When the NBA suspended its season last week in the aftermath of players testing positive for COVID-19 the fans and the players all were very disheartened. But as good news NBA is back as the preseason is here. All the teams will be looking forward to gearing up for the upcoming regular season. Many of them will be hoping to recover from their daunting last season, while others will be wishing for their key players to find their form back. Preseason is definitely a very crucial part and gives a great opportunity for the teams to prep and build confidence. But who are the top 10 power forwarders in NBA 2021-22.?
Power forward is one of those positions that can turn the course of a game. There are many budding talents as well as legends right now in the game that have been consistently contributing to their team’s success. So in this article, we are going to talk about the top 10 power forwarders in the NBA preseason 2021-22. All the players that have made it to the list are exceptionally talented and will be the ones to watch out for this season. Starting with Jaren Jackson Jr. on the last spot let us get going and find out who is sitting at the top here.
10 best power forwarders in the game right now
10. Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson Jr. has never had a positive swing rating with Memphis. But that does not change the fact that Memphis Grizzlies‘ power forwarder has been named the number 1 breakout candidate in NBA going into the season. Neither had Memphis nor Jackson have had a great last season. It was plagued by injuries and Jackson was sidelined for 9 months. He missed the training camps and preseasons as well and consequently after he is back he can be seen clearly struggling on the court. Contrary to this, his pre-injury journey is evidence of how phenomenal Jaren Jackson Jr. is when healthy. He has improved a lot in particular areas and hence lands on the 10th spot.
9. Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis is currently averaging 20.3 per game with 2.3 three-pointers and 1.6 blocks per game so far. These stats are the best of his career which is evidence of him being at his best coming into the 2021-22 preseason. Dallas Mavericks‘ power forwarder will definitely play a crucial role to help them gain momentum for the regular sesaon.
8. Tobias Harris
Some might argue that Tobias Harris is not that great in comparison to some other forwarders out there. It may be true that he does not excel in the traditional ways but one thing that makes him the number 8 contender is his basket getting ability. Harris has so far has not been able to complement the 76ers‘ performance as a team but he is definitely more than capable from mid-range and honestly thrives. Despite all this, if you take a close look at the stats he has been consistently putting up solid numbers. Last season he averaged 19.5 points,6.8 rebounds along 3.5 assists, truly one of the most underrated players this season.
7. John Collins
Last season had been fairly tiring for him but at least statistically, Collins has been beyond dominant. He got suspended for violating NBA anti-drug policy and consequently missed out on 25 games. Last season there had been speculations about his contract extension with the Hawks. But without a doubt, with his energy and versatility, Atlanta Hawks are a better side. Considering their playoff aspirations, John Collins is one of those players that will play an important role this season.
6. Domantas Sabonis
With an impressive effective goal percentage, Indiana Pacers‘ power forwarder Domantas Sabonis has grabbed the 6th spot on this list of NBA 2021-22 Top 10 Power Forwarders. His role is gonna be very crucial as the Pacers have been plagued with injuries. Key scorers T.J. Warren and Caris LeVert have been sidelined. Taking about Domantas Sabonis’ career as a whole with the Pacers, he has averaged 20.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in his fourth season.
5. Zion Williamson
Numbers can be used to make a strong case for New Orleans Pelicans Forward Zion Williamson. In his 68 career games, while shooting 61% from the field Williamson is averaging 25.0 points and 6.8 rebounds. He is a great passer, a vicious rebounder, a terrifying defender, and that is what makes him 5th of the 10 best power forwarders in the NBA this season.
4. Draymond Green
One of the most contenders for becoming the greatest defenders of all-time in NBA history is the power forwarder of Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green. If you ask any soccer fan about one of the best and versatile defenders in the league, most of them will name Draymond. Talking about stats he averages 7.0 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 8.9 assists per game. He is definitely one of those players to watch out for.
3. Julius Randle
Julius Randle has been consistently putting on board his best career numbers. Not only he has stamped his authority on the list of 10 best power forwarders but also on the list of 10 best players in the NBA. New York Knicks‘ big string forward has been averaging 23.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Shooting 48.0% from the field and 80.8% from the line. The success rate of his 4.6 three-point attempts per game is 41.2%.
2. Kevin Durant
This NBA star has defied conventional wisdom with his ability to master qualities that few players can do. After his not-so-good initial start with the Brooklyn Nets, he bounced back and excelled all expectations hitting record stats throughout the last season. The most interesting thing here is that the number 2 power forwarder Kevin Durant is not very far behind the one who stands at the top of this mountain. Some of you might think he is the most hyped player but he has live up to that hype and has proved his peer-given title “Best in the world”.
1.Giannis Antetokounmpo
The #1 on the list of NBA 2021-22 Top 10 Power Forwarders is the big man Giannis Antetokounmpo. One of the most dominant players in the history of the NBA, Giannis has just finished one of his greatest seasons. He poured in averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game on 61.1 percent shooting from the field in six Finals games. Giannis has consistently been putting up big numbers and that has earned him several deserved MVPs. He can dominate against almost any opponent. His numbers continue to stack up as fans will be looking forward to a great preseason from Milwaukee Bucks.
Also Read: Here Are The Top 5 Must Watch Contests of NBA preseason 2021-22
