Which team has the best starting small forward, and which one has the worst? The Sporting News is ranking every team’s starter at each position for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Small forwards are among the most valued positions in the NBA because there aren’t a ton of good ones. After about 25 or so players, the quality drops off dramatically.
Teams need someone who can guard big scorers like LeBron James (who, amazingly, still tops this list entering his age-40 season). Once they get that player on their roster, they tend to lock them up on long-term deals.
Here are all 30 projected starters at small forward for the 2024-25 season, ranked 1 to 30.
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NBA small forward rankings 2024-25
1. LeBron James, Lakers
LeBron is coming off a summer in which he was the best player for Team USA, winning MVP honors and his third Olympic gold medal. He’s put a ton of work into his jump shot, hitting a career-high 41.0 percent of his 3s last year for the Lakers. His bread and butter is still in his driving game, where he’s simply too strong to stop when going downhill.
LeBron can’t bring it for every single possession anymore on defense, but he is still a plus defender when he’s locked in and remains one of the best chase down threats in the game. He made his 20th consecutive All-NBA team last year. If he continues to stay healthy, that streak should hit 21 in 2025.
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2. Jaylen Brown, Celtics
Brown made his third All-Star game last season and won Finals MVP, providing 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Celtics in the regular season. He’s a good shot-creator and had the best defensive year of his career, paying more attention away from the ball and playing good one-on-one defense. He’s the best player on a championship team on some nights and in the middle of his prime in his age 28 season.
3. Jimmy Butler, Heat
Is Butler finally starting to show his age? Last year at 34 years old, his 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game were all down from previous seasons. He shot the ball much better from 3, but nagging injuries affected his play all year.
Butler also wasn’t able to stay on the floor in the playoffs, where he generally shines brightest. But he’s still a great offensive weapon and defender who knows how to hit clutch shots at the end of games.
4. Paul George, 76ers
George is one of the best No. 2 options in the league. He can shoot it well from 3, where he hit 41.3 percent of his attempts last season. He can create his own shot, as he showed in averaging 22.6 points per game. And his 6-8 size has helped him earn four All-Defensive team selections.
George should fit in perfectly with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on his new team.
5. Lauri Markkanen, Jazz
There aren’t many true 7-footers who can do what Markkanen can. He’s a great 3-point shooter who can operate from midrange and finish at the rim strong with thunderous dunks. His 25.3 points per game led the Jazz in 2023-24. He should have plenty of opportunity to score a ton again in 2024-25.
6. DeMar DeRozan, Kings
DeRozan will have to find a new way to fit into a Kings attack that has previously heavily featured Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox as its primary weapons. He is such a savvy basketball player that he will find a way.
DeRozan may not shoot a ton of 3s, but he is a killer at getting to his spots. He is one of the best midrange players of all time thanks to impeccable footwork and a terrific pump fake. He is a great foul-baiter as well, boosting his production with 7.7 trips to the line last season.
7. Brandon Ingram, Pelicans
Ingram is also a great midrange scorer. He’s a solid but reluctant shooter from 3, which has limited his value around the league. When he has the ball in his hands, he’s a good pick-and-roll player who can score and facilitate, as evidenced by his 20.8 points and 5.7 assists per game last year.
8. Jalen Williams, Thunder
Williams is a versatile defender, a great 3-point shooter and an effective driver who has been a nice complement to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His 19.1 points and 4.5 assists last season were both solid improvements, and he may be poised for a breakout season.
9. Desmond Bane, Grizzlies
Bane missed half of the Grizzlies’ games last year but may be in the conversation for his first All-Star appearance if he keeps up his play. He was forced into a more primary scoring role, and he delivered, averaging a career-high 23.7 points per game.
Bane is one of the best movement shooters in the league. He’s dangerous because he can attack hard closeouts and playmake for others. And he possesses a great shot fake, leading to his nickname “Fly By King.”
10. Franz Wagner, Magic
Wagner is a good scorer and defender who averaged 19.7 points per game for the Magic as their secondary scoring option last season. However, he had a major regression in his 3-point shooting, dropping to 28.1 percent last season.
