The US media listed the best 30 starting small forwards of the season
Gear 5: DeAndre Hunt, Max Strus, Pat Connaughton, Alec Burks, Franz Wagner, Terrence Rose, Dorian Finney Smith, Cameron Johnson, Cam Redish
DeAndre Hunt has great potential as a two-way swinger because he is 6 feet 8 inches tall and has a multi-faceted personality as an athlete. The Eagles' starting player scored 13.2 points and 3.4 rebounds from 40.9 percent three-point shooting, which is reliable statistic for a player who finds his best.
Max Strus isn't a household name, but he can certainly pull away space at an above-average level. The 6'5-inch small forward got plenty of empty seats when he played alongside Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry. That's why he shoots 41.0 percent from three-point range. Along with Duncan Robinson, Strus is currently the key scorer for the best team in the East.
Pat Connaughton isn't a household name either, but he's the perfect on-field role player in today's game. Whenever a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the court, it's wise to send a player like 6'5 Connaughton. The forward contributed 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds from 41.4 percent shooting, a reliable statistic for a player who has started just 18 games this season.
Alec Burks wasn't a great player anyway, but he was a consistent shooter and scorer, and no less defensively. The 6-foot-6 swinger has averaged 11.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season and shot 39.0 percent from three-point range, making it a reliable stat for role players. Despite Burks' high three-point shooting percentage, the Knicks aren't doing well on the court at the moment.
Rookie Franz Wagner was quite surprising, averaging 15.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and shooting 35.1 percent from three-point range. As a 6-foot 9-inch on-court scorer with a natural ability to score, Wagner is one of the Few Highlights for the Magic this season. As the 8th pick rookie, Wagner's performance was impressive considering he was only 20 years old.
Terrance Rose has been a reliable starter for most of his career because he can score in games and can often find some form of offense for the team. The swingman has averaged 11.1 points per game for the Orlando Magic this season.
Dorian Finney Smith is mainly known for his defensive ability, as he is at least above average in this regard. But the Lone Rangers' swing man can also shoot three-pointers well (36.0 percent) and become more comfortable with Luka Doncic on offense.
Cameron Johnson is a 6'8-inch shooter with huge potential and upside, which is why he had the opportunity to prove himself on a talented Team Suns this year. Averaging 26.1 minutes per game, Johnson averaged 12.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, shooting 43.6 percent from three-point range.
Cam Redish is a 6-foot-8 swingman who will soon become the NBA's best two-way starter. The 10th overall pick rookie averaged 11.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game and shot 36.9 percent from the field, a reliable number for a young man who is still trying to find his best on the court in a healthy state.
Gear 4: Kelly Oubre Jr., Gordon Hayward, Norman Powell, Sadik Bay, Buddy Hield, Matisse Tibur, OG Anunoby, Jaylen Green, Luganz Dort, Mikal Bridges, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kelton Johnson, Dillon Brooks
Kelly Upbre Jr. was a genius because he combined body size (6 feet 6 inches) with athleticism and versatility. A member of the Charlotte Hornets, the swingman averaged 16.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and shot a career-high 35.1 percent from three-point range. At just 26 years old, Oubre may have a lot to do.
Gordon Hayward used to be a true All-Star who could easily get into third gear, but those days are long gone. Since joining the Hornets, the swingman has been outstanding, averaging 16.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and shooting 39.0 percent from three-point range. Hayward may never be named to the All-Star team again, but he's certainly an above-average small forward.
Norman Powell has played very well with the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 18.9 points per game and shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range. The swingman is a player who can play three positions, which is why the Los Angeles Clippers signed him. Powell, along with Paul George and Cowy Leonard, will form a vibrant trio at both ends of the pitch.
Sadiq Bay had the opportunity to be the starter for the rest of his career as he was only 22 years old and did a fantastic job. The talented swingman averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game when starting for the Pistons this year. Bay is big (6 feet 7 inches, 215 pounds), so he can at least be a very solid two-way player for the next decade.
Buddy Hield was eventually traded by the Kings, who will travel to Indiana with his shooting talent. Hield contributed 14.4 points and 4.0 rebounds from 36.8 percent three-point shooting, which is a good number for a player who has only started six times. After coming off the bench, this performance made Hield a valuable contributor on the pitch.
Far from a constant offensive threat, Sable's season average was mediocre at best, with 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds from 30.1 percent three-point range. But the swingman is a good defensive player and if he continues to grow, he has a chance to be the best player in his position. Sable has long arms and a natural defensive IQ, so his value as a starter will be recognised in Gear 4.
OG Anunoby can play high-level basketball. The 6-foot-7-inch swinger contributed 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists to the Raptors, shooting 35.7 percent from three-point range. The Raptors are now no. 6 in the East, and Anunoby's play on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends is a big reason.
Jaylen Green has a wealth of talent and scoring ability, as well as excellent athleticism. Green contributed 14.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in his first season, which is a decent number for a 19-year-old. Green barely made it to fourth gear because his talent was at least All-Star level.
