With the new NBA season almost here, it’s time to rank the league’s 30 starting power forwards for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign.
As the NBA’s embraces small-ball era, 3-point shots reign supreme and and traditional positions are drastically changing. Perhaps no spot on the floor has changed more so than the power forward spot, with small forwards of old now manning the position as 4s are now expected to spread the floor, defend on the perimeter and even protect the rim.
Because of this, the power forward spot is often played by 3s, 4s and even new-age 5s whose skill-sets allow them to fluctuate between positions where versatility, long range shooting and speed are valued.
However, for the sake of classification within a starting lineup, every team enters the season with a “starting power forward.” The question is, how does each team’s starting 4 stack up to the rest of the NBA? In an attempt to answer that question, it’s time to rank all 30 starting power forwards for the 2017-18 NBA season.
Starting lineups can often change, like when teams start to tan — or, “strategically rest” their players. For these rankings, however, we’re going to make the executive decision based on which players will likely spend most of the season — or at least start the season — in the starting five.
One clarification: These rankings are based on projections for the upcoming season, not past accomplishments or their current standing entering 2017-18. They’re not projections for fantasy basketball either, or based on any one specific stat.
Instead, these rankings factor in a number of variables, including expected statistical output, potential team success, opportunity, health, contract, experience, two-way impact, likelihood of keeping their starting job and to a minimal degree, potential playoff success.
With all of this in mind, here are our rankings for the NBA’s top 30 starting power forwards in 2017-18.
30. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks
Ersan Ilyasova enters the season as the Atlanta Hawks‘ starting power forward, but that won’t last long once the team starts dropping games left and right and the fans start calling for their Rookie of the Year dark horse, John Collins. No offense to Ilyasova, but this is the most interesting outcome anyway.
As the 19th overall pick in this year’s draft, Collins has some work to do on the offensive end, but he’s a promising 20-year-old who could wind up being one of the biggest steals of a loaded 2017 rookie class.
Collins earned All-NBA Summer League honors behind 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game on 59.3 percent shooting, so even though that was just Summer League, and even though he’ll struggle once he’s thrust into a starting role, keep your eye on this rookie. He might be one of the lone bright spots in Atlanta’s upcoming season.
29. Marquese Chriss, Phoenix Suns
Marquese Chriss still has plenty of time to figure it out at 20 years old, but the chief reason he’s even a starter at all is because the Phoenix Suns are so focused on youth development and #TheTimeline they won’t mind being bad for another year — especially in the final season before the changes to the NBA Draft Lottery kick in.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to like here. Chriss flashed an improved 3-point shot after the All-Star break, made the All-Rookie Second Team and his athleticism is off the charts. For a player who has been playing basketball for only a few years, his growth in that limited time has been promising.
However, he struggled with being thrust into a starting role for 75 of his 82 games as a rookie, and though his 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game look decent enough on paper, he was (understandably) dreadful on the defensive end, shot 32.4 percent from deep and has a long way to go before all the raw tools turn into something useful.
28. Skal Labissiere, Sacramento Kings
Ironically enough, the player just ahead of Marquese Chriss is Skal Labissiere, one of the players the Suns included in their 2016 draft-day trade with the Sacramento Kings to acquire Chriss in the first place. Though he only suited up in 33 games as a rookie, Skal was much less of a defensive liability and showed he has a higher floor in that limited action.
Averaging 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, Lab shot 53.7 percent from the field and came alive after the All-Star break — including a memorable 32-point, 11-rebound performance against Chriss and the very team that passed on his potential.
Labissiere is not guaranteed a starting spot, and in fact may start the year coming off the bench behind Dave Joerger’s former power forward, Zach Randolph. But as the losses quickly pile up, it’s only a matter of time before the Kings give this youngster more run time.
27. DeMarre Carroll, Brooklyn Nets
We don’t want to say DeMarre Carroll is definitively washed, but his last two years with the Toronto Raptors were less than stellar. You might not have even noticed him last season despite appearing in 72 games, since he only put up 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on disappointing .400/.341/.761 shooting splits and lost minutes to trade acquisition P.J. Tucker.
