We have been fortunate enough to have had some incredible players in basketball history. Many of these can certainly be found in the definition of the small forward. Think of iconic names like LeBron James, Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, and Julius Erving – they all exemplify the diverse skills that define the best small forwards of all time.
Basketball has been blessed with incredible players throughout its history, and the small forward position boasts many of them.
This role often demands a versatile skillset, balancing scoring, defense, and playmaking.
While the modern NBA increasingly emphasizes the "3&D" small forward (a strong defender with reliable three-point shooting), the position has been home to some of the game's most dominant and influential players.
Here's my take on who are the best small forwards of all time.
This list reflects my personal opinion and doesn't aim to settle any historical debates that inevitably arise from these rankings.
Don't forget to check our rankings of other positions:
- Best point guards of all time
- Best shooting guards of all time
- Best power forwards of all time
- Best centers of all time
Top 10 small forwards of all time
10. James Worthy
Worthy, a product of the University of North Carolina, represents a model of a player that has all but disappeared in the current NBA.
Worthy has spent his entire NBA career wearing only one jersey, that of the Los Angeles Lakers. From 1982 to 1994, Worthy knew no other colors than yellow and purple.
Nicknamed 'Big Game James,' Worthy has always been a winner and can boast an NCAA title and three NBA titles in his career.
He was part of the Los Angeles Lakers showtime era in the mid-1980s and was also named MVP of the 1988 NBA Finals.
An outstanding player in transition, Worthy had considerable size for his position, allowing him to score against opponents smaller than him easily. During his career, Worthy was also a seven-time All-Star, and his number 42 jersey was retired by the Lakers.
James Worthy's career stats:
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 926 | 717 | 17.6 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 52.1% | 24.1% | 76.9% |
9. Rick Barry
Ricky Barry, an eight-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA First Team cannot be left out of the discussion about the greatest small forwards of all time.
Barry is often remembered for his decidedly old-school way of shooting the free throw, but on the court, the New Jersey native was a real threat to opponents. Selected by the San Francisco Warriors in the 1965 draft, Barry's first two years in the NBA were absolutely sensational.
Barry averaged 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in his rookie year and was named Rookie of the Year. In his second year in the NBA, Barry averaged 35.6 points per game, taking the league's top scorer title away from Wilt Chamberlain.
After a few seasons in the ABA, Barry returned to the NBA and won his only title in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors, being voted MVP of the Finals.
Barry's ability to score from more or less any position, combined with excellent rebounding qualities, made him a truly unique player for his era.
The Golden State Warriors retired his number 24 jersey, and in 1987, Barry officially entered the Hall of Fame.
Rick Barry's NBA career stats:
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 794 | 82 | 23.2 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 44.9% | 33.0% | 90.0% |
8. Kawhi Leonard
When we think about the best NBA small forwards of all time, it's hard not to mention a player like Kawhi Leonard on the list. The player, who's now 33, has already won two NBA titles and was named Best Defensive Player of the league twice.
Despite several injuries limiting his impact in the last few seasons, Leonard remains one of the best small forwards of all time.
His offensive and defensive impact as a force during his time with the San Antonio Spurs was crucial when the team won the title in 2014.
Leonard, then, went on to become the No. 1 star for the Toronto Raptors, helping the Canadian franchise to lift their first NBA title in 2019.
So far, Leonard's time with the Clippers has been filled with injuries and disappointment, but that doesn't diminish his impact on the league.
Kawhi Leonard's career stats (as of the end of the 2023-2024 season):
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 696 | 667 | 20.0 | 3.0 | 6.4 | 0.7 | 49.9% | 39.1% | 86.2% |
7. John Havlicek
Between the 1960s and 1970s, Red Auerbach's Boston Celtics were an almost unstoppable force, one of the finest teams in the history of the NBA.
When Boston selected Havlicek in the 1962 draft, the Celtics were an experienced team coming off five straight titles.
Havlicek's arrival brought that breath of fresh air needed to continue the list of successes. The Ohio player won four NBA titles in the first four years of his career, becoming a key piece in the Celtics' dynasty.
An excellent mid-range shooter and very quick in transition, Havlicek also made an important contribution in the defensive half of the court, where he often stole important balls.
Havlicek's successes with the Celtics continued into the 1970s, after Auerbach's farewell and after many changes in the roster.
The player won two more NBA titles, one in 1974 and another in 1976. It is impossible not to mention Havlicek among the all time small forwards in NBA history.
John Havlicek's career stats:
| GP | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | FT |
| 1270 | 20.8 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 0.3 | 43.9% | 81.5% |
6. Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen's name cannot be missing among the best small forwards of all time. Without the presence of Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan would not have won everything he was able to win with the Chicago Bulls.
When we talk about Scottie Pippen, we are dealing with arguably one of the most complete players in recent basketball history: a perfect complement to Jordan, capable of being dangerous both offensively and defensively and a constant presence at rebounding.
