NBA Rankings: Top 10 small forwards in the history of the league

#8 Dominique Wilkins

The Human Highlight Film

Dominique Wilkins was an unbelievable dunker who was also a great scorer. Even though he never led the Atlanta Hawks to the NBA Finals, he had some incredible NBA Playoffs battles against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.

Name that dunk! What would you call Dominique Wilkins' classic dunk from '88? Use #SpriteSlam. https://t.co/gBWDmlb4Bk

— NBA (@NBA) February 13, 2015

Wilkins' Hawks had no business pushing the 1980s Boston Celtics in an NBA Playoffs series. They managed to do it mostly because Wilkins was on the lineup and guiding the team.

Wilkins averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists during his career, which was worthy of Hall of Fame enshrinement. Wilkins averaged at least 25 points per game in 10 of the 15 years he played, and averaged at least 30 per game in two years. He earned nine NBA All-Star selections, a scoring title, and seven All-NBA selections.

Wilkins was also one of the league's best in-game dunkers of all-time.

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#7 Kawhi Leonard

2019 NBA Finals - Game Six

Kawhi Leonard has earned his place as a top 10 small forward of all time due to his scoring prowess, his NBA Playoffs resume, and the defensive abilities that he has deployed throughout his ongoing NBA career.

FIVE straight games with 30+ PTS for Kawhi Leonard!@LAClippers 102@dallasmavs 896 minutes left in Game 6 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/ZR0WXjjSg3

— NBA (@NBA) August 30, 2020

One of only three players to win an NBA Finals MVP with two different teams, Leonard is certainly a solid playoff performer, despite his more recent failure in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

Even though his career started as a role player for the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard earned a bigger role for the team and was the best player on the squad when they won the 2014 championship in style against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.

Leonard won the Finals MVP in 2014, and then did it again in 2019 for the Toronto Raptors, defeating Kevin Durant and Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors.

A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Leonard also has four seasons of at least 20 points scored per game and three years with at least 25 points per game. He's been selected six times to the NBA All-Defensive teams, four times to the All-NBA squads, and to four All-Star games.

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#6 Rick Barry

Barry was not only an unorthodox free-throw shooter. NBA.com

Rick Barry couldn't simply be out of this list after the unique career he had.

Before Julius Erving, Larry Bird, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant came in, Rick Barry was probably among the top 3 small forwards to have every played. In 10 NBA seasons, Barry averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game.

An NBA champion and Finals MVP in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors, Barry played in eight NBA All-Star games, once led the league in points and steals, and six times in free-throw percentage. He averaged 90% on free throws over his NBA career, due to his underhanded shooting motion.

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#5 Elgin Baylor

Baylor is a legend of the LA Lakers. USA Today

Elgin Baylor might be remembered for losing all of his seven NBA Finals appearances, but his prowess at the small forward position will always stay with those who have seen his career.

Baylor averaged 27.4 points per game over his career, which is the third-highest average in NBA history, and the highest ever for a small forward. Baylor is just ahead of LeBron James' 27.1 PPG career average.

Baylor also averaged 14 rebounds - the highest for a small forward in the history of NBA basketball - and four assists per game. Baylor's 61 points in game five of the 1962 NBA Finals were the highest-ever in the NBA Playoffs until Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Boston Celtics in 1986.

Baylor was selected to 11 All-Star games and 10 All-NBA teams.