After discussing the Top 27 point guards, Top 27 shooting guards and Top 27 small forwards in the NBA for next season, today, we’re here to talk about the Top 27 power forwards for 2026-27.
Power forward has become the position with the least depth in the NBA; although there are superstars at the top of this ranking, things get thin real quick, with various role players adorning this list, as well as a couple of rookies. That might have to do with the fact that the traditional power forward of yesteryear is now probably playing center, as the game has become so obsessed with spacing.
Regardless, as we mentioned, there are some top-tier players at the top of this ranking, so figuring out the top of this list wasn’t the easiest assignment.
Below,
find out how we ranked the Top 27 power forwards for the 2026-27 NBA season.
27. Rui Hachimura (LA Clippers)
2025-26 stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg, 51.4 FG%, 44.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $14,000,000 (137th overall)
Japanese power forward Rui Hachimura has developed into one of the most reliable three-point spot-up shooters in the league.
Over the past three seasons combined, the former Gonzaga standout is shooting 42.6 percent from three, the second-best mark in the league in that time span among players with at least 500 three-point attempts, trailing only former teammate Luke Kennard (45.3 percent). What’s more, Hachimura ranked in the NBA’s 93rd percentile in spot-up shooting last season, producing 1.26 points per possession out of the play type, the 18th-best mark in the league among players with at least 50 appearances.
Hachimura is limited in his playmaking, rebounding and overall scoring, but as a spot-up and two-dribble pull-up shooter from the midrange, he is a threat, making him a pretty reliable role player as long as you don’t expect him to do too much.
For the latest Rui Hachimura news and rumors, click here.
26. Draymond Green (Golden State)
2025-26 stats: 8.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 41.8 FG%, 32.6 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $27,678,571 (67th overall)
Big man Draymond Green has slowly started to lose the battle against Father Time over recent seasons.
Just last year, Green posted the second-worst BPM (minus-1.4) of his career; the only BPM Green has posted worse than that (minus-3.6) came all the way back in 2012-13, his rookie season. What’s more, Green made the Golden State Warriors 4.0 points per 100 possessions worse in 2025-26, the worst swing rating of his career.
Even so, Green is still an impactful defender thanks to his instincts and IQ on that end of the floor, as well as length, strength and toughness. Green even got Defensive Player of the Year votes last season for his efforts, so he’s not a complete negative when he’s on the court.
Besides the stout defending, Green can still also provide some rebounding and playmaking, making him a respectable role player, even if his impact dwarfs in comparison to what it used to be in his prime.
For the latest Draymond Green news and rumors, click here.
25. Jerami Grant (Memphis)
2025-26 stats: 18.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.7 spg, 45.3 FG%, 38.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $34,206,898 (51st overall)
After three seasons in Portland, veteran power forward Jerami Grant joined the Memphis Grizzlies this summer in a trade that sent former Memphis franchise cornerstone Ja Morant to the Blazers.
Grant’s role in Memphis is a little unclear at the moment, as the Grizzlies just used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 draft on an extremely promising player who plays the same position as Grant, one who finished far higher in this ranking than Grant did. Perhaps Grant can share the floor with that player, as both Grant and that former Duke Blue Devil possess some small-forward skills thanks to their shooting and ball-handling ability.
Regardless, Grant remains beyond talented enough to carve out a big role in Memphis this upcoming season, as the 32-year-old can space the floor from three and do some off-the-dribble scoring from the midrange, while being able to defend multiple positions on the other end of the floor. If anything, Grant should be able to provide great leadership to the Grizzlies’ promising rookie and help him develop in practice.
For the latest Jerami Grant news and rumors, click here.
24. PJ Washington (Dallas)
2025-26 stats: 14.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 bpg, 45.0 FG%, 32.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $19,813,044 (95th overall)
An oft-mentioned name in trade rumors this summer, PJ Washington is a solid role-playing modern power forward thanks to his floor-spacing prowess and athleticism. Washington is a bouncy finisher around the basket and can knock down spot-up threes from the perimeter, while being a solid enough ball-handler to get to the basket when attacking strong closeouts.
Washington is also a decently impactful defender thanks to his lateral quickness and great length (the former Kentucky Wildcat has a 7-foot-2-plus wingspan), which allow him to guard fellow bigs, switch onto ball-handling forwards, jump passing lanes, pick pockets and block shots.
Washington has also proven he can be an impact-making role player on a team that can make a deep playoff run, as evidenced during the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks’ run to the Finals. We don’t expect some huge season out of Washington in 2026-27, but we think he’ll continue trucking along, hitting open threes, slashing to the basket and playing solid defense.
