NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting small forwards for 2023-24

Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
29 of 30
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

Tier 1: The elite group

This is the best of the best. This is the top tier of the small forwards and it should come as no surprise to be this small. The two players in this tier are clearly the two best small forwards the NBA has to offer and are both in the conversation for the best player in the league. There aren’t many holes in each of these two players’ gams either.

2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

When he’s playing at his best, there’s an argument to be made that Jayson Tatum is the best player in the NBA. That’s how good of an offensive player that he is. And at just 25 years old, there’s no reason to believe that he won’t be considered the best player in the NBA at some point in the next few years. Tatum is a generational scorer who is doing things we haven’t seen many other players do ever.

Coming off another career year, Tatum averaged 30 points, nine rebounds, and five assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range. An NBA MVP award is almost assuredly in his future as is an NBA Title. You can discuss the best wings in the NBA if you don’t have Tatum near the top of the list.