Power forwards have evolved a lot through the years in the NBA. There are many available archetypes today compared to the 80s, 90s, and early ’00s.
We have your stretch big, your paint dominant big, or your positionless forward. In NBA 2K24, these are more pronounced because of how straightforward the video game is.
It’ll be hard to find the best power forward to fit your team because there are so many of them.
For this list, we’ll have every archetype of a power forward, but we’ll categorize them under ‘superstars’ and ‘young and rising stars.’
This is for those who are looking to trade for a perfect power forward, as some of the superstars will be almost impossible to get.
Superstars
Giannis Antetokounmpo
While Giannis Antetokounmpo actually started as a small forward, he is mostly played as a power forward and center.
This doesn’t matter anyway, as we have Giannis, a player who can play any position.
Giannis can do everything on the court. He can defend, finish at the rim, create shots, pass, and rebound.
His strength and athleticism are second to none.
The only question is, how many players are you willing to give out for a player like this?
Kevin Durant
Because of Kevin Durant’s height, he is usually used as a power forward and center like Giannis.
However, the biggest difference between Kevin Durant and Giannis is that Kevin can score in every single way imaginable.
He is a deadly sniper. He can post and fade from the midrange. He can create for himself because he is a mismatch against any defender.
You should already know how good Kevin Durant is because he still is the best player on every superteam he joins.
Anthony Davis
Unlike the first two players on the list, Anthony Davis is more like your typical power forward. He is dominant in the paint on both defense and offense.
He can stretch out and shoot the three, but he isn’t really known for it. He mostly does his work in the paint and shooting midrange shots.
Anthony Davis is one of the best shot blockers and paint defenders in the league. For this alone, he is already a great player.
Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson is already rated 90+ even after missing more than half of the games in his whole career.
It is a bit crazy, but that is how game-changing Zion is when he is on the floor. He is one of the strongest players in the league, even at 6’6.
He is a dominant paint player and can absolutely bully someone in the paint.
His shooting ability could use some work, but his finishing and rebounding are already top-notch.
You might need to shell out more players in the trade because Zion is still young. You would have to pay for his upside or potential in the deal.
Sleepers and Rising Stars
Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis is a sleeper player maybe because he plays for the Sacramento Kings and doesn’t usually show up in the highlight reels.
However, he is one of the most consistent 15-10 power forwards in the league. He is an underrated rebounder and scorer in the paint.
He is one of the reasons why the Sacramento Kings reached the playoffs. He is still very young and has room for growth.
Mikal Bridges
It was sad to see Mikal Bridges get traded from the Phoenix Suns. Although, when you get Kevin Durant in return, who wouldn’t take that deal.
However, this really shows how good Mikal Bridges is and how big his upside is. He is one of the best wing defenders and can play the power forward, too.
He is the perfect player for small ball lineups who want to run the game at a very fast pace. He will definitely break the 90+ overall rating in a season or two, especially considering that no one in the Brooklyn Nets is going to take all the shots.
He is in the best position to improve because he is in a team without any superstars.
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen is another rising star with a breakout season in 2022-2023. The Utah Jazz held the top spot in the Western Conference for at least the first 15 games of the season.
Lauri was the biggest reason why. He averaged 25ppg and 8rpg for the whole season. For a stretch big like Lauri, it is even more impressive that he is shooting nearly 50% FG.
You can compare him to a young Dirk Nowitzki, and it would be interesting to see if he could keep this kind of efficiency up.
Paolo Banchero
Paolo Banchero is by far the best player with the most potential on the list. He was your first overall pick in the 2022-2023 season, and he already showed signs he can be a franchise player in the future.
He is extremely athletic for a power forward, and he can also bring the ball. He can rebound, finish at the rim, slash, post up, and defend.
With a couple of more years in the league, he’ll eventually turn into a superstar.
Scottie Barnes
Scottie Barnes was the 4th overall draft pick in 2021. If you watched him play for the Toronto Raptors, you can see his versatility as a power forward.
His numbers don’t really show it yet because he isn’t the best player for the team yet. He plays alongside Pascal Siakam, but sooner or later, he’ll be the best player on the team.
His minutes are already there, and he will definitely get better every year.