For the latest PJ Washington news and rumors, click here.
23. Jonathan Kuminga (Minnesota)
2025-26 stats: 12.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.6 bpg, 46.3 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $6,064,000 (237th overall)
Set to play on his third team over the past two seasons, Jonathan Kuminga’s career has been a bit tumultuous to this point.
Purely on the court, Kuminga has shown some promise thanks to his athleticism and developing offensive game. Over the past couple of seasons, Kuminga has shown a lot more than just finishing around the basket, improving as an off-the-dribble midrange tough-shot maker; it’s just about the almost-24-year-old becoming more consistent on a nightly basis.
This upcoming season will be an interesting one for Kuminga, as he’s set to play with who he called the best passing point guard he’s ever played with in LaMelo Ball:
Along with Ball, Kuminga will also suit up alongside superstar 2-guard Anthony Edwards, so the Minnesota Timberwolves will have plenty of firepower, allowing Kuminga to choose his spots and perhaps get better looks than he got last season in Golden State and Atlanta. Could that lead to a breakout season for the Congo native? Perhaps, and if that were to happen, Minnesota would be getting an absolute bargain considering it only has to pay Kuminga just over $6 million next season.
For the latest Jonathan Kuminga news and rumors, click here.
22. Tobias Harris (San Antonio)
2025-26 stats: 13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 46.9 FG%, 36.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $15,044,000 (121st overall)
Veteran power forward Tobias Harris remains a productive role player despite getting up there in age. Harris is set to enter his age-34 season in 2026-27 with 15 years of service in the league to this point.
Harris is a heady player, one who won’t try to do too much but rather play within his role and excel in it. The former Tennessee Volunteer can shoot the ball from the outside with his feet set, or take a few dribbles and his pull-up jumpers, including of the difficult fadeaway or turnaround variety from time to time. He also provides some defensive versatility thanks to his size and lateral quickness.
Harris should prove a great fit in San Antonio in 2026-27, as his main skill set - spacing the floor from three - will allow the franchise’s cornerstone, Victor Wembanyama, to shine on drives to the basket. Whether or not Harris starts over Julian Champagnie remains to be seen, but even if he doesn’t, we fully expect him to be closing plenty of games for the Spurs next season.
For the latest Tobias Harris news and rumors, click here.
21. John Collins (Detroit)
2025-26 stats: 13.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 55.2 FG%, 40.6 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $17,000,000 (111th overall)
The Detroit Pistons picked up veteran power forward John Collins this summer, with the plan very likely being for him to replace the player we just talked about, Tobias Harris, in the team’s starting lineup.
Collins is far from a star, but he can fill a similar role to Harris, as he’s developed into a very capable outside shooter. Over the past two seasons, the Utah native has shot 40.3 percent from three, albeit on just 3.4 nightly attempts. Regardless, Collins’ outside shooting allows him to be a face-up threat from the power forward position; Collins has the athleticism and skill to attack strong closeouts with explosive drives to the basket. He also has some post-up ability when facing smaller defenders.
Collins isn’t much of a defender due to poor lateral quickness and length, but that issue can be hidden a bit by playing next to as impactful a defender as Ausar Thompson is. Overall, we expect Collins to have similar production to what he just had last season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
For the latest John Collins news and rumors, click here.
20. Matas Buzelis (Chicago)
2025-26 stats: 16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, 46.3 FG%, 34.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $5,715,360 (254th overall)
Third-year power forward Matas Buzelis boasts upside as a two-way big man with wing-like skills behind his ball-handling and driving ability, one who already took a sizable leap from Year 1 to Year 2. If Buzelis takes a similar jump this upcoming season, he’ll be a 20-point-per-game scorer in 2026-27, something we don’t think is remotely out of the question.
Although Buzelis has an average wingspan (6-foot-10) for his size, he boasts great quickness and instincts on that end of the floor, allowing him to remain a plus-shot-blocker. Buzelis had the 10th-best block rate in the NBA last season (4.5 percent), a higher clip than other well-thought-of rim-protectors like Kel’el Ware (4.4 percent), Nic Claxton (3.7 percent) and Jarrett Allen (2.9 percent). Buzelis also has enough foot speed to not get totally exposed when forced to switch, either,
On offense, Buzelis has a solid jumper, though he can work on his efficiency, as he’s at 35.3 percent from three for his career. But his form is solid, so there’s a good chance he can improve that mark as soon as this upcoming season. He also has a decent ball-handle for his age and position. If he’s able to continue improving his shooting and ball-handling, Buzelis becomes a two-way beast and a player who could one day crack the Top 10 of this ranking.
