The Top 10 NBA Power Forwards of All Time!

[murrke03]

wondering why people say garnett is better then barkley or malone?

just because he has a ring?

[rmiller1k]

1. duncan
2. barkley
3. malone
4. garnett
5. dirk
6 - 10 the old timers im too lazy to list and number

[WillC]

Originally Posted by blastman

I can't see forming a valuable opinion about players when you weren't even able to follow them during their careers.

Stats don't tell the whole story about these guys.

In an ideal world, we would have seen the NBA's early superstars play. However, we can't help the fact we were born in the years since. Therefore, I take great pleasure in researching the old players and watching as much old game tape as possible - I'd almost feel I'd be doing the sport an injustice if I ignored the NBA's history (and indeed the history of the pre-NBA era). I've bought dozens of books and numerous old magazines in an attempt to become as much as an expert as possible on those players.

Therefore, I think it's laziness to say that we should only consider players from the last 30 years when ranking players.

In 1971, the NBA's top 25 players were selected by a panel of highly regarded voters including Red Auerbach, Ned Irish and Eddie Gottlieb.

Along with the usual suspects (Bill Russell, Bot Pettit, George Mikan, etc), the top 25 featured players such as Joe Fulks, George Yardley, Jim Pollard, Bob Davies and others. Those names don't mean much - if anything - to casual NBA fans. However, those players were the Kobe Bryants and Magic Johnsons of their day.

Fulks was a phenomenal scorer who set records that lasted for many years until Elgin Baylor broke them. Similarly, Davies was one of the flashiest players until Cousy and then Maravich and, later, Magic Johnson took over the public's imagination.

It's tragic that players like Fulks and Davies were left of the NBA's top 50 players list. As a result, many casual fans make the (understandable) mistake of thinking that the only stars of the early era were Russell, Mikan, Pettit, Cousy and a few others.

Worse still, casual fans think that Russell's era was less competitive than today's NBA. With just 8 teams, the league back then was less diluted and, thus, extremely competitive.

To be the best you truly had to beat the best.

[burke23]

Originally Posted by murrke03

wondering why people say garnett is better then barkley or malone?

just because he has a ring?

Garnett was better defensively...that could be part of it.

[WillC]

Originally Posted by rmiller1k

6 - 10 the old timers im too lazy to list and number

This proves me point.

[fullmetal]

Move Barkley and McHale ahead of Garnett

[Homerun]

1. Scalabrine
2. Scalabrine
3. Scalabrine
4. Scalabrine
5. Scalabrine
6. Scalabrine
7. Scalabrine
8. Scalabrine
9. Scalabrine
10. Scalabrine

[badbeatkking]

1.Pettit
2.Duncan
3.Barkley
4.Malone
5.Elvin Hayes
6.Garnett
7.Nowitzki
8.Webber
9.McHale
10.Debusschere

[Craig]

Originally Posted by WillC

It's tragic that players like Fulks and Davies were left of the NBA's top 50 players list. As a result, many casual fans make the (understandable) mistake of thinking that the only stars of the early era were Russell, Mikan, Pettit, Cousy and a few others.

Worse still, casual fans think that Russell's era was less competitive than today's NBA. With just 8 teams, the league back then was less diluted and, thus, extremely competitive.

As a fan of the game's history, I agree with you that it's unfortunate when some of the older stars (below that first tier of legends) are overlooked. Unfortunately that's true of any sport, and it's almost impossible for a bias not to exist in favor of current/modern players.

My biggest difficulty ranking any of the old-time greats is with the pre-Russell era, especially the days of the NBA being a "white" league. Fulks is a good example - he was known as a guy who could drive to the hoop (along with being an early practitioner of the jump shot) and score, but how would he have fared in later years when there was a greater number of athletic players? I don't have an answer, which is what makes these tough.

Pettit is a clearcut case, given that he dominated both before and after Russell's arrival. With some of the others, it's tough.

[g1l1fvp]

Tim Duncan is the best power forward hands down. Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone are a tie at second(I would pick KG). I would say all of the following stats would be the determining factor in who the best is. The stats don't lie and clearly Tim "The Big Fundamental" Duncan takes it!

Tim Duncan:
- 4 Rings
- 3 NBA Finals MVP
- 2 MVP
- 8 All Defensive 1st team
- 9 All NBA 1st team
- 13 allstar games
- Has never missed playoffs(Didnt play in the 1999-2000 playoffs because of knee injury)

Kevin Garnett:
- 1 Ring
- 0 NBA Finals MVP
- 1 MVP
- 9 All Defensive 1st team
- 4 All NBA 1st team
- 14 allstar games
- Missed playoffs 5 times

Karl Malone:
- 0 Rings
- 0 NBA Finals MVP
- 2 MVP
- 3 All Defensive 1st team
- 11 All NBA 1st team
- 14 allstar games
- Never missed Playoffs

[SacGWYNN19]

Kind of a homer here but Webber should be on a lot more lists than just one.

[lb_sa]

Originally Posted by g1l1fvp

Tim Duncan is the best power forward hands down. Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone are a tie at second(I would pick KG). I would say all of the following stats would be the determining factor in who the best is. The stats don't lie and clearly Tim "The Big Fundamental" Duncan takes it!

