This is part three of a series in which I rank the most exciting players by position. Part one was ranking the most exciting point guards in NBA history, part two was the most exciting shooting guards, and so now I will rank the most exciting small forwards of all time.
The small forward position has had the largest variety of different players throughout NBA history. Some small forwards are elite shooters, some are terrific facilitators, some are great at paint scoring, while the greatest small forwards possess all of those skills.
This tier list isn’t about stats or accolades, but about pure entertainment value. Here are the small forwards who made every game must-see TV.
Tier 1: Peak Entertainment
LeBron James, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins
From his early Cavaliers years to the end of his 2nd stint in Cleveland, LeBron James was consistently one of the most entertaining small forwards in NBA history. His powerful dunks, elite passing, and ability to take over critical games cement him as one of the most exciting small forwards to watch all-time.
Another elite all-around small forward was the Celtics legend Larry Bird. Bird was one of the greatest shooters of all time and could put the ball through the hoop from almost anywhere on the court. He also possessed an underrated passing ability, as well as intense defense and a killer mentality that made watching him peak entertainment.
Julius Erving was one of the NBA’s first extraordinary dunkers. His dunking ability influenced the next generation of elite NBA dunkers such as Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, and Michael Jordan. Erving’s creativity and flair made the sport of basketball cool and fun to play and watch, as his playstyle and personality made him the most popular NBA player in the late 1970s.
Similar to Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins was another high-flying, elite dunker who thrived in the transition. Wilkins was best known for his dunking ability, having won two dunk contests in 1985 and 1990, however he was also one of the best scorers of the ’80s. He had an underrated mid-range game, including a pull-up jumper and spin moves that allowed him to score through contact.
Tier 2: Super Exciting
Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins
Many NBA fans argue that Kevin Durant is the greatest scorer in NBA history, and they have a good case. Durant led the NBA in scoring four different seasons because of his highly exciting three-level scoring ability. Watching a 6’11 alien-like player score with the moves of a smaller guard is super exciting.
Another elite NBA scorer was Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo was one of the smoothest, pure scorers in the history of the NBA. His mid-range moves and jump-shot form were beautiful to watch.
Elgin Baylor was one of the first elite vertical leapers in the NBA. Baylor was drafted in 1959, in an era where ultra-athletic guards were pretty much non-existent. Baylor changed that with his incredible hangtime. He was able to fly over bigger and smaller defenders to finish acrobatic layups in mid-air.
Connie Hawkins is a name rarely brought up in NBA discourse, but he deserves his recognition. Hawkins’ best two years came in the ABA, but he retained his athleticism and explosiveness when he joined the Suns in the NBA in 1970.
Tier 3: Very Exciting
Kawhi Leonard, Paul Pierce, Grant Hill, Paul George, Bernard King, Jimmy Butler
Kawhi Leonard wasn’t the type of player to drop 40 a night, but watching him control a game on a mix of both offense and defense was its own kind of entertainment. Leonard’s defense was great enough to lock down the best offensive players in the league, including all-time greats like LeBron James. His 2019 championship run with the Toronto Raptors showcased the best that Kawhi had to make him a very exciting player.
Paul Pierce’s playstyle was defined by his craftiness, smooth movements, and deceptive quickness, allowing him to be an elite scorer with a deep “bag of tricks”. His key to his elite scoring was his excellent footwork and a quality post-up game that helped him dominate the mid-range.
Grant Hill was one of the most dynamic, all-around small forwards before his career was derailed by a series of ankle injuries. Hill’s exciting play was frequently compared to that of other entertaining players of the past. Although they weren’t very similar, Grant Hill was most notably compared to Michael Jordan, especially earlier in his career.
While Paul George is still a quality player in 2025, he isn’t nearly as exciting as he was in his prime, specifically from 2013 through 2021. Prime George had a smooth playstyle with a deep bag of scoring moves, which made him one of the more exciting wings in recent NBA history.
Bernard King was an explosive small forward known for his post-up game, elite mid-range shooting, and his athleticism, which allowed him to excel in fast-break situations. He was an exciting scorer to watch, specifically before his knee injury in 1985 forced him to adapt to losing most of his athleticism.
