Top 10 Best NBA Small Forwards of All Time

Small forwards are the jack-of-all-trades in a basketball team. They can shoot, dribble, pass, and defend. They're the utility players who might not always get the spotlight, but they're often the glue holding a successful team together.

Determining who are the best small forwards isn't just about stats or championship rings, although those are significant factors, of course. This is about legacy, talent, versatility, and those electrifying moments that have fans jumping out of their seats. From the high-flying dunks to the buzzer-beaters, from the defensive stops to the epic playoff performances, these players embody the essence of the game.

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 (NBA). Over his career, LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers. He has won four NBA championships.

    Larry was a power forward, not a small forward. He led his team to back-to-back 60-win seasons without another All-Star on the team. He had to play great for the Cavs to win 120 games, and he was crucial for each and every win. Then he won back-to-back MVPs.

    What the king all the way. Larry Bird is not even a small forward. He is the best scorer and passer on this list. He is also the youngest on this list. He is going to get that ring to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest.

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

  2. Larry Bird

    Larry Joe Bird is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1979 to 1992. He won three NBA championships, was named Rookie of the Year, and earned a Finals MVP award. Bird also won the Three-Point Contest three times and is widely regarded as... read more

    The hardest-working player of all time. The most clutch player... EVER! Even better than MJ. He once told Xavier McDaniel where he was going to take the last-second shot from beforehand, and it still didn't matter. Larry hit it in his face anyway. One word: "LEGEND."

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

    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 playoff games.

  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. He was a key figure in the American Basketball Association (ABA) before the merger with the NBA, and... read more

    Dr. J is the only player ever with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 2,000 steals, and 2,000 blocks! Sixteen years, 16 All-Star games, 16 playoff appearances, 16 1,000-plus point seasons, 4-time MVP, 3 rings, 2 All-Star MVPs. 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 in the NBA. He previously starred with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors. He was named NBA Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018 after championship seasons with the Warriors.

    Kevin Durant is only in his fifth season, yet he's leading the NBA in scoring. He is still young and has many years ahead of him. Hands down, he is simply a scoring machine.

    You can put anyone on him, and no one can stop him. He is also extremely versatile. Think about it: he's a 6'10" small forward but dribbles as skillfully as a point guard.

    The funny thing is, we haven't seen half of what he's capable of. So, if you see LeBron as the king, sorry, because Durantula is taking his place on the throne!

  5. Scottie Pippen

    Scottie Maurice Pippen is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association, most notably with the Chicago Bulls. Pippen was a six-time NBA champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

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

    I would go as far as to say Pippen is the most skilled and versatile small forward of all time. He had an insane basketball IQ, point guard handles, and court vision at 6'8, and could run your offense. He scored in every way imaginable. He had a low/high post game with footwork and counters that most other small forwards (past and present) could only dream of.

    He also had a great mid-range 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 always being a league leader in steals. He was blocking shots - doing chasedown blocks when LeBron was in elementary school, no less - going all over the court, playing insane help defense, and taking charges on anyone. People look at stats too much and don't have a clue what this man was capable of. He's probably the most unique player I've seen.

  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. Known for his scoring ability and powerful dunks, he was a nine-time NBA All-Star. Wilkins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball... read more

  7. Elgin Baylor

    Elgin Gay Baylor (September 16, 1934 to March 22, 2021) was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the NBA, beginning with the Minneapolis Lakers and continuing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Baylor earned 11 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA... read more

    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's 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 a retired American professional basketball player. He played 19 seasons in the NBA, spending most of his career with the Boston Celtics. Pierce also had brief stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring after the 2016-17 season.

  9. Carmelo Anthony

    Carmelo Kyam Anthony is a retired American professional basketball player. He last played for the Los Angeles Lakers and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. Anthony had a successful NBA career, including ten All-Star selections and a scoring title.

  10. Kawhi Leonard

    Kawhi Anthony Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. He has previously played for the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2014, and the Toronto Raptors, leading them to their first title in 2019... read more

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Bojan Bogdanovic

  12. ?

    Alex English

    13. The Contenders

  13. John Havlicek

    John Joseph "Hondo" Havlicek was a professional American basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA championships, four of them coming in his first four seasons... read more

  14. George Gervin

    George Gervin, nicknamed "The Iceman," is a retired American professional basketball player. He played in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. His career included time with the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls.

  15. Tracy McGrady

    Tracy Lamar McGrady Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player. He is best known for his career in the National Basketball Association, where he played as both a shooting guard and a small forward. McGrady was a seven-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball... read more

    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 being the best that never was. He has a good to fair chance of making it into the Hall of Fame eventually.

  16. Bernard King

  17. Rick Barry

    Richard Francis Dennis "Rick" Barry III is an American retired professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is one of the few players to lead both leagues in scoring. Barry was inducted into the Naismith... read more

  18. James Worthy

    James Ager Worthy is an American sports commentator, television host, analyst, and former professional basketball player. He played his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win three championships in the 1980s. Worthy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of... read more

  19. Andre Iguodala

    Andre Tyler Iguodala, born January 28, 1984, is an American former professional basketball player. He played 19 seasons in the NBA and is best known for his time with the Golden State Warriors. Iguodala won four NBA championships and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 2015.

  20. Paul George

    Paul George (born May 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. He previously played for the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. George is known for his two-way play, earning multiple All-Star selections and All-Defensive... read more

  21. Adrian Dantley

  22. Chris Mullin

  23. Grant Hill

  24. Jimmy Butler

    Jimmy Butler III is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. Born in Houston, Butler grew up in Tomball, Texas, and attended college at Marquette University. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and led the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023... read more

  25. Gordon Hayward

    Gordon Daniel Hayward is a former American professional basketball player. He played 14 seasons in the NBA, most recently with the Oklahoma City Thunder, before retiring in August 2024. Hayward was an NBA All-Star in 2017 and began his career with the Utah Jazz.

  26. Danilo Gallinari

    Danilo Gallinari is an Italian professional basketball player. As of 2025, he plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association. Gallinari began his NBA career in 2008 and has also played for teams including the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Atlanta Hawks.

  27. Rudy Gay

    Rudy Carlton Gay Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. Selected eighth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft, he played 17 seasons in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz. Gay retired in October 2024 after playing in 1,120... read more

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