Muscle up front is one of the most important parts of a champion team. With versatile and mobile size, one side can control the glass and rotate easier after helping or blowing defensive assignments. Having high-grade production on the front line is so serious that the Nuggets and Clippers have acquired starting-caliber bigs for the bench.
On top of that, upgrading this department was such a priority for the San Antonio Spurs that they refused to let next season start without Victor Wembanyama having
some backup. The non-Wemby minutes will assuredly not go nearly as badly next season.
Let’s examine where the Spurs’ frontcourt ranks in the West.
15. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix freed Mark Williams by trading for him out of Charlotte on June 30, and Nick Richards last season, but the 7-foot bigs don’t have too many dimensions, as they are mainly rollers and cutters. Still, Williams averaged 15.3 points on a 60.4 effective field goal percentage, with 10.2 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game in 2024-25, and Richards is also reliable near the rim.
Dillon Brooks, who has played in at least 72 games over the past three seasons, will be a difference-maker for his new club because he’s committed to defense and a 39 percent 3-point shooter. His expected backup, Royce O’Neale, can guard decently, but can be exposed against higher-level quickness and isn’t a player who creates his own shot.
14. Sacramento Kings
They have a pitiful frontline around Domantas Sabonis that lacks muscle. It was surprising they traded Jonas Valančiūnas to Denver because Dario Šarić is not an NBA player at this stage in his career.
Luckily they have DeMar DeRozan at forward to alleviate some of the scoring concerns, but Keegan Murray is undersized at the four and won’t be able to stop the bigger players at the position. Reserve Drew Eubanks hardly inspires much confidence.
13. Utah Jazz
Lauri Markkanen hasn’t been as electric as a driver and shooter since he won the Most Improved Player award in 2022-23, but he’s capable of reclaiming his All-Star status with some help from his teammates and more consistent attendance.
Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love are the token veterans, yet it’s hard to envision the latter having more than a Consigliere role.
Rookie Ace Bailey will have his moments, but his thin frame will make it difficult to get to his spots on the dribble against strong and agile defenders.
12. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are older, slower, and lost a key piece when Kevin Looney departed for New Orleans, leaving them small and without a key veteran. They also don’t have much firepower outside of Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga in the frontcourt. Consider that Butler is also notorious for taking it easy in the regular season, but is a beast when he wishes.
Draymond Green is still a quality defender, but he brings less to the offense every year, and bigger players can expose his size disadvantage. The others, Quinten Post and Gui Santos, are not rotation-level players for a contending team.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are a developing team on the rise and have strong pieces for the future on the front line. The top piece is point forward Deni Avdija. His strength, in combination with stellar ball handling, makes it easy for him to cause overreactions in the half-court and transition, exposing the wings and corners.
Avdija is on the verge of breaking through into an All-Star. He’ll be a big help to rookie Yang Hansen, who has also shown playmaking chops and nice maneuverability because of his massive hands. Donovan Clingan is a huge body emerging as a quality backline defender. And don’t forget that Robert Williams III can guard the perimeter as well as anyone when healthy, too.
10. Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James won’t have the legs he needs late in games if he’s going to keep unnecessarily playing over 30 minutes a night at his advanced age. He’s also more prone to take breaks on defense, despite that solid stretch after the trade for Luka Dončić last season. He’ll still be a good rebounder and excellent passer, particularly setting up open-court situations. His heavyweight strength still makes him nearly unstoppable on a drive to the hoop.
Here’s where it gets dicey. Deandre Ayton is the newly signed Laker. He’s a talented player, but as dependable as Chick-fil-A on Sunday, and was waived by the Trail Blazers at age 26. His backup, Jaxson Hayes, is a serviceable player, but not an offensive threat outside of five feet from the rim.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have sweet talent with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey, but they would be higher on this list if they maximized the latter. He is a towering post presence who did not get as much action with his back to the basket as he requires.
Yet they have some quality bench pieces: Santi Aldama is a fine role player, scoring on kickouts and catch-and-go moves; Brandon Clarke is an efficient plus athletic roller and cutter. He also can guard above the elbow.
8. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs had an underwhelming frontline last season, even with Victor Wembanyama getting anything he wanted at close range. They were limited offensively when he rested and couldn’t pressure the ball the same way either. Yet management made a huge fix in signing Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk to reserve spots because they can also play with Wemby or behind him.
