We're not going to try to convince you that Shawn Marion deserves to be in the Hall of Fame or rewrite history and suggest he proved he could be the No. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams.
Basketball royalty reigns as the greatest small forward of all time. Goodell Apologized, So What’s Next With the NFL? Instead, he was half of what is perhaps the greatest duo in the game's history. Nevertheless, as the leading man for the best team in the NBA right now, we don't think LeBron James needs anymore justification for coming out on top in our list of the top 10 small forwards in the NBA right now. He was also the leading scorer on the 2007-08 title-winning Celtics. He set playoff records on two injured ankles and made the series against the LA Clippers a close one despite his second star sitting injured on the bench.
Hurry up before they notice nobody is guarding me!'' Chris Mullin wasn't paid for his defensive skills, so it's a good thing he could shoot the rock. But the eight-time NBA All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection was so much more. Baylor was a revolutionary. The undisputed godfather of the slam dunk made human flight seem both majestic and effortless. And you'll see pace- and playing-time-adjusted numbers (in the form of "per 75 possessions"). And he only made nine appearances in one of those seasons. Iguodala has averaged 4.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists, shooting 43.2% from the field this season, doing so in 19 minutes per game. And he's not just proficient at those various levels. In his own time, Havlicek was one of the game's most well-rounded players. That's all from Elgin.". Per NBA.com, he was the seventh-leading scorer in league history when he retired from the NBA in 1991. His well-rounded game obviously shows up on the stat sheet, but his legacy may be more about what he did after he took the baton from Baylor. And after he and the Toronto Raptors eliminated the Golden State Warriors, he was named Finals MVP for the second time in his career. Quote me on that and don't take nothing out.
Who's the greatest small forward of all time?
wrote about how George is a "perfect" type of player for the modern game.
It shows in his league-leading 10.3 assists per game — which is also a career-high for James. His true shooting percentage was 61.9. Twenty years from now, pockets of basketball fans from around the country will feel downright silly they didn't appreciate LeBron James because he didn't match Michael Jordan accomplishment for accomplishment. Forming a potent duo with Bam Adebayo, Butler has led the young team to an Eastern Conference finals appearance and could take them to the NBA Finals. Get the latest NBA Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports.
Kawhi Leonard is one of the finest small forwards in the NBA.
And that opened a lot of doors for young players, myself in particular, to try that stuff. We know Dominique Wilkins as "The Human Highlight Film " and potentially the best in-game dunker before Vince Carter arrived via the 1998 NBA Draft.
In Elgin Baylor: The Man Who Changed Basketball, Bijan C. Bayne explained Baylor's impact further (h/t Jason Reid of The Undefeated): "The style of basketball that we accept as conventional today all comes out of him. One from Complex's Jose Martinez details the time Bird verbally gave it to a two-time Defensive Player of the Year: "Larry Bird was scared of no one. LeBron's cushion there is about the same as the distance between second and 10th place. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The other three were Grant Hill, Magic and Bird. The six-time All-Star with three All-Defensive appearances is an MVP candidate for the 2018-19 season along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden, and George could also win Defensive Player of the Year for the current campaign. The Small Forward is the prototype of player development within basketball moving into the future. Zac Wassink is a football and futbol aficionado who is a PFWA member and is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.
However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Kawhi may be known for many for his attacking flair, however, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, the Clippers star is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the NBA, particularly from around the arc. The role of a small forward has drastically changed in today's game. Durant will be a huge presence for the Nets when he’s healthy and will have plenty of opportunities to shine as his new team’s figurehead. Leonard is a two-time NBA Champion, two-time Finals MVP, and four-time NBA All-Star. He can score at the rim, in the post, in the mid-range and from the outside. The small forward position has become one of the most player-heavy positions in recent years, it is not only one of the most played but hardest to guard. But his combination of strength, fundamentals and craftiness made him one of the best scorers we've ever seen, regardless of what era of players you compare him to.