Top 5 Small Forwards to look out for this season

Small Forwards Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard battling it out on the hardwood.Small Forwards (SF) are usually the ones who are responsible for scoring the most. They are the shorter, quicker and leaner versions of the Power Forwards and Centers. The Small Forward, along with the Shooting Guard, is an extremely versatile position in the game where they’re all over the court and assume multiple roles throughout the game.

#5 Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Andrew Wiggins had an amazing first year in the NBA with 16.9 points per game. The 20-year-old star player is still in the early stages of his development but he’s still an unbelievable talent. We have reason to believe that as he matures in the NBA, he’ll become a force to be reckoned with.

The Timberwolves are a new team now in the post-Kevin Love era. Rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are doing really well as the “Bounce Brothers”. Kevin Garnett is back to add some experience to the team and in the offseason they acquired the number one pick in the draft, Karl-Anthony Towns.

It’s a good team but you have to be an exceptional team in the Western Conference to make the Playoffs. It’s a fantastic team to grow and evolve in though and we expect that Wiggins will help the Timberwolves establish themselves as a strong team in the West.

#4 Paul George

Paul George

PG suffered a nasty leg injury last summer resulting in him missing almost all of last season. He did return for the Pacers’ last six games in the season but that wasn’t a good enough sample to determine whether or not he’s still the All-Star that we remember him to be. He was one of the most gifted defenders at his position and a versatile scorer. This season could redefine his career in terms of how he can still contribute to the NBA and answer the question of whether or not he’s still a top-level player.

We need to keep in mind that Paul George is returning to a very different team as compared to the one he left. Lance Stephenson, David West and Roy Hibbert are long gone and Monta Ellis, Jordan Hill and Ian Mahinmi will start with him.

George will need to fit in with this hierarchy and form a chemistry with this new lineup quickly if he wants to go to the Playoffs. Let’s see if Paul George still has game.

#3 Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard

The 24-year-old superstar’s ascension was hindered last season by an early-season hand injury. However, during the course of his final 25 games, he was totally healthy and comfortably averaged 19.2 points, 7 rebounds and 39.7 % from the arc.

After winning Defensive Player of the Year last season and signing a new shiny five-year contract with the Spurs in the offseason, San Antonio looks at Leonard as the future of the Spurs who will get Pop another championship.

The Spurs do look like an All-Star team this season with their off-season moves, making this already good team great. Aldridge is going to add loads of flavor to this team and Kawhi couldn’t have asked for a better coach to play for.

He’s a part of an amazing franchise and he’s been doing great things on the defensive and the offensive end. It will be fun to see what Leonard brings to the game this season.

#2 Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

KD is very close for first place in this countdown. Durant is one of the few players in this present league who is guaranteed to become a Hall of Famer once his career is over. Additionally, he’s in his prime and with a teammate that has little room for any real improvement.

He’s taken his time to recover from his injuries and now it’s time to bring up the Thunder to their former glory. Westbrook and Durant are the two major cogs in this machine and new coach, Billy Donovan seems promising in turning them around and helping them move the ball.

With Kanter willing to take some of that offensive responsibility off KD and Westbrook’s shoulders, they may not have to strain as much in all the four quarters to put numbers on the board but can instead play a more Golden State Warriors-like game where everyone gets a touch of the ball.

Durant’s definitely young for the kind of superstar he is and hopefully he’ll realize that’s it’s time to establish himself among the league’s top three players again.

#1 LeBron James

LeBron James

I know we speak too much about LeBron and give him way too much importance but we can’t help it; he’s just that good. This season will be a defining one for the best player on the planet since he’s already gone two seasons without a ring in his prime.

LeBron has to make the most of this phase while he’s on top and get more championships since that’s the major point of argument against him in the unending debate of Jordan vs. Bryant vs. James.

He isn’t injured, he’s expected to have a better chemistry with David Blatt this season, his teammates hopefully remain healthy right till the end and (this point does come into play) the Cavs are in the easier Eastern Conference where they are almost guaranteed an effortless route to the playoffs.

If he doesn’t win this year, it raises a lot of questions about whether coming back home was the right call or not. Championships do matter for a career like LeBron’s and we can be assured that he’ll do everything he can this season to get his hands on one and end Cleveland’s draught.