Passin' the Torch - Small Forwards

"I leave the game in good hands. So many great stars are rising and playing the game. I have passed on the things that Dr. J and some of the great players--Magic Johnson, Larry Bird--have passed on to me; I pass on to these All-Stars here, as well as to the rest of the players in the NBA. I want to thank you all for your support. Now I can go home and feel at peace with the game of basketball."
Michael Jordon, 2003 NBA All-Star Game

Welcome back to Passin' the Torch! I would like to first apologize in advance for not sticking with my own rules for this particular post. Most of these guys are not 25 years of age and younger, but they all fit the most important criteria of this series: players who are/will be the future of the NBA. When I first decided to do "Passin' the Torch", I was particularly excited about doing the small forwards post. So let's get right to it!


Rudy Gay (24)
2009-2010 Stats

FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
.466	.327	.753	5.9	1.9	1.5	0.8	2.1	19.6

Rudy Gay is one of the most athletic players in the NBA today. Time and time again I've seen his high-flying highlights on the NBA TV Top 10. Although he's known more for his spectacular dunks, he is also a gifted offensive player. He is the best wing scorer the Grizzlies have and that's been proven by his ability to slash to the rim and hit the occasional jumper. What Gay needs to work on now, to supplant himself as one of the best small forwards in the game, is a consistent jumper and his defensive skills. Gay has yet to really prove himself as the go to scorer on the Grizzlies, but this year is a great opportunity for him to take his game to the next level and prove that he's worth all those millions the Grizzlies spent on him this past summer.


Andre Iguodala (26)
2009-2010 Stats

FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
.443	.310	.733	6.5	5.8	1.7	0.7	2.7	17.1

Andre Iguodala is what you call a "Jack of all trades" type of basketball player. That simply means that he can do anything and everything on the court. He led the 76ers in points, assists, and steals and was second in rebounding. He's had some trouble producing wins on a struggling Sixers team, but he is still one of the better small forwards in the NBA. He's very athletic and a great defender. He played very well along side Kevin Durant this past FIBA Tournament as the lock-down defender for Team USA. During the season Iguodala only averaged 13-14 shot attempts a game, whereas players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant averaged at least 20 shot attempts a game. Iguodala is better suited as a sidekick than the head honcho. As proven this past summer, Iguodala played well next to Durant, who was the unquestioned number 1 option of Team USA. With all the pressure of scoring off of Iguodala, he could focus on other parts of the game, like defense.


Carmelo Anthony (26)
2009-2010 Stats

FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
.458	.316	.830	6.6	3.2	1.3	0.4	3.0	28.2

Carmelo Anthony is one of the most gifted offensive players in the NBA today. He can literally score from anywhere around the court. At 6'8 and 230 pounds, he's very strong and deceptively quick. He can hit jumpers from anywhere around the court and take it to the rack with strength, as proven by his 8-9 free throw attempts a game. Carmelo is already a top 5 small forward in the NBA, but not in the top 5 of best players in the NBA. He's definitely worthy of the title of a franchise player, but he will need to continue to grow his leadership to ever want to reach the title of the best in the game. Whether Carmelo stays in the Mile High City or moves to a place with brighter lights, he'll need to lead his team deep into the playoffs to reach the status Durant and James.


Kevin Durant (22)
2009-2010 Stats

FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
.476	.365	.900	7.6	2.8	1.4	1.0	3.3	30.1

Here is where we start getting to the elites. Kevin Durant is in conversation to be one of the top 3 players in the NBA and he's only 22 years old. He led the Thunder to the playoffs last year scoring 30 points a game and more impressively, led team USA to the gold medal in Turkey. Watching him play in the FIBA tournament proved to me that this kid is no fluke. The way he scored under pressure and constantly delivered when it counted showed how good he really is. Durant and James will definitely be battling for the title of the best in the NBA once Kobe is gone. He's shown so much maturity and talent at a young age. I wouldn't count out OKC as the number 2 seed in the West, behind the Lakers. The Thunder will definitely be a dark horse in the playoff race and contenders for the title for years to come.


LeBron James (26)
2009-2010 Stats

FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
.503	.333	.767	7.3	8.6	1.6	1.0	3.4	29.7

Hate him or love him, LeBron James is one talented basketball player and there hasn't been anyone as gifted and versatile since Magic Johnson. His ability to find team mates and make his team better is a gift that only the greats have. He took a horrible, and I mean horrible Cavaliers team to the playoffs multiple times and even to the NBA Finals one year! For him to average almost 30 points, 7+ rebounds, 8+ assists, 1 block, and 1 steal a game is beyond insane. He wasn't a 2 time MVP for nothing. He's been this successful on a bad team, but imagine what he can do with a good one. I see LeBron and the Miami Heat winning multiple championships in the near future and far future. Once Kobe retires, I wish every other team in the NBA team good luck. If James wins multiple championships (by multiple I mean at least 4 or 5), he will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Runner Ups: Danny Granger (27 - No one in the NBA (25 years of age and younger) has a chance at beating out these players to be the best, but I give Granger credit in being a very talented player. If he was 25, he'd definitely be ahead of Gay on the list)

Check out Passin' the Torch - Point Guards edition and Shooting Guards edition if you haven't already! Link is below:
Passin' the Torch - Point Guards
Passin' the Torch - Shooting Guards