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Anytime you put together a "Greatest" list, there's room for debate. That's especially true when digging into the NBA's power forward position, where so many legendary basketball players come into the conversation.
We're here to break down the top 10 power forwards of all time while finding the balance between modern-era scoring and the historical usage of the position. The NBA has become largely position-less and modern NBA bigs are shooting the three-ball more than ever, so fans often have different views of what makes a power forward great.
While some young players could be well on their way to being a top-10 PF of all time, this particular list will see just one active player in the rankings. Without further ado, let's dive in!
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10. Elvin Hayes, San Diego/Houston Rockets, Baltimore/Washington Bullets
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,303 games, 21.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 ASP, 2.0 BPG (stat not tracked during his first five seasons) – 1x NBA Champion, 12x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 2x All-Defense
Hayes started off his career hot with 28.4 points per game – leading the NBA as a rookie. The next season, he won the rebounding title with 16.9 rebounds per game, setting the stage for a dominant Hall-of-Fame career.
The first overall pick from Houston in the 1968 NBA Draft can often be forgotten about when the discussion of all-time great big men comes up, but he deserves a spot on the list for being one of the greatest players of his era.
9. Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats/Accolades: 911 games, 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 BPG – 5x NBA Champion, 2x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 8x All-Defense, 2x DPOY, 7x Rebound Champion
Rodman was one of the tone-setters for the Bad Boy Pistons as he established himself as one of the most dominant rebounders and physical "bigs" in the league. Rodman stood just 6'6" in a league full of giants, but his tenacity and effort set him apart. Rodman led the league in rebounding seven consecutive times from 1991 to 1998 with three different franchises and won two titles with Detroit before teaming up with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in Chicago.
The 1987 second-round pick didn't score with volume and wasn't a flashy player with a ton of All-Star selections, but make no mistake, he's an all-time great.
8. Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,226 games, 17.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.6 BPG – 2x NBA Champion, 6x All-Star, 4x All-NBA
Gasol earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors to start his illustrious career. He quickly became a rising star, averaging at least 17.6 points per game in his six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. However, his career would reach new heights when Memphis traded Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers along with a 2010 second-round draft pick for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, and the rights to Marc Gasol (Pau's younger brother).
Gasol averaged roughly 19 points and 10 rebounds per game in his first three seasons playing alongside Kobe Bryant as the Lakers made three NBA Finals appearances and collected two rings. He made two more All-Star teams with the Chicago Bulls before brief stops in San Antonio and Milwuakee and called it a career. The Lakers have no shortage of superstars in the history of the franchise, but Gasol will be credited with helping Bryant get back to the promised land.
7. Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
Career Stats/Accolades: 971 games, 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.7 BPG – 3x NBA Champion, 7x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 3x All-Defense, 2x 6th-Man of the Year
McHale along with Larry Bird and Robert Parish formed the Boston Celtics' "Big Three" in the early and mid-1980s and he did whatever was best for the team's chance to win – including coming off of the bench in over half of his career games. He led the NBA in field goal percentage twice at a 60.4 percent clip and was a willing rebounder and defender.
The two-time sixth-man of the year made the All-Star team seven times despite not being in the starting lineup often and if efficiency metrics and "WAR" ratings were factors in his day, he'd likely post impressive showings in those categories.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Career Stats/Accolades: 719 games (so far), 22.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.3 BPG – 1x NBA Champion, 2x MVP, 7x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 6x All-Defense, 1x DPOY
Antetokounmpo has the chance to climb into the top three of this list by the end of his career, but after an impressive first decade in the NBA, the 29-year-old deserves to be included. The Greek Freak came into his own around the 2016-17 NBA season and has dominated the league ever since. The 7-footer has rare handles for a man his size and has averaged as high as 31.1 points per game, 13.6 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game.
In summary, he can be a dominant scorer, elite rebounder, and high-level passer. Oh yeah, and he already has six NBA All-Defense selections and a Defensive Player Year Award to his name. He brought the Bucks its first NBA title in franchise history, despite not teaming up with another bonafide superstar. That's rare in today's NBA.
5. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,462 games, 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 BPG –1x NBA Champion 1x MVP, 15x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, 12x All-Defense, 1x DPOY
The Big Ticket was a defensive menace straight out of high school for the Timberwolves and averaged double-digit rebounds and 20-plus points in nine straight seasons from 1998 to 2007. The Wolves could never get over the hump with Garnett, but he's easily the greatest player in Minnesota's franchise history.
He joined forces with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in Boston to a new-look Celtics' big-three, immediately delivering a championship back to the historic franchise. Garnett played a large chunk of his games after his prime which hurt his per-game averages, but he was his era's intimidator and fierce defender operating the paint.
4. Charles Barkley, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,073 games, 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.8 BPG – 1x MVP, 11x All-Star, 11x All-NBA
The Round Mound of Rebound grabbed an average of at least 10.5 boards and as high as 14.6 boards every season except his rookie campaign, despite standing just 6'6". In an era with monstrous big men throughout the league, Barkley held his own on the offensive and defensive glass down low. He was also a prolific scorer before the significant rise of the three-point shot.
Unfortunately, Barkley had Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, and John Stockton in his path to an NBA championship, so he retired in 2000 without a ring to his name. Since he doesn't have a title he's often discounted in the all-time great discussion, but his individual impact on a nightly basis shouldn't be forgotten about.
3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,522 games, 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 BPG – 1x NBA Champion, 1x MVP, 14x All-Star, 12x All-NBA
Dirk played 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and was one of the first big men to do a lot of his offensive damage outside of the paint. He was known for his turnaround off-balance jumper and high-volume scoring rather than his rebounding and defense – which was rare for guys his size when he entered the NBA in 1998.
Nowitzki arguably has the most impressive title run of all time as he defeated the Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in the 2011 NBA Finals in six games – with an aging Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, and Tyson Chandler. Dirk averaged 26.0 points per game, while Marion came second at 13.7 points per game. No other Maverick averaged more than 9.7 points in the series.
2. Karl Malone, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,476 games, 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 ASG, 0.8 BPG – 2x MVP, 14x All-Star, 14x All-NBA, 4x All-Defense
Malone averaged at least 25 points per game in 12 of his 19 seasons in the NBA and was a fixture in the All-Star Game and on the All-NBA team. He and John Stockton formed a dominant Utah Jazz team that never quite got over the hump, but if Michael Jordan didn't exist, they'd likely have two rings a piece.
The Mailman was a two-way player who set the standard for low-post scorers during his playing days and he trails only Lebron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list. Off-the-court conduct has hurt his legacy, but he's undoubtedly a top-three power forward of all time.
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Career Stats/Accolades: 1,392 games, 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.2 BPG – 5x NBA Champion, 2x MVP, 15x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, 15x All-Defense
Duncan was never close to being one of the flashiest players in the NBA, but he seemingly played basketball exactly the way it was designed to be played and was the face of the Spurs' dynasty from 1997 to 2016. Duncan played alongside memorable players like David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard –but he lasted through two eras of basketball and won titles ranging from 1999 to 2014.
The Big Fundamental was willing to do anything it took to win, hence why he holds the record for the most All-Defense selections in NBA history. His titles set him apart at the top, but he's still probably not given enough credit for his elite career resume.
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