NBA All-time Player Tiers: The 20 greatest small forwards ever, ranked
By Cal Durrett
Tier 2) MVP level
6) Elgin Baylor
5) John Havlicek
4) Julius Irving
3) Larry Bird
2) Kevin Durant
Los Angeles Lakers great Elgin Baylor dominated the NBA before many fans were even born. He was a two-way superstar during the 1960s and not only led the league in scoring but was a dominant rebounder even at just 6'6, along with being a monster on the defensive end. Unfortunately for Baylor, he never won a championship with the Lakers, making him one of their few legends never to do so.
He retired early during the 1972-73 season only to see Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain carry the Lakers to an NBA record 33 straight wins, win a then-record 69 games, and win a championship. Had he been a part of that team, he may have ranked a bit higher on this list but even without a championship, Baylor is a top-six small forward all time.
Boston Celtics superstar John Havlicek has a claim to be the most underrated player in NBA history. He often gets overlooked by having played with Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, but his numbers are outstanding, posting 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
He made 14 all-star and 11 All-NBA appearances in 16 seasons and is one of only three players with at least 26,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists alongside Russell Westbrook and LeBron James. Equally as important, he went 8-0 in the NBA Finals, with eight rings to show for it.
Although part of NBA icon Julius Irving's prime was spent in the ABA, which resulted in separate stats, he was still a dominant player when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. And now seasons with the Sixers, Irving averaged a terrific 22 points and 6.7 rebounds in addition to making 11 All-Star teams, winning league MVP, and winning the championship in 1983. All of that makes Irving an all-time grade small forward.
Boston Celtics great Larry Bird was, along with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Magic Johnson, the most iconic player of the 1980s. Bird and Magic helped elevate the league to new levels thanks to their frequent clashes during the NBA Finals.
Bird won three league MVPs during the 1980s and helped lead the Celtics to five NBA Finals, winning three of them. A back injury robbed him of a long career but his prime, in which he averaged 25 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists during his first nine seasons, is among the greatest stretches of any player in NBA history.
It may be controversial to put Kevin Durant second all-time among small forwards but his dominance, particularly during his first 11 seasons in the NBA, is among the greatest stretches that any player has had over the last 40 years. Over his first 11 seasons, Durant made 10 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA first teams, won one league MVP, two championships, and two Final MVPs.
He also posted a ridiculous 27 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Even in his late 30s, he averaged 27 points per game, suggesting that he will continue to play well as he approaches his 40s. With continued longevity, he should easily eclipse 30,000 points, becoming only the second small forward ever to do so.