{"id":82833,"date":"2025-08-20T16:24:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/82833\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T16:24:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:24:06","slug":"the-top-26-small-forwards-for-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/82833\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 26 small forwards for 2025-26"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve already ranked the Top 26 point guards for 2025-26<\/a> and the Top 26 shooting guards for the upcoming season<\/a>. Today, we move up one spot on the positional scale to rank and examine the Top 26 small forwards for the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n

This list features various All-NBA and All-Star-level players, as well as some excellent two-way wings of the role player variety. Interestingly enough, the league\u2019s top up-and-coming wings still haven\u2019t done enough to surpass the ageless wonders that occupy the Top 2 spots on this list.<\/p>\n

Below, check out the Top 26 small forwards for 2025-26, in our estimation.<\/p>\n

26. Jonathan Kuminga<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a015.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 45.4 FG%, 30.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$10,240,287 (Qualifying offer) (168th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

If he were the best player on a bad team, it\u2019s possible Jonathan Kuminga would be a 20-point-per-game scorer by now, albeit probably an inefficient one. Instead, because he\u2019s always played for a strong Golden State Warriors team, Kuminga hasn\u2019t been able to take that next step production-wise. Matters only got worse for Kuminga last season once the Warriors added a Top 10 player on this list, leading to the fourth-year forward being out of Golden State\u2019s rotation entirely at points late in the campaign.<\/p>\n

Kuminga still has potential despite having been in the NBA this long, as he\u2019s an athletic, strong slasher with some pull-up midrange scoring; he\u2019s just going to have to continue tightening his ball handle and improving on his three-point jumper to reach it.<\/p>\n

A change of scenery wouldn\u2019t hurt, either.<\/p>\n

25. Devin Vassell (San Antonio)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a016.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.9 apg, 44.3 FG%, 36.8 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$27,000,000 (65th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Quietly one of the most solid pull-up scoring wings in the NBA, San Antonio Spurs forward Devin Vassell uses good length and a great, high release point on his jumper to consistently knock down midrange jumpers, even over good defending.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vassell also uses that length well on the other end of the floor, to poke away balls from opposing ball-handlers and jump passing lanes, often causing havoc defensively. Vassell has elements missing from his game that prevent him from reaching a higher tier, namely with his lack of a super quick first step, but he\u2019s a solid starter thanks to his two-way production.<\/p>\n

24. RJ Barrett (Toronto)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a021.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.4 apg, 46.8 FG%, 35.0 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$27,705,357 (63rd overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

One of just eight players<\/a> last season to put up a 21\/6\/5 last season, along with the superstar likes of LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, Canadian small forward RJ Barrett has performed well since joining the Toronto Raptors midway through 2023-24, now playing in his home country.<\/p>\n

Barrett\u2019s biggest flaws come with his finishing from the short midrange (Barrett shot just 39.2 percent<\/a> last season from within three and 10 feet of the basket) and his outside shooting (he\u2019s 34.6 percent from three for his career). If he were to just somehow improve in those two facets – and it\u2019s hard to see him doing that finally now, in what will be his seventh NBA season – Barrett would be able to greatly outperform his place in this ranking.<\/p>\n

For now, Toronto fans should just expect more impressive raw production out of Barrett in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

23. Andrew Wiggins (Miami)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a018.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 44.8 FG%, 37.4 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$28,223,215 (61st overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Another Canadian swingman, former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins never quite lived up to the expectations as a first-overall pick, but he\u2019s still a solid starter in the NBA, in large part thanks to his pull-up scoring, his slashing ability off the ball, his explosiveness near the basket and his solid defense. Wiggins has good foot speed laterally, long arms and competes well on the less glamorous end of the floor.<\/p>\n

He may lack nightly consistency as a scorer – there\u2019s even question as to how much he cares to reach his full potential (at this point, it\u2019s never happening) – but Wiggins is so talented that he\u2019s still developed into a championship-level starter.<\/p>\n

22. Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a016.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 45.8 FG%, 34.0 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$9,187,573 (183rd overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

2024-25 was a bit of a mixed bag for third-year swingman Bennedict Mathurin. Although he enjoyed a career-best regular season, averaging highs nearly across the board statistically, he had a very tough postseason showing, as his averages sank to 11.0 points and 3.3 rebounds on 30.0 percent shooting from three in 22 playoff appearances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mathurin made the Indiana Pacers 14.8 points per 100 possessions<\/a> worse during his time on the floor in the playoffs, making it all the more impressive that Indiana was able to get to Game 7 of the NBA Finals with one of their top regular-season performers playing that poorly.<\/p>\n

Regardless, Mathurin is a crafty, talented shot-maker from the midrange with smooth slashing ability, and he remains just 23 years old, so a leap forward for the former Arizona standout is not out of the question.<\/p>\n

21. Brandon Miller (Charlotte)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a021.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 40.3 FG%, 35.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$11,968,400 (147th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The No. 2 overall pick in 2023, Brandon Miller is heading into Year 3 with some expectations on his shoulders, as he showed solid improvement from his rookie to sophomore campaigns\u2026 albeit in just 27 games in 2024-25. Miller\u2019s second season was cut short due to a wrist injury, so it\u2019ll be interesting to see if he can match – if not improve upon – his impressive second-season production.<\/p>\n

Miller is an athletic swingman with explosiveness near the basket, possessing the ability to make tough shots, rebound and create a bit, as well as make plays defensively to earn his team extra possessions.<\/p>\n

Boasting All-Star potential, 2025-26 will be an important campaign for Miller, who is still just 22 years old.<\/p>\n

20. Cooper Flagg (Dallas)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats (NCAA):\u00a019.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 48.1 FG%, 38.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$13,825,920 (130th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t get to see much of him in Summer League, as he was shut down after just two games (in which he averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks), but Cooper Flagg might be one of the players we\u2019re most excited to see in 2025-26 on this entire list.<\/p>\n

Flagg boasts All-NBA potential, if not more, as an 18-year-old with the upside to dominate on both ends of the floor. Flagg has fantastic size and length (he measured in at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine), the skill to handle the ball and knock down tough shots from all three levels, great athleticism and, maybe most importantly, elite competitiveness, which should help him make a huge impact on the defensive end, possibly as early as in his rookie season.<\/p>\n

A ton of eyes will be on Flagg from Day 1 in 2025-26, and we think he\u2019ll be up to the challenge of meeting the enormous expectations placed upon him.<\/p>\n

19. Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a010.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 43.5 FG%, 41.2 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$18,222,222 (99th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

One of the best defenders in the NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lu Dort has fantastic lateral quickness, strength and toughness, all of which allowed him to be such a pest defensively that Dort earned 1st Team All-Defense honors for the first time in his career in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Dort has done well to develop into more than just a defender, however, as the two-way swingman has hit 40.3 percent of his threes over the last two seasons, way up from the 33.2 percent three-point accuracy he had over his first four NBA campaigns.<\/p>\n

A 3-and-D expert, perhaps the best in that role in the NBA today, Dort is such a two-way force that we deemed him one of the 20-best small forwards in the league for 2025-26, and we don\u2019t think he\u2019ll make us look bad with his play next season.<\/p>\n

18. Paul George (Philadelphia)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a016.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 43.0 FG%, 35.8 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$51,666,090 (13th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

After a very disappointing 2024-25 debut campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers, nine-time All-Star Paul George suffered an offseason injury that required arthroscopic knee surgery, with Philadelphia announcing that it will re-evaluate George before training camp.<\/p>\n

So, although this ranking seems low for a player who will very likely be a Hall-of-Famer one day, factoring in George\u2019s injury troubles over the last year, along with the fact he\u2019s already 35 years old with a lot of miles on him, it\u2019s just hard to project an All-Star season being ahead for the former Fresno State star.<\/p>\n

