Best Power Forwards in NBA History

It's not about him... it's about the team. He's their leader, and even when he's down in stats, he's still the leader.

Maybe the time when the Spurs had every play go through his hands and he led in the stats is dwindling, but he is still (and was) a GREAT Power Forward.

At the end of a game, win or lose, he stays on the floor to fist bump every team member as they come off.

In the twilight of his career, he hears the "squeak" of "new kid" sneakers catching up with him. Maybe this year will be another ring for him.

Tim Duncan is definitely the greatest power forward in NBA history. Throughout his career, he won 5 NBA Championships, 3 NBA Finals MVPs, and 2 NBA MVPs. He was the face of the Spurs franchise and was always a quiet, humble player who focused on being a great teammate and an amazing role model and leader for younger players.

Tim had a long, successful career and was the only NBA player to win NBA Championships in three different decades.

One of the best all-around players of all time. He is an MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, 14-time All-Star, with 9 All-NBA selections, and 10 All-Defensive selections. He is the only player in NBA history to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in 6 consecutive seasons.

Garnett is also the only player in NBA history to reach at least 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 4,000 assists, 1,200 steals, and 1,500 blocks in his career and the fourth player in NBA history to win an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award. He is also the only player to lead the league 5 consecutive times in defensive rebounding.

One of the greatest defensive players of all time and one of the most unselfish players ever. A one-of-a-kind player.

Karl Malone is the best power forward of all time. Hayes, Barkley, and Duncan would round out my top four. How in the world is Draymond Green even on the list of the top 25? This guy is one of the most overrated players in the past 20 years of basketball. He's a glorified role player who massively benefits from playing with Curry and Thompson.

Look at what he did a few years ago when Curry and Thompson were both out of the lineup for most of the season. He averaged a triple single. Hell, he wasn't even the team's top scorer (a rookie was). He has a tremendously strong opinion of himself, but so do a lot of other people in this world and they are not great either. By the way, he's not even close to one of the top 75 players of all time (recently announced). He wouldn't be one of the top 150 players. His believing he should have been is a joke.

Who else achieved what he did in 2011, beating Kobe, Durant, and LeBron to win the title and clearly being the best player in all of the 2011 playoffs? He was so deadly in clutch situations that it was enough for the Mavs to hang around for three quarters against closers like the above-mentioned trio.

If he had had a good center by his side for more than just one season, there would have been quite a few championship parades in Dallas, and Dirk would be sitting higher on this list.

Dirk Nowitzki was easily more offensively potent than Karl Malone, able to be the #1 option for an entire decade for the Mavericks. Also, he wasn't the product of an effective system run by a great coach like Jerry Sloan and a product of a Hall of Fame point guard like John Stockton.

In fact, until Rajon Rondo arrived this year, the best point guards he played with were a pre-prime Steve Nash, a past-prime Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry. The only reason Tim Duncan is better than Dirk Nowitzki is because of his two-way play, while Dirk was only great on offense.

Consider that through 14 seasons (from 2000-01 to 2013-14), he averaged 23.6 points and 8.4 rebounds on 47.9 FG%, 38.7 3P%, and 88.3 FT% with a 58.5 TS%, 24.2 PER, and .218 win shares per 48 minutes. His incredible longevity, great offensive production, and ability to carry a team to a championship make him the second greatest power forward of all time.

- Supah nova

When I look back at the PF position, I don't think of Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, or even Dirk. I think about the people who made this position what it was supposed to be. Charles Barkley is an example. He played like a madman and is an all-time great player.

You can also add Kevin McHale, Kevin Garnett, Dennis Rodman, and Chris Webber. I could go on and on and on. I want a PF to be an in-your-face grit-and-grind leader, not what it is becoming now. Nobody wants to see a 6'10" guy shoot a three.

Charles Barkley was the most talented power forward of all time, with arguably the most offensively potent peak, despite being 6'4. In his prime (from 1986-87 to 1990-91), he averaged 26.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks with a 58.6 FG%, 24.5 3P%, and 74.7 FT%. This isn't even mentioning his 65.5 TS%, 27.1 PER, and .249 win shares per 48 minutes during this time.

Did I forget to add that he had an offensive rating of 125 through his prime? Nowadays, he's on talk shows supporting unjust law enforcement, including the officer that killed Michael Brown over a punch or the one who put Eric Garner in an illegal chokehold because he was selling cigarettes. But his incredible stat line at the power forward position, despite being incredibly undersized, will always be remembered.

- Supah nova

An absolute defensive FORCE. While others admire Jordan and Pippen from the Bulls, I admire Dennis.

Dennis Rodman is the best power forward. His ability to frustrate and cajole opponents was brilliant to watch. Ask Karl Malone. His defense and rebounding were great! The other four can score. Period.

Come on, he was a badass rebounder and was on MJ's championship teams! Plus, he was a badass, so that helps.

He was basically unstoppable on offense and great on defense. Having long arms helped a lot.

Pettit was one of the early superstars and paved the way for all power forwards. He was a dominant force, leading one of only two teams to defeat Russell's Celtics. He was the best player in the league in the mid to late '50s and rivaled Wilt and Russell in the early '60s as the best in the league.

He was one of the top 5 who could move over and play, rebound, score, and defend with the best of them. He has been forgotten, and he is very underrated. Check his history.

Okay, let's get something straight here. Draymond Green is way better than Kevin Love. I'm not saying Kevin Love is bad, but Draymond is better.

Dr. J changed the game and shaped the modern NBA into what it is today. There is nothing more captivating than watching "The Doctor" go to work! Watch his 'Rock the Baby' dunk on YouTube, and you will see where Michael Jordan got his style. Best ABA player and one of the best NBA players to ever walk onto the hardwood.

It's not just about the stats. Dr. J changed the concept of power forward. No one was more intimidating and powerful to the hoop than he. He was the blueprint for today's power forwards. His style of driving to the iron set the stage for all that came after him. Funny how the old guys never really get their due.

Career was dominant but lacked playoff success and career was not as long as some others. Bird's most dominant stretch isn't as long as others also.

Better right now than Bosh has ever been!