Top NBA Power Forwards for the 2010-2011 Season

Elite power forwards are becoming a rare breed these days in the National Basketball Association. During the 1990s, power forwards with superstar potential were quite common and some of those forwards have been enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA players such as Charles Barkley, Charles Oakley, and Karl Malone were once considered the best in their positions. Unfortunately, all three of them never won an NBA championship, but they have managed making it in the NBA Finals at some point in their career.

The third best power forward in the National Basketball association is Kevin Garnett. Garnett's stats may be at an all-time low, but his presence on the court can clearly be felt by his teammates. His work ethic is something that many coaches dream about when it comes to producing talent. Garnett is truly a rarity in basketball since he can actually play three different positions. During his first six seasons in the NBA, he was capable of playing the point guard position, but due to his declining in athleticism over the years, that is all but a memory now. No other top power forward could accomplish such feat which is why he is such a special player at the age of 34. Garnett has played twelve seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and three seasons with the Boston Celtics. He currently has one Most Valuable Player of the year trophy along with an NBA Championship ring under his belt.

As for the second best power forward in the league, that title would go to none other than Tim Duncan. It is very difficult to call Duncan a power forward since he plays the center position as well. Duncan has indeed been on the decline, but is still the heart and soul of the San Antonio Spurs, and will be for some years to come. Duncan is now 34 years old and looking for his fifth championship title. His stats may be down, but his presence is on the court is still somewhat strong. He is still a force to be reckoned with among his rivals and has not missed one postseason throughout his lengthy and very successful career. Fortunately for Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs have gotten better in terms of depth since they have signed the international prodigy known as Tiago Splitter to play the center position full time. Duncan currently has two most valuable player trophies along with four NBA Championship titles under his belt.

Since I am a huge Tim Duncan fan, it really hurt me to rank him second among all power forwards. In reality, Duncan was the most talented and fierce in the NBA, but has clearly shown signs of wear and tear. The best power forward in the league is Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers. Coming off a championship season, Gasol has easily gained respect from his most harsh critics. Gasol redeemed himself against Boston Celtics by having an excellent performance throughout the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the Finals MVP trophy went to Kobe Bryant since he had a high scoring average. This upcoming season will be Gasol's fourth with the Lakers. Gasol could be the NBA's most underrated player behind Spurs star Manu Ginobili. Fans need to watch Gasol in his prime because his skills are very impressive for a big man.