The small forward position has continued to evolve in the NBA. It’s no surprise that many kids who grew up watching Larry Bird wanted to play like him. The ‘point-forward’ has become a popular position among talented wings in the NBA. With Durant out for the season, James and Leonard will be battling for the no.1 spot on the top 10 small forwards for the 2019-2020 NBA season.
Here are my top 10 small forwards for the 2019-2020 NBA season:
1.LeBron James- Los Angeles Lakers
Many NBA fans have crowned Kawhi Leonard as the best small forward in the game. I am not ready to take that title away from the King just yet. LeBron James had his worst season since his rookie last year, which cost the Lakers making a playoffs.
LeBron’s worst year since his rookie year includes: 27.4 PTS, 8.5 REB, 8.3 AST on 51.0 FG%. That’s considered a down year for the King.
The Lakers have retooled and James is in pursuit of an NBA championship for the city of Los Angeles. As long as he stays healthy, James remains at the top of my top 10 small forwards for the 2019-2020 NBA season list.
2. Kawhi Leonard- Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard is an elite defender with a Kobe-esque offensive game. His mere presence instills fear in his opponents. He is a proven champion and MVP candidate. I do not believe Leonard can carry a team the way James can. However, Leonard impacts winning in his own right.
3. Paul George- Los Angeles Clippers
Facing Leonard and George at once is going to be a nightmare for the NBA. George, like Leonard, is a very capable DPOY candidate. He may also be slightly more gifted on the offensive end. George’s height, athleticism, and skill help keep him near the top of my small forward rankings year after year. George’s natural abilities is what keeps him ahead of Butler on my list.
4. Jimmy Butler- Miami Heat
The criticism that Butler faces reminds me a lot of that of which Westbrook faces. Unwarranted. Butler is an elite competitor that produces results: wins. He plays with energy on both ends of the court. For what he lacks in talent, he makes up with in effort. Butler’s presence will help elevate the Miami Heat.
5. Gordon Hayward- Boston Celtics
Gordon Hayward was often the scapegoat last season as the Celtics struggled. Irritations from his ankle injury hindered his performance at times. Hayward is finally healthy and was able to spend most of his summer in Boston working on his game. From everyone I talked to, Hayward is ready to be the player he was back in Utah. When at his best, Hayward is one of the best players in the NBA.
I’m a big believe in Hayward, but I do understand why people have slept on him. He did not make Yaw’s list of top 10 small forwards for the 2019-2020 NBA season.
6. Khris Middleton- Milwaukee Bucks
I have never seen Middleton miss a mid range jump shot against the Boston Celtics in my entire life. Even when every player on the Bucks is struggling, Middleton has been a stable force in their lineup. He isn’t flashy, but he is very reliable. Consistency and availability are a big part of the equation. Reminder, he was the second best player on an elite regular season Bucks team last season.
7. Tobias Harris- Philadelphia 76ers
Harris slipped outside of my top 5 simply due uncertainty I have in regards to how Harris will fit in without Butler, and how healthy he can be. Harris has had his ups and downs with games played throughout his career. When available, he brings an all-star caliber presence to any team he is on.
8. DeMar DeRozan- San Antonio Spurs
DeRozan has been forgotten about ever since he was traded to the Spurs last summer. However, he did average 21.2 PTS, 6.0 REB, & 6.2 AST. When it comes to the playoffs, DeRozan does not belong on this top. As for the regular season, he is still a solid option at the wing position. Players also tend to improve in their second year under Gregg Popovich. I will be keeping a close eye on how DeRozan fits with Murray and White in San Antonio.
9. Jayson Tatum- Boston Celtics
NBA fans and critics both agree that Tatum is a very gifted player with a lot of potential. Unfortunately for Celtics fans, that potential has yet to be delivered on. In flashes, Tatum has shown flashes of a brilliant basketball player. Playing alongside Irving did not help his development at all. I am hesitant to rank Tatum higher on this place because I have not seen how he will mesh with Walker just yet. Should Walker buy into Stevens’ system, Tatum could easily average over 20 a night. Without the ball in his hands, Tatum is limited in ways to impact winning.
10. Caris LeVert- Brooklyn Nets
Before suffering a knee injury last season, LeVert was often looking like the best player on the Brooklyn Nets. All reports indicate that it is his work ethic that has helped elevate LeVert into a respectable wing player in the NBA. If these reports are true, and he continues where he left off last season, I could see him having a better year than several other unmentioned wings in the Western Conference.
Players like Harrison Barnes, Bojan Bogdanović , and Andrew Wiggins will probably make a case for having their name in the top 10 small forwards for the 2019-2020 NBA season list. I also had players like Doncic in our shooting guard list and Giannis in our power forward list, in case you were wondering where they were.
Get well soon Kevin Durant.