hasn’t hurt Jimmy Butler’s game this season. In fact, he’s averaging career highs in almost every statistical category. The Bulls’ rotating cast of backcourt players has proved problematic, to say the least, but Butler has been the one stabalizing force … on (and off) the court, at least.
So why do the Bulls allegedly seem so keen on trying to trade him? His penchant for publicly undermining his coach and his recent accusations of front-office spying haven’t exactly endeared him to team brass. Depending on how things pan out in the playoffs, the organization might be moved to revisit the topic when the offseason rolls around.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
We might have to change his nickname from the “Greek Freak” to the “Greek God,” because his ascension as an NBA superstar has been downright mythological. He’s usurped Paul George and Jimmy Butler this season in just about every statistical category, and the terrifying truth is that there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Speaking of improvement, he’s the runaway favorite for the MIP award, and if he ever adds a reliable outside shot to his ever-expanding repertoire, the rest of the league might as well hang up their sneakers. The Bucks are not far off from being a playoff team in the East. A postseason berth and a first-round showdown against the Cavs would finally give Antetokounmpo an opportunity to prove that he belongs among the upper echelon of the league’s elite.
3. Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has always found himself hovering around the periphery of debates like this, fair or not. He’s long been considered the league’s best defender (and has the hardware to prove it), but his evolution as a virtually-unstoppable force on offense is what’s truly distinguished him from his peers the past few seasons.
That two-way dominance was on full display against the Rockets when, within a six-second interval, Kawhi knocked down a clutch three-pointer with defenders draped all over him, then immediately followed that up with a massive game-saving block on James Harden at the rim. His numbers aren’t quite as impressive as the top two guys on this list, but he’s the primary reason why the Spurs are once again the second-best team in the NBA.
2. Kevin Durant
Anyone who was paying even a modicum of attention last year during the playoffs noticed that Kevin Durant had quietly but undeniably transformed into one of the league’s most formidable defenders. His impressive length, quickness, and agility allowed him to venture out on the perimeter and switch screens whenever necessary, effectively sealing off driving lanes and pestering the league’s elite guards into poor decision-making.
He’s been asked to do even more defensively in his first season with the Warriors, namely leverage that aforementioned wing-span to help patrol the paint, and it’s a role that he’s excelled in as he’s currently among the top 10 in blocks per game, ahead of countless other players who we consider more bona fide big men. Oh yeah, and he’s also still a top 10 scorer in the NBA and doing it in signature fashion with his typical outrageous efficiency. (Although an MCL sprain and bone bruise has him on the shelf for awhile.)
1. LeBron James
Like a lot of other players on this list, LeBron’s position has always been somewhat nebulous. “Point-forward” is probably the most accurate description given his extraordinary usage rate and the way he orchestrates the Cavs’ offense, but he’s technically always been listed as a small forward.
Not only is he the best at that position in the NBA right now; he’s likely the all-time best, with all due respect to legends like Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Elgin Baylor, Julius Irving, et al. He may not be as deadly a scorer as Durant or as lockdown a defender as Kawhi, but his all-around abilities – especially his uncanny court vision and his role as a distributor – put him a few nose-hairs above the competition. He also reminded us that he’s still capable of world-altering defensive stops when it matters most. Just ask Andre Iguodala.
