NBA Tier 1: MVP-level power forwards
2) Kevin Durant-Phoenix Suns
1) Giannis Antetokounmkpo-Milwaukee Bucks
Finally, we arrive at Tier 1, which is home to just two players. Unsurprisingly, Giannis and KD reign supreme as the best power forwards in the NBA. Giannis is rapidly building a case for the best power forward ever.
Over the last five seasons, he’s averaged a near-unprecedented 28.8 points on 56.3% shooting, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks. At nearly 29, he could keep up this historic run for a few seasons, especially now that he has a fellow all-NBA-caliber teammate in Damian Lillard to help carry the offensive load.
Durant might toggle between both forward positions, but he logged 70% of his total minutes in 2022–23 at the four. This season, after playing for the Phoenix Suns for the entire year, expect that to continue. At age 35, he’ll likely spend significant time defending some of the lesser offensive players on this list, saving him for the other end of the floor. There, he is still an elite scorer who can score against any other player on this list.
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He too will have plenty of help, with fellow all-stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal helping to take the pressure off him and divide defensive attention. That should allow Durant to continue scoring nearly 30 points a game, even in his mid-30s. Based on that, Giannis and Durant are clearly the two best players at their positions in the NBA.