Perhaps he\u2019ll prove us wrong, as George was an All-Star merely two seasons ago. Plus, when healthy, he\u2019s a top-notch tough-shot-maker and defender, as well as a productive rebounder and playmaker. But the fact that George will head into 2025-26 after having knee surgery this summer is just outright worrisome.<\/p>\n

17. De’Andre Hunter (Cleveland)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a017.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 47.0 FG%, 40.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$23,303,571 (79th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Jalen Johnson\u2019s breakout last couple of seasons basically spelled the end for De\u2019Andre Hunter\u2019s time with the Atlanta Hawks. But Atlanta\u2019s loss became Cleveland\u2019s gain, as Hunter played so well off the bench for the Cavaliers that he finished fourth in the Sixth Man of the Year vote.<\/p>\n

Hunter is a tough slasher and finisher around the basket, and can hit jumpers off the dribble from the midrange. He\u2019s also a very good three-point shooter, who has hit 39.6 percent of his threes over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n

Hunter\u2019s got too much scoring juice off the dribble to be labeled as a 3-and-D wing, but he is a very impactful two-way player, one who proved he can have an important role on an elite regular-season team like Cleveland in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

16. Trey Murphy (New Orleans)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a021.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 45.4 FG%, 36.1 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$25,000,000 (73rd overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Although his 2024-25 season only lasted 53 games due to a shoulder injury, Trey Murphy performed magnificently in those appearances, becoming a 20-plus-point-per-game scorer for the first time in his career, while also producing career-high marks in nightly rebounds and assists.<\/p>\n

Murphy flat-out looked like a potential future All-Star last season, one with solid shooting touch from three, scoring chops from the midrange off the dribble, and underrated rebounding and playmaking, all skills that are vital for the best wings in basketball. We\u2019ll see how he looks returning from a major shoulder injury, but if he can improve on his 2024-25 production, Murphy might actually become an All-Star as soon as 2025-26.<\/p>\n

15. Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a012.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 47.7 FG%, 33.0 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$24,393,104 (78th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Roughly a Top 100 player<\/a> in the NBA last season according to VORP and BPM, fifth-year forward Jaden McDaniels accomplished that feat despite not providing much on the offensive end in the regular season outside of some slashing finishes and inefficient spot-up shooting from three.<\/p>\n

That speaks to how much of an impact McDaniels makes on the defensive end, as evidenced by the fact that he made the Minnesota Timberwolves an astronomical 17.9 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better during his time on the floor in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

McDaniels has consistently been a playoff riser thus far in his career, helping Minnesota reach the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons. In the postseason, McDaniels has shot 42 percent from three in his career, which dramatically improves his two-way impact and has helped the Timberwolves become a very tough out in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

14. Brandon Ingram (Toronto)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a022.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.2 apg, 46.5 FG%, 37.4 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$38,095,238 (36th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The second Raptors wing on this list, Brandon Ingram has yet to make his Toronto debut due to injury. It\u2019ll be interesting to see how Ingram and Barrett\u2019s games affect each other, as it\u2019s possible both players\u2019 raw numbers take a hit due to sharing so much of the offensive load.<\/p>\n

Ingram and Barrett do have differing skill sets, which should allow both to continue to produce. Ingram is a much smoother midrange scorer, an almost-expert level bucket-getter from the area between the basket and the three-point line with a propensity for hitting tough shots even over excellent defense. He\u2019s also a better three-point shooter and finisher around the basket than Barrett.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ingram is also a very good rebounder and creator on the wing, one of just 12 players to put up a 22\/5\/5 stat line over the past three seasons combined.<\/p>\n

Behind Ingram and Barrett, along with a Top 5 player in this ranking, there\u2019s a chance Toronto gets back to playoff contention in 2025-26 after its brief rebuild.<\/p>\n

13. Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a018.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 50.4 FG%, 39.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$38,333,050 (34th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

