The small forward is arguably the most important position in basketball due to its versatility. Small forwards are expected to score from the perimeter and the paint, guard multiple positions, rebound, and even playmake for teammates at times. Simply put, a team's SF is usually its most well-rounded player, from height to athleticism to skillset.
Small forwards are relied upon to shoot from the mid-range and three-point arc, post-up down low, and dish the ball to teammates consistently. They are also asked to defend the opposing team's best player, regardless of position.
Throughout NBA history, centers have determined the outcomes of more championships than any other position, but small forwards are a close second. Nowadays, do-it-all forwards are the ideal building block for a franchise looking to contend, as these players are big enough for the playoff environment but also excel in several areas of the game.
Who are the best 10 small forwards to ever play the game? Ranker gave their verdict, voted on by the fans.
10 Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Credit: © USA TODAY Sports
Kicking off this ranking is one of the most visually appealing small forwards of all-time, Dominique Wilkins. "Nique" was best-known for his lightning-rod athleticism, jaw-dropping dunks, and electric finishes at the rim. Standing at six-foot-eight, 215 pounds, Wilkins was a high-flyer who produced more highlight-reel plays than just about anyone from his era.
Over 15 seasons, Wilkins earned nine All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA honors, averaging a hefty 24.8 points per game in his career on 46.1% from the field. Nique spent 12 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before a torn Achilles in 1992 eventually ended his time there.
His trade to the Clippers a season later is one of the more heartless deals in NBA history, as the Hawks didn't give him another chance, despite proving he still belonged post-Achilles. Wilkins averaged 29.9 points per game in the season following the injury.
9 Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin
Credit: © Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Ninth on this list is an original member of "Run TMC" with the 1980s and 90s Golden State Warriors, Chris Mullin. Mullin, who was one of the best three-point shooters of the pre-modern era, averaged 18.2 points a night on 50.9% from the field and 38.4% from deep.
Mullins earned five All-Star appearances and four All-NBA honors in his 16-year career. He, like many other small forwards, weaponized his long-range shooting gift to carve out a Hall of Fame career. Mullins would fit in perfectly with the modern-day Warriors, who prioritize pace and spacing around shooters rather than size and dribbling skill.
8 Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce and LeBron James
"The Truth", who is now best known for his outlandish sports takes as a retired media member, comes in at eighth on this list. Paul Pierce, was an underrated superstar in his time who went head-to-head with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, among others, and came away victorious multiple times.
Pierce, who averaged 19.7 points for his career, was a ten-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA member. He defined what it meant to get a bucket despite not being the fastest or the strongest. Pierce never shied away from the challenge, even when it was facing off with another all-time legend.
7 James Worthy
James Worthy
James Worthy is seventh on this list, and is most recognizable for his importance to the 1980s Showtime Lakers. Worthy won three titles with those Lakers, and enjoyed his crowning moment when he earned Finals MVP in 1988 on a team with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on it.
However, Worthy was an excellent two-way player for a decade on those Lakers squads. Worthy played for 12 years, compiling seven All-Stars and two All-NBA honors as he averaged 17.6 points for his career.
James was a classic team-first SF who would score when called upon, but also played great defense and did whatever it took to help his squad win.
6 Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
At sixth on this ranking is the tragic story of Tracy McGrady. McGrady was one of the most highly-touted prospects ever when he was taken ninth overall out of high school at age 18 in 1997. McGrady was your prototypical scoring small-forward, whose outrageous talent combined with size and athleticism seemed nearly unstoppable at his peak.
At six-eight, 210 pounds with freak athletic gifts and an instinct for buckets, McGrady looked destined to take over the league. He did just that, for a little while, averaging 20-plus points a game for eight seasons in a row from 2001 to 2008. At his height, Tracy went head-to-head with the greats of his era, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Carmelo Anthony.
Sadly, injuries ruined what would've been a stellar career for McGrady, and he retired at just age 32. Still, prime T-Mac is one of the most impressive scorers to ever play.
