National Basketball Association

NBA Position Rankings: Top 10 power forwards

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Jan 2, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) sits on the bench during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Thunder defeated the Hornets 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Our NBA position rankings series ends with the power forwards. Will newly acquired Serge Ibaka crack the top 10?

The power forward position has become one of the most important positions in the NBA.

Power forwards have changed dramatically in the past few season as a large number of power forwards do not roam the paint like they used to. They stand on the perimeter and use their deep range to disrupt defenses. They also use their athleticism to cover opposing guards near the 3-point line.

The power forward position is interesting, to say the least.

If someone were to take a snapshot of NBA power forwards, it would be hard to find a correlation when it comes to size. Players like Anthony Davis and Kristaps Porzingis are long, lanky seven-footers that block shots. While Draymond Green and Thaddeus Young can go out to the perimeter and guard much smaller players.

The versatility that some NBA power forwards bring to the table is eye-opening and that is a theme when breaking down players that sit atop this position’s rankings. This was a tough list to put together that should spark some great debate.

Feb 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) runs up the court after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

There is no question if Chris Bosh was healthy he would be in the top five of this list. There is just no telling whether or not he will be able to go for the rest of the season.

Bosh is an elite player when he is right and it is a shame his ongoing problems with blood clots have stopped his tremendous career in its tracks. He was playing tremendous basketball for the Miami Heat prior to his illness.

The knock on Bosh for a long time was his defense. I do not think it is a problem now. He has no problems covering small forwards and, although centers occasionally bully him down low, he is so quick he can make up for it against bigger players.

On the offensive side of the ball, Bosh can do it all. He has 3-point range and can play in the low post. When he is the number one option he can put up 20 points per night with ease.

Get better soon, Chris.

Feb 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

10. Serge Ibaka, Orlando Magic

Serge Ibaka was an afterthought last season in Oklahoma City. He was a distant third option behind the great Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and now that he has joined the Orlando Magic. It could be his time to shine.

Ibaka is coming off what could be considered one of the worst seasons of his career. He posted some bad numbers last season as he was moved further away from the Thunder’s plans.

At times, Ibaka was just asked to play defense and shoot an occasional three. That is not going to make a player motivated every trip down the floor.

Now he will see the ball more. It will be time for Ibaka to prove he is better than a third option. He will need to prove his range is still there and he can be somewhat of a threat with the ball in his hands whether it be to pass the ball or take it off the dribble.

The biggest reason Ibaka cracks the top 10 is his defense. It is absolutely tremendous.

Ibaka’s rim-protecting ability should help the Magic tremendously this season. He can help Nikola Vucevic down low and turn the Magic into a feared front court alongside with Bismack Biyombo.

Not only can Ibaka protect the rim, he can switch on screens set on the perimeter. That is one of the biggest skills a 4 must have in today’s NBA. With all the capable shooters and speed in today’s NBA, Ibaka is a great option at the four.

Feb 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) slam dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Magic 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

9. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis was one of the 2015 NBA Draft’s most controversial selections. After only one season, he has silenced all the critics.

Porzingis had a tremendous rookie campaign and already is a top-10 power forward.

It is not often NBA fans get to see a 7-foot-3 power forward, but Porzingis provides us with that luxury.

Early on in the year, Porzingis gained fame from vicious putback dunks and blocks. He put on a show in front of a large New York crowd every night and his legend grew in such a short amount of time.

Porzingis is exactly what teams need in a power forward on both ends of the floor. He can stretch the floor, come off screens and score in a variety of ways. He can dribble pretty well for such a tall player.

Defensively, Porzingis is a tremendous shot blocker and can cover players on the perimeter. He still needs to grow into his body and develop his game overall, but the ceiling is sky-high for the young Latvian.

Apr 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the Mavs loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

8. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

The ageless wonder. Dirk Nowitzki is still one of the best players in the league at almost 40 years old. Yes, he can barely move, but he still can drop near 20 points and 10 rebounds per game when he is feeling right.

I cannot begin to explain how well Nowitzki plays in big games. He takes it to another level during the Playoffs that allowed him to the lead the Mavericks to a championship back in 2011.

In 2016, his Mavericks fell to the Thunder in the playoffs but Nowitzki still put up numbers.

Nowitzki still has arguably the most unguardable shot in NBA history. It is up there right next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook. Twenty years later, Nowitzki’s jump shot is money.

His defense on the other hand, is not good.

Nowitzki really cannot move at this point in his career. Even in his prime, Nowitzki’s lack of athleticism caused him problems on the defensive end and it is even worse now as his career winds down. That is the main reason as to why he is closer to the bottom of the list.

One of the greatest power forwards of all time will always have a spot on my list unless he sees a major dip in production. That is not very likely after watching Nowitzki. Expect him to continue to surprise us all each and every night.

Jun 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love celebrates with fans during the NBA championship parade in downtown Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

7. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

For the past two seasons, Kevin Love has received a lot of flak. He has seen a big drop in numbers since coming to Cleveland, but it is hard to put all the blame on him. Love is now the third option in Cleveland and he plays on a team that he does not fit with.

Do not feel too bad for Love. He is an NBA champion and may have one of the most famous defensive possessions in the history of basketball (I still do not know how he stayed in front of Stephen Curry late in Game Seven).