27-year-old forward Michal Porter Jr. has a fun offensive game, as he is never shy to shoot tough shots from anywhere on the floor, while possessing excellent size at 6-foot-10 to knock down shots even over tight contests. Porter Jr. played a large part in the Denver Nuggets winning the 2023-24 NBA championship with his outside shooting and offensive rebounding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now set to be arguably the top offensive option on a young Brooklyn Nets team, it\u2019ll be fascinating to find out what type of numbers Porter Jr. can put up with even more of a green light to shoot it. Considering he was at 18-plus points per game while sharing the floor with Jokic and Jamal Murray, don\u2019t be surprised if Porter Jr. is at well over 20 points per game in 2025-26, as few players of his size have his shooting ability and confidence on offense.<\/p>\n

12. Norman Powell (Miami)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a021.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 48.4 FG%, 41.8 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$20,482,758 (88th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

After enjoying the best season of his career, veteran swingman Norman Powell was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to Miami this offseason. Although we\u2019re not trying to put too many expectations on him heading into this year, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see Powell earn first-time All-Star honors this season, as he\u2019ll be a Top 2 offensive option for Miami. And considering how well he did as a third option in L.A., that could mean another statistical leap is in store for Powell.<\/p>\n

Powell is an excellent spot-up thee-point shooter who can attack hard closeouts by slashing to the rim and finishing explosively near the basket. He\u2019s also a good attacker in transition, allowing him to maintain efficiency by getting easy finishes on the open floor.\u00a0Powell made the Clippers 7.4 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better during his time on the floor last season, so it\u2019ll be exciting to see what he can do with even more offensive responsibility next campaign.<\/p>\n

11. Jalen Johnson (Atlanta)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a018.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 50.0 FG%, 31.2 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$30,000,000 (59th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

As we mentioned in the Hunter slide, Johnson\u2019s impressive breakout helped change the math in Atlanta in that the Hawks wisely chose to make Johnson a franchise cornerstone, making the decision to trade Hunter for assets easier to stomach.<\/p>\n

Powell is one of the best rebounding wings in the league, ranking 10th in the NBA in nightly boards last season at 10.0 per game. He\u2019s also a very solid playmaker, and a havoc-causer on the defensive end, ranking Top 13 in nightly steals last season at 1.6 per contest.<\/p>\n

Granted, Johnson only played 36 games last year due to injury and 56 in the campaign prior to that, so health has been a weak point for the former Duke standout. Johnson is also a middling three-point shooter, who makes up for it with slashing finishes and crafty midrange scoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Either way, the 23-year-old has a lot of promise, so it\u2019ll be interesting to see if Johnson can make the All-Star leap in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

10. Deni Avdija (Portland)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a016.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 47.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$14,375,000 (120th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

A throwback Swiss Army Knife type of swingman who can do a bit of everything on both ends of the floor, Portland Trail Blazers wing Deni Avdija can score as a slasher or three-point shooter, rebounds very well for his position, can handle some play-making responsibilities, all while being able to defend multiple positions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Avdija\u2019s improved three-point shooting has played a large part in his breakout, as the 24-year-old has hit 36.9 percent of his threes over the past two seasons combined after shooting just 31 percent from beyond the arc over his first three campaigns.<\/p>\n

9. DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a022.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.4 apg, 47.7 FG%, 32.8 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$24,570,000 (77th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

One of the best midrange scorers in recent NBA history, DeMar DeRozan continued to win his fight against Father Time in 2024-25, suiting up in 77 games while averaging over 22 points on 47.7 percent shooting from the floor.<\/p>\n

The analytics may not love DeRozan\u2019s output due to his poor three-point shooting, his propensity to take difficult midrange shots and his lack of contributions as a playmaker or defender, but purely from a basketball fan perspective, DeRozan is so entertaining to watch, as his game is a throwback in an era of three-point obsessiveness.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unlike at other stops in his career, DeRozan actually had a positive swing rating in his first campaign with the Sacramento Kings, making the team 2.3 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better during his time on the floor. So although his impact on winning has always been debated, at least with the Kings so far, he\u2019s been a plus.<\/p>\n