5 Scottie Pippen
© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n""> © RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Pippen comes in at five for more than just the obvious reasons. Yes, he was the second-best player on all six of the Chicago Bulls' championship teams in the 1990s. He was the Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman, and for that, he deserves his place here.
However, Pippen was much more than just Jordan's running mate. In fact, he was a borderline MVP type player when MJ was out of the lineup, placing third in 1994 when Jordan retired to baseball. In 17 seasons, Pippen compiled seven All-Star and All-NBA honors, as well as 10 All-Defensive teams.
Scottie was the perfect co-star for a dynasty as a do-it-all small forward. He was an elite defender, could create offense, and had all the glue-guy intangibles needed for extensive playoff runs.
4 Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard Clippers
Kawhi Leonard has perhaps the most interesting career on this list. It's also tragic, as injuries have prevented Leonard from reaching his true potential as a legend of the game. Still, Kawhi has racked up six All-Star and All-NBA teams and seven All-Defense honors in his 13 seasons.
Where Leonard has made his money is the postseason, where he's been one of the very best players of the 2010s generation. Kawhi's strong build, relentless defense and mid-range game, and fearless demeanor have made him an elite postseason performer.
Kawhi has won two championships and Finals MVPs, one with the Spurs and one with the Raptors. His 2019 run to carry Toronto to the Larry O'Brien trophy is still a defining accomplishment.
3 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant Suns
At third, Kevin Durant gets the nod. Durant is not so much a well-rounded small forward as much as a one-trick pony, though he has an excellent, versatile game as well. What makes Durant special is that he is simply one of, if not the best, pure scorers in NBA history.
At seven feet, Durant has the highest release of any knockdown shooter ever. His height, combined with his silky touch on his jumper and smooth handle, allows KD to score efficiently regardless of the defense. Durant's unstoppability has extended into his twilight years, as he's still a 26-point-per-game scorer as he enters his 18th season.
Durant's 27.2 PPG ranks sixth all-time, with a true-shooting percentage (62.0%) that ranks 11th. He's arguably the most efficient high-volume scorer of all-time, and easily on this list. KD is also the epitome of a plug-and-play player whose skillset could fit perfectly in with any team.
2 Larry Bird
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
Second in this ranking is Larry Bird. Bird, whose rivalry in the 1980s with Magic Johnson's Showtime Lakers, helped revive a dying NBA after a horrible 1970s decade. Bird's Celtics won three championships in this era, appearing in five NBA Finals series. Bird captured two Finals MVPs and three consecutive league MVPs from 1984 to 1986.
Bird was a very versatile player in his own right, albeit doing it in an unorthodox way. Instead of using his athletic gifts or massive size to dominate, Bird picked apart his opponents using his crafty toolbox of moves and trash-talking demeanor. He was tough for opposing defenders to get a handle on, whether physically or emotionally.
Larry Legend was a solid three-point shooter in a day when it was still unpopular to hoist from deep. He was a tremendous playmaker at the position, with his nifty dishes still appearing on highlight reels today. He even averaged double-digit rebounds for his career at a perfect 10.0.
1 LeBron James
LeBron James
Despite the brilliance of Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, and others preceding him on this list, there's just one clear choice for the best small forward of all-time. LeBron James is entering his 23rd season having just made his 21st consecutive All-Star game and All-NBA team, still playing at a superstar level despite turning 40 last December.
James epitomizes what it is to be a well-rounded SF. He's an elite defender who can guard all five positions, lock down on the perimeter, and protect the rim as a weak-side help man. LeBron's natural playstyle is as a point-forward who runs his team's offense as a pass-first player.
However, he's also one of the top three scorers ever, and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record in 2023. To top it off, James is an excellent rebounder, averaging 7.5 for his career.
LeBron is a four-time champion and Finals MVP, four-time league MVP, and has been more durable than anyone else to lace 'em up. His position on this ranking speaks for itself.