Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 9. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. played nine extremely poor games this season before undergoing major back surgery, casting doubt upon his future in the NBA. It’s therefore difficult to peg down his spot on this list with any certainty. To make matters simple, we will fall back on Porter’s healthiest production, which was certainly top-10 worthy.
In 61 games last season, Porter averaged 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds for a burgeoning contender in Denver. He was an absolute sniper from the field (.542/.445/.791), emerging as one of the NBA’s best shooters at 6-foot-10. Porter needs to improve his defense and his decision-making, but he’s already a special scorer.
Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 8. Mikal Bridges, Suns
Mikal Bridges is the perimeter player most deserving of Defensive Player of the Year consideration this season. He continues to get better and better on that side of the ball, using his 7-foot-1 wingspan to force turnovers (1.2 steals per game) and bottle up ball-handlers. Bridges’ instincts stretch well beyond those of your typical 25-year-old, and he’s not half-bad offensively either.
For the season, Bridges (who just signed a lucrative and well-earned extension) is averaging 12.0 points on .506/.386/.849 splits. He doesn’t have to worry much about creating off the dribble next to Chris Paul and Devin Booker, but Bridges is an excellent complementary talent, making sharp cuts, hitting spot-up 3s, and swinging smart passes to his heart’s content.
Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 7. OG Anunoby, Raptors
An underrated candidate for NBA’s Most Improved Player, OG Anunoby has taken yet another leap in production for the plucky Raptors, who refuse to fade into irrelevance despite significant roster turnover and a lot of youth. Anunoby is a big reason why, combining his trademark defensive dominance with newfound productivity on the offensive end.
Anunoby has long shown flashes of self-creation on offense, but now he’s regularly destroying defenders one-on-one. Listed at 6-foot-7 and sporting one of the NBA’s strongest frames, Anunoby can bully his way to practically any spot on the floor, and he has feather-soft touch on his jump shot. For the season, the 24-year-old is averaging 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds on .433/.353/.782 splits.