However, now with the Brooklyn Nets, he’ll get to play the role of veteran leader for a rebuilding team. He’ll be slightly out of position as a small-ball 4, but Kenny Atkinson’s fast-paced, 3-point heavy system should be well-tailored for Carroll’s game.
Not too much will be expected of Carroll other than lead by example, stay healthy (fingers crossed) and show the youngsters what a 3-and-D skill-set looks like. Maybe a reduced role on a non-contender will look better on him, but at age 31, don’t expect too much out of him on the court either.
26. Marcus Morris, Boston Celtics
Brad Stevens has tinkered around with a few starting lineups in the preseason while Marcus Morris was dealing with his legal situation, including using Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the wings in small-ball lineups, but since that will probably be too much inexperience on the floor at once, Mook is the most logical solution at the 4.
Aron Baynes could also get some run alongside Al Horford, but Morris is probably the better option. Last season in Motown, he averaged 14.0 points per game, but only pulled down 4.6 rebounds per game and shot an underwhelming 41.6 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from downtown.
This could very well open the door for Baynes, a better rebounder and defender, but Morris has more potential to spread the floor. Either way, suffice it to say the Boston Celtics‘ underwhelming situation at power forward is the biggest drawback of clearing room for Gordon Hayward.
25. Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls
After three seasons filled with both signs of potential and failure to turn those signs into anything lasting, Nikola Mirotic gets another two years to figure it out with a rebuilding Chicago Bulls team that should feature him as a prominent part of the offense.
However, the difference between putting empty numbers on a terrible team and actually having a good season in the first real year of Hoi-ball might be hard to decipher. Chicago has looked shockingly competent in preseason action, but there’s a big difference between meaningless exhibition and the regular season.
In any case, Mirotic will try to build on the 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game he posted last year, especially when it comes to his 41.3 percent shooting and 34.2 percent shooting from deep. If he can be a little more consistent this year, maybe he’ll climb a few rungs up this ladder despite his team’s standing.
24. Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets
Marvin Williams isn’t a bad player by any means, but there’s no question he had a down year shooting the ball. Though his scoring only dipped from 11.7 points per game to 11.2 per game in 2016-17, his shooting splits dropped from a tidy .452/.402/.833 in 2015-16 to .422/.350/.873 last year.
Entering his age-31 season, the Charlotte Hornets need Williams to revert back to his more efficient self, especially in a league where 3-point shooting is at a premium. As serviceable as he is defensively, he’s not good enough on that end to justify playing him starter’s minutes if he’s not spreading the floor and providing Kemba Walker with at least some semblance of perimeter firepower on the offensive end.
Williams holds his own on the boards (6.6 rebounds per game last year) and unlocks small-ball lineups for the Hornets, but at this point, the 12-year veteran is simply average in a group of similarly average stretch-4s. Coming off a down year, he gets the short end of the stick in our rankings.
23. Maurice Harkless, Portland Trail Blazers
Yes, Maurice Harkless is technically a 3, and maybe he really will spend the whole season there. But with the way that Al-Farouq Aminu struggled in his small-ball 4 role last season, and given how effective Rip City has been in the limited instances it’s used Harkless in that same spot, this seems like an inevitable adjustment for head coach Terry Stotts to make.
At 24 years old, Harkless is a young player on the rise for the Portland Trail Blazers. The trajectory of that rise isn’t exceptionally high, but he should be an average starter on a playoff team, and at 6’9″, he’s the same height as Aminu, which could spare him as many minutes at the 4 as he logged last year.
In 2016-17, Harkless put up 10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the floor and 35.1 percent from deep. If he can improve on the boards, hold his own on defense and spread the floor to the 3-point arc, this is one lineup tweak that could benefit everyone involved.