Do we think Buzelis can be a primary scorer on an elite team eventually? It’s unlikely, but as a secondary option, a gap-filler off the ball with good slashing ability and spot-up shooting, he could still make a big impact on the offensive end.
Whether or not Buzelis takes that big leap in Year 3, we’re high on his upside for the future, as his competitiveness, quickness and athleticism are all quite impressive traits so far.
For the latest Matas Buzelis news and rumors, click here.
19. Toumani Camara (Portland)
2025-26 stats: 13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 44.0 FG%, 37.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $18,080,358 (104th overall)
One of the most promising young defensive forwards in the league, Portland’s Toumani Camara earned 2nd Team All-Defense honors two seasons ago and finished ninth in the Defensive Player of the Year vote in 2024-25. The individual honors didn’t come for Camara last season, but he was similarly impactful for the Blazers, making Portland 3.9 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor
Camara boasts a fantastic wingspan (7-foot-plus) and great lateral quickness, as well as a great nose for picking pockets and jumping passing lanes. Camara has the lateral quickness to switch onto ball-handlers on the perimeter and the size to defend lighter-footed bigs, while hitting a respectable 37.2 percent of his threes on the other end of the floor.
Despite heading into just his fourth season in the NBA, Camara is already 26, so it's unclear whether he has much more upside in him. But even if this is just who Camara is, he’s already a versatile and impactful defender, and a solid-enough offensive player thanks to his slashing and spot-up shooting ability, so at worst, he’ll be a plus-starter and a very effective role player for Portland over the coming campaigns.
For the latest Toumani Camara news and rumors, click here.
18. Miles Bridges (Phoenix)
2025-26 stats: 17.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.6 spg, 46.0 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $22,826,087 (83rd overall)
After spending the first seven seasons of his career in Charlotte, Miles Bridges joined the Phoenix Suns this summer, where he’ll play alongside Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Co.
Bridges should fit well with the Suns, as the team was in need of an athletic 4-man who could space the floor like the former Michigan State standout. Bridges, a career 33.8 percent shooter from three, struggles a bit with his outside jumper, but he shoots it well enough that he can’t be left wide open on every possession.
Where Bridges does shine is with his athleticism, as he remains one of the best slashers in the game thanks to his size, bounce and strength. Last season, Bridges ranked in the NBA’s 99th percentile as an off-ball cutter, producing 1.67 points per possession out of the play type, the fifth-best mark in the league.
Bridges is also a solid-enough defender who can provide some versatility on that end of the floor, though no one will be mistaking him with a prime Draymond Green in 2026-27, either.
For the latest Miles Bridges news and rumors, click here.
17. Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto)
2025-26 stats: 8.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.9 bpg, 57.9 FG%, 34.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $6,649,560 (228th overall)
Despite being undersized for his position, Toronto’s Collin Murray-Boyles was drafted ninth overall by the Raptors in 2025 thanks to his upside as a defender, an area in which the young player has already shown huge promise as a rookie last year.
Boyles is quite strong and stout, weighing in around 250 pounds despite standing at under 6-foot-7 without shoes, allowing him to bang with traditional big men down low, both on the glass and defending post-ups. He also has surprisingly quick feet, making it so he can switch as a defender and not get exposed by opposing ball-handlers. Toronto is probably salivating at the idea of pairing Murray-Boyles with Kawhi Leonard (if that trade finally goes through) and with the player who finished Top 3 in this ranking, especially on defense.
Murray-Boyles needs to improve as a shooter, as he attempted under one three-pointer per game as a first-year player, albeit with a somewhat respectable 34.0 percent shooter on those looks, if he’s going to be a plus-starter down the road. But he’s a crafty scorer down low and on short rolls to the rim out of the pick-and-roll, as well as an underrated passer out of those looks, so he does have some upside offensively.
For the latest Collin Murray-Boyles news and rumors, click here.
16. Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston)
2025-26 stats: 15.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.9 bpg, 45.0 FG%, 36.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $23,643,411 (78th overall)
Big man Jabari Smith Jr. was drafted third overall in the 2022 draft out of Auburn, so he’s about to enter his fifth season. The big man went to the NBA with a lot of expectations thanks to his defensive upside (he’s a plus-switch defender with long arms, great quickness and good instincts as a shot-blocker) and due to the ability he showed to hit tough shots in college.
