The 2015-16 NBA season should be a fantastic one. Last season was incredible, and this season will be just like it but with new exciting rookies and star players like Kevin Durant, Paul George, and Chris Bosh (hopefully) returning to full health. Heading into the season, I’m going to rank the top 5 players by position, doing a position every other week. This week: Top 5 NBA power forwards. We took a glance at the top 15 power forwards as a team but here’s my top 5 power forwards in the NBA.
Top 5 Power Forwards in the NBA
1. Anthony Davis
Stats Last Season: 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.9 blocks, 1.5 steals
Shooting Percentages Last Season: FG: 53.5%, FT: 80.5%
Anthony Davis is the future. He’s 6’10” with a 35.5 inch vertical leap, and a ridiculous 7’4″ wingspan. He’s an athletic freak. At just 22 years old, he’s established himself as the league’s best power forward, and one of the best players in the world. He uses his unique blend of athleticism, speed, and size to get to the rim at will, and he’s also a polished midrange shooter. He’s even been working on his 3-pointers, and plans to take more shots from downtown this year. We’ve never seen a player quite like Anthony Davis, and I for one am excited to see where his career takes him.
2. Blake Griffin
Stats Last Season: 21.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.9 steals
Shooting percentages last season: FG: 50.2%, FT: 72.8%
It’s interesting. Looking at Blake Griffin’s stats from last season, you might think that his per-game averages are those of a small forward rather than a 6’10”, 251-pound power forward. This, I believe, is indicative of the style that Griffin is moving towards. Blake’s heading into his fifth year in the NBA, and he’s become much more versatile as of late. We all remember Griffin’s first few seasons in the NBA. His highlight reel was a joy to watch; he threw down some of the most vicious dunks we’ve seen since Vince Carter’s prime. However, he was very limited as a player. You can only get so far as a one-dimensional freak athlete. Griffin filled up the stat sheet for a weak Clippers team (22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds in his rookie year), but the team won just 32 games. Since then, the Clippers have put together one of the strongest starting fives in the league. Griffin isn’t the go-to guy on the team anymore, but that’s a good thing. Who wouldn’t rather having Chris Paul running the show?
Griffin’s game has changed. He doesn’t solely play under the rim anymore; that’s DeAndre Jordan’s territory. Griffin has dramatically improved as a midrange shooter and as a ball-handler. He doesn’t want to be a role-player, but an all-around superstar. He essentially wants to be more like Anthony Davis. Blake averaged a career-high in assists last year, but a career low in rebounds. However, that’s understandable given that he’s sharing the frontcourt with DeAndre, who’s an absolute beast on the boards(league-leading 15.0 RPG last season).
Blake Griffin is evolving, and I think that the changes he’s made to his game will benefit the clippers. DeAndre is a one-dimensional big man. That isn’t a bad thing, but they don’t need two of the same player. It’s nice, and really almost expected, to have some versatility in the frontcourt these days. One thing that I believe Griffin still needs to address is his defense. 0.5 blocks per game is a pretty terrible number for a player his size. Griffin could help his team in a major way if he were to make a leap defensively.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge
Stats Last Season: 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 blocks, 0.7 steals
Shooting percentages last season: FG: 46.6%, 3PT: 35.2% FT: 84.5%
LaMarcus Aldridge taking his talents to San Antonio was the story of the offseason for a reason. Aldridge is one of the best scorers in the league. He has a great post game, and is an elite midrange shooter. He’s also a solid defender, contrary to popular belief.
Aldridge should fit in nicely in San Antonio. Gregg Popovich will make good use of the offensively-gifted big man, and I have no doubt that the Spurs will, once again, be a force to be reckoned with next season.
4. Chris Bosh
Stats Last Season: 21.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 blocks, 0.9 steals
Shooting percentages last season: FG: 46.0%, 3PT: 37.5% FT: 77.2%
We haven’t seen Bosh play in awhile, as he developed blood clots on his lung midway through last season and was forced to sit out the remainder of the year. However, he has returned to the court for offseason practice, and looks to be in pretty good shape.
Bosh peaked while he played for the Raptors, and never quite put up the same numbers in Miami. However, that’s to be expected when you share the ball with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. In fact, last season — year 1 A.L. (After LeBron) in Miami — Bosh averaged more points per game(21.1) since his Toronto days. The Heat should be sneaky good next season assuming that everyone stays healthy. As he’s aged, Bosh has lost some of his athleticism, but has improved skill-wise, particularly his shooting. Bosh has become one of the better stretch-4s in the NBA.
5. Draymond Green
Stats Last Season: 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.6 steals
Shooting percentages last season: FG: 44.3%, 3PT: 33.7% FT: 66.0%
Draymond Green just finished up his third NBA season. He also just played a key role on a championship team. Talk about being successful for your age, huh? Green may not put up gaudy statlines like the other guys on this list, but his per-game numbers are actually quite unique. He rebounds very well for his size, passes well, was arguably the best defender in the league, and can even shoot the long ball at a decent — but by no means amazing — clip. In fact, his stats are completely unique. Seriously, nobody else put up the numbers that Green put up last season, as shown by BasketballReference.com.
Draymond is one of the more versatile players in the league… and he’s only 25. He’s a special player. Looking at his advanced stats from last season gives you a further peak into just how good he was on the defensive end. Green ranked fourth in defensive rating, second in defensive win shares, and fifth in defensive box +/-. Plus, he was 9th in value over replacement player, putting him behind only Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, and Marc Gasol. If that isn’t elite company, I don’t know what is.
I am of the opinion that Green deserves his new contract, and I’m happy for him. He can defend every position, pulls down rebounds, moves the ball well, and is coming into his own as a shooter. Plus, he’s extraordinarily competitive. He talks a lot of trash, and that’s a good thing. When you think of guys who talked a lot of trash, you think of some of the fiercest competitors. Michael Jordan. Larry Bird. Gary Payton. Kevin Garnett.
For our list of top 5 point guards click here.
For our list of top 5 shooting guards click here.
For our list of top 5 small forwards click here