22. Taj Gibson, Minnesota Timberwolves
This feels low for a respected veteran of Taj Gibson‘s ilk, but he’s quite clearly the weak link in the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ starting five. That’s not an issue in and of itself, but relying on a 32-year-old to inject to much-needed defensive presence in the frontcourt could be a problem.
The Wolves have Jimmy Butler and an improving Karl-Anthony Towns, sure, but to contend in the Western Conference, Minnesota will have to improve this position in the short-term. That won’t happen in 2017-18, but hopefully his tenacity and experience rubs off on the youngsters in the meantime.
Last year, Gibson put up 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on 51.5 percent shooting, but he doesn’t spread the floor to 3-point range and he may struggle more on the defensive end as his athleticism wanes.
21. JaMychal Green, Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies need a big year out of JaMychal Green, and after only being offered a two-year, $17 million deal in free agency, he should be more than ready to deliver in 2017-18.
Though he’s already 27, Green has only been in the league for three years, and with Zach Randolph, Tony Allen and Vince Carter all gone, he’ll need to take on a bigger role to prevent Marc Gasol and Mike Conley from having to carry the load alone.
Last year, Green only put up 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, but he did so on 50.1 percent shooting from the field and 38.2 percent shooting from 3-point range. If he can take on more responsibility and still remain efficient, his burgeoning two-way game will get a little more recognition this year.
20. Thaddeus Young, Indiana Pacers
Thaddeus Young, like many of the players in this range, is a decent enough two-way forward without a lot of flash to his game. He’s a good slasher, he shot 52.7 percent from the field last year and he even knocked down a career-high 38.1 percent of his looks from downtown (albeit only on 1.6 attempts per game).
On a rebuilding Indiana Pacers team, Young figures to fill the locker room veteran role — right up until the front office realizes the playoffs are a pipe dream and decides to ship off this trade asset to bolster what should be a full-fledged youth movement.
Young put up 11.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last year, is a serviceable defender and is still only 29. But since he won’t be the focal point with Myles Turner, Victor Oladipo and Bojan Bogdanovic taking most of the shots, and since he’s an unheralded role player, this is as high as he gets.
19. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
This is meant as no disrespect to one of the NBA’s all-time great power forwards, but Father Time catches up with everyone. At age 39, Dirk Nowitzki is on his last legs, and with Rick Carlisle planning to play him at the 5 to start the season, his flat-footedness on the defensive end will stand out even more.
However, once the Dallas Mavericks realize they’re bleeding points with that lineup, the bad blood over Nerlens Noel‘s contract situation should boil over, returning Dirk to his most effective position at the 4.
Unfortunately, last season’s 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game were the lowest marks of Nowitzki’s career since his rookie year. He did shoot 37.8 percent from 3-point range, so he can still effectively spread the floor and regale us with late-game shot after late-game shot, but there’s no question these twilight years place him in the bottom half of power forwards.
18. Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons
It’s bizarre that Tobias Harris is such an overlooked talent at only 25 years old, but then again, that tends to happen when the story of your journeyman career is putting up solid scoring numbers for losing teams.
That’s been the case ever since the Milwaukee Bucks sent him to the Orlando Magic, and it’s remained true as he’s fluctuated back and forth between a starting and bench role with the Detroit Pistons. In 2017-18, the Pistons need those points to be more than empty calories.
Last year, Harris put up 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.1 percent the floor and 34.7 percent from downtown. While his 3-ball could be a little better, as could his defense and his passing, Harris is one of those fringe starters/quality bench players who needs to find his proper niche to be effective. Here’s hoping that finally happens in 2017-18.
17. Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
This is a big year for Aaron Gordon, who is the Orlando Magic‘s closest thing to a franchise player at the moment. After being played out of position at the 3 for so long, he’ll finally get to start the whole season at the power forward.
The early returns in preseason have looked good, with AG putting up at least 17 points and six rebounds in each of his last four games. Preseason is preseason, but Gordon has two-way potential if he can become a more consistent scoring threat and continue to hone those defensive tools.