However, the fact that Smith needed to hit that many tough shots to get his buckets at Auburn should have been a red flag, as elite prospects should be scoring with ease before they get to the NBA. Instead, the same tough shots Smith was hitting in college haven’t been falling for him in the NBA. For his career, Smith has a mediocre 55.3 true shooting percentage, which, among players with at least 1500 field-goal attempts over the past four seasons, is the 44th-worst mark in the NBA.
The saving grace for Smith is that despite his amount of time in the NBA, he’s still just 23, so there’s time for him to find another level. He does still have promise thanks to his size (6-foot-11), length (7-foot-1 wingspan), lateral quickness and ability to at times hit tough shots, even if he hasn’t been all that tidy in the NBA to this point.
For the latest Jabari Smith Jr. news and rumors, click here.
15. Caleb Wilson (Chicago)
2026-27 salary: $10,683,720 (170th overall)
There is a lot of excitement in Chicago around the upcoming debut of the most recent No. 4 overall pick in the draft, Caleb Wilson.
Many believe that the Bulls might have gotten a steal because, in college at UNC, Wilson didn’t shoot that many threes (the Atlanta native attempted 27 three-pointers at Carolina and made just seven), while in the pre-draft process and even at Summer League, Wilson was making three-point shooting look like a plus skill of his.
Wilson shot 42 percent from three in Summer League, including a seven-for-11 outing in his debut in the competition, with many of those shots coming off the dribble. If a player with Wilson’s size and explosiveness is going to be nailing off-the-dribble threes, then there’s a non-zero chance the Bulls just selected the best player in the draft with the fourth pick.
Other NBA players are quite high on Wilson’s potential, with Hall-of-Fame power forward Kevin Garnett, who was nicknamed The Big Ticket, calling Wilson The Little Ticket. Draymond Green took it a step further, saying he believes Wilson’s floor as an NBA player is Garnett.
We won’t go that far, as it’s a lot to say the worst-case scenario for a 20-year-old who hasn’t even played an official NBA game yet is to be a 15-time All-Star, but we understand the excitement, as Wilson is explosive and intense, and has skill as a shooter, slasher and face-up bucket-getter, so his ceiling could legitimately be at the All-NBA level.
For the latest Caleb Wilson news and rumors, click here.
14. Cam Boozer (Memphis)
2026-27 salary: $11,849,760 (156th overall)
The NBA got a much-needed replenishment at the power forward position in the most recent draft, as not only does Wilson have loads of upside, but so does the player who was drafted one pick ahead of him at No. 3, former Duke star Cameron Boozer.
Boozer, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, had a dominant lone season at Duke, even if it didn’t end in team glory. Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals on 55.6 percent shooting from the floor and 39.1 percent from three at Duke, winning the Naismith Award, the Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year for his troubles.
Boozer has a fascinating game, as he isn’t overly athletic, but, like his father, he’s very instinctual, showing the ability to score as a spot-up shooter, off the dribble, with crafty post-ups, and more. He’s also a fantastic playmaker for his position, an area we believe he’ll shine in right away in the NBA, thanks to his headiness and feel for the game.
Boozer is also quite strong for his position, giving him the ability to score near the rim by banging through defenders, as well as to defend down low on the other end. Boozer also has quick hands and feet, making him an adept switch defender.
In Summer League, Boozer introduced himself to the pro ranks quite well, averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals, while leading Memphis to the Summer League championship game. His lack of super-elite athleticism could mean he has a bit of an acclimation period in the NBA, but once he figures out the pro game, we think Boozer has an All-Star ceiling thanks to his basketball IQ and instincts, as well as shooting ability from the outside.
For the latest Cam Boozer news and rumors, click here.
13. Aaron Gordon (Denver)
2025-26 stats: 16.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.6 spg, 49.7 FG%, 38.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $31,978,037 (59th overall)
Veteran power forward Aaron Gordon has been battling the injury bug over the last couple of seasons, which is concerning because at his peak he was quite dependent on his otherworldly athleticism to make an impact. If Gordon were to lose a step athletically, might that impact start to look a little less impressive? Gordon has appeared in just 87 regular-season games dating back to 2024-25.
Giving us some hope that Gordon’s game might age better than expected is the fact that he has hit 41.3 percent of his threes over his injury-plagued last two seasons.
When healthy, Gordon is an athletic freak with fantastic strength and mobility, making up for his former lack of skill as a shooter. The jury remains out on whether his last two seasons of accurate shooting are an aberration or not, but for his career, the former Arizona Wildcat is a 33.5 percent shooter from the outside.
