# The 22 Best Small Forwards in NBA History

> Scoring champions, lockdown defenders and a few men who did both at once. Half of these wings won rings, the rest won arguments.

*By YPB Team · Published October 15, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-22-best-small-forwards-in-nba-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **LeBron James** — score 1000/1000
   Four-time champion and four-time MVP who became the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
2. **Jimmy Butler** — score 700/1000
   Six-time All-Star who dragged Miami to two NBA Finals.
3. **Rick Barry** — score 632/1000
   1975 Finals MVP with the Warriors and the most famous underhand free-throw shooter in history.
4. **James Worthy** — score 575/1000
   Big Game James, three-time champion and 1988 Finals MVP with the Showtime Lakers.
5. **Paul Arizin** — score 534/1000
   Two-time scoring champion of the 1950s and a pioneer of the jump shot.
6. **Larry Bird** — score 489/1000
   Three straight MVPs from 1984 to 1986 and three titles with the Celtics.
7. **Paul George** — score 489/1000
   Nine-time All-Star two-way forward who finished third in 2019 MVP voting.
8. **Bernard King** — score 437/1000
   1985 scoring champion whose 60-point game for the Knicks set a Christmas Day record.
9. **Jayson Tatum** — score 437/1000
   Top scorer of the Boston team that won the 2024 championship.
10. **Kevin Durant** — score 379/1000
   2014 MVP, two-time Finals MVP and four-time scoring champion.
11. **Elgin Baylor** — score 379/1000
   Lakers forward who averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds over 14 seasons.
12. **John Havlicek** — score 312/1000
   Eight-time champion with the Celtics and the face of the 1965 'Havlicek stole the ball' call.
13. **Grant Hill** — score 312/1000
   Seven-time All-Star whose prime in Detroit was cut short by ankle injuries.
14. **Tracy McGrady** — score 312/1000
   Two-time scoring champion and seven-time All-Star with Orlando and Houston.
15. **Dominique Wilkins** — score 312/1000
   The Human Highlight Film, nine-time All-Star and 1986 scoring champion for Atlanta.
16. **Paul Pierce** — score 312/1000
   The Truth, 2008 Finals MVP and the second-leading scorer in Celtics history.
17. **Alex English** — score 235/1000
   The leading scorer of the 1980s, eight straight All-Star picks with Denver.
18. **Scottie Pippen** — score 235/1000
   Six-time champion with the Bulls and one of the best defensive forwards ever.
19. **Kawhi Leonard** — score 235/1000
   Two-time Finals MVP with two different franchises, the Spurs and the Raptors.
20. **Adrian Dantley** — score 146/1000
   Two-time scoring champion who lived at the free-throw line in Utah.
21. **Julius Erving** — score 0/1000
   Dr. J, MVP in both the ABA and the NBA and the forward who made the dunk an art form.
22. **Carmelo Anthony** — score 0/1000
   Ten-time All-Star, 2013 scoring champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist.

Tags: basketball, players, nba, small forward