Will he pan out as a star? Only time will tell. But for the upcoming season, it seems as though this 22-year-old will at least have something of a breakout year, and that possibility is enough to vault him past some of the league’s more mundane power forwards.
16. Ryan Anderson, Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets probably wanted Carmelo Anthony in this spot, but Ryan Anderson‘s 3-point shooting and non-existent defense will have to do. Despite being such a highly inflated contract, Anderson’s value isn’t as low as NBA Twitter makes it out to be.
Last season, RyNo only put up 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, but he shot a blistering 40.3 percent on a whopping 7.0 attempts per game from downtown, effectively spreading the floor for the most high-powered 3-point onslaught in NBA history.
Unfortunately, Anderson doesn’t climb any higher up this list because of his miserable defense, which makes him a downright liability at the end of regular season games, let alone critical playoff games. His offense is a perfect fit though, and with so many talented defensive wings on the roster now, perhaps he’ll be able to do his part and let the small-ball 4s worry about the stops.
15. Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers
We’re not going to worry too much about Larry Nance Jr. starting in a few preseason games over Julius Randle. At some point, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to cut the cute crap and play Randle starter’s minutes — either to discover what they have in their upcoming restricted free agent or to build his trade value.
Last year, Randle averaged a well-rounded 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, and despite being slightly undersized, he powered his way to 48.7 percent shooting from the field.
Unfortunately, the two biggest flaws in Randle’s game as a power forward — being unable to spread the floor to 3-point range and not being a plus-defender — continue to hold him and his value back, despite his quickness off the dribble, plethora of moves in the post and promising passing ability.
14. Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz
No, Derrick Favors didn’t have a great season in 2016-17. After looking like a borderline All-Star the year before, injuries and a struggle to find his old rhythm clearly wore on the Utah Jazz big, limiting him to 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 48.7 percent shooting in 50 appearances.
Favors doesn’t possess a 3-point shot to speak of, which complicates Utah’s spacing when he’s paired with Rudy Gobert, even if the two make for a stifling tandem on the defensive end. In a contract year though, Favors is a top candidate for a bounce-back season…assuming he can stay healthy, of course.
Even if Favors doesn’t rebuild his league-wide value in one season, his defensive ability and the fact that the team needs to collectively step up in the wake of Gordon Hayward’s departure puts him in the upper half of the league’s power forwards.
13. Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat
After tinkering around with a couple of different lineups in preseason, it appears as though Erik Spoelstra plans on rolling with Kelly Olynyk at the 4 alongside Hassan Whiteside, putting James Johnson back in his familiar role as point forward off the bench.
Olynyk has a diverse skill-set, being able to put the ball on the floor, find open shooters, spread the floor to 3-point range and hold his own on the defensive end. Last year with the Celtics, Olynyk put up an encouraging 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in only 20.5 minutes per game.
He shot 51.2 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range, and though he’s already 26 years old, Olynyk improves the Miami Heat‘s depth by relegating Johnson to bench duty. His numbers might not show it, but Olynyk should be a perfect fit in Spoelstra’s system.
12. Markieff Morris, Washington Wizards
With Markieff Morris sidelined for the next 3-5 weeks following surgery for a sports hernia, the Washington Wizards will have to go with either Jason Smith or Kelly Oubre Jr. at power forward. And in that time, they’ll most likely realize how much they miss Markieff Morris.
Though his injury will hardly threaten their playoff standing, there won’t be an easy replacement for the 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game Keef posted last year, especially since he shot a solid 45.7 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from 3-point range.
His low rebounding numbers don’t look too bad compared to all these other small-ball 4s; it seems to be the way the league is trending now. However, his defense, toughness, serviceable 3-point stroke and scoring ability make him a vital part of this team’s impressive starting five.
11. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
This is probably a bit premature for a rookie, but with such an underwhelming crop of power forwards and all the hype surrounding this former No. 1 overall pick, it’s hard to not be excited about Ben Simmons‘ NBA debut.