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11. O.G. Anunoby, Knicks
12. Bradley Beal, Suns
13. Zach LaVine, Bulls
14. Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets
15. Kyle Kuzma, Wizards
- Anunoby was one of the most valuable players for the Knicks last season. He’s not great at creating his own shot, but he’s an extremely versatile defender, a reliable catch-and-shoot 3-point threat and a great play-finisher.
- Beal hasn’t been able to stay on the court much in recent years. And even when he does play, he isn’t the same scorer or defender that he once was. Despite those flaws, he can still shoot it well — he hit a career-high 43.0 percent of his 3s last season for the Suns and was able to create offense for himself and others.
- LaVine is one of the best scorers in the league. He’s been criticized for his lack of defensive awareness and had some health issues last season that have diminished his value.
- Porter Jr. has never met a shot he didn’t like. He canned 39.7 percent of his 3s last season and finished plays off great Nikola Jokic passes. When the shot isn’t falling, he doesn’t provide much else.
- Kuzma is a good shot creator, passer and defender who has been stuck on a horrible Wizards team. He can provide a little bit of everything for a team.
16. Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves
17. Cameron Johnson, Nets
18. Klay Thompson, Mavericks
19. Max Strus, Cavaliers
20. RJ Barrett, Raptors
- McDaniels made his first All-Defensive team last season. He gives tremendous effort on that side of the ball, and his 6-9 height allows him to guard the best opposing player on any given night. His 3-pointer can be a bit shaky, but he’s a capable slasher.
- Johnson is a prototypical 3-and-D wing who shot 39.1 percent from deep last year on high volume and provided solid team defense.
- Thompson isn’t the player he was before injuries started piling up. He’s lost a step on defense and can only guard slower players now. But he is still a terrific movement shooter who hit 38.7 percent of his 3s last season.
- Strus didn’t shoot the ball quite as well as hoped in his first year in Cleveland, hitting 35.1 percent of his 3s. He didn’t create as much off the dribble either. He’s a good rebounder and solid defender, though.
- Barrett looked like a much better player on the Raptors than on the Knicks. He’s shot the ball better, looked more comfortable driving and imposed physicality on his drives. His drop to 62.9 percent from the line was concerning and is worth monitoring.
- Brooks is one of the biggest irritants in the league. He uses that to his advantage at times, shutting down opponents on defense. He shot the ball better from 3 in Houston, hitting 35.9 percent of his attempts, but he can shoot his teams out of games.
21. Dillon Brooks, Rockets
22. Aaron Nesmith, Pacers
23. Deni Avdija, Blazers
24. Harrison Barnes, Spurs
25. Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers
- Nesmith is a gritty and physical defender who improved drastically to a 41.9 percent 3-point shooter last season. He fits well in the up-tempo style that the Pacers like to play.
- Allen has carved a nice niche by becoming one of the best spot-up shooters. He led the league last season in connecting on 46.1 percent of his attempts from deep.
- Avdija is an underrated defender and drastically improved his jumper, up to 37.4 percent from deep last season. He may get to show more on a new team this season.
- Entering Year 13, Barnes isn’t the defender or scorer he used to be, but he can still hit 3s and play average team defense.
- Jones Jr. broke out as a star of the playoffs thanks to his elite athleticism. He can finish lobs with the best of them and guard multiple positions, but he is streaky from 3. When that shot isn’t falling, he’s a significant negative on offense.
26. Andrew Wiggins, Warriors
27. Josh Green, Hornets
28. Ausar Thompson, Pistons
29. Taurean Prince, Bucks
30. Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks
- Wiggins’ confidence looked shaken at times last season when he was dealing with personal issues. His shooting plummeted and his defensive focus wasn’t there either. At his best, he’s been an All-Star starter.
- Green is a try-hard defender and has turned himself into a solid 3-point shooter. He doesn’t have much shot creation and can disappear from the floor.
- Thompson is one of the best athletes in the league. He plays like an old-school center, dominating on the glass and as a finisher. He needs to shore up a weak jump shot.
- Prince can hit open 3s and play solid defense. That allowed him to start 49 games for the Lakers last season. He’s a good role player and not much else.
- Risacher was selected No. 1 by the Hawks, but it will be a while before he’s a big contributor in the league. He projects out as a plus defender and 3-point shooter with positional size.
