Using a formula that takes into account stats, accolades, and advanced stats, Fadeaway World determines who the greatest small forwards in NBA history are.

• LeBron James is the only small forward with four MVP awards and four Finals MVP awards

• Larry Bird is the only small forward to win three consecutive MVP awards in his career

• Scottie Pippen has the most NBA championships among small forwards with six

We are back with our perfect formula series in another attempt to break down the best players at a loaded position on the basketball court. After getting through our point guards and shooting guards, we have now moved to the small forward position, where the competition gets a bit tighter. Although LeBron James appears to be the consensus GOAT at this position, our formula will more accurately display just how consistent that opinion is or should be.

There have been numerous greats from all different time periods to grace the small forward position during their NBA careers. Today, we will present and provide evidence for the six best players at small forward in basketball history. That list will, of course, include LeBron James, Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, Julius Erving, Scottie Pippen, and Kawhi Leonard. Across the board, these six players have had the stats, accolades, and impact on their teams in order to be presented as the top six ever at the small forward position. Now, it is time for our formula to let us know how that ranking should look.

As always, the categories will look like this. There are 10 different categories in which we will compare our six small forwards. For each category, players will receive points based on where they finish compared to their peers in that specific category. First place will receive six points, while last place will receive just one. If there is a tie, both players are rewarded the same amount of points in order to make it as fair as possible. Now that the rules are established let’s get into our breakdown.

Using our most accurate formula, here are the greatest small forwards of all time.

Best Stats

1. LeBron James – 27.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG (6 Points)

2. Larry Bird – 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG (5 Points)

3. Julius Erving – 24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG (4 Points)

4. Kevin Durant – 27.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG (3 Points)

5. Kawhi Leonard – 19.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG (2 Points)

6. Scottie Pippen – 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG (1 Point)

As always, we begin with the best stats category to kick off our small forward breakdown using our most accurate formula. LeBron James is quite literally the King of Stats, and that is talking on both a per-game and longevity basis. LeBron is the NBA’s all-time leader in points while ranking top 10 in assists and accumulating over 10,000 rebounds. He will be the first player to ever record 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists in NBA history. There is zero chance any other player at the small forward position wins this category besides LeBron James.

Larry Bird and Julius Erving were fierce rivals on the basketball court, and they both round out the top three in this category. Bird is one of the few players in NBA history that averaged over 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for their entire career along with being one of the game’s greatest shooters. Erving was an ABA and NBA legend who dominated both sides of the ball, averaging 20.0 steals and over 1.5 blocks per game in his entire career. Kevin Durant is also one of the game’s greatest scorers, but his lack of numbers everywhere else earns him only three points in this category.

To wrap up this best stats category, Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard bring home the two points and one point it has to offer. Kawhi Leonard was the slightly more talented offensive player statistically, while Pippen boasts better defensive numbers. Of course, Leonard is the more accomplished defender, but that story is coming just a bit later on. If you have the urge to flip Leonard and Pippen in this category, feel free, but they both end up toward the bottom regardless.

Most NBA Championships

To many, winning an NBA championship is the most important part of an NBA player’s legacy. However, championship bias can be detrimental to an impartial ranking of that player. With our formula, the NBA championship ranks on the same playing field as their stats and other accolades, giving a proper and reasonable ranking to each player.

1. Scottie Pippen – 6 NBA Championships (6 Points)

2. LeBron James – 4 NBA Championships (5 Points)

3. Larry Bird – 3 NBA Championships (4 Points)

T4. Kevin Durant – 2 NBA Championships (3 Points)

T4. Kawhi Leonard – 2 NBA Championships (3 Points)

6. Julius Erving – 1 NBA Championship (1 Point)

When it comes to NBA championships, Scottie Pippen leads all small forwards on this list with six. Pippen won his six championships by way of two three-peats alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls. Although Pippen was never honored with the accolades that come with six NBA titles, he played a pivotal role as a defender and playmaker. Without Pippen, the Bulls may still be searching for their first NBA title.

Picking up another five points will be LeBron James with his four NBA championships with three different franchises. James would capture two championships with Miami in 2012 and 2013, as well as a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016 and another with the Lakers in 2020. Just behind him is Larry Bird, with three NBA championships during the 1980s. Bird would lead the Celtics to NBA titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard each picked up two NBA championships during the 2010s. Leonard would win one in 2014 with the Spurs and another in one of the greatest playoff runs ever by a player in 2019 with the Raptors. Durant would win his two championships with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018 after pulling off the most traitorous move in NBA history. Bringing up the rear with one NBA championship is Julius Erving, who won in 1983 with the 76ers in a sweep of the Showtime Lakers in the Finals.

