And no, #1 is not Duncan. I never did agree with Kelly Dwyer's articles, but I love collecting materials. Link
4. Shawn Marion
It's an oft-repeated cliché, but it remains the truth - Shawn Marion rarely, very rarely, has a play called for him. And yet, in a career that started the season this list began, he's averaged almost 18 points per game. It doesn't end there, as he's grabbed about 10 rebounds, averaged a combined 3.1 blocks/steals, dished two assists and turned the ball over a miniscule 1.6 times a contest. Alongside fantastic defense and an ability to spread the floor that helps a team but doesn't always show up in newspaper box scores.
3. Pau Gasol
This isn't a case of someone just coming into his own. Gasol's per-minute, pace-adjusted stats from last season were about what he was averaging back in 2004-05. Sure, his defense has markedly improved, to the point of being nearly dominant in the playoffs last spring. But this man has been a beast for years. Great to see the rest of the world catch up. Gasol has averaged 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.2 combined blocks/steals, in 35.7 minutes per game. And he's only 28. The guy's presence in your high or low post makes your offense much, much better, even if he isn't scoring or registering an assist. That counts.
2. Dirk Nowitzki
It would be a pity if Nowitzki ended his career as undervalued, overall, because it's hard to find a greater decade of power forward work in the annals of NBA history. Nowitzki has averaged 23.6 points on about 48 percent shooting on the decade, with 8.9 rebounds, a steal, a block and a shockingly low amount of turnovers. Only about 8.5 percent of the possessions that Nowitzki has used up over the course of the decade have ended in turnovers, a sterling number.
1. Kevin Garnett
Somehow, Dirk is topped. By a player who still doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves. Despite the hype, the yelling, the commercials, the fawning on-air tributes from Bill Russell, and (a second time, just to be sure) all the yelling. I still don't think people appreciate how great Kevin Garnett has been over these years, especially defensively. That's OK, though. Because, despite all the yelling (have you heard the yelling?), I don't think KG cares much. I don't think he gives a toss where he's ranked, even if he is ranked as the greatest power forward of the last decade.
4. Shawn Marion
It's an oft-repeated cliché, but it remains the truth - Shawn Marion rarely, very rarely, has a play called for him. And yet, in a career that started the season this list began, he's averaged almost 18 points per game. It doesn't end there, as he's grabbed about 10 rebounds, averaged a combined 3.1 blocks/steals, dished two assists and turned the ball over a miniscule 1.6 times a contest. Alongside fantastic defense and an ability to spread the floor that helps a team but doesn't always show up in newspaper box scores.
3. Pau Gasol
This isn't a case of someone just coming into his own. Gasol's per-minute, pace-adjusted stats from last season were about what he was averaging back in 2004-05. Sure, his defense has markedly improved, to the point of being nearly dominant in the playoffs last spring. But this man has been a beast for years. Great to see the rest of the world catch up. Gasol has averaged 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.2 combined blocks/steals, in 35.7 minutes per game. And he's only 28. The guy's presence in your high or low post makes your offense much, much better, even if he isn't scoring or registering an assist. That counts.
2. Dirk Nowitzki
It would be a pity if Nowitzki ended his career as undervalued, overall, because it's hard to find a greater decade of power forward work in the annals of NBA history. Nowitzki has averaged 23.6 points on about 48 percent shooting on the decade, with 8.9 rebounds, a steal, a block and a shockingly low amount of turnovers. Only about 8.5 percent of the possessions that Nowitzki has used up over the course of the decade have ended in turnovers, a sterling number.
1. Kevin Garnett
Somehow, Dirk is topped. By a player who still doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves. Despite the hype, the yelling, the commercials, the fawning on-air tributes from Bill Russell, and (a second time, just to be sure) all the yelling. I still don't think people appreciate how great Kevin Garnett has been over these years, especially defensively. That's OK, though. Because, despite all the yelling (have you heard the yelling?), I don't think KG cares much. I don't think he gives a toss where he's ranked, even if he is ranked as the greatest power forward of the last decade.