8. Jimmy Butler (Golden State)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a017.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.4 apg, 50.4 FG%, 30.8 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$54,126,450 (5th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Age-related regression is the reason why we have Jimmy Butler at this spot in the ranking, as Butler appeared to take a step back in 2024-25, even after getting Golden State. Butler\u2019s 17.5-point-per-game average last year was his lowest since his third season, 2013-14, and his VORP was the fourth-lowest<\/a> of his time in the Association.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Butler still makes a huge nightly impact when he\u2019s on the floor. Even while giving poor effort in Miami when he was clearly trying to force a trade, Butler still made the Heat 3.1 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better when he was out there. And in Golden State, Butler made the team 7.5 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better. In fact, the Warriors went 22-5 last season last season with Butler and Stephen Curry playing, so Golden State could have contender expectations in 2025-26\u2026 as long as two-way, midrange-bucket-getting star Butler stays healthy.<\/p>\n

7. OG Anunoby (New York)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a018.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 47.6 FG%, 37.2 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$39,568,966 (27th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Now-28-year-old forward OG Anunoby is one of the top two-way forwards in the NBA today, a borderline elite wing defender who can guard a few positions, and a player who has done well to develop his offensive game a great deal over recent years. Anunoby just put up a career-high 18.0 points while shooting 37-plus percent from beyond the arc.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Anunoby is a solid three-point shooter and off-ball slasher, who has even developed some craft as a midrange scorer. Overall, Anunoby has played a large part in New York making impressive playoff runs over the past two seasons, as he\u2019s one of the best role-playing two-way forwards in basketball, and a player who won\u2019t try to play outside of his skill level.\u00a0<\/p>\n

6. Mikal Bridges (New York)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a017.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 50.0 FG%, 35.4 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$24,900,000 (76th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bit ironic that the next player in this ranking boasts a very similar skill set to Anunoby\u2019s\u2026 and he plays on the same team as him. Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has more impressive scoring juice out of the midrange, and overall, he\u2019s a better offensive player than his frontcourt partner, but he\u2019s similar in that he\u2019s a good – not great – offensive player, and a better defender than scorer.<\/p>\n

Still, Bridges can get some creative buckets out of the midrange, either off of pull-ups or fadeaways, and he uses his long arms and foot speed very well on the defensive end of the floor. His main issue right now is that he\u2019s developed a hitch on his jumper that has mostly affected his outside stroke, as Bridges\u2019 35.4 percent shooting mark from three last season was the second-lowest of his career, so we\u2019re kind of banking on Bridges shooting like his previous self next year with his place in this ranking.<\/p>\n

5. Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a021.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 49.8 FG%, 41.1 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$50,000,000 (14th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Future Hall-of-Famer Kawhi Leonard played in just 37 games last season, performing impressively in those appearances. Leonard was one of just six players<\/a> last season to put up a 21\/5\/3\/1.5 stat line, along with the likes of MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. Leonard\u2019s outlook next season, as is often the case with him, will come down to his health, because when he\u2019s out there, he remains an elite two-way player.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s just not out there often enough.<\/p>\n

He may no longer be the defender he was in his prime, but Leonard still racks up takeaways thanks to his huge, quick hands and long arms, making a huge impact on the less glamorous end of the floor. He\u2019s also a beastly scorer thanks to his smooth midrange pull-up game, as well as his fantastic three-point shooting. Over the past three seasons, Leonard has been shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

If Leonard can just start the season healthy and have it remain that way, even including his load management breaks, he should get back to his All-NBA status in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

4. Scottie Barnes (Toronto)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a019.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.8 apg, 44.6 FG%, 27.1 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$38,661,700 (32nd overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