Scottie Pippen won six NBA titles, was a seven-time All-Star, and won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.
His CV is truly impressive, and his name cannot be missed here.
Scottie Pippen's career stats:
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 1178 | 1053 | 16.1 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 47.3% | 32.6% | 70.4% |
5. Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor was one of the best small forwards ever not to win an NBA title. He was a player endowed with tremendous athleticism for the historical period in which he played and was capable of being a truly impressive scorer.
He often encountered the Boston Celtics dynasty in his way, which prevented him from winning an NBA title that, given his career, he would have richly deserved.
Baylor played his entire NBA career with the Lakers, first in Minneapolis and then in Los Angeles, after the franchise moved to California.
Deceased in 2021 at the age of 86, Baylor remained in the hearts of millions of Lakers fans. During his career, he was an All-NBA First Team selection 10 times and went to the All-Star Game on 11 occasions.
Elgin Baylor's career stats:
| GP | PPG | APG | RPG | FG | FT |
| 846 | 27.4 | 4.3 | 13.5 | 43.1% | 78.0% |
4. Julius Erving
Among the greatest small forwards of all time, it's impossible not to mention Julius Erving, aka Doctor J. Erving, who was one the most talented players ever in NBA history.
He was an incredible dunker and was an All-Star in every single season he played. What he achieved in the NBA is even more impressive, considering that he only entered the league at the age of 26, having played in the ABA until then, where he was, by far, the best player ever. Erving won his only NBA title in 1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers.
At a time when the Celtics and Lakers seemed almost unbeatable, Julius Erving's Sixers represented one of the few real alternatives to the dominance of Boston and Los Angeles.
His spectacular plays have remained in the minds of NBA fans for years, and his legacy is set in stone.
Julius Erving's career stats:
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 1243 | 442 | 24.2 | 4.2 | 8.5 | 1.7 | 50.6% | 29.8% | 77.7% |
3. Kevin Durant
Talking about the best NBA small forwards of all time, how could we not mention Kevin Durant? The Slim Reaper not only possesses one of the best NBA nicknames but is arguably one of the best pure scorers of all time.
A player of his size with that ease of movement and ability to score from virtually any position has rarely been seen on a basketball court.
Having won two titles with the all-time Golden State Warriors, his impact on the NBA is undeniable, even after KD decided to leave the GSW.
If it were not for the injuries he has suffered in recent years, his number of titles would probably be even higher.
However, Durant has also dominated outside the NBA. In fact, wearing the jersey of the US national team, KD has won four Olympic gold medals and also a FIBA World Cup. To date, he is the only NBA star with such international palmares.
Kevin Durant's career stats (as of the end of the 2023-2024 season):
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 1061 | 1058 | 27.3 | 4.4 | 7.0 | 1.1 | 50.1% | 38.7% | 88.4% |
2. Larry Bird
Larry Bird wasn't only a superb shooter, but his playmaking skills were amazing. His court awareness remains pretty much undefeated. With his size, he was able to see over the top of the defenders, and he knew how to put his teammates in rhythm.
His rivalry with Magic Johnson became historic and even became the center of the TV series Winning Time.
Bird spent his entire NBA career wearing the Celtics jersey and became a true symbol of the Boston franchise.
With the Celtics' green jersey, Bird won three NBA titles, three regular-season MVP titles, and two Finals MVP titles. The Celtics retired his number 33, and he is universally recognized as one of the greatest players ever.
Larry Bird's career stats:
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 897 | 870 | 24.3 | 6.3 | 10.0 | 0.8 | 49.6% | 37.6% | 88.6% |
1. LeBron James
Who could have been in the lead but him? Starting from his nickname, the Chosen One was destined for greatness, and his career has only confirmed what was expected.
Four NBA titles won, one with the Cavs, two with the Heat, and one with the Lakers. LeBron's greatness cannot only be measured on the court.
His impact on the NBA world has been incredible, even today, at 39, he remains one of the most influential players in the game's history.
His combination of athleticism, scorer quality, and defensive ability make him, without a doubt, the best SF of all time.
Despite his age, LeBron shows no signs of retiring and now plays alongside his son, Bronny, who was drafted by the Lakers in 2024. This, however, has further fueled criticism from NBA fans.
In February last year, LeBron James also surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar to become the player with the most points scored in NBA history. This further milestone only cements his legacy as one of the greatest players ever.
Although many believe there is still much to accomplish before LeBron would be considered better than Michael Jordan, the debate is far from over.
LeBron James' career stats (as of the end of the 2023-2024 season):
| GP | GS | PPG | APG | RPG | BPG | FG | 3PT | FT |
| 1492 | 1490 | 27.1 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 0.7 | 50.6% | 34.8% | 73.6% |
