Top 10 Best Small Forwards Going into the 2025-26 NBA Season

The 2025-26 NBA season is just three days away from tipping off, and plenty of the league’s contenders will be heavily relying on their small forwards to carry them to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Wings still win rings in today’s league, and this position has some of the greatest players of all time dominating the sport. GIVEMESPORT has decided to recognize the three position as we inch closer to opening night, with our list of the ten best small forwards in the NBA.

10

Cooper Flagg

The No. 10 spot could’ve easily gone to DeMar DeRozan, Aaron Nesmith, or Cameron Johnson. All three are model pros who each have the upside to make an All-Star team this season.

But we’re giving this edge here to the No. 1 overall pick from this past year’s draft, Cooper Flagg. The Duke standout fully lived up to the hype in college, and now he begins his professional career on a dark-horse title contender in the West.

Even if Flagg has an uneven start on offense to his rookie year, he is sure to make an immediate impact defensively that warrants a spot on this list. The 18-year-old is too talented to be excluded.

9

Brandon Ingram

Brandon Ingram comes in at No. 9, looking for new life in the north with the Toronto Raptors. The former All-Star spent nearly six seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, during which he evolved into a consistent 20-point-per-game scorer.

Ingram’s biggest issue throughout his career has been his health. The nine-year veteran has only played more than 70 games once in his career, but when healthy, he can be a solid second option in this league.

The 28-year-old could still have his best basketball ahead of him, and we believe this change of scenery, alongside slashers like Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, will serve him well.

8

OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby is the prototype for a 3-and-D wing in the modern-day NBA, and the New York Knicks have been a contender in the Eastern Conference since trading for their versatile small forward.

Anunoby is coming off another successful season in the Big Apple, where he averaged a career-high 18 points per game.

The London, England native’s ability to guard all five positions will be crucial for the Knicks as they aim to build on their Eastern Conference Finals appearance with their first championship in 53 years.

7

Franz Wagner

Franz Wagner was on pace to make his first All-Star team, but a mid-season injury did not make that possible. The Orlando Magic were ravaged by several health setbacks last season, and return with a upgraded roster looking to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference.

Wagner and Paolo Banchero make up one of the most promising duos in the league, and alongside the newest shooting guard, Desmond Bane, can make some real noise this year.

Wagner has improved every season to this point in his career, and we expect no different in 2025.

6

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler III is currently listed as the Golden State Warriors‘ starting power forward, but we believe that the long-time small forward will be in his usual three spot for most of this year.

The six-time All-Star was dealt to the Bay Area from the Miami Heat during the trade deadline, and breathed new life into the NBA’s latest dynasty. The Warriors went 23-7 with their new forward during the regular season and upset the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

Butler, at 36 years old, is no longer the player he once was, but he remains a very capable second option alongside Stephen Curry.

5

Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams is coming off a terrific third season, during which he made his first All-Star team and first All-NBA squad. The 24-year-old capped the basketball year off as the second option on the championship-winning Oklahoma City Thunder.

Williams is an elite mid-range scorer who, and with his 7-foot-2 wingspan, makes a huge impact on both sides of the floor. The Thunder’s young forward is likely to continue his development as a playmaker in year four as his team looks to repeat.

4

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown has been one of the best forwards in the NBA for a while now. The four-time All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP struggled with a knee injury throughout last season, as the Boston Celtics fell disappointingly in the second round of the playoffs.

The league’s most decorated franchise is now going through a transitional season with its personnel, due to both the salary cap restrictions and Jayson Tatum‘s season-ending Achilles injury. One thing to keep an eye on in 2025 is Jaylen’s three-point percentage, which dropped to a career-low 32.4% last year.

Brown will now be the first option on the Celtics, and we’re anticipating that the 28-year-old has a bounce-back season with this frisky roster.

3

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is one of the greatest two-way players of all time, but his ongoing injury woes are making it increasingly difficult to evaluate him.

Nonetheless, the face of the Los Angeles Clippers was terrific when he was on the floor, leading the franchise to 50 wins for the second-straight season.

Unfortunately, a dark cloud is hovering over Leonard and the franchise due to their alleged salary cap circumvention. The ball is officially in Adam Silver’s court, and there’s a chance he makes a strong example out of Steve Ballmer for this alleged infraction.

2

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant, at 37 years old, is remarkably the second-best small forward in the league, and lthe egendary forward is now on another title contender.

The Houston Rockets traded for the aging superstar this offseason in an effort to take that good-to-great leap. Durant fits perfectly on this roster alongside budding stars Alperen Sengün and Amen Thompson.

Fred VanVleet‘s season-ending ACL tear puts more pressure on KD to be a facilitator on this team, but with the form he showed in Phoenix, the Rockets should be a Western Conference contender.

1

LeBron James

LeBron James will be the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd year in the association. The L.A. Lakers superstar forward is still one of the best players in the world at age 40, and he forms one of the league’s most deadly duos alongside Luka Doncic.

James isn’t the defensive force he was earlier in his career, but the 21-time All-Star has aged beautifully on the offensive end, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season.

This could be it for perhaps the greatest basketball player ever, and fans should enjoy every moment this icon of the game provides them this coming season.