Dort played solid in the 2020 playoffs and became the starter we knew he could be. The swingman averaged 17.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and shot 84.7 percent from the free throws, all career-highs. Even though Dort still has some burden on three-pointers, he's improved.
Mikael Bridges is one of the most underrated players in the league, largely because his game doesn't have to be flashy. As a consistent shooter and excellent defensive player, Phoenix wouldn't have made it to the Finals last year without Bridges. The 6-foot-6-inch swinger, who has averaged 12.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season and is shooting 37.2 percent from three-point range, is crucial for the Suns to hit the championship again this year.
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert get most of the credit whenever the Utah Jazz play well, but Bojan Bogdanovic is probably the best player in The 4th Tier. The scarred swingman is in line with his outside shots and scores, and his size is a factor that affects the team. Bogdanovic averaged 17.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and 38.1 percent from three-point range, a very reliable statistic for a player on the offensive end behind Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley.
The Spurs always seem to be able to find a talented player, Kelden Johnson. The talented striker is very versatile in the attack and defense he brings to the game. The 6-foot-5-inch swinger contributed 15.4 points and 6.1 rebounds to 43.1 percent three-point shooting for San Antonio. If Johnson can progress like Murray, things will start to improve in San Antonio.
Despite being injured for a while now, Dillon Brooks could easily be the NBA's starting small forward. The sharpshooter has averaged 18.4 points per game this season, a good number for a player who can handle himself well on the defensive end. At just 26 years old, his partnerships with Ja Morant and Desmond Bain mean the Grizzlies have a solid team core for the future.
Pot 3: Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Edwards, Chris Middleton, Brandon Ingram
Andrew Wiggins was named to the All-Star team for the first time this year and even became the starter of the Western Conference All-Star team. While his choice as a starter is still debated, the swingman appears to have done enough to earn his place in the All-Star Lineup. An above-average defender, Wiggins contributed 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds from 41.5 percent three-point range. While Stephen Curry and Draymond Green deserve most of the glory for the Warriors' great season, Wiggins deserves his respect too.
Anthony Edwards is becoming an All-Star, even if he's not selected this year. The talented scorer contributed 22.2 points to the Timberwolves and shot 36.0 percent from three-point range. As a scorer with excellent athleticism, Edwards should be part of the All-Star with Minnesota's Carl Anthony Downs in the coming years.
As one of the best partners in the league, Chris Middleton is an elite two-way All-Star. The defending champion was named to the All-Star team for the third time this season, averaging 19.4 points and 5.6 assists per game and shooting 38.0 percent from three-point range. Middleton is the perfect teammate for Alphabet Brother because of his excellent outside defense and is a natural goalscorer. Not to mention, Middleton is one of the most critical players in the league.
Brandon Ingram may feel disrespected for not being named to the All-Star team this year, but he's still an All-Star. Throughout the season, Ingram averaged 22.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game while leading the Pelicans, shooting 34.8 percent from three-point range. Without Zion Williamson, Ingram had to endure tough times of lineup disorganization. The arrival of CJ McCollum could help Ingram find an easier way to score.
Gear 2: Jason Tatum, Demar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler, Paul George
Whatever you think of Jason Tatum, there's no doubt that he's a growing superstar offensive player. The Celtics star excelled on paper, contributing 25.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Tatum is a scorer with a natural skill, which is why he was selected to the All-Star Team for the third time in a row.
DeMar DeRozan played his best of the season, averaging 27.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game from 50.6 percent shooting. No one expected the four-time All-Star player to perform like this, especially since he led the Chicago Bulls all season. DeRozan played an important role in key moments. Any fan would love to see the Bulls at least reach the Eastern Conference Finals because DeRozan's performance was truly stunning.
Jimmy Butler's attitude and competitiveness make him the reason for being named an All-Star for the 6th time. One of the best defenders in the league, Butler has also raised his offensive abilities to the level of a superstar with his diligence and basketball IQ. Butler averaged 21.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game as the best player for the eastern conference. As long as Butler can help the Heat win first in the East, he has a chance to be selected for the all-team first or second team.
Paul George started the year with the Los Angeles Clippers, finishing with 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 26 games. Unfortunately, George suffered an injury that could have left him missing out on the rest of the season. As a good two-way player and, of course, an All-Star, George will be the key to the Clippers' future success.
Gear 1: LeBron James
With Kevin Durant occupying the big forward position this season, there's no doubt that LeBron James is the NBA's best small forward. James may be 37 years old, but he's still an amazing superstar, influencing the game as one of the top 5 players in the world. James averaged 29.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game and shot 52.3 percent from the field.
Unfortunately for LeBron, the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling this year, which is why James won't be in the MVP candidate this season. James has little responsibility for the team's struggles as he has been the most dominant player in the game. It's great to see a 37-year-old player who has been able to perform as well throughout the season as James, which is why he's still the best in this position.