Which team has the best starting power forward, and which one has the worst? The Sporting News is ranking every team's starter at each position for the 2025-26 NBA season.
The starting power forward position in the NBA is absolutely stacked with talent, second only to point guards. There are multiple MVP winners, Defensive Players of the Year, and All-NBA players scattered among the top 20.
To that point, two-thirds of the players on this list could be in All-Star discussion. The takeaway here is that if you don't have a dominant power forward on your team, then you're well behind the curve.
Here are all 30 starting power forwards, ranked from best to worst.
NBA RANKINGS: Starters 1-10 | 11-150 | PG | SG
NBA power forward rankings 2025-26
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Giannis is at worst a top-five player in the league. He could conceivably take home his third MVP award if his Bucks team overachieves. He is still an unbelievable athlete at age 30, with an uncanny knack for getting to the rim. He added a devastating midrange jumper to his game last season to go along with his underrated passing skill, balancing out his shaky 3-point shot.
A few years ago, Giannis was the best defender in the league. He's not quite that any more, but he's still elite on that end of the floor. He covers a ton of distance as a helper, erasing shots at the rim and walling off drives. He's had to play up in position in recent years, and his versatility allows him to cover all different types of opponents.
2. LeBron James, Lakers
That LeBron is still this dominant at the age of 40 is nothing short of unheralded. He's coming off his 21st All-NBA season, and he absolutely earned that honor after averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds for a good Lakers team.
Nobody has an answer for LeBron in the high post. He's one of the strongest guys on the floor, and he can get to whatever spot he needs while making every pass in the book. He's also still dominant in transition and as a driver. And he's developed into a good 3-point shooter, hitting 36 percent of those shots since joining the Lakers in 2018.
LeBron's defensive role has changed as he's aged. He tends to ease his way into the season, saving his best stuff for the final few months. That is what happened last year, when he was the quarterback of a massive defensive improvement. He knows every play the other team is running, directing teammates where to be. He's still one of the best chase-down block artists in the league. He's not staying in front of guards any more, but he does a good job defending the bigger bodies in the league now.
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3. Anthony Davis, Mavericks
Davis is one of the top defensive big men in the game. He's led the league in shots blocked three times, thanks to a massive 7-foot-6 wingspan, and he's also one of the few elite centers that can defend capably on the perimeter.
Davis is a good scorer who finishes well around the basket, particularly on lobs. He has a good midrange jumper, which he hasn't been able to stretch out to the 3-point line in recent years. There are moments where he has looked like one of the best players in the league. But injuries and periods of passiveness on offense have him just outside that top tier of players.
4. Kevin Durant, Rockets
Durant is still playing at an All-Star level entering his age 37 season. He's as good of a three-level scorer as there is in the league, able to get his jumper off at any time and shoot over the top of most defenders. He's coming off one of his most accurate 3-point shooting seasons of his lengthy career, connecting on 43 percent of his 3's last year. And his clutch scoring is going to be a huge asset on a Rockets team that was starved for that type of shot creation last year.
Durant is still a capable help defender due to his size and weak side rim protection. He can't lock in for every possession any more though. Injuries are also always a concern at this point in his career. He's averaged only 55 games played during the regular season over his past five years.
5. Pascal Siakam, Pacers
Siakam proved his worth by being one of the best players on the floor in last year's Finals. He's a terror in transition, where he has a fantastic motor and great finishing skills. In the halfcourt, he's a great midrange shooter who can operate effectively in the post. And while he was more up-and-down as a 3-point shooter earlier in his career with the Raptors, he's reliably connected on 39 percent of those looks since joining the Pacers.
Siakam is also a good defender who is capable of guarding multiple positions, from bigger forwards to quicker wings. He has great tools that make him solid both on and off the ball.
6. Evan Mobley, Cavs
Mobley won last year's Defensive Player of the Year award at just 23 years old. He's among the most versatile defenders at the position, with a good combination of height and fluidity that allow him to cover huge swaths of the floor. He has great timing on his blocks, which he is able to get to without fouling.
Mobley made huge strides in his offensive game last season. He showed that he could initiate some offense, driving the ball and setting up teammates in inverted pick-and-rolls. He almost tripled his 3-point production and hit a solid 37 percent of those shots. He's a good finisher and offensive rebounder who does the dirty work while also operating with a high skill level.
7. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
Jackson is an elite defender who has a DPOY award under his belt. He's always in contention to lead the league in blocked shots, and he can move well on the perimeter.
Jackson has grown as an offensive player, carrying the load for the Grizzlies after so many injuries to the team's other stars. He's a legitimate stretch big option, hitting 37.5 percent of his 3's last season. And he's improved as an isolation and post up scorer. Critics of his game will point to his rebounding numbers, which have always been mediocre.
8. Jimmy Butler, Warriors
Butler's mercurial attitude can become a major storyline, but he's still in the honeymoon phase with Golden State. He's formed an excellent duo with Stephen Curry, using his bruising post play, killer midrange game, and propensity to draw fouls to work from inside the arc. He's always been a good passer and cutter, which makes him a natural fit in the team's motion offense. And while he's not the All-Defensive force that he was earlier in his career, he still possesses great instincts and toughness on that side of the ball.