Most MVP Awards

One of the most polarizing individual awards in the NBA is the MVP award. It recognizes one player for their extremely important contributions to winning basketball over the course of an NBA season. Among individual awards, it is one of the most highly debated and one that every player aims to win at some point in their career.

1. LeBron James – 4 MVP Awards (6 Points)

2. Larry Bird – 3 MVP Awards (5 Points)

T3. Kevin Durant – 1 MVP Award (4 Points)

T3. Julius Erving – 1 MVP Award (4 Points)

T5. Kawhi Leonard – 0 MVP Awards (2 Points)

T5. Scottie Pippen – 0 MVP Awards (2 Points)

LeBron James should probably have more than four MVP awards in his career but even still, he has the most among small forwards in NBA history. James won his four MVP awards in the span of five seasons from 2009 through 2013. He would win back-to-back MVPs in 2009 and 2010 with the Cavaliers before repeating that same feat in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat. James’ four MVPs rank tied with Wilt Chamberlain for third in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Larry Bird is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever play the game During the 1980s, he was at the very top of his game with the Boston Celtics. Bird is the last player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP awards with his wins in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Over that time, along with the three MVPs, Bird would lead the Celtics to two NBA titles as well. From 1984 through 1986, he would average 26.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

The only other small forwards on this list to win an MVP award are Kevin Durant and Julius Erving. Durant captured his only MVP in 2014 as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Julius Erving also captured one NBA MVP in his career in 1981. Erving would play all 82 games for the Sixers that season and averaged 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Most Finals MVP Awards

In many ways, the Finals MVP award is more meaningful than the MVP award. A Finals MVP usually means that you were the best player on the court on the game’s biggest stage, the NBA Finals. It means that your contributions led directly to an NBA championship in the biggest way possible. Yet, with our formula, it weighs on an even playing field with the rest of the individual accolades to eliminate any bias.

1. LeBron James – 4 Finals MVP Awards (6 Points)

T2. Kevin Durant – 2 Finals MVP Awards (5 Points)

T2. Larry Bird – 2 Finals MVP Awards (5 Points)

T2. Kawhi Leonard – 2 Finals MVP Awards (5 Points)

T5. Julius Erving – 0 Finals MVP Awards (2 Points)

T5. Scottie Pippen – 0 Finals MVP Awards (2 Points)

Once again, LeBron James takes the Finals MVP category with a total of four in his career. James won four championships with three different franchises and was named Finals MVP in all four of those victories. His most impressive performance was easily the 2016 Finals, where he led the Cavaliers to the greatest upset in NBA playoff history. After going down 3-1 in the series, James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists to capture the Finals MVP award for the third time. He would add his fourth in 2020 with the Lakers.

Kevin Durant, Larry Bird, and Kawhi Leonard all earned two Finals MVP awards in their careers. Bird won both of his awards in 1984 and 1986 with victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant earned his two Finals MVPs in back-to-back fashion while with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018 over the Cavaliers. Leonard won his first award in 2014 with the Spurs and another in 2019 with the Raptors over the Warriors. Leonard is the only player on this list to win multiple Finals MVPs while never being named the MVP of the regular season.

Unfortunately for Scottie Pippen and Julius Erving, they were never named Finals MVP either. For Pippen, that was due to the fact that he shared the court with the GOAT Michael Jordan for all six of his NBA championships, meaning the award was never going to be his to claim. For Erving, his only championship would come in 1983 when Moses Malone was the far more dominant player, leading them to a sweep of the Lakers.

Most Defensive Player Of The Year Awards

There are plenty of players throughout NBA history who have taken more pride in their defensive efforts than their offensive efforts. Every single small forward we are breaking down today is what I would call an elite two-way player, yet only one has ever taken home a Defensive Player of the Year award.

1. Kawhi Leonard – 2 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (6 Points)

T2. LeBron James – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (5 Points)

T2. Larry Bird – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (5 Points)

T2. Julius Erving – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (5 Points)

T2. Kevin Durant – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (5 Points)

T2. Scottie Pippen – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (5 Points)

The only small forward listed of these elite players to be named Defensive Player of the Year is Kawhi Leonard. It all started with a Finals MVP victory predicated on his defense in the 2014 NBA Finals against LeBron James. From there, his defensive abilities got the true recognition they deserved with back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016. Leonard’s victories came as he was also fine-tuning his offensive s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s, which peaked by the 2018-19 season.

