Ranking Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan Among the NBA's Great Power Forwards

Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan have transformed how we view a power forward, but where does each rank among the most talented to ever play the position?

Although both players are well into their careers, each is still playing at an incredibly high level and is leading their respective team in the playoffs.

Watching how each operates on the floor is absolutely fascinating, and it seems that they're turning back the clock after many wrote them off just a couple of seasons ago.

It's not hard to appreciate what these guys bring to the game of basketball, but we should also take some time to remember others who had a definitive impact beneath the basket.

10. Dennis Rodman

Career Statistics: 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, 52.1 percent shooting

Rodman gets frequently overlooked when discussing the history of the position, but that shouldn't lead to him being under-appreciated.

An absolute force at the defensive end of the floor, Rodman impacted the game in ways that didn't always show up on the stat sheet. His effort was pivotal, and despite being undersized, the enigmatic rebounder always went up against guys who were much bigger.

From 1991-98, Rodman averaged at least 14.9 rebounds per game, a mark that seems unfathomable to many in today's game.

People certainly filled the building to see what color hair he'd be rocking on any given day, but more importantly, those fans came in to see what Rodman would be able to do next on the floor.

9. Shawn Kemp

Career Statistics: 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks, 48.8 percent shooting

Kemp was a slam dunk to appear on this list despite not having the most outstanding career averages, but the numbers only help to tell a part of the story.

With an uncanny ability to dominate the opposition with rim-rattling slam dunks, Kemp looked like he was simply exercising his will over defenders attempting to slow him down. At his peak, Kemp was an absolute force when he got anywhere near the basket.

We saw shades of Blake Griffin in his game before Griffin was even on the NBA radar, and in a league that didn't have the athleticism that it does today, it was extraordinarily difficult to find any other player like Kemp.

8. Pau Gasol

Career statistics: 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.7 blocks, 52 percent shooting

Gasol is one of the most oft-criticized big men in the game, but we need to truly appreciate what he's brought to the position since arriving in the league.

Although he was plenty productive during his tenure in Memphis, it wasn't until Gasol got to Los Angeles when he really emerged in front of a national audience. He deserved to be in the spotlight a lot sooner than that, but he solidified himself on the radar after winning two titles and serving as a key cog in the Lakers' frontcourt attack.

Gasol has never averaged less than 17 points per game in any season, shoots above 75 percent from the free throw line for his career and is an incredible passer for someone of his size.

Players like Gasol just don't come around very often.

7. Chris Webber

Career Statistics: 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks, 47.9 percent shooting

Sometimes I think we really don't appreciate what Webber brought to the game considering how rarely he's discussed when talking about those who exceeded expectations on the court. C-Webb was a joy to watch, and not many big men had the scoring touch he did.

An unbelievably productive player whose career could have been even more fruitful if it hadn't been for injuries, Webber really knew how to impact a game in a multitude of ways—this guy was definitely no one-trick pony.

With the ability to really score from a variety of areas on the floor as well as be a force on the glass, Webber deserves even more recognition than he's received to date.

6. Kevin McHale

Career Statistics: 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.7 blocks, 55.4 percent shooting

McHale's game should be bottled up and preserved for big men of the future to study forever. His crafty work near the basket is a skill that not nearly enough have, and it's a big part of what made him so successful during his tenure in the league.

He could do almost anything when he got the ball in the low post despite having a serious lack of athleticism, but McHale was incredibly effective because he exhausted the opposition with his patience and good decision-making with the rock in his hands. McHale was playing chess while his opposition was sitting at the checkers table.

His career field goal percentage is something out of a video game, but McHale was a force at both ends of the floor as evidenced by his six appearances as a member of an All-NBA Defensive Team.

5. Dirk Nowitzki

Career Statistics: 22.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks, 47.5 percent shooting

Nowitzki is responsible for completely transforming what a power forward was supposed to be in the NBA. Rather than a low-post banger, Nowitzki's game is predicated on making his living from the perimeter and being a matchup nightmare.

Although many are now beginning to focus on his declining rebounding rate, Nowitzki should be lauded for his offensive prowess. A true seven-footer should not have his style of game, but Nowitzki makes it look easy and plays to his strengths in order to exploit the opposition.

His career free throw percentage of 87.8 percent is nothing short of absurd, and he's got a really good case for being one of the most under-hyped superstars to ever play this game.

4. Karl Malone

Career Statistics: 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, 51.6 percent shooting

Before anyone brings up the "count the rings" argument, it would be absolutely foolish not to give Malone his proper due when talking about the most talented players to ever grace this position. "The Mailman" is a legendary figure in the NBA landscape, and that's directly because of how productive he was on the court.

A 14-time All-Star, Malone was synonymous with the term "20 and 10," and that should give some fans an idea of how active he was at both ends of the floor. An absolute iron man, Malone was incredibly durable during his playing days, a big part of why he was able to score a whopping 36,928 points during his insanely impressive career.

If he had more playoff success he might be a little higher on this list, but what Malone did in this league should not be discounted just because he never won a ring. It amazes me that we don't talk about him more often considering just how good he actually was in his prime.

3. Kevin Garnett

Career Statistics: 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.5 blocks, 49.9 percent shooting

Garnett's nickname is "The Big Ticket" for good reason—this is a player people still fill up the building to see despite the fact that he's been in the league since the 1995-96 season.

An absolute freak athletically, Garnett came straight out of high school ready to impose his will on the rest of the NBA. Although he traditionally gets his proper respect in league circles, some may underestimate just how good he is and how legendary his career will be once he decides to walk away from the game.

There are very few who match the intensity and passion he has for the game, and that is a huge part of what makes him such a feared opponent. With six consecutive seasons averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, it's unlikely we'll ever see another player quite like K.G. again.

2. Charles Barkley

Career Statistics: 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 54.1 percent shooting

When looking at Barkley's career numbers, does anyone just sit back and marvel how someone of his stature was able to dominate so frequently around the rim? It's beyond astounding.

He averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in 11 of his 16 seasons. Barkley was selected to 11 (consecutive) All-Star games, and the power forward regularly appeared on an All-NBA team despite standing just 6'6" tall. He was a game-changer from his rookie season onward, and Barkley had an incredible streak of 11 straight seasons where he averaged at least 20 points per game.

He only averaged single-digit rebounds once in his entire career (his rookie season), and Barkley's ability to be an irritant for his opposition just added to his already astounding value on the floor.

1. Tim Duncan

Career Statistics: 20.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocks, 50.7 percent shooting

Duncan's game isn't built for SportsCenter, but that's not his primary concern. He's not going to "wow" anyone with highlight-reel plays, but Duncan is incredibly effective because he sticks to what he knows works: the fundamentals.

Not many people can say that they averaged 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds during their rookie season, but Duncan came in and instantly found success during his inaugural season in the league. One of the best to ever play the game regardless of position, Duncan is everything a team could want when drafting a potential franchise player.

Duncan averaged a double-double in 13 straight seasons on his way to winning four NBA titles, and it's unbelievable that he's still producing at a high level at this stage of his career.

Many have wanted to write off Duncan long before he's finished playing, but the great ones always know how to hold on the longest, and T.D. is showing us how to do exactly that.