One of the most unique players on this list, Scottie Barnes has an absurd 7-foot-3 wingspan and plays with great intensity on the defensive end, allowing him to make a huge impact on that end of the floor. Barnes also has the skill required to bring the ball down and run Toronto\u2019s offense, creating plays for teammates or scoring himself off of drives to the basket.<\/p>\n

Barnes does struggle as an outside shooter, hitting merely 27.1 percent of his three-point looks last season. Even then, he was one of just eight players<\/a> last year to average a 19\/7\/5 stat line, while ranking as roughly a Top 45 player in the league, according to both VORP and BPM<\/a>. What\u2019s more, despite his poor outside shooting, Barnes still made the Raptors 3.4 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better during his time on the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If Barnes can just get his three-point shooting to reach at least a mediocre level, All-NBA could be on the horizon for the former Florida State standout.<\/p>\n

3. Franz Wagner (Orlando)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a024.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 46.3 FG%, 29.5 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$38,661,700 (32nd overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The 2021 NBA Draft managed to produce two of the best wings in basketball in Barnes, as well as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner. Wagner\u2019s main weakness, like Barnes’, is with his three-point shooting, as the German swingman has shot just 28.9 percent from three over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a stronger chance that Wagner improves his shooting more than Barnes because we have at least seen Wagner shoot it at respectable levels before. Wagner shot a solid 35.8 percent from beyond the arc over his first two seasons combined.<\/p>\n

Outside of his outside shooting, he has been a fantastic player so far early on in his career, as he\u2019s an elite slashing scorer thanks to his slipperiness and underrated first step. He can also score off the dribble from the midrange with his solid pull-up jumper. Only 12 players<\/a> in the NBA last season put up a 24\/5\/4 stat line, with Wagner being one of them. He also ranked Top 40<\/a> league-wide in both VORP and BPM for 2024-25.<\/p>\n

If Wagner can at least get his three-point shooting to the level it was at over his first two campaigns, he should very well achieve All-Star honors for the first time in his career next season.<\/p>\n

2. Kevin Durant (Houston)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a026.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.2 apg, 52.7 FG%, 43.0 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$54,708,608 (4th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

For how much things change in the NBA, sometimes, they also stay the same, and these next two players are a great example of that. Even with the NBA\u2019s always-shifting strategies based on analytics, somehow, someway, Kevin Durant and LeBron James remain the best small forwards in basketball, in our estimation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last season, Durant was one of just six players<\/a> to put up a 26\/6\/4 stat line, and did so while shooting an astronomical 43 percent from three. According to VORP and BPM, Durant was roughly a Top 30<\/a> player in the league.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Can he still be the best player on a championship team?\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re about to find out, as Durant joins a strong Houston Rockets team this season replete with players that have either championship experience like Fred VanVleet, or have loads of promise like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Joining a well-rounded team with toughness and skill on both ends of the floor, if Durant is still an All-NBA-level player and a ceiling raiser for a team, he should be able to prove it in 2025-26, as he won\u2019t be forced to endure as much of the two-way load as he did with the Phoenix Suns.<\/p>\n

1. LeBron James (LA Lakers)<\/p>\n

2024-25 stats:\u00a024.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.2 apg, 51.3 FG%, 37.6 3P%<\/p>\n

2025-26 salary:\u00a0$52,627,153 (12th overall<\/a>)<\/p>\n

What\u2019s there left to be said about James that hasn\u2019t been said already?\u00a0<\/p>\n

We think he\u2019s the GOAT<\/a>, for starters, and a large reason for that is the fact that he\u2019s still playing at an All-NBA level at 40 years old. James was one of just two players<\/a>, along with MVP runner-up, Jokic, to put up a 24\/7\/8 stat line last season. He also ranked as a Top 8 player in the league last year in both VORP and BPM<\/a>, while earning 2nd Team All-NBA honors and finishing sixth in the MVP vote.<\/p>\n

