Ranking The 5 Greatest Power Forwards In NBA History By Decade (1950s-2020s)
Over the last month-plus, we have been on a journey through time in the NBA, ranking the 5 greatest players at every position in every decade from the 1950s through the 2020s. We started with the evolution of the point guard position from Bob Cousy to Stephen Curry. We broke down the shooting guards from Bill Sharman to Michael Jordan and the small forwards from Paul Arizin to LeBron James. Now, we take a look at the power forward position which has experienced more change over the last 76 years than perhaps any other position on the court.
As one-half of an NBA team’s frontcourt, the power forward spot has seen some of the greatest players in NBA history represent the position. There are power forwards who played power forward who were dominant interior presences like Tim Duncan and Karl Malone. There has also been a fair share of great stretch forwards who could spread the floor like Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Bosh. Below, you will see the specific moments in which power forwards have evolved throughout the years.
These are the 5 greatest power forwards in NBA history by decade from the 1950s to now.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 1950s
1. Bob Pettit
2. Dolph Schayes
3. Maurice Stokes
4. Vern Mikkelsen
5. Harry Gallatin
The power forwards of the 1950s is where we start our travel through the NBA time machine today. St. Louis Hawks Power forward Bob Pettit’s career was split between the 50s and 60s’ but he was great enough to be considered each decade’s greatest power forward. Pettit would play five seasons from 1955 through 1959, winning MVP awards in 1956 and 1959 averaging 24.9 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. In 1958, he would lead the Hawks to their only NBA championship ever as the only team to ever defeat Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Dolph Schayes played the entire decade of the 1950s with the Syracuse Nationals. During this time, he averaged 19.1 points and 13.3 rebounds with nine All-Star appearances, 10 All-NBA Team selections, and one rebounding title. Just behind Schayes would be Maurice Stokes who played just three seasons with the Royals during the decade. Despite having his career cut short, Stokes averaged 16.4 points and 17.3 rebounds in those three seasons with a Rookie of the Year award, three All-Star selections, and three All-NBA team selections.
In the fourth and fifth spots lie Vern Mikkelsen and Harry Gallatin. Mikkelsen played all 10 seasons from 1950 through 1959 with the Lakers where he helped them win four NBA championships. Mikkelsen averaged 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in his time with Minneapolis, earning six All-Star selections and four All-NBA Team selections. Gallatin played nine seasons with the Knicks in the 1950s with seven All-Star selections and two All-NBA team selections.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 1960s
1. Bob Pettit
2. Tom Heinsohn
3. Jerry Lucas
4. Dave DeBusschere
5. Bailey Howell
The 1960s is when we begin to see some of the most dominant players ever at the power forward spot. Bob Pettit led the way once again for the decade with six seasons with the Hawks from 1960 through 1965. He averaged 27.6 points and 16.7 rebounds for those six seasons with six All-Star selections and six All-NBA Team selections before retiring in 1965.
Tom Heinsohn also played six seasons with the Celtics during the 1960s as their starting power forward. Heinsohn and the Celtics won six championships in these six years, averaging 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game during this time. Jerry Lucas played six seasons with the Royals from 1964 through 1969, earning six All-Star and five All-NBA Team selections as well as the 1964 Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 19.9 points and 19.3 rebounds per game in those six years.
Dave DeBusschere is well-known for his contributions to two NBA titles with the Knicks during the 1970s. During the '60s, however, DeBusschere was a three-time All-Star with the Detroit Pistons averaging 16.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game on 42.6% shooting. Bailey Howell was an accomplished power forward with the Pistons and Celtics during the 1960s as well. He averaged 20.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in 10 seasons in the decade with two championships with Boston in 1968 and 1969.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 1970s
1. Elvin Hayes
2. Spencer Haywood
3. Maurice Lucas
4. Bob Love
5. Rudy Tomjanovich
Elvin Hayes does not get enough credit and recognition for his contributions to the game during the 1970s. Hayes played the entirety of the decade as an All-Star with both the Rockets and Bullets from 1970 through 1979. Hayes would be a 10-time All-Star and two-time rebounding champion in the decade averaging 23.2 points and 14.2 rebounds per game. In 1978, he led the Bullets to their only championship in franchise history over the Seattle SuperSonics.
Spencer Haywood changed the game both on and off the court during the 1970s. Haywood averaged 22.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game for the 1970s with Seattle, New York, and New Orleans. Off the court, Haywood led the charge in changing the rules for college players to leave school early to join the NBA. Maurice Lucas was another power forward in the 1970s who helped Portland capture the 1977 NBA title. In three seasons in the 70s, Lucas earned three All-Star selections and three All-NBA Team selections.
Bob Love spent eight seasons playing in the 1970s, mostly with the Chicago Bulls from 1970 through 1976. Love would average 21.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during the decade with three All-Star and two All-NBA Team selections. Rudy Tomjanovich was a five-time All-Star at power forward for the Houston Rockets during the 1970s who averaged 18.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during the entire decade.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 1980s
1. Kevin McHale
2. Charles Barkley
3. Karl Malone
4. Buck Williams
5. Terry Cummings
During the 1980s, we would be introduced to the first wave of elite play all around from the power forward spot. Kevin McHale is easily the greatest power forward of the 1980s, helping the Boston Celtics win three NBA championships during the decade. McHale would be a back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year in 1984 and 1985. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game from 1980 through 1989 and finished fourth in MVP voting in 1987.
