Power Ranking the NBA's 30 Starting Power Forwards

The power forward position is sometimes overlooked because it combines the responsibilities of the small forward and the center. PF's main job is to score in the low post, block shots, grab boards and knock down mid-range jumpers.

We've seen different types of them in the NBA. From sharpshooters like Dirk Nowitzki and Channing Frye to shot-blockers like Serge Ibaka and Josh Smith, power forwards come in many shapes and sizes.

But there can only be one No. 1 at the position. 

Chris Wilcox (Detroit Pistons)

Yeah, I didn't know he was a starter either.

Season Stat Line: 7.4 PPG 4.8 RPG

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Milwaukee Bucks)

He's a pretty good defender, but Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is not a top player in the NBA.

He's a small forward playing the power forward position for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he's just not efficient playing there.

Season Stat Line: 6.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.9 SPG

Channing Frye (Phoenix Suns)

Channing Frye might be one of the better three-point shooting big men in the league at 39 percent from downtown, but when it comes to just about everything else, he's subpar at best.

In 33 minutes per game, Frye averaged 12.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and one block per game.

You do the math.

Amir Johnson (Toronto Raptors)

Amir Johnson's one of those glue guys. He does the stuff nobody else wants to do and makes a living off garbage buckets and scoring in the paint.

Johnson's post game and range are incredibly limited, and he's a pretty poor defender, but he plays with a lot of energy, and that's got to count for something, right?

Season Stat Line: 9.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 

Brandon Bass (Orlando Magic)

Brandon Bass isn't a bad power forward; there's just 25 better starters in the NBA better than him.

Bass made a living knocking down mid-range jumper, but his game is pretty limited to that and garbage buckets.

Season Stat Line: 11.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG

Boris Diaw (Charlotte Bobcats)

Boris Diaw is a way better player than people give him credit for.

Essentially a combo forward, Diaw averaged 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

He also shot 34.5 percent from downtown. He's not great at any one thing, but he's decent at a few.

Tyler Hansbrough (Indiana Pacers)

There's something about February that gets Tyler Hansbrough going.

I'm not too sure what it is, but he had a stellar month with seven 20-plus point games including a 30-point outing in that heartbreaking victory over the New York Knicks.

Either way, I think he could turn into something really special if he trains the right way and works on the right things.

Season Stat Line: 11 PPG, 5.2 RPG

Postseason Stat Line: 11.2 PPG, 5.4 PPG, 1.2 SPG 

Kenyon Martin (Denver Nuggets)

Kenyon Martin might be getting up there in age, but at 33 years old, he still plays with the same amount of energy. He lost almost all of his athleticism, but he makes a living scoring garbage buckets and knocking down open mid range jumpers.

K-Mart's also one of the NBA's best post defenders, but he's on the declining end of his career.

Season Stat Line: 8.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.7 BPG
Postseason Stat Line: 11.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 0.4 BPG 

J.J. Hickson (Sacramento Kings)

I'm interested as to what will happen with J.J. Hickson's career now that he's been traded to the Sacramento Kings.

A high-energy rebounder, Hickson mainly scored off of garbage buckets. However, after LeBron James' departure, he demonstrated the ability to create his own shot down low.

The Kings already have DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson, but if they're not planning on re-signing Samuel Dalembert, Hickson might just have a slot open for him.

Season Stat Line: 13.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG

Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder)

A supreme defensive presence, Serge "I-Blocka" Ibaka made a living rising up and spiking everything down. At 2.4 blocks in 27 minutes per game, Ibaka led the NBA in blocks per 48 minutes at 4.29.

He also showcased a workable mid-range to go along with his athletic ability last season. He won't ever be a premier scorer, but Ibaka will eventually land in Defensive Player of the Year talks in the near future.

Season Stat Line: 9.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 BPG
Postseason Stat Line: 9.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.1 BPG 

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)

DeMarcus Cousins has potential through the roof, but he's also got a mouth that needs to be stapled shut.

He's an extremely efficient post scorer with great footwork, hands and touch around the rim, but it was clear that he was out of shape coming into the 2010-11 season.

Once Cousins gets into shape and matures a little bit, he'll be a top-tier power forward/center in the NBA, but until then, 14 and 8.6 is all you'll get out of him.

Elton Brand (Philadelphia 76ers)

Elton Brand's days of dominance have clearly passed by, but he's still finding ways to be beneficial to his team. Brand averaged a very respectable 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

He's nearing the end of his career, so don't expect anything more than that from an old pro.

Andray Blatche (Washington Wizards)

Andray Blatche is one of the most out-of-shape players in the NBA. He's skilled, without a doubt, but in terms of physical fitness, Blatche is like Shawn Kemp after the weight.

How do you miss a fast-break, wide-open dunk/layup? That's just terrible.