Where Gordon shines is as a slasher, as his explosiveness is absurd while he stands at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, so he’s got a ton of power behind his athleticism, too. Gordon’s cutting is highlighted fantastically by Nikola Jokic’s unreal passing ability; the big Serbian knows exactly when and where to hit Gordon when he’s slashing off the ball. Gordon is also a good defender and offensive rebounder, especially when smaller players are trying to box him out, so he makes a two-way impact.
For the latest Aaron Gordon news and rumors, click here.
12. OG Anunoby (New York)
2025-26 stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 spg, 48.4 FG%, 38.6 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $42,500,000 (29th overall)
The author of arguably the most historic tip-in in NBA history…
…OG Anunoby had a strong chance of winning Finals MVP in 2026 before New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson took over late in the Spurs series.
Anunoby is far from a star, but he’s a downright superstar role player, a slashing small-ball power forward with a ridiculous wingspan at nearly 7-foot-2, who can defend guards, wings or bigs at a high level, while creating steals by poking away loose ball-handles or jumping passing lanes, as well as protecting the rim. Anunoby finished Top 10 in the Defensive Player of the Year vote last season and earned 2nd Team All-Defense honors.
Anunoby is happy to do anything the team asks him on either end, and is never scared to put his body on the line to make a play for his team. The former Indiana standout is the prototypical 3-and-D type, except he’s got scoring juice off the dribble, too, making him a huge weapon on both ends.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Anunoby has made New York 7.2 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor since joining the Knicks two-and-a-half seasons ago.
For the latest OG Anunoby news and rumors, click here.
11. Julius Randle (Brooklyn)
2025-26 stats: 21.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 48.1 FG%, 31.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $33,333,334 (54th overall)
A more traditional power forward than a lot of the other players on this list, new Brooklyn Nets 4-man Julius Randle has fantastic strength for his position, often bullying smaller foes closer to the rim by burying his shoulder into their chests and powering through them.
Randle also has underrated skill, with a tight enough ball handle to drive to the rim like a battering ram. Randle can also create plays for others at a level better than he’s given credit for, possessing a strong drive-and-kick game. What’s more, Randle can at least somewhat space the floor from three, although not all that efficiently.
Last season, Randle was one of just nine players to put up a 21/6/5 stat line on a list riddled with superstars such as the player who finished No. 1 in this ranking, as well as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, among others.
He may not be the best playoff performer historically, but he’s an impactful regular-season player of the All-Star tier thanks to his powerful scoring ability and underrated playmaking.
For the latest Julius Randle news and rumors, click here.
10. Lauri Markkanen (Utah)
2025-26 stats: 26.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.7 FG%, 35.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $46,113,154 (26th overall)
After a down 2024-25 campaign, Finnish big man Lauri Markkanen bounced back last season to the tune of putting up a career-high 26.7 points per game while chipping in 6.9 rebounds and shooting 47.7 percent from the floor.
Markkanen is the prototypical floor-spacing modern big man, possessing a pretty jumper and spot-up-shooting ability from the outside in a 7-foot body. The Utah Jazz, knowing they wouldn’t be competing for anything over the past few seasons, have done well to push Markkanen out of his comfort zone, asking him to do more than he’s ever been tasked with doing in the NBA.
That’s to say, Utah has given Markkanen an ultra green light to get buckets and not just depend on the spot-up outside shooting he was so comfortable with. That has led to Markkanen greatly improving as a one-on-one scorer over recent campaigns, with face-up iso bucket-getting chops, who can hit all sorts of tough shots from the midrange, including using fadeaways, turnarounds and more.
How will that translate when Utah is actually trying to win games as soon as this season? The jury remains out on that, but either way, the team should be commended for Markkanen’s much-improved game. Since getting to Utah, the 29-year-old has averaged 23.7 points and 7.6 rebounds on 47.4 percent shooting. Compared to the first five seasons of his career when Markkanen averaged 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds on 44.1 percent shooting, and you can see the major improvement the Vantaa native has made since joining the Jazz.
For the latest Lauri Markkanen news and rumors, click here.
9. Anthony Davis (Washington)
2025-26 stats: 20.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.7 bpg, 50.6 FG%, 27.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $58,456,566 (3rd overall)
It’s tough to predict how Anthony Davis’ 2026-27 season will look, as we’re not entirely sure he’ll be spending the entire season in Washington or what his motivation will be for playing on such a young team. What’s more, 2025-26 was one of the worst seasons of Davis’ career, as not only did he suit up in only 20 games, but his 20.4 points per game was the second-lowest mark in the NBA.
