Ranking the top 30 power forwards in the NBA
Phoenix Suns. Jae Crowder. 18. player. 66. . PF
Top 30 NBA power forwards — 18. Jae Crowder, Suns
Jae Crowder was once again the unsung hero of the best regular season team in basketball. He has been doing this for a long time now. He plays with a cockiness and spunk that is hard to deny. Teams need an enforcer every now and then, and it’s clear Crowder’s teammates feed off of his energy. He defends, he hits 3s, and he plays his role. The Suns have been a machine in recent years, and Crowder is an important cog.
player. 84. . PF. Sacramento Kings. Harrison Barnes. 17
Top 30 NBA power forwards — 17. Harrison Barnes, Kings
Harrison Barnes never got the credit he deserved in Golden State, then his talents were stretched to the breaking point in Dallas. He has found the happy medium in Sacramento — excellent 3-and-D wing who can (albeit not consistently) create his own offense when called upon. A lot of Sacramento fans would actually prefer if Barnes was more aggressive, but he complements the Kings’ primary offensive engines and he’s an excellent leader of men (for a team that desperately needs one).
73. . PF. Denver Nuggets. Aaron Gordon. 16. player
Top 30 NBA power forwards — 16. Aaron Gordon, Nuggets
Aaron Gordon’s rocky season can be largely attributed to the slew of injuries Denver faced. Gordon is just not a reliable offensive fulcrum, but when he’s the fourth or fifth option, you’re golden. Gordon was still mostly productive for the Nuggets. He’s well-suited to playing off of Nikola Jokic: he can hit spot-up 3s or finish lobs at the rim. Gordon has developed fast chemistry with Jokic, and he’s easily the team’s best defender. Not many players are better equipped than Gordon to guard the league’s big, strong scoring wings.