The Greatest NBA Small Forwards Of All-Time By Category

• LeBron James is the greatest small forward in NBA history

• Only LeBron James, Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard have multiple Finals MVP awards as small forwards

• Larry Bird and LeBron James are the only small forwards with multiple MVP awards and multiple Finals MVP awards

As you have seen in recent weeks, we have begun to release the greatest NBA players per position based on 15 different categories. Earlier in the summer, we saw players like Stephen Curry and Magic Johnson dominate the point guard categories list. Just two weeks ago, Michael Jordan was the player who dominated the shooting guard list as well. Now, as we get set to release our greatest small forwards by category, get ready for another NBA legend to be celebrated far more than once. 

LeBron James being the consensus greatest small forward in NBA history is a point that is too difficult to argue at this point. After 20 seasons of incredible play and consistent greatness, James has taken that spot rather convincingly. However, there are still the other legendary small forwards who have played this game that are scattered throughout this list as well. While James is an all-time great, there are some areas we have found better players when it comes to that category, although they are at a minimum.

As we go through these categories, it is important to remember that there could have been more than one selection per category, but we went with the one we believed had the slightest of edges over the other. We would love to hear counterarguments and debates, so feel free to let those fly in the comment sections.

Without any further ado, here are the greatest NBA small forwards of all-time by category.

Best – LeBron James

As I alluded to just a short while ago, LeBron James is pretty easily the best small forward we have ever seen play the game. Over the course of 20 seasons, we have watched as James has led three different franchises to NBA championships, claimed four NBA titles and four Finals MVP awards as well as four MVP awards during the regular season along with a host of other individual accolades and achievements that includes leading the playoffs in just about every major statistic there is. 

Over the course of 20 seasons, James has defied the odds while maintaining a level of play that has never before been seen in the NBA. Since his second season in 2004-05, James has averaged at least 25.0 points per game every season, which helped him capture the NBA’s all-time scoring record from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023. On top of everything else James has accomplished in his career, he could end up becoming the first player in NBA history to finish his career with 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.

There has truly never been, nor will there ever be another NBA player, like LeBron James.

Scoring – Kevin Durant

While LeBron James may be the NBA’s all-time leader in scoring, he is not our selection for this category. Although a close second, James loses out on the scoring category to one of the greatest pure scorers in NBA history, Kevin Durant. Since entering the NBA in 2007-08, Durant has rewritten the book on what it is supposed to look like for 7-footers on the offensive end. He displays complete control of all three levels of offense and does it at such an efficient rate, there is a real case for him to be named the greatest scorer ever. 

Since entering the NBA in 2007-08, Durant has never averaged less than 20.0 points per game and has averaged at least 25.0 points per game every season since 2008-09. Durant is the winner of four NBA scoring titles which all came within a five-year span from 2010 through 2014. He has had two different 30.0 points per game seasons and has recorded six different seasons with at least 2,000 total points. Durant has had three different 50/40/90 shooting seasons as well and, in 2022-23, became the first player with a 55/40/90 season in NBA history. When it comes to scoring by small forwards, Durant is the choice every single time.

Playmaking – LeBron James

This is one of the categories that LeBron James takes in a landslide. Not only is LeBron the greatest playmaking small forward ever, but he also has a case to be the greatest overall playmaker ever. For two decades, we have watched teams struggle to defend and slow down James with his relentless pressure on the defense both as a scorer who can take over for stretches and as a distributor who can pick teams apart.

Along with his own 25.0 points per game since 2004-05, James has also dished out at least 6.0 assists per game over that stretch as well. This includes an assists title in 2020 when he averaged 10.2 assists per game with the Lakers. In the NBA playoffs for his career, he averages 28.5 points and 7.2 assists per game, leading and carrying his teams to 10 different NBA Finals, with his playmaking taking center stage. As a playmaker, nobody in NBA history has been more dangerous and effective in that role than LeBron James.

Rebounding – Elgin Baylor

When it comes to rebounding for small forwards, it isn’t exactly a requirement for greatness, but it doesn’t hurt if it is something you are elite at, either. When it comes to rebounds, there is only one name that reigns supreme over the rest, and that is Elgin Baylor. In his 14-year NBA career, Baylor would grab 11,463 total rebounds, by far the most by a small forward at this point. Baylor also holds the NBA record for rebounds per game by a small forward with 13.5 rebounds per game. Although these are records James is likely to catch, nobody was a better rebounder as a small forward than Elgin Baylor.