LeBron James was as close as they come during his incredible season in 2013 when he nearly registered a perfect season. James would be named MVP and eventually Finals MVP as well but lose out on the Defensive Player of the Year award as runner-up to Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies. The other four players on this list, while all accomplished defenders, and elite in their own right, were never honored with the award.

Most All-NBA Team Selections

Being named to an All-NBA team can mean a lot for NBA players, especially in this day and age when there are numerous financial rewards that come with it. Being named to an All-NBA Team usually means that a player was one of the three best players at their respective position for that particular season, earning them bragging rights and big financial bonuses.

1. LeBron James – 19 All NBA Team Selections (6 Points)

T2. Larry Bird – 10 All-NBA Team Selections (5 Points)

T2. Kevin Durant – 10 All-NBA Team Selections (5 Points)

T4. Julius Erving – 7 All-NBA Team Selections (3 Points)

T4. Scottie Pippen – 7 All-NBA Team Selections (3 Points)

6. Kawhi Leonard – 5 All-NBA Team Selections (1 Point)

With longevity that is unmatched by any player in NBA history, LeBron James has been selected to 19 All-NBA Teams in his career. Of those 19 selections, 14 of them have been to the First Team while two have been to the Second Team, and three have been to the Third Team. The only other players with double-digit selections to the All-NBA Teams are Kevin Durant and Larry Bird, each with 10. Durant has earned six First Team selections, while Bird has nine.

Julius Erving and Scottie Pippen each take home three points for their seven total All-NBA Team selections as well. Pippen earned three First Team selections, while Erving earned five in their careers. As for Kawhi Leonard, his five All-NBA Team selections get him just one point with our formula with the least amount of All-NBA Team selections in his career.

Most All-Defensive Team Selections

All-Defensive Team selections, much like All-NBA Team selections, are another source of bragging rights for NBA players. With many small forwards taking extreme pride in their ability to be versatile defenders, an All-Defensive Team selection only confirms their hard work and dedication on that side of the ball.

1. Scottie Pippen – 10 All-Defensive Team Selections (6 Points)

2. Kawhi Leonard – 7 All-Defensive Team Selections (5 Points)

3. LeBron James – 6 All-Defensive Team Selections (4 Points)

4. Larry Bird – 3 All-Defensive Team Selections (3 Points)

5. Julius Erving – 1 All-Defensive Team Selection (2 Points)

6. Kevin Durant – 0 All-Defensive Team Selections (1 Point)

There is no surprise when it comes to the small forwards with the most All-Defensive Team selections on this list. Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard are both consistently referred to as the two best defensive small forwards ever, and with good reason. Pippen earned his 10 selections mostly during the 1990s as he aided in six NBA championships for the Chicago Bulls. With quick feet and tremendous instincts, Pippen often made the opponent’s lives a nightmare on that side of the ball.

Kawhi Leonard is the more decorated defender but with just three fewer All-Defensive Team selections in his career. Leonard has the leg up when it comes to Defensive Player of the Year awards, an award that Pippen, unfortunately, missed out on in his career. LeBron James surprisingly earns four points for his six selections despite not earning one since the 2014 season. Larry Bird is the last player on this list with more than one selection to the All-Defensive Team, earning three in his career, and three points according to our formula.

Most All-Star Selections

One accolade that has seemed to lose its allure over the years is a selection to the NBA All-Star Game. While it often means that a player has reached star or superstar status, the game has gotten so watered down with voting over the years, nobody seems to care about it anymore. However, it is another accolade that can earn a player a nice bonus on his paycheck.

1. LeBron James – 19 All-Star Selections (6 Points)

2. Kevin Durant – 13 All-Star Selections (5 Points)

3. Larry Bird – 12 All-Star Selections (4 Points)

4. Julius Erving – 11 All-Star Selections (3 Points)

5. Scottie Pippen – 7 All-Star Selections (2 Points)

6. Kawhi Leonard – 5 All-Star Selections (1 Point)

The NBA All-Star Game should almost be renamed the LeBron James Invitational at this point. James has made every single All-Star Game since his second season in the NBA. James has been a winner 10 times in the event and has averaged 22.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in his career during the mid-season exhibition, with three MVP awards as well. Kevin Durant has earned 13 All-Star selections in his career in 16 seasons while winning two All-Star MVPs as well.