Jimmy Butler has the perfect mix of skill, toughness, and talent to make himself an exciting player. His ability to turn into a superstar in the playoffs and carry his teams to the finals multiple times is very entertaining. He has dropped 40 or more points 8 times in the playoffs, which is impressively just as many times as he’s scored 40 in the regular season.
Tier 4: Normal Excitement
Scottie Pippen, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, James Worthy, Glen Rice, Shawn Marion, Jayson Tatum
Scottie Pippen was a complete player who excelled in every facet of the game. He played like a point-forward who orchestrated the offense, excelled at rebounding, scored effectively, and was also a lockdown perimeter defender. His exciting talent was overshadowed by his teammate Michael Jordan, but there’s no doubt that Pippen was still an entertaining player.
Alex English peaked late in his career with the 1980s Denver Nuggets. He was an offensive force with unmatched shooting and driving skills, which helped lead the fast-paced Nuggets to some of the best offensive seasons in the NBA.
Unlike Alex English, Adrian Dantley was a very slow-tempoed guard who did the majority of his scoring in isolation situations. The exciting part of watching him play was his scoring skill and variety. Dantley used powerful post-ups, head fakes, jab steps, and a devastating turnaround jumper from the elbow to score efficiently.
While he wasn’t the main show of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers ‘Showtime’ era, James Worthy was still an exciting small forward to watch. Worthy was fast with a good finishing ability, as well as a versatile post-up game that made him a good fit alongside Magic Johnson on the Lakers.
Glen Rice was one of the NBA’s most prolific shooters from the 1990s to the early 2000s. He was in the top five in three different seasons in three-pointers made per game, and he was an efficient mid-range shooter as well. In an era where elite shooters weren’t frequent, Rice’s shooting ability was different and fun to watch.
Shawn Marion had an unorthodox style of play. His shooting form is most memorable, as he started his shot from around his chest area, bringing it in front of his face, before releasing his push shot. In addition to his weird form, Marion was an elite two-way player known for his ability to play and defend any position on the floor, high-flying offensive rebounds, transition scoring, and tenacious defense.
Jayson Tatum has a versatile, two-way playstyle centered on elite scoring, solid playmaking, and impactful defense, enabling him to score from anywhere on the court. He has shown the ability to take over on offense as he’s dropped five 50-point games throughout his career. Despite the skill and talent, there’s not one aspect of his playstyle that makes him overly exciting enough to be in any of the top three tiers.
Tier 5: Somewhat Exciting
Chris Mullin, Peja Stojakovic, Detlef Schrempf, Mark Aguirre, Cliff Hagan
Chris Mullin, Peja Stojakovic, and Detlef Schrempf were three great shooters and overall scorers, but they all played at a slower, more methodical pace. While they were key pieces for some good teams throughout their careers, they weren’t exceptionally entertaining players.
Mark Aguirre was known for his scoring ability from the paint and mid-range. He was a “pure scorer” who was adept at scoring inside, even against taller defenders, and also displayed a soft mid-range jumper. He hovered around all-star status throughout his career, but his playstyle wasn’t the top in the league in terms of excitement.
Cliff Hagan was only 6’4 feet tall, yet he had an abnormal hook shot for his height as well as post-like strength. He was a five-time all-star with the St. Louis Hawks and was a big piece of their 1958 NBA championship.
Tier 6: Not Exciting
Paul Arizin, Sean Elliott
Paul Arizin’s playstyle featured a revolutionary one-handed jump shot, allowing him to shoot effectively over defenders by leaping and pausing in the air. This jump shot was uncommon in the 1950s, as most players used two-handed set shots to shoot from outside. His play was ahead of his time, but relative to the other players on this list, Arizin was not exciting.
Sean Elliott was a good three-point shooter who could also drive and finish at the rim. He played reliable perimeter defense as well, which helped the San Antonio Spurs achieve a top-five defense in the NBA multiple times throughout the ’90s. He was a good player, but nothing about his playstyle made him exciting enough to elevate him off the bottom tier.
