Top NBA Small Forwards of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Lebron James LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers.

Larry was a power not a small. Back to back 60 win seasons without another allstar on the team. He had to play great so that the cavs could win 120 games and great for each and every win. Then back to back mvps.

What the king all the way larry bird is not even a small he is a power best scorer and best passer on this list and he is the youngest on this list he is going to get that ring to be one of the greatest or the greatest.

He is better than larry bird in every way. People just don't want to admit it

James is way better than bird. It's that simple.

2 Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Bird is a 3x champ, 1x ROTY, 1x Finals MVP, 3x 3PT Contest winner, all with the Boston Celtics. (1979-1992)

The hardest working player of all time. The most clutch player... EVER! Even better then M.J. he once told Xavier McDaniel where he was going to take the last second shot from before hand and it still didn't matter... Larry hit it in his face anyways. One word " LEGEND "

The best small forward ever! Possibly the greatest all-around player ever period. He has a 29-11 head-to-head record vs Jordan, and 9-0 in play-off games.

Larry Bird is not only the best small forward of all time but also the best overall player of all time! Guy was amazing!

Whoever thinks LeBron is better than Larry Bird, that's a shame!

3 Julius Erving Julius Winfield Erving II, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American retired basketball player who helped popularize a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and playing above the rim.

Dr. j... only player ever! with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 2,000 steals, 2,000 blocks!..16 years, 16 all star games, 16 playoff appearances, 16 1,000 plus points seasons, 4-time mvp, 3-rings, 2-all star mvp.. most admired, best showman, greatest in open court, greatest flyer/dunker EVER!

4 Kevin Durant Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and the Nets. He was MVP of the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals.

Kevin Durant is only on his 5th season and he's leading the NBA in scoring. He is still young and still has so many years ahead of him. Hands down he is simply a scoring machiene. You can put anyone on hi anf no one can stop him. He also is extremly versatle. Think about it he's a 6 10 SF but dribbles as great as a PG. The funny ting is we haven't seen have of what he's going to do. So if you see Lebron as king sory, because the Durantula taking his place on the throne!

5 Scottie Pippen Scottie Maurice Pippen is an American retired professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association.

Scottie Pippen is top 3 all time EASY. I could argue him at #1. Arguably best all-around defensive player all time, (defense wins championships). A better scorer in his prime than his career stats show. A versatile player who could run an offense similar to a point guard. Arguably the second best player in the league for years, and the ALl-Star MVP in Jordan's absence. Chuck Daily said Scottie was the second best player on the original Dream Team. Scottie could D-UP any other player on this list.

I would go as far as to say Pippen is the most skilled and versatile SF of all-time. He had an insane b-ball IQ, point guard handles and court vision at 6'8 and could run your offense. He scored in every way imaginable. Had a low/high post game with footwork and counters that most other SFs (past and present) could only dream of. He had a great midrange game with one of the best bank shots you'll ever see. He developed a three point shot during the middle of his career and was deadly with the pull-up three. Most of all he was a great slasher, could finish at the rim with either hand and dunked over big men with a nastiness unrivaled.

And then we get to defense where he was absolutely one of the best of all-time. Whatever there was to be done on defense he did it...ball-hawking players full-court, playing passing lanes and was always a league leader in steals, blocking shots (was doing chasedown blocks when Lebron was in elementary school lol), going all over the court playing ...more

Why is the best perimeter defender of all time number 6? Sure he wasn't a lights out scorer.. Yet he could do everything you could ever want out of the 3 spot

6 Dominique Wilkins Jacques Dominique Wilkins is an American retired professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.
7 Elgin Baylor

Unfortunately, Elgin played in the days before every game was taped and then replayed endlessly. Elgin was the original prototype for today's small forward.
He also had the highest season scoring average in the history of the NBA of anyone not named Wilt Chamberlain.
Yes, that is correct, his best season average is higher than MJ's best, but Elgin did it in 1962, the same year Wilt averaged over 50.
Nobody ever checks to see who came in "second" in scoring average.

8 Paul Pierce Paul Anthony Pierce is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association.
9 John Havlicek John Joseph "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA championships, four of them coming in his first four seasons.
10 Kawhi Leonard Kawhi Anthony Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. He has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and the Clippers.
The Contenders
11 George Gervin George Gervin, nicknamed "The Iceman," is an American retired professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls.
12 Rick Barry Richard Francis Dennis "Rick" Barry III is an American retired professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association.
13 Carmelo Anthony Carmelo Kyam Anthony is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

Yeah my dad loves you!

Should be around #6

14 James Worthy James Ager Worthy is an American sports commentator, television host, analyst, and former professional basketball player.
15 Tracy McGrady Tracy Lamar McGrady Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player who is best known for his career in the National Basketball Association, where he played as both a shooting guard and small forward.

This dude was seriously close to being the best there ever was. before his body started deteriorating in his prime he was the most versatile player to ever play the game, there was literally nothing this man couldn't do. but he'll just have to settle for the best that never was, and a good to fair chance of making it into the hall of fame eventually.

16 Bernard King
17 Andre Iguodala Andre Tyler Iguodala is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association.
18 Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player.
19 Adrian Dantley
20 Giannis Antetokounmpo Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association.
21 Gordon Hayward Gordon Daniel Hayward is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association.
22 Chris Mullin
23 Paul George Paul George is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association.
24 Danilo Gallinari Danilo Gallinari is an Italian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.
25 Rudy Gay Rudy Carlton Gay Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association.
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