Larry Bird and Julius Erving are the only other small forwards with double-digit All-Star selections on this list. Bird was named to 12 All-Star Teams with one MVP in the 1982 All-Star Game. Julius Erving earned 11 All-Star selections in his career as well as one of the few players to earn a selection every season of his NBA career. He would win two All-Star MVP awards in 1977 and 1983. As for Pippen and Kawhi, they are still very accomplished despite the low All-Star total. Each player has earned an All-Star MVP award, with Pippen’s coming in 1994 and Leonard’s coming in 2020.

Total Win Shares

When it comes to a player’s impact on the court, only one stat can truly measure it with accuracy. That is, of course, the total win shares stat. With each of these players being winners of the highest caliber, their total win shares will shock you as to where they stand in comparison with each other.

1. LeBron James – 255.1 Win Shares (6 Points)

2. Julius Erving – 181.1 Win Shares (5 Points)

3. Kevin Durant – 161.9 Win Shares (4 Points)

4. Larry Bird – 145.8 Win Shares (3 Points)

5. Scottie Pippen – 125.1 Win Shares (2 Points)

6. Kawhi Leonard – 90.4 Win Shares (1 Point)

LeBron James is dominating this competition with another victory in the win shares category. He is the only player on this list to have over 200 win shares and is 74 win shares ahead of the player in second place. James led the NBA in win shares every season from 2009 through 2013 with the Cavaliers and Heat which resulted in four MVP awards and two NBA championships. Just behind James is Julius Erving, who exceeded 180 win shares for his basketball career. Ervin would lead the league three times in the category, which all came in his time in the ABA with the New York Nets.

Kevin Durant and Larry Bird were much closer to each other than the first two players were, with Bird finishing just 16.1 win shares behind Durant, or one full season in his prime. Durant would lead the NBA one time in win shares which came during his 2014 MVP season with the Thunder. As for Bird, he led the NBA twice during his three-peat as MVP in win shares as well. He led the league in 1985 and 1986 with over 15.5 win shares each season.

PER

Now, we will take a look at these players and their efficiency based on PER. This is the only stat that measures overall efficiency and not just how efficient a player was while shooting the ball. Let’s take a look at the results of our final category.

1. LeBron James – 27.2 PER (6 Points)

2. Kevin Durant – 25.3 PER (5 Points)

3. Julius Erving – 23.6 PER (4 Points)

4. Larry Bird – 23.5 PER (3 Points)

5. Kawhi Leonard – 23.4 PER (2 Points)

6. Scottie Pippen – 18.6 PER (1 Point)

Being one of the most efficient players in NBA history is definitely something to be honored for. LeBron James currently has the third-highest PER in NBA history, making this category an easy runaway for him. James led the NBA in PER every season from 2008 through 2013 in PER and has four seasons with a rating over 30.0, which is all-time legendary status.

Kevin Durant’s efficiency is the stuff of legend, and his 25.3 PER ranks second among small forwards in NBA history. Of course, his extremely efficient shooting helps his case here, as does his incredible basketball IQ. The next three players are separated by just 0.1 of each other in PER rating, which shows just how special of a group this is. Scottie Pippen is the final player in this category, taking home one point with a sub-20.0 PER.

Who Is The Greatest Small Forward Of All-Time?

1. LeBron James – 56 Points (7 Categories Won)

2. Larry Bird – 42 Points (0 Categories Won)

3. Kevin Durant – 40 Points (0 Categories Won)

4. Julius Erving – 33 Points (0 Categories Won)

5. Scottie Pippen – 30 Points (2 Categories Won)

6. Kawhi Leonard – 28 Points (1 Category Won)

Before I even started this lengthy article, we all could have predicted that LeBron James would come out on top as the greatest small forward ever. James is arguably the greatest player in NBA history, second to only Michael Jordan when we released our GOAT rankings using this very same formula. James’ status among the NBA elites is already cemented, but the crazy part is, he can still add to his lead among small forwards as he plays elite basketball heading into his 21 season.

Larry Bird and Kevin Durant are often debated as the second-greatest small forwards ever, and their standing here shows just how close it is. Bird edges out Durant by just two points overall for the second spot with more accolades as his career winds down as well. As for Julius Erving, Scottie Pippen, and Kawhi Leonard, they are relegated to the second half of our standings.

Once again, this by no means points to these three legendary players as bad basketball players. What this is simply implying is that there are levels to being called one of the greatest players ever at a position. When it comes to small forwards, these three are simply not on the level of James, Bird, and Durant which is, and always should be okay. We can still celebrate their accomplishments with respect and adoration. Let’s just leave the best small forward conversation to the elites, shall we?