On the other hand, Davis is just one season removed from his last All-Star campaign, and the campaign prior to that, 2023-24, he was 1st Team All-Defender and a 2nd Team All-NBAer for the Los Angeles Lakers. Now 33, however, and after two injury-plagued seasons, it’s perfectly fair to question whether Davis still has that elite level in him.
When healthy, Davis was a two-way freak, capable of protecting the rim at an elite level, as well as rebounding with the best of them thanks to his otherworldly near 7-foot-6 wingspan, all while being a face-up big with fantastic one-on-one scoring behind his midrange jumper, ability to hit tough shots and drive to the basket against slower-footed foes thanks to his quick first step.
We’ll just have to wait and see whether Davis is still that player in 2026-27. For now, we’re being conservative with where we predict him to rank among the league’s top power forwards.
For the latest Anthony Davis news and rumors, click here.
8. Pascal Siakam (Indiana)
2025-26 stats: 24.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 48.4 FG%, 35.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $48,924,624 (23rd overall)
One of the best driving power forwards in the NBA, Pascal Siakam uses his great quickness, length and ball-handling to get to the rim against slower opponents and finish around the basket. Siakam plays with endless energy, almost like the big-man version of Russell Westbrook, at least with his relentless attacking style.
Siakam can also shoot it well enough from three and the midrange to demand respect, opening up driving lanes to either attack the rim or create for teammates, as the Cameroon native is a very underrated playmaker. Siakam has earned All-Star honors in each of the last two seasons, and with an absolute engine like Tyrese Haliburton returning in 2026-27, we think this will be another great year for Siakam, even if he’ll be in his age-32 campaign and perhaps starting to lose a step athletically.
For the latest Pascal Siakam news and rumors, click here.
7. Zion Williamson (New Orleans)
2025-26 stats: 21.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 60.0 FG%, 25.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $42,166,510 (30th overall)
Although former No. 1 pick Zion Williamson hasn’t come close to matching expectations after all the hype he had surrounding him when he got to the NBA back in 2019, he has had spells where he looks like an All-NBA player, making it quite difficult to define him as a player.
What was most important is that Williamson was at least relatively healthy last season, suiting up in 62 regular-season games, the second-highest total of his career. At the same time, he averaged a career-lows inpoints per game and rebounds per game, further adding to the enigma that is Zion.
The good news, besides his solid health, is that Williamson has proven to be impactful of late; over the past two seasons, the former Duke superstar has made the New Orleans Pelicans 5.1 points per 100 possessions better than when he’s been on the bench. The supersized southpaw remains a high-level athlete in a ridiculous 6-foot-8, near-300-pound frame, making him look like an NFL left tackle who happens to have a 45-inch vert on the hardwood.
Once Williamson gets a head full of steam, he’s downright impossible to slow down, resembling the Juggernaut character in Marvel movies.
He also has surprisingly soft touch around the basket and decent vision as a playmaker, somewhat making up for his deficiencies as a shooter.
All in all, Williamson is an extremely fun player, and the NBA product would improve if he manages to live up to his potential as a modern Charles Barkley with more skill as a ball-handler and driver. He just has to continue to remain focused on his fitness level, and the rest should follow for the supremely talented power forward.
For the latest Zion Williamson news and rumors, click here.
6. Paolo Banchero (Orlando)
2025-26 stats: 22.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 5.2 apg, 0.7 spg, 45.9 FG%, 30.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $41,240,250 (35th overall)
Another former No. 1 overall pick out of Duke, Paolo Banchero, has done a better job of living up to expectations than Williamson, but even he has been disappointing to an extent, mostly due to poor shot selection and overall play style.
Rather than attack the rim and abuse smaller defenders as someone 6-foot-10, 250 pounds with his level of skill as a ball-handler should, Banchero instead too often settles for attempting difficult shots from the midrange, be it fadeaways or turnarounds, trying to play more like Kobe Bryant than a true power forward.
It doesn’t help that Banchero is a porous shooter, hitting 31.7 percent of his career three-point attempts and shooting 44.9 percent from the floor in the NBA, paltry marks considering his level of size and talent. If Banchero were to cut back on the superstar-level tough shot attempts and instead stick to attacking the rim and just shooting spot-up threes here and there, there’s no question his game would reach a higher tier.