One of the best things about Kornet is that he plays the back line well and opponents sometimes have trouble measuring his length on the move, getting stifled. On top of that, he is a hefty body and good screener, which should buy Harrison Barnes, Wemby and other snipers an extra split second to get clean shots off.
Olynyk is a decent connector, and cutters will love running hand-offs with him. One of his signature moves is the Kelly keeper, a fake hand-off in which he breaks off for the rim with bad intentions.
It also helps that the bigs have sharper guard play this season to feed them on the rolls and cuts. Yet, the most important factor is Wembanyama. He should have a superhero-like impact for the Spurs in 2025-26 because coverages are getting easier for him to break, and now he’s got more weapons to pass to.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans’ frontline is very athletic. Zion Williamson’s health has prevented him from realizing his potential, but he’s got a Shaq-like impact in the lane. His teammates, Trey Murphy and Jordan Poole, can be the perfect release valves, taking a surplus of open jumpers from his kick-outs. Keep in mind that his passes led to 234 3-point makes for his teammates in 2023-24.
Herb Jones is one of the pound-for-pound top defenders in the NBA, as he guards the other team’s best perimeter player.
Yves Missi is a young prospect with long arms and game-changing potential as a disrupter, plus he’s got Looney to help him deal with bigger players.
6. Los Angeles Clippers
Ivica Zubac was one of the league’s top three big men last season alongside Jokić and Wembanyama. His presence as a pick-and-roll defender blows up shots on the goal, and he gets buckets when he wants them in the post, using sharp footwork and a soft touch. He’s so deadly down there that he should take more of the shot diet.
John Collins, recently traded from Utah, will probably snag one of the starting spots, complementing Zubac with an athletic skill set and someone who can play defense well when engaged.
When Zubac sits, Brook Lopez, the newly acquired Clipper, can bang inside but is a pick-and-pop threat. He should get tons of open looks as opposing defenses key in on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden’s dribble penetration.
5. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs’ muscle has athleticism and top-grade defense. The latest number one overall pick, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis can do a bit of everything, including create space for PJ Washington’s long jumper with their dribble moves. The reserves on the squad- Derek Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell- are all vertical threats.
Additionally, Davis will presumably play like he has something to prove, as he was the main piece brought back after trading a generational player in Luka Dončić, which many fans still haven’t truly gotten over.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Here’s the value of versatile size: Draymond Green is one of the best defenders of all time, but he couldn’t stop Julius Randle in the 2025 West semifinals. It was reminiscent of the same problem Green had guarding Blake Griffin in 2014; the size and power were too much for him.
Despite the clunky fit offensively, the Wolves are a force and can play with triple bigs. If opponents sag off Rudy Gobert in this situation, one of Minnesota’s snipers just needs to curl behind him on a dribble handoff or off-ball screen to capitalize on the open territory.
To boot, Naz Reid brings immense value off the bench as a big man who can create his own shot and splash open triples.
Defensively, Jaden McDaniels is a good screen navigator plus he uses his near seven-foot wingspan well to intercept passes and help on a double team.
3. Houston Rockets
The Rockets’ frontline was a big reason why they were so potent last year, and now they’ve incorporated Kevin Durant. He should help their defense by making the opponent play more of a half-court game due to his scoring and having to check the ball.
Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams are a mighty combo because of the spacing they create through screening and sealing. Amen Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith, are the other pieces of a squeezing defense with a quick set of wheels.
2. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets upgraded their front line by trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson. He adds better on-ball defense, more shot creation and is also a dependable marksman alongside two scheme catchers in Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon.
The backup big man spot is the best Denver has had in ages with the addition of Jonas Valančiūnas. He is a scoring, post threat who gives the team a starting caliber player off the bench. Rookie DaRon Holmes II is another athletic rotation piece who will thrive at the dunker spot.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The best frontcourt in the conference belongs to OKC because of their two-way versatility. Holmgren is a mobile shot blocker who can score on the move or spot up. Jalen Williams could potentially be a number one option down the line as he does a little bit of everything and catches double teams. And Isaiah Hartenstein is a good help defender who annoys other elite bigs.
On top of that, Williams and Holmgren are far from their peaks and will doubtlessly follow up on their impressive championship runs with a noteworthy season in 2025-26.
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- The benefits of the Spurs trading a pick for immediate help
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