Of course, the same question we have about Durant\u2019s ability to lead a team to a championship in 2025-26 also applies to James, as the Los Angeles Lakers haven\u2019t made it past the first round of the playoffs in either of the last two seasons, even with James performing at the level he has.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also noteworthy is the fact that for the first time in his career, James posted a negative swing rating in 2024-25, with his presence on the floor actually making the Lakers 5.3 points per 100 possessions<\/a> worse than when he sat. It was the first time ever that James has ever been in the red in that metric.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Could that be a fluke, a one-off that we can ignore? Or is it the first potential sign that James is finally starting to feel that fight against Father Time? It should also be noted that James\u2019 BPM<\/a> last season was the second-lowest of his career, and his VORP<\/a> was the fourth-lowest.<\/p>\n

Regardless, we feel safe to project that James will remain the best small forward in the NBA in 2025-26, as his raw production remains too excellent to ignore. We\u2019ll have to keep an eye on what the advanced metrics continue to say about his output and impact this upcoming campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We’ve already ranked the Top 26 point guards for 2025-26 and the Top 26 shooting guards for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":82834,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[13449,2533,20446,62594,64,63,23987,9661,726,62580,5644,9401,55087,12997,12305,62595,46866,5663,62588,62607,62591,7900,23986,16112,62592,31957,62608,62587,62582,62585,61111,19711,3201,39724,62611,31167,25331,2345,17419,62598,62609,62596,12836,47573,61029,7902,19074,22135,7227,3163,62600,1175,28851,7216,20440,47572,7896,43920,23171,62586,62605,62581,62599,19927,5549,62601,12834,25662,46956,621,637,590,44,62590,32221,62593,9275,323,451,1911,62606,15624,62589,439,23917,62583,62604,62602,47078,17600,23170,23179,588,17601,85,635,11499,3609,62610,441,62597,62603,62584],"class_list":["post-82833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-analysis","tag-andrew","tag-andrew-wiggins","tag-anunoby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-avdija","tag-barrett","tag-basketball","tag-bennedict","tag-bennedict-mathurin","tag-brandon","tag-brandon-ingram","tag-brandon-miller","tag-bridges","tag-butler","tag-cooper","tag-cooper-flagg","tag-deandre","tag-deandre-hunter","tag-demar","tag-demar-derozan","tag-deni","tag-deni-avdija","tag-derozan","tag-devin","tag-devin-vassell","tag-dort","tag-durant","tag-flagg","tag-franz","tag-franz-wagner","tag-george","tag-hoops","tag-hoops-hype-news-u0026-analysis","tag-hunter","tag-hype","tag-iii","tag-ingram","tag-jaden","tag-jaden-mcdaniels","tag-jalen","tag-jalen-johnson","tag-james","tag-jimmy","tag-jimmy-butler","tag-johnson","tag-jonathan","tag-jonathan-kuminga","tag-jr","tag-kawhi","tag-kawhi-leonard","tag-kevin","tag-kevin-durant","tag-kuminga","tag-lebron","tag-lebron-james","tag-leonard","tag-listicle","tag-luguentz","tag-luguentz-dort","tag-mathurin","tag-mcdaniels","tag-michael","tag-michael-porter-jr","tag-mikal","tag-mikal-bridges","tag-miller","tag-murphy","tag-national","tag-national-sports","tag-nba","tag-news","tag-norman","tag-norman-powell","tag-og","tag-og-anunoby","tag-overall","tag-overall-positive","tag-paul","tag-paul-george-basketball-player","tag-player","tag-porter","tag-positive","tag-powell","tag-r-j","tag-r-j-barrett","tag-rj","tag-rj-barrett","tag-scores","tag-smg","tag-smg-listicle","tag-sport","tag-sport-scores-u0026-statistics","tag-sports","tag-sports-news","tag-statistics","tag-trey","tag-trey-murphy-iii","tag-u0026","tag-vassell","tag-wagner","tag-wiggins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}