Who are the best small forwards in NBA right now? LeBron James, 2. Kevin Durant, 3. Kawhi Leonard, 4. Jayson Tatum, 5. Paul George, 6. Jimmy Butler, 7. Andrew Wiggins, 8. Brandon Ingram, 9. Khris Middleton, and 10. DeMar DeRozan.
The small forward position in the NBA is often referred to as the swingman because of their ability to play multiple positions. They are required to have the ability to handle the ball and play both as guards and wings. These players are quick on their feet and are usually great at rebounding for their size.
The small forward position in the NBA is one of the most disputed roles to fill. It is a position that gives you the ability to create your shot and makes plays for your teammates. Depending on who you ask, the best small forwards could be a range of guys. But the best small forward in NBA right now is Kevin Durant. KD has also won an MVP award.
Ranking the best small forwards in the NBA 2023 season
1. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is the best small forward in the NBA right now. With his height and his shooting ability, he is an unstoppable force. He can score from anywhere on the floor and has a lethal post-game as well. Kevin Durant joined NBA as the 2nd overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics in 2007. He has been with six teams so far in his career. He has many achievements in his basketball career, including four scoring titles, 12 All-Star appearances, 9 All-NBA Teams, 4-time Champions, and Finals MVP.
Kevin Durant is also an intelligent basketball player who understands the game very well. He is a 10-time All-Star and has won two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP Awards, an NBA scoring title, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and two Olympic gold medals. Durant has also played in six All-NBA teams and eight All-Star teams. He was also the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2014.
2. DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan is the second-best small forward in the NBA right now. After Durant, no one else has been more consistent and effective in the league than DeRozan as a forward. DeRozan has every quality of a forward, and he is proving that each year he plays. He can score from anywhere on the court, and he has proven time and time again that he can be efficient. Furthermore, he is also good at creating opportunities for his teammates to score.
His three-point shot isn’t as good as other small forwards in the league, but it’s getting better every season. What makes him stand out is his ability to finish at the rim and also his free throw percentage.
3. Jayson Tatum
Celtic’s small forward Jayson Tatum is shooting a career-best 52.5% within 3 feet of the rim. Even when he misses, he finds ways to stay involved in the play. He ranks inside the top 20 in offensive rebounds per game and is also averaging 4.5 second-chance points.
And after struggling with his 3-point shooting through his first two seasons, Tatum is among the best shooters in the league right now. He is shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc (tied for 16th overall) and 44 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s. His success on offense has led him to become the fifth player since 2000 to average at least 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists with a shooting percentage above 60 percent.
4. Paul George
Paul George (born May 2, 1990) is an American basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). George was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013 when he also earned his first All-Star selection. He won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and a bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2014, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team and became the first Pacer to receive an All-NBA selection since Jermaine O’Neal in 2004.
George missed most of 2017–18 after being traded to Oklahoma City after seven seasons with Indiana. The following year, he got traded to the Clippers and made his first NBA Finals appearance in 2020. In high school basketball, he played for Knight High School before playing two seasons of college basketball at Fresno State. The Indiana Pacers picked him as the 10th overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft.
5. Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton is the fifth-best small forwards in the NBA right now. He was drafted in 2012 and began his career with the Detroit Pistons. In 2013 they traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks. Middleton is one of the most consistent players in the NBA. Moreover, his stats have never gone below 15 points per game. He is also one of the best perimeter defenders in basketball and provides a defensive spark off of the bench every game. He is an excellent rebounder for his size and position, averaging nearly five rebounds per game over his career.
In addition to his outstanding stats, Middleton’s work ethic has inspired many of his teammates. Middleton is well-respected throughout the league for his calm demeanor and competitive nature. Middleton’s durability has been key to his success. He played every single game from 2015 to 2016 before missing games due to injury in 2017.
6. Brandon Ingram
He played one season of college basketball for Duke University before being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. In January 2018, Ingram became a 2018 NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge participant. He also became the third Laker ever to play in the game as a teenager (along with Andrew Bynum and Magic Johnson).
On July 6, 2019, Ingram got traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a blockbuster trade that also sent Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart to New Orleans and brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. On October 20, 2019, Ingram recorded his first career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 115–110 win over the Utah Jazz. He was one of six Lakers to record a triple-double during their 2019–20 season. Furthermore, in 2020, Ingram scored a career-high 49 points on 21-of-27 shooting in a 127–94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
7. Andrew Wiggins
Golden State Warriors, Andrew Wiggins played college basketball for Kansas before being drafted with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is the second Canadian to become the number one overall pick in the NBA draft. Wiggins got traded to Minnesota later that year. And he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award for the 2014–15 season.
Wiggins is also a member of the Canadian national team. Furthermore, he was named the top player in his class by Scout.com, ESPN, and Rivals.com when he played for Kansas. At 19 years and 237 days, on January 22, 2015, Wiggins also became the youngest player to score 1,000 points in Timberwolves franchise history.
Read also: Who are the 10 best point guards in the NBA right now?
Conclusion
So here is the article on the best small forwards in the NBA. Also, please let us know your thoughts on this article in the comments. The source for the information in this article is Hoops Reference and Wikipedia. The information in this article is subject to change in the future, therefore our website (www.beginbasketball.com) does not claim that the information is accurate.