3-Point Shooting – Larry Bird

When looking for the greatest 3-point shooter at any position, there are a few things that must be taken into consideration. Efficiency, total threes made, attempts per game, and much more are all numbers and factors that go into this selection. When it comes to Larry Bird, it can go even further than that.

When it comes to three-point shooting, it may look like Bird could be classified as overrated, but if you watched him play, you know that isn’t the truth. Bird was an assassin from three, even if he only attempted 1.9 threes per game for his career. At his peak, he attempted over 3.0 3-point attempts and shot over 40.0% every time as well. Bird also showed he wasn’t afraid of the big moment, knocking down countless clutch threes late in games no matter the stage he was playing on. With 649 career threes made in 13 seasons, while shooting 37.6% for his career from deep, Larry Bird is our selection for the greatest 3-point shooting small forward.

Mid-Range Shooting – Larry Bird

If Larry Bird is our selection for shooting from three, then he is an automatic selection for our mid-range shooting as well. Larry was considerably more dangerous from 10-16 feet out than he was from three. It didn’t matter if he was off-balance, coming off a screen, shooting off the dribble, or any other situation, Bird was near-perfect with his mid-range jumper.

Although the numbers are unavailable to us, you can see from the footage above how smoothly he went about his game once within 18 feet of the basket. With a quick release and high release, Bird’s jumper was a picture-perfect shot of what a jump shot is supposed to look like. Bird could create a jump shot opportunity from any spot on the floor from 10-18 feet, and more often than not, it finished in his favor.

Passing – LeBron James

Chances are, if one player is my selection from playmaking, then he will be my selection for passing. Although not the same thing, being an elite passer will make you an elite playmaker if you can combine it with an ability to score at a high level. Well, nobody in NBA history is as elite at both scoring and passing as LeBron James is.

LeBron James has recorded a total of 8,566 assists in his NBA career. That total is more than 2,400 assists more than the next closest small forward, Scottie Pippen, with 6,135. James’ 7.5 assists per game also rank first among small forwards, 1.2 assists per game more than Larry Bird. This is undoubtedly due to James’ versatility and ability to run the offense from the point guard position in any situation on any given night.

Looking further than the numbers, James’ court vision has been something spectacular to witness as well. Whether it be a full-court pass, a drive-and-dish assist to a shooter on the outside, or a fast break dime to a cutting teammate, James is a Swiss Army knife when dishing out the rock.

Defense – Kawhi Leonard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siMiP-94aLM

This is one of those categories that I was speaking of when I said it could have gone to more than one player. I completely understand if Scottie Pippen is your choice here. However, for me, I have to go with a two-time Defensive Player of the Year as well as a player who won a Finals MVP predicated on his defense in slowing down the best player in the world at the time.

Kawhi Leonard burst onto the scene in the early 2010s with the San Antonio Spurs. After helping lead the team to the 2013 Finals, Leonard took center stage in 2014. Leonard’s defensive effort on LeBron James in 2014 would help the Spurs capture the NBA championship and was enough to win him the Finals MVP award. Leonard would go on to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016 with one of the best defensive peaks in NBA history.

Leonard’s ability to disrupt an offense with both his on and off-ball defense is what made him the easy choice here. His side-to-side agility and movement are swarming for any offensive player to deal with, and his strength, size, and speed make it an almost impossible matchup to find an advantage in.

Finishing – LeBron James

When most people think about the game’s greatest finishers, their minds can be focused too much on the game’s greatest dunkers. Finishing goes far beyond just dunks, however, and is an art form in itself on the court. Being able to finish through contact, and adjust to defensive opponents trying to make a play while having the touch to softly lay it up if necessary are all skills that are considered in the finishing category.

When it comes to all of these things combined, nobody has done it better than LeBron James. On countless occasions, we have seen James do it all as a finisher. We have seen him take off for incredibly athletic dunks on fast breaks or while catching a pass from a teammate. We have seen him finish through contact and barrel down the lane for a soft finish or ferocious dunk, using his bulky frame to shake off defenders. As a finisher at the rim, James has shot 73.9% from 0-3 feet in his career, giving this selection the perfect cherry on top for its reasoning.