Joel Embiid is the centerpiece of The Process, but the offense will run through Simmons’ playmaking as the Philadelphia 76ers‘ point forward. With his unique mix of speed, strength, height, court vision and passing ability, this 21-year-old rookie will be fascinating to watch, especially as he attempts to develop a decent jump shot.
That lack of 3-point range may limit his game in time, once defenses learn how to play him, but for now Simmons will have plenty of responsibility and opportunity with one of the more promising young teams in the East. Maybe we’re getting caught up in the moment, but Ben Simmons is going to be very good, very soon.
10. Jae Crowder, Cleveland Cavaliers
With Tyronn Lue planning on moving Tristan Thompson to the bench and starting Kevin Love at the 5, all the Sixth Man of the Year talk for Jae Crowder seems to be dead; the former Celtics swingman will be starting as a small-ball 4.
Though he’s only 6’6″, Crowder has the strength and build to defend power forwards, as he’s done for stretches in the past. This is going to take a physical toll on him, and there’s a good chance Lue could jettison this lineup when Love at the 5 leads to the Cleveland Cavaliers hemorrhaging points.
However, it sounds like this is the designated plan moving forward, and after averaging 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on .463/.398/.811 shooting splits, Crowder was one of the league’s more underrated two-way wings. Adjusting to the life of a full-time power forward will take some work, but Crowder has the tools to be a dynamic yet understated presence in the starting lineup for a title contender.
9. Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors
It’s no secret that Serge Ibaka isn’t what he once was. His production has been on the decline since 2014, he was unable to lift the Toronto Raptors over the hump last year and his lack of passing allowed defenses to completely shut down Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan isolations without having to pay for it when the ball moved to someone else.
However, Ibaka will get the next three years to find his place in the North, and it’s not like he’s completely washed up. With such a mediocre group of 4s to compete against, Ibaka’s 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game with the Raptors easily put him in the top 10.
He’s not the premier shot-blocker he used to be, but Ibaka has the versatility to play the 5 in small-ball lineups and can also spread the floor as a stretch-4 who shot 39.8 percent from 3-point range while wearing a Toronto jersey. If Ibaka can be more of a two-way weapon in 2017-18, We The North may be more dangerous than people think.
8. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
LaMarcus Aldridge has admitted he’s been unhappy with the San Antonio Spurs, but after a heart-to-heart with Gregg Popovich, it seems the team will try to feature him more prominently in 2017-18.
This could go one of two ways: The Spurs figure out how to use what was once a top-three power forward and once again work their magic, or the whole thing fails fantastically and San Antonio is forced to trade him midseason as the other Western contenders start gaining ground.
More than likely, the Spurs will figure this out. He’s not going to replace Kawhi Leonard as the team’s leading scorer anytime soon, but he can certainly improve on the 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game he averaged last year, while hopefully retaining those efficient .477/.411/.812 shooting splits.
7. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
With Carmelo Anthony gone, the Kristaps Porzingis era has officially begun in the Big Apple. After averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game on .450/.357/.786 shooting splits last year, just imagine what he’ll be capable of in Year 3 without Melo’s shot count to worry about.
At 7’1″, the Zinger possesses superstar potential on both ends of the floor. He protects the rim, can spread the floor to 3-point range and is an absolute beast on the offensive glass, regularly terrorizing anyone who’s not boxing out with high-flying put-back dunks.
His offensive game needs work, and for all his talent, the New York Knicks are still going to be very bad this season. But the future is very bright, and it starts in 2017-18.
6. Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets
Paul Millsap‘s numbers will start to decline in the near future at age 32, but his two way talents make for a perfect fit alongside Nikola Jokic in the Denver Nuggets‘ frontcourt. His skill-set on the less glamorous end of the floor will at the very least help improve what was the league’s 29th-ranked defense.
Last year with the Hawks, Millsap averaged a well-rounded 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He only shot 31.1 percent from 3-point range, but that won’t be as much of an issue with the Joker showing early signs of being able to spread the floor.
