In those 15 seasons, Stackhouse had five 20-plus scoring seasons, including a career-high 29.3 points per game in 2000. Outside his excellence as a player, Bird was also a successful coach and executive with the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers legend also holds the 6th best scoring performance, as he put up 71 points in a single game in 1960. Lewis entered the league in 1998 as a 19-year-old rookie and was mainly a role player until his third NBA season. Top 50 Small Forwards in NBA History: King James Takes the Throne, Top 50 Greatest Boston Celtics Players of All-Time, Top 50 Greatest Chicago Bulls Players of All-Time, Top 50 Greatest Los Angeles Lakers Players of All-Time, Top 25 Greatest Miami Heat Players of All-Time, Top 25 Greatest Detroit Pistons Players of All-Time, Top 25 Greatest Washington Wizards Players of All-Time. Baylor remained one of his generation’s best scorers and was one of the best in the NBA before the three-point shot was introduced. And most importantly, he was the pioneer for the modern day jumpshot. Boston made the playoffs every year during Bird’s tenure, and in only his second year in the 1980-1981 season, Bird helped the Celtics win the NBA title. He also set the highest single season free throw mark at the time with a 94.7% clip in the 1978-1979 season. But this served as a blessing in disguise. Durant is also the youngest player ever to win it at 21 years and 197 days old. In addition to James, Bird is the only other player on this list to average better than 6 assists per game for his entire career. For this reason, Pippen lands at number six in our list. Cunningham is a 5-time All-Star and won an NBA Championship in 1966 with the Philadelphia 76ers. From 2004-2011, Wallace averaged double-digit points every season, including a career-high 19.4 per game in 2007. The powerhouse Warriors led by Arizin breezed through the league, winning the franchise’s second title and Arizin’s first in a 4-1 series win against the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1956 NBA Finals. His individual brilliance was also a key component in the Bulls’ first championship in franchise history. He averaged a career-high 28.9 points and 27.5 points in those two seasons. In his prime from 2009 to 2018, many would argue that if not for voter’s fatigue, LeBron should have won the MVP award every year. If I had a son like John, I’d be the happiest man in the world.”, Career Averages: 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 47.3% FG, 32.6% 3PT, 70.4% FT, Advanced Stats: 0.146 WS/48, 4.1 BPM, 63.2 VORP, Awards: MVP Awards: 0; All-NBA: 3x First Team, 2x Second Team, 2x Third Team; All-Defensive: 8x First Team, 2x Second Team; All-Star: 7; Championships: 6 (1991-1993, 1996-1998), Forever remembered as Michael Jordan’s sidekick, Pippen is a great player in his own right. In the beginning of his professional basketball career, Erving spent his days in the ABA. The Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman with the Chicago Bulls, Scottie Pippen is one of the most versatile defenders in NBA history, capable of guarding the opposing teams’ best offensive player. He is first all time in playoff points scored with 6,911, third all time in points with 34,087, fourth all time in field goals made with 12,424, fifth all time in free throws made with 7,379, eighth all time in assists with 9,298 (first among forwards), and eighth all time in minutes played with 48,328. The Cavs ultimately pulled off a historic upset against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors to win their first ever championship in franchise history. Marion ranked 19th in career steals and had seven seasons in which he recorded at least 2 steals per game. In his time in the Eastern Conference, he was its undisputed king. He is a main scorer, flexible, can shoot from anywhere, has the talent, and of course, the size. 4. He emphasized the advantages of leaping and playing above the rim to finish tough acrobatic shots. In just nine NBA seasons, Leonard has already compiled a resume that most players only dream of achieving. He also made it past the second round twice in his career, reaching the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals and the 1988 NBA Finals with the Isiah Thomas led Detroit Pistons in his twilight years. Basketball pundits call Baylor the last of the great undersized forwards as Baylor actually stands at only 6’5″. A once-in-a-generation talent, LeBron James is one of the most versatile and well-rounded players in NBA history, wherever he plays. Like the previous two lists, players are only selected if they played as a small forward for most, if not all, of their career. He also finished third in the Rookie of the Year Race behind the high flying Vince Carter and the flamboyant passing whiz Jason Williams. As a result, he averaged 17.9 points per game. However, even with their six game defeat, Barry’s Warriors impressed basketball pundits as they were able to make each game competitive, unlike the great Boston Celtics team that fell to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference playoffs. For this reason, he is an honorable mention in our list of top 10 small forwards in NBA history, Career Averages: 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks, 46.1% FG, 31.9% 3PT, 81.1% FT, Advanced Stats: 0.148 WS/48, 3.3 BPM, 50.6 VORP, Awards: MVP Awards: 0; All-NBA: 1x First Team, 4x Second Team, 2x Third Team; All-Star: 9; Championships: 0. However, despite that, he never seemed to get tired. In the 2018-19 season, George solidified himself among the NBA’s elite when he recorded a top-three finish in the MVP voting. In addition to his 4 MVP trophies, James is a 16-time All-Star and 3-time world champion. In the 1955-1956 season, Philadelphia’s lineup received a big boost as rookie Tom Gola joined the team filled with stars like Arizin, Neil Johnston, Joe Graboski, and Jack George. He led the league in scoring with 25.4 points and grabbed a surprising 11.3 rebounds per game as a 6’4″ forward. He also maximized his opportunities at the free throw line, shooting at an 89.3% clip with his famous underhanded “grandma” shot. However, as Greer threw the ball in, Havlicek suddenly turned around to deflect the ball to teammate Sam Jones, allowing the Celtics to keep their lead and win the series. Classic Pippen would lay in wait as a center fielder in the Bulls’ famed 1-2-1-1 full-court press before baiting the opposition into a careless pass for the steal. He also has the 3rd-most All-Star appearances of any player on this list and won three titles with the Boston Celtics. This made him the first Rookie of the Year awardee to be traded following his rookie season. After seven years of failed championship dreams, however, James was to deliver yet another devastating blow to the tortured city of Cleveland. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. KD reached the Finals three more times later in his career with the Warriors, gifting him with two rings alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. In the 1974-1975 season, Barry topped the the 30 point mark again as he averaged 30.6 points along with a league leading 90.4 percent from the free throw line, 2.9 steals, and 6.2 assists. One of the premier defenders at the position, Artest was a 4-time All-Defensive team member and was known for his aggressive and gritty play on the defensive end. Active players with less than 10 years of experience will be excluded, as to judge players a bigger sample size. Johnson finished his impressive NBA career as one of the top scorers from 1977-1986. Scottie Pippen (above, right) emerged as the most versatile small forward of all time while playing Robin to His Airness’ Batman. In game three of that series, Pierce pulled off an unbelievable performance as he scored 19 of his 28 points in the fourth to rally the Celtics back from a 21 point deficit. Elgin Baylor (above, center), at one point in time, was the savior for the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. As a result, Baylor only played in 48 games that season. In the later stages of his NBA career, Iguodala’s veteran leadership and championship experience is his best calling card. With a few years left in his tank, Durant can still build on his impressive resume. His name may not be memorialized as much compared to the likes Julius Erving and Moses Malone, but Rick Barry is one of the most prolific scorers in both ABA and NBA history.