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Who are the top power forwards in NBA history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Jerry Lucas: one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history (his 15.6 rebounds per game is fourth all-time), Lucas was Rookie of the Year in 1963-1964, and made seven All-Star Games and five All-NBA teams during his 11-year career in the Association.
9. Dolph Schayes: a dominant NBA big man of the 1950s, Schayes was a 12x All-Star and 12x All-NBA selection who won a rebounding title and averaged 18.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game for his career.
8. Kevin McHale: together with Larry Bird and Robert Parish, McHale helped lead the Boston Celtics to three NBA titles in the 1980s; individually, he was an elite all-around performer: 7x All-Star, All-NBA, 6x All-Defensive, and 2x Sixth Man of the Year.
7. Elvin Hayes: in addition to averaging 20-and-10 for his career, Hayes accomplished it all – 12x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 2x All-Defensive, 2x rebounding champion, scoring champion, and NBA champion during his Hall of Fame career.
6. Bob Pettit: the very first MVP in NBA history (2x overall) and also a 2x scoring champion, Pettit was one of the league’s first superstars, earning All-Star and All-NBA honors every season of his career and finishing with career averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game (third all-time in rebounding).
5. Dirk Nowitzki: the greatest European-born player and arguably the best shooting big man in NBA history, Nowitzki was a 12x All-NBA selection and 2006-2007 MVP who led the Dallas Mavericks to their first (and currently only) NBA championship and is the all-time leading scorer among foreign-born players.
4. Charles Barkley: despite standing just 6’6” at the power forward position, Barkley averaged 20-and-10 for his career (including 15 consecutive seasons with double-digit rebounds) en route to 11 All-NBA selections and the 1992-1993 MVP award with the Phoenix Suns.
3. Kevin Garnett: the first high school player to make a direct jump to the NBA in 20 years, Garnett was a force both offensively and defensively – in addition to the 2003-2004 MVP award and Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-2008, he was All-NBA 9x, All-Defensive 12x, led the league in rebounding four straight years, and helped lead the Celtics to their first NBA title in over two decades.
2. Karl Malone: the second-leading scorer and one of the most rugged and durable players in NBA history, Malone perfected the art of the pick-and-roll with teammate John Stockton, averaging 25-and-10 for his career and making 11 straight All-NBA First Teams while also winning MVP honors twice.
1. Tim Duncan: a franchise cornerstone and consistently dominant force on both ends of the court (15x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, and 15x All-Defensive), Duncan won two MVPs while leading the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA titles, earning Finals MVP in the process 3x.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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