For now, Banchero remains outside of the league’s Top 40 players, at least according to what BPM and VORP thought of him in 2025-26, and his impact in Orlando has reflected that. Banchero has yet to post a positive swing rating in his career; in fact, the Magic have been 3.8 points per 100 possessions worse during his time on the floor in the NBA.
Perhaps first-year Orlando head coach Sean Sweeney will be able to implement a team playing style that will have Banchero more in attack mode and less in settle-for-tough-shots mode. Banchero is supremely talented physically and has an impressive skill level; he just has to lock in his game to better fit what he can do at a high level, which is not playing like he’s Kevin Durant 2.0.
For the latest Paolo Banchero news and rumors, click here.
5. LeBron James (Philadelphia)
2025-26 stats: 20.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 51.5 FG%, 31.7 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $3,876,529 (302nd overall)
LeBron James, the greatest player of all time (according to us), is set to play 2026-27 and potentially 2027-28 on a veteran minimum salary afterhe took the biggest pay cut of all time this offseason when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers.
Signing James to such a deal could look downright unfair for Philadelphia’s foes in the Eastern Conference, especially considering just last season, he was still putting up a 20/6/7 stat line and earning All-Star honors as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even so, we have James a bit lower in this ranking than we’re all used to seeing. It’s not because we think he’s set to finally lose the battle to Father Time, though that certainly plays a part. It’s also that he’ll be joining an absolutely loaded Sixers squad with so many mouths to feed, including Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, at least on the nights he’s healthy enough to play.
That gives us some second thoughts as to how James’ numbers are going to look. Could 2026-27 be the first season of James’ career in which he averages fewer than 20 points per game? It’s not out of the question, depending on how much of a back seat James takes to the young and loaded roster around him.
Still, James being James, we’re confident he’ll find a way to carve out a major role for the Sixers, perhaps as a play-making forward who won’t have to worry as much about scoring as he has in years past. Just like we could see James averaging under 20 points for the first time, we could also easily see James putting up 10 assists nightly, as he’ll be dishing the ball to so many talented scorers.
It’ll be interesting to see how James’ three-point shot is falling this season. After hitting 39.3 percent of his threes over 2023-24 and 2024-25, he shot just 31.7 percent of his triples in 2025-26, his poorest mark since 2015-16.
Overall, despite it looking like he’s finally slowing down a bit, James still ranked as aTop 30 player league-wide in VORP andTop 20 in BPM last year, so he’s still hugely impactful despite his advanced age. We’re just not sure how he’ll put up his usual numbers having to share the ball so much in Philadelphia. But that was probably why James made the decision to join the Sixers: so he could take a backseat in the regular season and be fresh come playoff time in the hunt for championship No. 5.
For the latest LeBron James news and rumors, click here.
4. Evan Mobley (Cleveland)
2025-26 stats: 18.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.7 bpg, 54.6 FG%, 29.7 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $50,105,628 (14th overall)
Even though Evan Mobley has an All-NBA ceiling thanks to his skill, size and length, and although he did reach that height in 2024-25 when he was named a 2nd Team All-NBAer, his game is still inconsistent, as evidenced by him going from earning MVP votes two seasons ago to missing out on any sort of individual accolade last season.
Mobley is still just 25, so he absolutely has the ability to become a perennial All-NBAer, but it’s starting to be time for him to prove it. The former USC standout stands at nearly seven feet tall, has a ridiculous 7-foot-4 wingspan and can hit pull-up midrange jumpers on drives to the basket, as well as finish well around the rim thanks to that fantastic length. But his poor outside shooting (Mobley is a career 30.9 percent shooter from three) limits him, as does the fact that he plays a little soft, often getting bodied out of the paint by smaller players, something that can’t happen to a supposed star-level player.
Mobley has often been compared to Kevin Garnett, at least earlier in his career, but you can’t be Kevin Garnett if you don’t play with Kevin Garnett-level intensity, another area in which Mobley struggles. He too often floats in and out of games and doesn’t make the play-by-play impact on both ends that his ceiling might allow.
Even so, Mobley is so talented that even in a disappointing season like 2025-26, he still ranked among the Top 30 players in the league according to BPM and VORP, hence why we have him ranked where he is here. We’d just like to see Mobley improve on that outside shooting and his overall intensity, because he has the upside to be the best power forward in the league if he were to improve on those two traits.
For the latest Evan Mobley news and rumors, click here.
