Top 6 Best NBA Power Forwards of All Time

The power forward position has always been a sort of in-between role in the NBA. These players need to have great size and contribute in other areas, such as defense or scoring. The power forward position has recently evolved to include three-point shooting, but all the characteristics that make a great four remain. Here are the top six power forwards of all time.

Who are the best NBA power forwards of all time?

1. Tim Duncan
2. Karl Malone
3. Dirk Nowitzki
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Charles Barkley
6. Bob Pettit

1. Tim Duncan

• Back-to-back MVP (2002, 2003)
• 15-time All-NBA Selection
• Three-time Finals MVP
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2020)

Known as “The Big Fundamental,” Duncan defined what it meant to be a great power forward. His list of accolades is mind-boggling, and he has the stats to match. He was a force on the offensive end, using his patented bank shot and underrated passing ability to dominate the defense. However, perhaps more impressive was Duncan’s ability to defend. Though he never won Defensive Player of the Year, Duncan was named to an All-Defense team 15 times in his career, the most ever. He was the anchor of a Spurs franchise that won five rings during his career. Duncan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

2. Karl Malone

• Two-time MVP (1997, 1999)
• Second all-time in points scored (36,928)
• 14-time All-NBA selection
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2010)

Karl Malone is one of the best scorers the game has ever seen. Malone averaged over 20 points per game for 17 straight seasons, forming a dominant pick and roll combination with teammate John Stockton. He was no slouch on defense either; he was named to an All-Defense team four times during his 19-year career. Malone is one of the few who can say they beat out Michael Jordan for an MVP award, doing so twice in the late nineties. He was named an All-Star 14 times and won the All-Star Game MVP award twice. Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

3. Dirk Nowitzki

• 2007 MVP
• 12-time All-NBA selection
• 2011 Finals MVP
• 14-time All-Star

Dirk Nowitzki is probably the most famous foreign-born player in the history of the game. After coming to the NBA from Germany, Nowitzki paved the way for the next generation of European stars. He also played a critical role in transforming the power forward position, becoming one of the first truly lethal shooters to play the four. His patented one-legged fadeaway was an unstoppable shot, and his overall prowess as a scorer led to 14 All-Star selections. Perhaps the greatest testament to Nowitzki’s legacy was his run in the 2011 Playoffs, culminating with a championship and MVP honors in the Finals over the formidable Big Three of the Miami Heat.

4. Kevin Garnett

• 2004 MVP
• Nine-time All-NBA selection
• 12-time All-Defense
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2020)

Kevin Garnett was one of the most intense players ever to step foot on an NBA court. Often seen screaming or flexing, “The Big Ticket” punished opponents on both ends of the floor. His physicality and athleticism allowed him to smother opponents on defense, and he was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the 2007-08 season. That same aggression drove Garnett to overpower other players on offense, but he also possessed a smooth touch from the midrange that gave him a diversified scoring attack. He led the league in rebounding four times and in 2008 won the NBA Finals. Garnett was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

5. Charles Barkley

• 1993 MVP
• 11-time All-NBA selection
• 1986-87 rebounds leader
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2006)

Charles Barkley was a man of many nicknames, few of which were complimentary. One theme they all had in common was a reference to Barkley’s impressive bulk, which he used to become one of the best rebounders the game has ever seen. Barkley averaged double-digit rebounds every year of his career other than his rookie season. He was also elite when he had the ball in his hands. Averaging over 22 points per game for his career, Barkley was one of the more efficient scorers in the league during his prime. Barkley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

6. Bob Pettit

• Two-time MVP (1956, 1959)
• 11-time All-NBA selection
• Two-time scoring champion
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 1971)

Though Bob Pettit only played 11 seasons, he certainly made the most of his time. He was both an All-Star and an All-NBA member every year of his career, as well as being named league MVP twice. His numbers were video game-like; he averaged more than 20 points and 12 rebounds every year that he played, and he led the league in rebounds in the 1955-56 season. Pettit won All-Star Game MVP honors four times, tying him for the most ever. In 1958 he won the NBA Championship and, in 1971, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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