9. Zion Williamson, Pelicans
Williamson is one of the best finishers in the league who is unstoppable when driving to the basket. He's an explosive athlete with great agility for his size, and the Pelicans have showcased his deceptively good passing by occasionally putting him in a point forward role. His defensive effort improved last season, and he has the tools to force a ton of turnovers on that end of the floor.
Durability has always been the big issue for Zion. Due in part to his large frame and the physical style that he plays, he can never stay healthy. He has played just 44 percent of his team's games since coming into the league in 2020. If he can make it through most of a season, he's a top 10 player in the league.
10. Bam Adebayo, Heat
Adebayo is an elite defensive player that is capable of playing a ton of different schemes for the Heat. He quarterbacks their zone, he can switch multiple positions, and he covers a lot of ground. He's a good passer, particularly in the short roll, and he can finish plays as well. He doesn't have the deepest offensive bag though, and critics point to his penchant for disappearing for large stretches of games.
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11. Paolo Banchero, Magic
12. Chet Holmgren, Thunder
13. Lauri Markkanen, Jazz
14. Aaron Gordon, Nuggets
15. OG Anunoby, Knicks
- Banchero is a unique player who is able to score and pass at a high level at 6-foot-10. He isn't the most efficient player, and his 3-point accuracy is mediocre, but he's had to carry a huge load on offense for the Magic.
- Holmgren is one of the best shot blockers in the game, thanks to his great timing and 7-foot-6 wingspan. He's a good stretch center, shooting 37 percent from 3 for his career.
- Markkanen is a great three-level scorer who runs the floor well at a legitimate seven feet tall. His play dropped off a bit last season on an awful Jazz team, but the former All-Star has the tools to be one of the best bigs in the league and is coming off a strong EuroBasket performance this summer.
- Gordon is a great defender who can guard multiple positions. He's an elite rebounder, one of the best finishers in the league, and has turned himself into a knock-down 3-point shooter.
- Anunoby is one of the best wing defenders in the league. He has a knack for getting steals and can guard almost anyone. He's a good 3-point shooter and finisher, but can get in trouble when he tries to create offense for himself.
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16. Julius Randle, Timberwolves
17. Scottie Barnes, Raptors
18. Jalen Johnson, Hawks
19. Paul George, Sixers
20. Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers
- Randle is a big-time scorer who can bully his way to the basket. He's a much better playmaker than he's given credit for and a good rebounder. His defense lags far behind his offense.
- Barnes is a capable point forward at 6-foot-8, possessing great court vision and an ability to drive the ball. He's a highly versatile and impactful defender who has great instincts and motor. He's had periods where he's shot the ball well, but his 30 percent career shooting from 3 is a weakness.
- Johnson is a do-everything forward who is a great athlete and could be a breakout star for the Hawks. He's had issues staying healthy but been extremely productive when he's available.
- At age 35, George has slowed down considerably. He can't seem to stay healthy. When he is on the floor, he's not the two-way star that he was just a few seasons ago. He can still score, but he's been a disappointment for the Sixers.
- Avdija is a versatile forward who defends well, is a physical driver, and has great feel on the floor. He's improved his shooting since joining the Blazers, turning into one of the team's best players.
21. Michael Porter Jr., Nets
22. John Collins, Clippers
23. Miles Bridges, Hornets
24. Tobias Harris, Pistons
25. Keegan Murray, Kings
- Porter is one of the best high volume 3-point shooters in the league. He's a good rebounder, and has the size to shoot over the top of opponents. While he's improved as a defender, he's still not a plus on that end of the floor, and he misses some easy passes due to always hunting his own shot.
- Collins has been buried on some bad teams, but he's been a solid player throughout his career. He's a good 3-point shooter, finisher, and rebounder who has struggled to stay healthy.
- Bridges is a great athlete and a good scorer. He has issues with defense, turnovers, and shot selection though which tend to appear more often at the end of games.
- Harris has been a steadying force in Detroit. The veteran has played good defense, shot the ball capably, and scored in a variety of different ways.
- Murray had a bit of a down year last season, struggling with finding scoring opportunities on a revamped Kings roster. He's been a very good defender and floor spacer though.
26. Dillon Brooks, Suns
27. Matas Buzelis, Bulls
28. Harrison Barnes, Spurs
29. Chris Boucher, Celtics
30. Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards
- Brooks is a pest defensively, using his tenacity to guard everyone from Stephen Curry to Zion Williamson. He's a good 3-point shooter, but his shot selection and penchant for picking up technical fouls can get his teams out of rhythm.
- Buzelis was a supremely confident rookie whose athleticism shone last year, particularly on the defensive end where he was a natural shot blocker. He will get a bigger role and more consistent minutes this year, looking to expand on some promising two-way traits.
- Boucher is a long-time bench piece for the Raptors who is a streaky shooter and overtasked as a starter.
- Coulibaly came into the league as a raw talent. He's harnessed his potential defensively, taking on tough assignments and forcing a lot of turnovers. His offense is still a work in progress. While he has taken strides as a playmaker and is effective in transition, his shot creation and 3-point shooting are still shaky.