Anyway, though he's vertically challenged, Blatche still finds ways to put the ball in the basket. After Antawn Jamison's trade, Blatche took on a good amount of the scoring load and is now an integral part of the Wizards offense. 

Averaging 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, Blatche has a smooth game that revolves around his mid-range stroke. He needs to work on his shot selection—he averaged 16.8 points on 15 attempts per game—and work on moving the ball, but at 24 years old, Andray Blatche has the makings of a solid power forward in the NBA. 

Paul Millsap (Utah Jazz)

After Carlos Boozer left to go to Chicago, Paul Milsap emerged from his cocoon and took off for the Utah Jazz. His numbers jumped to 17.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and Milsap became a sort of go-to guy for the Jazz.

He's got a sweet stroke from mid range and scores a lot on pick-and-rolls.

Milsap is a tough power forward and will remain a big help to the Utah Jazz, but his minutes will likely be cut with rookie Enes Kanter coming.

Kris Humphries (New Jersey Nets)

While Brook Lopez absorbed much of the spotlight, Kris Humphries worked diligently behind the scenes. He excelled at the one thing Lopez couldn't—rebounds.

Humphries ranked fifth in the NBA in rebounds at 10.4 per game and put 10 points and 1.1 blocks alongside it.

Humphries is an unrestricted free agent now, so he'll most likely migrate to a team with a better winning record.

Luis Scola (Houston Rockets)

Luis "The Ice Cream Man" Scola took full advantage of Yao Ming's absence by becoming Houston's go-to low-post scorer.

He gained his nickname by "scooping" the ball under his opponents' arms in the post, hence "The Ice Cream Man."

Scola averaged a solid 18.3 points and 8.2 rebounds relying on his mid-range jumper and his crafty low-post offense.

He's not the greatest defender, and he lacks athletic ability, but Scola, alongside Kevin Martin, are the new focus of the Houston Rockets' offense.

Carlos Boozer (Chicago Bulls)

Carlos Boozer was a COMPLETE letdown last season.

With expectations through the roof, Boozer barely eclipsed the first floor's chandeliers. A 20-and-10 or 11 kind of guy in Utah, Booz' numbers dropped to 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. 

That doesn't sound that bad, right? Well, in the playoffs, Boozer's numbers took yet another shot. They dropped to a miserable 12.6 points on 43.3 percent shooting from the field (terrible for a big man), 9.7 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game. 

Carlos Boozer needs to find whatever he left in Utah and have it expedited to Chicago before he finds himself traded to a new team.

David Lee (Golden State Warriors)

David Lee's numbers dropped from his days in a Knicks jersey, but he's still a premier rebounder in the NBA.

At 6"9', Lee averaged 16.5 point and 9.8 rebounds per game.

He's got a nice mid-range stroke and a soft touch down low, but his game is pretty fundamental.

David West (New Orleans Hornets/Unrestricted Free Agent)

David West has just about been doing the same thing throughout his entire career. He's been hovering around the 18-20 point per game marker since 2006 and hasn't shown any improvement or detriment to his game in the process.

He had a season-ending injury towards the home stretch of the regular season, but West averaged 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

He opted out of the final year of his contract, so he'll be an upgrade for whatever team he joins. But in terms of player development, it seems as though he's reached his fullest potential.

Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics)

Kevin Garnett might be 35 years old, but his attitude and intensity is the same as when he first entered the NBA. With a mouth like none other, KG continues to intimidate the opposition. 

Though he only averaged 0.8 blocks per game, Garnett somehow managed to be the runner-up to Dwight Howard for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also averaged 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

KG is a definite Hall of Fame inductee. He's shot 50 percent or better from the field in seven of his 16 years in the league and is still finding ways to get it done.

Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks)

One of the most feared shot-blockers in the NBA, Josh Smith's defensive numbers took a hit last season. Normally a 2.7 block-1.5 steal kind of guy, J-Smoove's blocks matched a career-low last season at 1.6 per game, and his steals at 1.3 per game were the lowest they've been since the 2006-07 season.

Regardless, Smith begun to take on more of a facilitating role in Atlanta. Taking strides towards becoming more of a point forward, Smith has started looking to make the pass in transition. His 3.3 assists per game don't reflect his effort, but he's been trying to make the right decision with the ball.

In addition, Smith picked up his three-point percentage to a rather respectable 33.1 percent from downtown. 

With all of the trade rumors surrounding him, Josh Smith would be an instant upgrade for any team he plays for. What would it be like if Orlando picked him up without having to deal Dwight Howard?

Chris Bosh (Miami Heat)

One of the least respected All-Stars in the NBA, you can't deny that Chris Bosh is still the most consistent player on the Miami Heat.

While LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had roller coaster performances throughout the season and in the playoffs, Bosh remained at a constant 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Bosh's numbers definitely dropped from those of his dominant days in Toronto, but playing alongside two of the NBA's best will do that.

He's still got to improve on his effort on defense, but Chris Bosh, as much as I hate saying it, is definitely an upper echelon power forward in the NBA.

Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)

Blake Griffin took the NBA by storm last season with his insane dunks and ridiculous athletic ability. He used his top-of-the-line vertical leap to haul in 12.1 rebounds per game.

Alongside that, Griffin continuously wowed crowds with his uncanny ability to finish everything around or at the rim. That kind of inside scoring earned him 22.5 points per game.

However, Griffin's still got much room for improvement. He lacks effort on the defensive end (0.5 blocks per game), and his entire game revolves around his athleticism.

Once he adds a reliable post game and a jumper to his offensive repertoire, Griffin will be the scariest player in the NBA.

Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)

Tim Duncan has the most fundamental game in the NBA. His post game is nearly unstoppable, he has a mean bank shot and he rebounds at an insanely high rate.

In only 28.4 minutes per game, Duncan averaged 13.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field. With that kind of efficiency, Duncan ranks ninth in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes with 15.1 and seventh in the league in blocks per 48 minutes at 3.25.

Let's not forget that he's 35 years old.

Duncan's a soon-to-be Hall-of-Famer in a few years and might go down as the best power forward the NBA has ever seen.

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)

LaMarcus Aldridge deserves to be higher up on this list for all he did for the Portland Trail Blazers last season, but the players in front of him have justified their rankings.

L.A. just barely missed the All-Star game, getting beat out by the likes of Tim Duncan, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love.

Aldridge averaged 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and one steal per game throughout the regular season. And those numbers were higher when Marcus Camby and Brandon Roy were injured.

Aldridge has a well-rounded offensive attack. He's got a very consistent mid-range jumper, a crafty post game and he led the NBA in alley-oops last season.

As Portland's new No.1 scoring option, Aldridge will look to build on his numbers from last season and make his first All-Star appearance in the 2011-12 season.

Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers)

Having the word "SOFT" stapled onto the back of his jersey for much of his career, Pau Gasol shut all of his critics up with his play this year.

Though he contributed to the Lakers being swept by the Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals, Gasol made a statement with his physical play in the 2010-11 season. The Spaniard averaged 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, using his ambidextrous post game to finish with both hands on the block. An outstanding passer, Gasol also averaged 3.3 assists per game.

The Lakers are going through a sort of rebuilding phase, and with trade speculation flying around both Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, Gasol will have to continue his high level of production next season.

Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Kevin "Love in the Shower" Love earned the Most Improved Player Award for improving on nearly every aspect of his game.

Love picked up his points, rebounds, assists, three-point percentage, field goal percentage and free-throw percentage in one season. Now that's an improvement, alright.

Last season, he averaged 20.2 points, 15.2 rebounds and 2.5 assist per game while shooting 47 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from three and 85 percent from the foul line.

Could we be looking at the next Dirk Nowitzki?

Amar'e Stoudemire (New York Knicks)

Amar'e Stoudemire's numbers dropped just a smidgen after Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks, but STAT is still a dominant force in the NBA.

Using his next level athleticism and his incredible explosiveness, Stoudemire dunks over, around or through any defenders standing between him and the rim. On the season, STAT averaged 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, but in December, after he solidified his role as the go-to guy in Madison Square Garden, Stoudemire exploded for 29.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. 

Following the Knicks unfortunate sweeping at the hands of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, it seems as though Melo and Stoudemire need to get together and work out the kinks in their relationship.

That and a coaching change ought to have the New York Knicks in the top three in the Eastern Conference next season.

Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies)

When Rudy Gay went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, it was Zach Randolph who stepped up and carried the load for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Z-Bo nearly single-handedly carried the Grizzlies into the playoffs and was the main reason why they surged past the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Randolph had an All-Star caliber season last year, averaging 20.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.

It'll be interesting to see if he can continue his production when Gay returns to the lineup, but Z-Bo will be a force in the NBA for years to come.

Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)

You can disagree all you want, but Dirk Nowitzki is, hands down, the best power forward in the NBA.

He might not be the greatest rebounder at only seven per game, and his effort might be lacking a bit on defense, but Nowitzki's efficiency on offense more than compensates for his lack of aggression on other parts of the court,.

He led the Dallas Mavericks an NBA Finals victory, earning Finals MVP honors in the process.

A surefire Hall-of-Famer, Nowitzki's endless game-winning buckets and outstanding field goal, three-point and free-throw percentage (he's just outside of the 50-40-90 club at 47.6 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three and 87.7 percent from the line) will enshrine him as one of the greatest international players to ever set foot on an NBA court.