3. Scottie Barnes (Toronto)
2025-26 stats: 18.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.5 bpg, 50.7 FG%, 30.4 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $41,754,636 (33rd overall)
A Swiss Army Knife on both ends of the floor, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes is a reliable jumper away from being a perennial All-NBAer. To this point, Barnes has yet to be named to an All-NBA team in his career, but we think he’s right on the cusp of achieving that honor, as he is one of the most unique and impactful players in the league at the moment.
Last season, Barnes became just the sixth player in NBA history to post an 18/7/5 stat line to go with 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, joining Garnett, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, DeMarcus Cousins, Alvan Adams and the player who finished at the top of this ranking. That shows just how rare Barnes’ blend of playmaking and defending is, and how close he is to being a historical talent if he can just continue improving on his jumper.
Even without the reliable jumper, Barnes can get some buckets as a slasher and off-ball cutter thanks to his size (6-foot-8) and wingspan (7-foot-3), and he has solid touch closer to the basket from the short midrange. Barnes is also a very reliable playmaker who can be a secondary creator on a great team, creating looks for teammates on his attacks to the rim. Barnes’ versatility offensively allows him to be either the ball-handler out of the pick-and-roll or the screen-and-roller, opening up tons of fun possibilities for the Raptors’ offense.
That versatility extends to the defensive end, as Barnes is legitimately able to defend any position, 1 through 5, thanks to his size, length, lateral quickness, instincts and effort on that end of the floor. Barnes was rewarded with 2nd Team All-Defense honors for his efforts defensively last season.
Barnes still has another level he can reach, but at the very least, he plays with high effort on a nightly basis and produces, which is why we are as high on him as we are. The analytics agree, as Barnes ranked Top 10 in the NBA overall in VORP last season and Top 20 in BPM.
For the latest Scottie Barnes news and rumors, click here.
2. Jalen Johnson (Atlanta)
2025-26 stats: 22.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 7.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 48.9 FG%, 35.2 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $30,000,000 (64th overall)
A freak athlete, Jalen Johnson, after showing strong flashes in the previous two seasons, broke out fully in 2025-26, putting up an unreal 22/10/7.5 stat line and becoming the unquestioned franchise building block for the Atlanta Hawks, who decided to trade Trae Young and continue building around Johnson instead.
Johnson is a load to defend once he gets going towards the basket, boasting a quick first step, a strong shoulder and great slashing and finishing ability near the basket. Johnson just needs to keep working on his midrange game; he has moments of hitting tough shots over good defending, but he’ll need to continue getting more consistent at it to reach an even higher strata as a player.
Even so, Johnson is on a fantastic path, already reaching All-NBA status in 2025-26 as a 3rd Teamer thanks to his scoring, rebounding and playmaking. Last season, the 24-year-old became the fifth player in league history to put up a season in which he averaged at least 22 points, 10 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. The other four players on that list? Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokic, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
Solid company there for the former Duke Blue Devil.
He’ll need to keep honing in that outside jumper, but we’re confident Johnson, a monster rebounder for his position and very solid playmaker, will be able to do just that, at least based on how impressively he’s already improved thus far in his career.
For the latest Jalen Johnson news and rumors, click here.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Miami)
2025-26 stats: 27.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 62.4 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $58,456,566 (3rd overall)
After 13 fantastic years in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo finally got his wish this summer and was traded to a team that, in his estimation, is readier to compete for championship hardware than the Bucks were late in his tenure there. That team, obviously, is the Miami Heat, who will now try to build an established winner around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, which will be an interesting project since neither player is much of an outside shooter.
Regardless, Antetokounmpo is coming off an injury-plagued season that limited him to just 36 appearances, despite the Greek power forward reportedly fighting the team to play more. When he was healthy, Antetokounmpo remained one of the best players in the world; the big man would have ranked fourth in the NBA last season in BPM (plus-9.5) if he had played enough games to qualify for Basketball-Reference’s ranking, as well as fourth in WS/48 (0.231).
Antetokounmpo is unstoppable on his post-ups and slashes to the basket, playing like a modern-day Shaquille O’Neal, just with a ball-handle, finishing powerfully and explosively at the rim, no matter who opponents put out there to defend him. Antetokounmpo is also particularly adept at sucking in defenses with his paint attacks and finding open teammates on the perimeter, hence why the Heat went out of their way to add shooting this summer in the form of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson.
The 31-year-old is also an extremely impactful defender as a paint protector while also possessing the versatility to guard multiple positions on the other end, from ball-handlers to bigs, thanks to his strength, length (7-foot-3 wingspan) and lateral movement ability.
For the latest Giannis Antetokounmpo news and rumors, click here.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Ranking: The Top 27 power forwards for 2026-27