Athleticism – LeBron James

For athletes, few players have accomplished what LeBron James has in his career. Even 20 seasons in, James continues to defy age and the laws of Mother Nature as he continues to find himself among the top 10 players in the game. That is an incredible feat of athleticism in itself. James has been a symbol of athletic superiority for the entirety of his career, being able to do things that most could only dream of doing. In his prime, his speed, leaping ability, endurance, and strength, mixed with his size and build, made him one of the greatest athletic specimens the NBA has ever had the fortune of knowing.

We would be complete fools not to select LeBron James as the most athletic small forward in NBA history.

Clutch – LeBron James

I have no idea where or when the whole “LeBron James is not clutch” narrative started, but it has to be one of the worst narratives to ever come to light in NBA history. It sits right next to “Pippen saved Jordan” in that regard. The truth of the matter is that not only is LeBron James one of the most clutch players in NBA history, but he might be number one overall, and that may not be popular, but it is a fact.

In NBA history, James ranks fourth with seven buzzer-beating shots in his career. In the NBA playoffs, where the lights are brighter, and the stakes are higher, James has the most game-winning shots with five to his name. In clutch situations, LeBron James shoots 34.0% from the field, which is the highest shooting percentage for any player with at least 50 shot attempts in that situation. This doesn’t include the countless assists and high IQ plays James has made as a playmaker and passer in these situations as well. With one play to be made for the win, it is hard to argue against wanting LeBron James to be that player.

Efficiency – LeBron James

The efficiency category is another one that goes to LeBron James quite easily. With a career 27.22 PER, James has the highest efficiency rating for any small forward by a considerable amount. That 27.22 rating also ranks third in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan and Nikola Jokic. From 2008 with the Cavaliers through 2013 with Miami, James led the NBA every season in PER, earning a rating as high as 31.7 in 2009. When it comes to making decisions, shooting, or just overall efficiency with the ball, James is number-one for small forwards by a wide margin.

Leadership – LeBron James

I know that the knock on LeBron James is that he doesn’t have the killer mentality or instincts that Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan had, but that doesn’t mean the man is not a natural-born leader. Whether he is vocal about what he demands from his teammates on the court or leading by example, LeBron James is a tremendous leader of his teammates on the court. When James speaks, they listen, and when he instructs, they follow because of the respect and adoration he has earned over the years.

It isn’t too bad of an idea to listen to him, either. LeBron has led less-than-average talent to opportunities at NBA championships based on his ability to play at a high level but also by being a leader. James has proven to be someone worth following into battle, and you don’t mind laying down on your sword for.

Versatility – LeBron James

Versatility is something that every NBA player that has ever been referred to as a superstar has. On offense, it means that a player can take over a game in different ways but mostly as a scorer himself, and as a passer, playmaker, and leader. On defense, it means you can effectively take on more than one assignment at any given position and at any given time.

With this definition, LeBron James is the clear-cut decision once again. On offense, we have already covered a wide range of the way James takes over games in this thread. As a downhill scorer, he is unstoppable, and as a playmaker, it is impossible to predict his next movie at any moment. I think many forget how versatile James was in his prime on defense., especially in Miami. Whether matching up with bigs or guards, when he was locked in, there was no one who could get by or around James. He was just as lethal off the ball, reading plays before they happened and anticipating opponents’ next move with ease. There has never been a small forward this versatile in NBA history.

Ball-Handling – Kevin Durant

Part of the reason Kevin Durant is considered such an incredible scorer is his ability to handle and protect the ball from the small forward position. Never mind the fact that he is seven feet tall, but the fact that he handles the ball like a point guard makes him an impossible defensive assignment. Durant’s most effective move may just be the speed in his pull-up mid-range jumper off the dribble. Using unreal ball control and natural instincts, Durant’s handles are second to none when it comes to small forwards, period. 

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Next

The Greatest Small Forward From Every NBA Team

Building The Perfect All-Time NBA Small Forward

The Best NBA 3-Point Shooter Every Year From 2000 To 2023