The 2015-16 regular season is right around the corner, and the best NBA power forwards will once again be on display.
LaMarcus Aldridge earned a place at the top of the position last year, but an underappreciated superstar is bound for the pinnacle of the list following the upcoming campaign.
Notes: Combo bigs like Anthony Davis, Greg Monroe and Tim Duncan are in their own category. And, although Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel suggested Paul George will start at power forward, the 25-year-old hasn’t actually played there yet.
8. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Even at 37 years old, Dirk Nowitzki remains in the third tier of the position. Though the 7-footer managed just 17.3 points and 1.9 assists per game as well as a 56.0 true shooting percentage last season—the second-lowest totals of his 17-year career—his outlook is more favorable in 2015-16.
The failed Rajon Rondo experiment is over, Monta Ellis was politely urged to seek another home and the team’s pursuit of DeAndre Jordan allowed Tyson Chandler to bolt. Chandler Parsons and Nowitzki should be the one-two punch in Dallas, and Nowitzki will thrive in a more featured role compared to his 2014-15 responsibilities.
7. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies
Zach Randolph won’t blow anyone away with his offensive or defensive skills, but the Michigan State product is simply a solid presence. The 6-foot-9, 260-pounder knocked down 48.7 percent of his shots last season—including a respectable 37.7 percent from 16 feet and beyond—and a 100.6 offensive rating, which was the 18th-best in the league.
While Memphis is insistent on utilizing a deliberate offensive pace that’s regularly one of the NBA’s slowest, that style perfectly fits Randolph. He can crash the boards hard and not worry about being overlooked on the scoring end because the Grizzlies run almost everything out of half-court sets. Randolph has averaged a combined 16.3 points and 10.6 rebounds since 2012-13, and that shouldn’t change much this year.
6. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
Injuries and malcontent marred Kevin Love’s first campaign in Cleveland, but history is on his side in 2015-16. When the Miami Heat created their superteam five years ago, it took LeBron James and Co. two seasons to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy—and it took Chris Bosh two years to accept his role.
Love made headlines when he basically demanded more touches on the block. However, that’s not what the power forward is supposed to do when LeBron is leading the offense, and Love—who tallied 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last year—seems to have grasped that.
Before the 2015 All-Star Game, Love attempted 4.9 triples per game and only hit 34.5 percent of his triples. After the break, he hoisted 6.0 and buried 40.9 percent. The 27-year-old is a deadly shooter, and as long as he buys into the LeBron System, Love is the perfect weapon.
5. Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert made the list of top-5 centers, and Utah teammate Derrick Favors is doing the same at power forward. The 24-year-old almost posted career-best marks across the board, finishing his fifth NBA season with 16.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 52.5 field goal percentage, 113 offensive rating and 21.8 player efficiency rating.
Thanks to Gordon Hayward, Gobert and Favors, the Jazz are rapidly becoming a perennial playoff contender. Plus, without Enes Kanter demanding minutes at the four, Favors can continue developing at power forward instead of an ill-fitting role as an undersized center.
4. Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks found themselves in a difficult situation during the offseason. Should they shell out nearly $60 million for Paul Millsap? Or could they risk losing one of the NBA’s most versatile players over a few extra millions?
DeMarre Carroll’s departure influenced the decision, but the team couldn’t afford to see Millsap leave. Last year, he registered 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 steals (ninth in the league), 0.9 blocks, a 109 offensive rating and a 99.2 defensive rating (also ninth). That type of player isn’t easily replaced.
Atlanta needs Thabo Sefolosha to become the lockdown defender he once was, lest Millsap be forced to guard the best perimeter weapon another team has to offer. But as long as Millsap as able to focus on his offensive game, there aren’t many defenders who can completely silence him from contributing as a scorer, passer or both.
3. Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
A knee injury shortened Serge Ibaka’s 2014-15 season, and that was yet another setback during a disastrous year for the Thunder. Kevin Durant missed most of the year, Russell Westbrook’s absence contributed to a 3-12 start and Ibaka’s surgery essentially eliminated OKC’s chance to make a playoff run. The Thunder ultimately lost a tiebreaker for the eighth seed to the New Orleans Pelicans.
But when Ibaka was healthy, he was stellar. The 6-foot-10 forward swatted 2.4 shots and, per Nylon Calculus, he notched the league’s second-best rim-protection clip, holding opponents to a 40.8 field goal percentage within five feet of the basket.
Additionally, Ibaka added a weapon to his arsenal. Before last season, he had never launched more than 0.7 three-pointers per game. However, Ibaka averaged 3.2 attempts from downtown and drilled 37.6 percent of them. That improvement was a welcomed addition to his shot-blocking prowess, which makes Ibaka a unique three-and-D player.
2. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs never do this kind of thing. Nevertheless, Aldridge overtook Bruce Bowen as the franchise’s best free-agent signing of all-time. Seriously, they never do this. Regardless, the most-coveted guy on the market this summer signed a four-year deal with San Antonio, where he’ll soon become the centerpiece of a team flanked by Kawhi Leonard—the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Aldridge netted a career-high 23.4 points per game last season, also grabbing 10.2 rebounds. That scoring is a welcomed addition to a Spurs offense that is slowly drifting from Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.
While Aldridge’s fit on the roster has been called into question, questioning if Hall of Fame-bound Gregg Popovich can find a job for an elite offensive talent seems like a tremendously terrible idea. As long as Aldridge is willing to occasionally make an extra pass, the career-high 22.8 PER mark he posted in 2014-15 will rise—even if his scoring average slightly dips.
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin is known for his thunderous dunks, but the Clippers star offers so much more than rim-rocking, poster-worthy slams. The 26-year-old is an elite scorer, solid rebounder and by far the NBA’s best passing big—and really, it’s not close. Griffin racked up 21.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists, burying 50.2 percent of his field goals and notching a 22.8 PER last season.
Most importantly, the five-time All-Star has become a well-rounded and underappreciated offensive talent. Griffin exhibited an exponential improvement in his catch-to-release time, shooting form and range, which paid off in a career-best 40.4 shooting percentage from 16 feet and farther.
The Clippers finally have enough depth to sustain a difficult run toward a championship, and Griffin will continue as a preeminent force in that potential success. He’ll throw down some jaw-dropping dunks along the way, but that’s such a small part of what Griffin provides.