Welcome back to the "Greatest Ever' series as i continue with the rankings of the game's greatest point forwards to ever step on a NBA Hardwood.
A point forward is a skilled, versatile player who's got the body of a forward yet has a court vision, ability to run the offense and skills of a point guard.
One of the first point forwards in league history are actually Rick Barry, John Johnson, Marques Johnson etc. They revolutionized basketball history and many terrific players have came after them.
Without further ado, here are the best ten point forwards of all time.
11.Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom is a tall, athletic and skilled forward whose biggest strengths are versatility and ability to pass the ball. He's one of the best point forwards of all time.
He's brought the ball up and started the offense numerous times. Lamar's an excellent passer who can involve his team mates well and at 6'10, he can see the court like few can.
Odom often led his teams in assists. He's dished out four dimes for his career, with a career high of 5.5 assists. Besides being a fantastic passer, he's a great scorer, rebounder, solid defender and makes good impact.
He's done the duties of a floor general quite a lot in his career, even in the USA national team as well. The Candy Man fills out the stat sheet nicely. Unfortunately, he was too inconsistent to become more than just a good starter.
10.Paul Pressey
Paul Pressey wasn't a superstar, but he made a name in basketball history for himself despite of that. He's credited as one of the first guys to ever play the point forward position, in which he was one of the best ever.
He was a complete forward who could do it all. He was a solid scorer, excellent playmaker, good rebounder and great stopper who was as all-around as it gets.
Paul was a remarkable ball distributor that could involve his team mates well and often was the main ball handler of the Bucks. That's why Milwaukee never needed a point guard.
His passing is what stands out most. Pressey recorded 5.1 assists in his career and even ranked seventh once overall. For his playoff career, he racked up 5.6 dimes with a career high of 8.6 assists.
He ranked as high as sixth and eight in the post season in this category. Nonetheless, he gets the nod for being one of the first to play in the point forward role and actually excelling in it.
9.Tracy McGrady
The 6'8 small forward who was a remarkable all-around player that was known as a highly prolific scorer and nice playmaker, Tracy McGrady is one of the greatest point forwards in NBA History.
T-Mac's one of the most complete players of all time. He showed case his full abilities at the point forward position, as he can score with ease, pass, rebound, defend on a top level.
The offense of his teams often went through Tracy. He was a tough match for his opponents. He was a lethal scorer who attracted ton of attention from the defense and he used that to set his team mates well. He could find the open man easily.
McGrady averaged above five assists in his prime. For his career, he's dished out 4.5 dimes. He's recorded 6.2 assists in his post season career, with a career high of 8.3 assists as well.
His versatility has been and still is key asset to his team(s). He filled out the stat sheet really nicely when healthy. Unfortunately for him, Tracy couldn't catch break from injuries and couldn't play good for a long time, as he could have.
8.Marques Johnson
Marques Johnson was an overlooked player, yet a star in his days. He was one of the first players to actually play in this new role that was unknown to the basketball world. He was one of the greatest point forwards in NBA History.
M.J was a remarkable all-around forward that did it all. He was a prolific scorer, great presence on the boards, good ball handler that could distribute the ball well and solid stopper too who was extremely efficient.
His versatility and complete game were extremely important for the Bucks, who relied on Marques to be a great team in the 80's. He was their go through guy and for the bigger part, their best player as well.
Johnson was a good ball distributor that averaged 3.6 assists for his career. In the post season, he averaged 3.7 with a career high of 4.7 dimes.
He was once the third highest scorer in the NBA who shot with outstanding efficiency. He was a terrific rebounder as well. He even was in double digits in this facet of the game. There wasn't doubt at all, that he was productive in his new role.
Marques was an All-Star player, who excelled in the role of a point forward, a term that he himself invented. He was also one of the top small forwards ever as well. Unfortunately for him, he's overlooked because of the era in which he played.
7.Kevin Garnett
It wasn't too long ago when Kevin Garnett was doing this in Minnesota. Despite his size, he had it all to excel on the court as one of the greatest point forwards in NBA History.
From an all-around stand point, KG has it all as a player. He can score pretty well, is a terrific rebounder, an intimating presence in the paint defensively, solid ball handler and a playmaker who could create for others.
He was the focal point of the Wolves' offense. Kevin at 6'11, can see the court well and he's a remarkable passer who finds the open man like few can. He often brought the ball up and created the plays in his days as a Timberwolf.
Garnett's versatility and complete game have always been valuable assets to his teams. He won four consecutive rebound titles and is the only guy to ever record at least 20 points, 10 boards and five assists for six seasons.
For his career, the Big Ticket has dished out 4.2 assists in average. In the playoffs, he averaged 3.8 assists with a career high of 8.8 dimes in one playoff run (although once again it was in three games).
In Boston, he hasn't played this role (or at least, not enough) because they have a point guard in Rondo. Regardless of that, he still can provide nice passes of the block. He truly excelled in this role.
6.Grant Hill
Skilled, athletic and versatile star who popularized the position in the 90's (along side Pippen), Grant Hill is one of the game's greatest point forwards of all time.
Grant's one of the most all-around players in NBA History. He was a consistent triple double that could do it all and he dominated when he was healthy.
He also had nice ball handling abilities, court vision and often brought the rock up as the Pistons' offense run mostly through him. Hill made it look easy thanks to his ability to fill out the stat sheet and playmaking.
He's averaged 4.2 assists for his career. In the playoffs, he dished out 3.6 assists with a personal best of 7.4 dimes. Grant ranked as high as tenth and seventh respectably in the post season.
Hill was excellent passer that knew to rack up the assist totals. His versatility and full game were displayed at their finest while he was playing at this position. Unfortunately, after seven years, he was never the same because of the injuries.
