NBA Player Rankings: Top 10 small forwards for 2016-17

1st place – LeBron James

This one goes without saying. Along with Stephen Curry ruling any list ranking the best point guards in the game, there’s no question about LeBron James’ status as the best small forward in the world. From being able to guard anyone to his remarkable vision and passing, he can do almost everything (a notable drop off from three last year aside).

And after his miraculous performance to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals against Curry and the first ever 73-9 team, you can’t dispute that LeBron is the best player in the world altogether as well.

LeBron is on a level of greatness where ranking him as the best at his position, or simply the best in the league, doesn’t need much explanation. You don’t need to concoct an argument or delve into advanced analytics to make it sound reasonable. Before Curry’s takeover in the last two years, LeBron has been completely on his own in that regard, ruling over the NBA for a good decade.

And, yet again, after such remarkable play in the Finals, LeBron tops this list without need for explanation.

24.6 points (53 percent shooting, 31.3 percent from three), 9.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 2.2 steals and one block in 38.3 minutes per game.

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Those are the numbers LeBron averaged up until the last three games of the Finals through his first 18 games of the 2016 playoffs. Pretty impressive, right? A near triple-double, defending at an elite level and leading the Cavs to a sweep of the first two rounds as the one who runs the offense and maintains focus and balance for the team at both ends of the floor.

36.3 points (50.6 percent shooting and 42.1 percent from three), 11.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists, three steals and three blocks per game.

Those are the numbers LeBron averaged in the last three games to close the Finals. The three biggest games of his career. With absolutely everything against him, from the deficit of the series, to the mismatches on his team (such as Kevin Love vs. the faster Warriors), to the historic dominance of his opponent, there was no way the Cavs and LeBron should have had that glorious parade through Cleveland.

But all that weighing against him didn’t matter. And the Cavs did have that parade. Because whenever it’s necessary, LeBron can flick a switch and be the most overpowering, skilful, versatile, and balanced player at both ends of the floor. He can do more than anyone else on a basketball court, fuelled by a scary level of motivation and freakish speed and strength.

When all that came together, he unleashed it in one defining play of defiance and authority. “The Block” was LeBron’s moment to assert himself as The King.

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That’s what happens when LeBron doesn’t want to lose. He turned what had become the most lopsided series into the most unexpected victory.

There’s no doubt that he’s the best small forward heading into 2016-17, because there’s no doubt that he’s now the best small forward we’ve seen in NBA history.

Next: Where do Blake, DeAndre rank in Clippers history?

That’s all there is to it.