Love is a solid offensive player. He has great 3-point range and can score anywhere on the floor. Love is also a great passer. He dishes tremendous outlet passes which is perfect when playing with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

Along with his offensive game, Love is a terrific rebounder. That is probably his most well-known attribute among NBA fans.

The problems occur with Love’s defense. He does not have any lateral quickness or good strength so he can be a liability on that side of the floor. Love’s defensive issues were highlighted throughout the NBA Finals. It took away from how great of a player he really is.

Love is not going to carry a team to a championship, but with the right roster, Love can be a cornerstone to a championship team.

Mar 8, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) dunks the ball during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

6. Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz

Derrick Favors is one of the best power forwards in the NBA, and he still has plenty of time to grow. The big reasons Favors is never in the spotlight is because he plays in Utah. He is a tremendous talent that deserves a lot more recognition than he is receiving.

Favors has great strength and uses it to his advantage on both sides of the floor. Whether it be to win position to grab a rebound or to force his way toward the basket, Favors is not easy to stop.

When looking at Favors’ game, the one word to describe him is versatile. He does it all on the court. He can defend, rebound and put the ball in the basket. It is a joy to watch him as a fan of the game. There is still plenty of time to see him grow as he is only 25.

Quietly, Favors is making a name for himself around the NBA. Do yourself a “favor” and start watching him play. (Oh, I love bad puns)

Apr 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) and guard Dennis Schroder (17) react against the Boston Celtics in the third quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Celtics 110-83. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

5. Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks

Paul Millsap kicks off the top five in my rankings. Lining up with Al Horford for the past couple of seasons has done wonders for Millsap. Now that Dwight Howard is next to him in the front court, it will be interesting to see if he is just as productive.

It is hard not to love a player like Millsap. Widely considered undersized at the power forward spot, Millsap has paved his way to an elite level. He was arguably the best player on the Hawks team that finished first in the Eastern Conference back in 2015.

With his quickness and strength, Millsap is a great defender. He can switch on screens and guard almost any other 4 in the league.

Offensively, Millsap can do it all. He has a decent 3-point shot as well as the ability to drive the lane.

There is no denying Millsap is probably one of the most underrated players in the league. With the new-look Atlanta roster, Millsap will have to continue being a major contributor if he wants to take his team into the playoffs.

May 6, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the fourth quarter in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

4. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs

Tim Duncan is now gone, the Spurs should be in trouble in the frontcourt, right? Wrong. LaMarcus Aldridge was phenomenal with the Spurs last season and his playoff performance was also a thing of beauty.

If I were a betting man, I would bet Aldridge has the best mid-range jump shot in the NBA. His shot is so smooth and his form makes it an impossible shot to guard.

In the Spurs system, his offensive game fits perfectly. He should be able to follow in Duncan’s footsteps for a long time.

Defensively, Aldridge looked like a different player in 2016. He is very good down low against opposing forwards and centers. It still is not the elite level defense the Spurs may need down low, but he is no longer a major liability.

Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) dunks the ball as Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee (24), forward Maurice Harkless (4), guard C.J. McCollum (3) and guard Damian Lillard (9) defend during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin is one of the best power forwards in the NBA. If he finds a way to get healthy for the course of an 82-game season, he could be even higher on the list.

When Griffin is on the court, he is a special player.

Griffin can hit jumpers all over the court, and nobody even has to mention his high-flying ability.

But one of the more underrated parts of his game is his passing. Griffin and Chris Paul can control the floor on offense with their unselfishness and passing. It is a sight to see with DeAndre Jordan waiting for an alley-oop dunk and J.J. Redick waiting for a catch-and-shoot three.

When he was drafted, Griffin was seen as someone who could play solid defense and dunk. Now, Griffin is an All Star, and a player a team can build its franchise around.

Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts in the second quarter in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Love him or hate him, Draymond Green has evolved into one of the top 10 players in the NBA. It is shocking Green has turned into a superstar. I do not think anyone saw this coming.

Green can do anything a teams asks him to do on the floor. In Game Seven of the NBA Finals, he looked like a sharpshooter from behind the arc. In the games prior, he was doing something completely different. Green’s versatility and all-around game cannot be compared to another power forward.

A triple-double threat on a nightly basis, Green can score, pass the ball to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and defend virtually every position. He uses his grittiness to get into opposing players’ minds and will not back down from anyone on the floor.

The final piece to the puzzle of Green is he is Golden State’s soul. Without him, the Warriors are missing something. It may be intangible, but when he is not on the court in crunch time, things do not bounce the Warriors way.

Dec 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 114-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Before the 2016 season, Anthony Davis was supposed to take a step and be considered the best player in the NBA. Injuries completely derailed his season, and the roster he is surrounded with did not help his cause. Even with a disappointing 2016, there is no reason to cast off Davis.

Davis is 23, he still has plenty of time to develop and that is what is expected to happen this year. Barring another injury-plagued season, Davis should see an improvement in every facet of his game. His potential is just that high.

On the offensive side, Davis is next to impossible to guard. He has started to make opponents respect his outside jumper and if that is the case, the lane is going to be open for him to drop in buckets.

Defensively, Davis needs to play like he did with Kentucky. If he can improve his rim protection and block more shots, he could be a complete player.

Davis’ ceiling is as high as any player in the league. Let’s hope he can stay healthy in 2017.