No doubt that, his contribution to making the point forward role important is huge as him (along side Scottie) revolutionizing it too. He rightfully ranks high due to all of this.
5.John Havlicek
Although he came off the bench, that didn't stop him from having a legendary career. John Havlicek was one of the first to play the role of a point forward and excelled it in like few did.
He had it all to filled out Boston's need. Hondo was known as one of the most all-around players in NBA History. He was a triple double threat that made serious impact from this position.
John was the guy through whom, the Celtics' offense went from the mid part to the end of his career. He was one of the best passers of all time. He could create for others well and usually led his team in assists.
In fact, he cracked the assist totals really well. Havlicek usually ranked among the league leaders in this category, as he usually racked up the totals.
He dished out 4.8 assists in both regular and post season. He ranked as high as fourth and even led once in the playoffs. He remained high in there as well.
When all things are taken in consideration, the great versatility, all-around game and point guard like skills he was truly amazing. John didn't play in this role in his career, but when he did, he was one of the finest.
4.Scottie Pippen
A superstar whose game was the prototype for the next generation of forwards and a guy who popularized the position (along side Hill) most, Scottie Pippen is one of the greatest point forwards ever.
He was the reason why the Chicago Bulls never needed a point guard while he was playing for them, because he was doing the roles of one just as good.
Scottie was one of the best passers of all time. He was a true playmaker on offense. He could lead his team mates or find them for the easy points. He brought the ball and run the offense well.
He racked up the assist totals with ease. Pippen in fact, averaged 5.2 assists for his career. He dished out five dimes in the post season, but his personal best came in the regular season with seven dimes in average.
Then, his all-around game was among the finest in NBA history. Scottie could do it all on a top level and was a consistent triple double threat. He was a key contributor in his teams with his versatility and complete game.
Scottie's excellence in the role of a point forward were legendary. He popularized the position in the 90's (along side Hill) and proved to be very valuable while doing that.
He posted some nice numbers on championship teams as well while being one of the top players of his time and overall too.
3.Rick Barry
Rick Barry was in that rare group of players to actually keep his efficiency through his career with little changes because of his playing style. He was one of the first players to play point forward, and was one of the greatest ever in it.
He had it all to excel in this position, because he was one of the most complete players of all time. Rick was certainly capable to do it all and he was a triple double threat.
Barry was the primary ball handler and focal point of his teams. He often brought the ball up and run the offense as well. He was one of the best passers to step on a NBA Hardwood.
He could either find or lead his man for the easy basket. He cracked the assist totals with ease. He averaged 4.9 assists for his career. In the post season, he dished out 4.3 dimes with a career high of 6.3 assists.
Rick ranked consistently among the league leaders in this category, as he even finished once fifth. In the playoffs he was even better, as he was ranked as high as third and tenth respectably.
There was no doubt that Barry was an outstanding player, who had the needed point guard skills and all-around game to be a force in this role.
What makes it even better for him, was the fact that he may be even the first one to play point forward. It was ideal for him, as he went on to be arguably one of the greatest players ever.
2.LeBron James
A physically gifted and incredibly skilled forward who's arguably the best player in the league now, LeBron James is one of the greatest point forwards in NBA History.
He's got the needed skill set to compliment his physical gifts, which he used to excel in this role. He's one of the most complete players of all time, who's a consistent triple double threat that can do it all.
LeBron has often been the main floor general of his teams, because of his great ball handling and point guard like skills. He has usually been the focal point of his teams' offense.
He's in fact more like a playmaker on the court. James is one of the best passers to play the game. His court vision is up with the finest of them all. He's capable to create for others, lead them to easy points and find the open man easily.
He's arguably the best non guard passer ever. The King racks up the assist totals in style. He's averaged 7.0 assists in both regular and post season.
LeBron ranks consistently among the league leaders in this category. He's ranked as high as fourth for three consecutive years in the playoffs. Additionally, he holds the highest assist average for a non guard. These feats speak a lot about him.
His excellence in the role of a point forward earns him this high ranking. His case will get better with age. When all things are taken in consideration, James is truly one of the greatest of any time.
1.Larry Bird
An incredibly skilled forward who helped revolutionizing the point forward role throughout the golden era of the league, Larry Bird was arguably the greatest point forward in NBA History.
Although he wasn't very physically gifted, he made up for that by relying on his amazing skill set. Larry was one of the most all-around players of all time, who could fill out the stat sheet nicely and was a regular triple double threat.
Bird occasionally brought the ball. He was also a guy through whom mostly the Celtics offense went through. His court vision allowed him to find the open man and create for his team mates with ease. He'd run the brake on a top level too.
He was one of the best passers of any time. In fact, Larry Legend was arguably the finest non guard passer ever. His excellence showed in his ability to post nice assist numbers, and often beyond that.
He averaged 6.3 dimes for his career. In the post season, he dished out 6.5 assists in average. He ranked as high as fifth, sixth and seventh respectably in the playoffs.
Unlike most of the guys on this list, he played with actual point guards like Johnson and Archibald but nonetheless, he sparked on the court also as another playermaker.
Overall, with all of the things taken in consideration, Larry Bird deserves to be arguably called the greatest point guard to step on a NBA Hardwood.
Honorable Mention:
-Elgin Baylor, John Johnson, Hedo Turkoglu and so on.
More On The Greatest Ever Series At Positions:
-Power Forwards
-Small Forwards
-Shooting Guards
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Written by Darko Mihajlovksi, Columnist (Archive/Feed)Hi,everyone My name is Darko and i have been a sports fan ever since i watched the first soccer game for me between AC Milan and Inter.I'm a major sports fan overall,who's interested in NBA basketball,soccer,winter sports such as ski jumping,skiing,athletics,F1 and so on.