Tim Duncan:
- 4 Rings
- 3 NBA Finals MVP
- 2 MVP
- 8 All Defensive 1st team
- 9 All NBA 1st team
- 13 allstar games
- Has never missed playoffs(Didnt play in the 1999-2000 playoffs because of knee injury)

Kevin Garnett:
- 1 Ring
- 0 NBA Finals MVP
- 1 MVP
- 9 All Defensive 1st team
- 4 All NBA 1st team
- 14 allstar games
- Missed playoffs 5 times

Karl Malone:
- 0 Rings
- 0 NBA Finals MVP
- 2 MVP
- 3 All Defensive 1st team
- 11 All NBA 1st team
- 14 allstar games
- Never missed Playoffs

I agree with the way you feel about Duncan and KG, but I would rank Barkley just ahead of Malone and put the mailman at 4. Don't forget that Garnett has been DPOTY also, and likely should have been more than once.

KG and Duncan have had VERY similar careers, besides the fact that Duncan has always had better players around him, thus better teams. I would have liked to see what Garnett would have done had he left Minnesota at the age of 25 or 26. But, you have to respect his loyalty to the Wolves.

[fullmetal]

Originally Posted by lb_sa

I agree with the way you feel about Duncan and KG, but I would rank Barkley just ahead of Malone and put the mailman at 4.

KG and Duncan have had VERY similar careers, besides the fact that Duncan has always had better players around him, thus better teams. I would have liked to see what Garnett would have done had he left Minnesota at the age of 25 or 26. But, you have to respect his loyalty to the Wolves.

Garnett bled Minnesota. He created a situation that limited the ability of the team. He caused the 'Minnesota situation.' He continues his selfish ways.

Duncan structured his contract so the team could sign quality players.

[lb_sa]

Originally Posted by fullmetal

Garnett bled Minnesota. He created a situation that limited the ability of the team. He caused the 'Minnesota situation.' He continues his selfish ways.

Duncan structured his contract so the team could sign quality players.

Well this past year, these were the salaries..

2011
3. Tim Duncan San Antonio $21,300,000
4. Kevin Garnett Boston $21,200,000

Now I know that Garnett made more per year a lot of years, but it wasn't by much.

[UltimateDeron]

Bob Pettit needs to be alot higher, and Robert Horry should not be in the top 10.

[lb_sa]

Originally Posted by UltimateDeron

Bob Pettit needs to be alot higher, and Robert Horry should not be in the top 10.

No, not even close.

Some people have Robert Horry and not Chris Webber. It makes me wonder if people even watch basketball.

[Cisco69]

Originally Posted by lb_sa

No, not even close.

Some people have Robert Horry and not Chris Webber. It makes me wonder if people even watch basketball.

Tell me about it. Horry is a role player who was on very good teams, he came up big in big games. His stats are not anywhere near HOF numbers. I would take Webber any day over Horry. In his prime he was without a doubt one of the most dominant PF of the last 20 years. He was one exciting player to watch, and had the heart to go along with it. Will he ever get into the hall, who knows? Though I think he deserves it.

[slugger22]

Duncan #1
Duncan #1
Duncan #1

[g1l1fvp]

Originally Posted by lb_sa

I agree with the way you feel about Duncan and KG, but I would rank Barkley just ahead of Malone and put the mailman at 4. Don't forget that Garnett has been DPOTY also, and likely should have been more than once.

KG and Duncan have had VERY similar careers, besides the fact that Duncan has always had better players around him, thus better teams. I would have liked to see what Garnett would have done had he left Minnesota at the age of 25 or 26. But, you have to respect his loyalty to the Wolves.

Yeah I forgot to put the DPOTY and yes he should have won more than one haha. I also believe Timmy should have gotten a couple but oh well. And the reason I put Malone at third is because "The Mailman" was crazy good on the offensive end, but he didn't pick up a real defensive game until the end of his career and he couldn't win a ring. That's why I like Duncan and Garnett the most because they have so much heart for the game on the offensive and defensive ends and know what it takes to win.

[mkg#1fan]

Duncan should be considered a center

[drob50]

Malone had Stockton feeding him for almost his entire career too! That is why he had so many points!

Duncan is WOTHOUT DOUBT the best PF of all time!
Interesting factoid:
Since Duncan came into the league, the Spurs have the best winning % out of any team in the big 4 American sports!

[badbeatkking]

1.Pettit
2.Duncan
3.Barkley
4.Malone
5.Elvin Hayes
6.Garnett
7.Nowitzki
8.Webber
9.McHale
10.Debusschere

This is the un official list

[guru]

Originally Posted by burke23

Horry doesn't deserve to be on the list, sorry. And Moses Malone should be top 3.

Moses Malone was a Center.

[guru]

Originally Posted by rmiller1k

robert horry??? what the....where is keith van horn???

7 NBA championship rings.

[guru]

Originally Posted by lb_sa

No, not even close.

Some people have Robert Horry and not Chris Webber. It makes me wonder if people even watch basketball.

I actually agree.

I would have a number of players above Horry if I was picking teams.

I just put him at #10 because of the 7 rings, for which he contributed greatly in the playoffs for each of those teams.

Something players like Chris Webber never could achieve.