From his passing to his defensive versatility to his basketball intellect, Millsap is an exceptional and experienced addition to the roster. His individual numbers will take a backseat to Jokic, Gary Harris and possibly even Jamal Murray, but his impact will be as important — and underrated — as ever.
5. Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder
Who else is excited about being able to enjoy Carmelo Anthony’s game without feeling ashamed again? This writer certainly is!
Though he’s in the latter stages of his career at age 33, Melo will no longer be expected to be the savior of a franchise. As the third banana behind Russell Westbrook and Paul George, he can capitalize on defensive mismatches and wide open 3-point looks, while also feasting on second units when Billy Donovan leaves him on the floor with the reserves.
His defense won’t be as much of an issue with Steven Adams, Paul George and Andre Roberson covering for him, and people forget that as “washed” as he is, he just put up 22.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game on 35.9 percent from 3-point range last year. Even if he doesn’t go full “Hoodie Melo,” the Oklahoma City Thunder will be more than happy with “Olympic Melo.”
4. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Staying healthy has been a major concern for Blake Griffin, but since most of them have been fluke injuries, we feel pretty confident putting him in the top five. In his first season without Chris Paul, Griffin has the chance to be an elite playmaker and designated point forward for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Though Milos Teodosic, Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari are all capable playmakers, Griffin is one of the most well-rounded 4s in the league. He’s flashed the potential to spread the floor from 3-point range in the preseason, and if that becomes a regular part of his game, he’ll be unstoppable.
Last year, Griffin put up 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 49.3 percent from the field. If he can stay healthy and lead this Clippers team like never before, Lob City is going to surprise some people in 2017-18.
3. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green may not have the raw numbers to justify being this high on the list, but in terms of his fit with a dynasty in the making, there is no power forward in the NBA more dangerously, perfectly suited for his team — on both ends of the floor — right now.
Of course, a lot of that has to do with the Golden State Warriors juggernaut he plays for, but that doesn’t change the fact that Green is the linchpin of this team’s elite defense. His ability to defend all five positions, switch onto any ball-handler in the pick-and-roll, and still recover for weak-side steals and blocks, makes him the most versatile defender in the NBA.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year and two-time champion only put up 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game last year, but he also chipped in 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while serving as a secondary playmaker, 3-point threat, charismatic leader and do-it-all Swiss army knife. Because of this, and his role on one of the greatest teams of all time, he easily secures a spot in the top three.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Like Towns in Minnesota, there’s a very good chance point forward Giannis Antetokounmpo bursts onto the scene as a bonafide superstar in 2017-18 — if he wasn’t there already.
Last year, the Greek Freak led the Milwaukee Bucks in all five statistical categories with 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. He became the first player to finish in the NBA’s top 20 for all five categories en route to Most Improved Player of the Year honors, an All-NBA Second Team selection and his first All-Star appearance.
At just 22 years old, it’s terrifying what this point forward will be capable of in the near future. He needs to add a 3-point shot to become a destroyer of worlds (27.2 percent last year), but his length, massive strides and quickness make him a two-way force who still made 52.1 percent of his shots. Don’t be surprised if he makes another leap into the MVP conversation this year, especially if his exploits carry the Bucks to a top-four seed in the East.
1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Even if the New Orleans Pelicans miss the playoffs in 2017-18, you still could probably defend Anthony Davis as the No. 1 power forward in the NBA. Individually, there’s no two-way force more dynamic right now.
Last year, the Brow averaged a career-high 28.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. His 3-point stroke is still the last piece of the puzzle to making him unstoppable (29.9 percent last year), but this season, we’ll get to see what Davis can do while playing with the first superstar teammate of his career.
How AD and DeMarcus Cousins mesh in the frontcourt will determine the outcome of the Pelicans’ season, because they definitely don’t have the role players or the depth to contend with all the improved teams out West otherwise.
Next: Ranking all 30 starting NBA small forwards for 2017-18
However, with the Brow being such a high scorer on the offensive end, elite rebounder and potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate, his two-way prowess makes him the clear-cut No. 1.