Charles Barkley and Karl Malone’s legacies were just beginning to be written in the 1980s but they were already well on their way to being all-time greats. Malone played four seasons during the 1980s, averaging 23.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He earned two All-Star appearances as well. Barkley played six seasons during the decade with the 76ers. He averaged 22.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game during the 1980s.
If defense and rebounds were more celebrated by fans and the NBA, Buck Williams would be a Hall of Famer. Williams played eight seasons with the Nets during the 1980s, averaging 16.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game during the time. Williams would be a three-time All-Star as well. Terry Cummings would be a two-time All-Star with the Clippers and Bucks from 1983-1989. Cummings averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game during those seven seasons.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 1990s
1. Karl Malone
2. Charles Barkley
3. Dennis Rodman
4. Tim Duncan
5. Shawn Kemp
The 1990s would be the decade that Karl Malone and Charles Barkley cemented their spots among the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Malone would become a two-time MVP in 1997 and 1999 for the Utah Jazz. He also led them to two appearances in the NBA Finals and averaged 27.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game from 1990 through 1999.
As for Barkley, he too would become an MVP in 1993 for the Phoenix Suns. He helped lead the Suns to the NBA Finals that season as well but lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games. Barkley averaged 22.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game from 1990 through 1999. Dennis Rodman was another defensive and rebounding savant during the 1990s. Rodman would be a seven-time rebounding champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and five-time NBA champion during the decade with the Pistons, Spurs, and Bulls.
Tim Duncan made his presence known in the NBA immediately upon arrival in 1998. Not only would he win the 1998 Rookie of the Year award but in 1999, Duncan would lead the Spurs to their first championship in franchise history, winning Finals MVP honors in the process in a series win over the Knicks. Shawn Kemp was as athletic and exciting as any other power forward during the 1990s. Kemp would make six All-Star teams with the SuperSonics and Cavaliers during the 1990s, averaging 16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 2000s
1. Tim Duncan
2. Dirk Nowitzki
3. Kevin Garnett
4. Pau Gasol
5. Chris Webber
If you are looking for the greatest power forward of the 2000s, you will not need to look any further than the greatest power forward ever, Tim Duncan. During the 2000s, Duncan would help the Spurs capture three more NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, and back-to-back MVP awards in 2002 and 2003.
Dirk Nowitzki completely revolutionized the power forward position during the 2000s. With his 7-foot frame and pure jump shot, Nowitzki went on to become one of the greatest international players ever with an MVP award in 2007 as well as an NBA Finals berth in 2006. Kevin Garnett’s run in the 2000s was legendary as well with the Timberwolves and Celtics. In 2004, he would be named MVP with Minnesota, and in 2008, he would win Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as an NBA championship with the Celtics.
Pau Gasol and Chris Webber are a fairly easy duo to wrap up the top five power forwards for the decade. Gasol would help the Lakers make Finals appearances in 2008 and 2009 with a Finals win in 2009 over the Magic. Webber would be a four-time All-Star with the Kings during the decade and averaged 21.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 46.1% shooting.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 2010s
1. Anthony Davis
2. Blake Griffin
3. Kevin Love
4. LaMarcus Aldridge
5. Pau Gasol
The 2010s would see a lull in play from power forwards but at the top were some of the most elite players in the NBA. Anthony Davis became a two-way monster during the 2010s for the Pelicans from 2013-2019. In those seven seasons, Davis won three blocks titles with six All-Star selections and three All-NBA Team selections. Davis would average 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game for the decade.
Blake Griffin was one of the most exciting players in the entire NBA for the majority of the 2010s with the Lob City Clippers. From 2011 through 2019, he averaged 21.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game with six All-Star selections and four All-NBA Team selections. Kevin Love split his time in the decade with the Timberwolves and Cavaliers. Love would help the Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA Finals and averaged 19.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game for the decade.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol wrap up the 2010s as the fourth and fifth-best power forwards of the decade. Aldridge split his time with Portland and San Antonio averaging 20.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for the decade with seven All-Star selections. Gasol helped the Lakers capture the 2010 NBA championship with four more All-Star selections to his name with L.A. and the Chicago Bulls. Gasol averaged 15.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game for the decade.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards Of The 2020s
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Anthony Davis
3. Draymond Green
4. Pascal Siakam
5. Jaren Jackson Jr.
The 2020s are just four-plus seasons old but have already packed a strong punch coming from power forwards. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the greatest of the decade so far with the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis won his second straight MVP award in 2020 but saved his best performance for 2021. He would lead the Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971 and win Finals MVP honors leading a comeback over the Suns to get the job done.
When healthy, Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the NBA. His two-way abilities were on full display with the Lakers to start the decade as he helped lead them to an NBA championship that season in the Bubble playoffs. Whale he may be an instigator whose act we are all tired of, Draymond Green’s impact on the Warriors cannot be denied. As a playmaker, passer, and defender, Green helped the Warriors capture the 2022 NBA title, their fourth in eight seasons.
Pascal Siakam has been underrated over the last few seasons with the Toronto Raptors. Yet, all he has done is earn two All-NBA Team selections and two All-Star selections averaging 22.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a selection that may be laughed at but over the last three years, he has been one of the best defenders in the NBA. He has won two blocks titles since 2020 and averaged 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
Post a Comment
0 Comments