Giannis Antetkounmpo has reigned as the public’s favorite preseason fantasy power forward for the better part of the last five years. Don’t expect that to change this season. The Greek Freak has averaged at least 27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, a block, and a steal for fourth consecutive seasons and seems likely to put up similar numbers in 2022-23. There haven’t been any clear signs that someone is ready to take Antetokounmpo’s throne, but the battle for the top this season should be more competitive than last year’s.
Which players are the best first-round options at power forward? What players seem likely to rebound from injuries? And players could fall short of expectations? Check out the rankings below for some brief explanations for the top five power forwards and a comprehensive top 50 list:
The Top Five
Antetokounmpo has played less than 70 games in three consecutive seasons but remains the most lethal power forward in fantasy basketball. He’s always a lock among the cream of the crop as a scorer and rebounder, and his defensive excellence puts him in a class of his own. The Milwaukee Bucks star does everything fantasy managers could ask for except convert shots from long range efficiently. He’s one of the few players you can count on to finish as a top-five performer every year. Don’t think twice about selecting him with a top-three pick come draft time.
Sabonis is somewhat of a tweener who’ll likely start at center for the Sacramento Kings. He posted ridiculous numbers following his departure from the Indiana Pacers last season and I expect more of the same in 2022-23. He averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists through 15 appearances with the Kings. While he doesn’t boast Anthony Davis’s defensive upside, he’s been a better rebounder and passer in recent years. I’m not convinced that Davis will log enough minutes to claim a top-two spot.
Williamson missed all of the 2021-22 season after blossoming into an All-Star in his second professional season. The Duke product scored with ease around the rim rebounded well, and showed growth as a playmaker so far in his young NBA career. While I expect the New Orleans Pelicans to be cautious with him, he’s had an entire year to get back in basketball shape. I can’t turn down a player who’s averaging 29.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per 36 minutes through 85 games.
Davis has played in less than half of the Los Angeles Lakers’ games over the last two seasons. He didn’t look like himself for a significant chunk of the games he did play last year. Especially when shooting jump shots. However, he still totaled 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He has the career averages of a surefire first-round pick, but his availability issues raise some major red flags. I still think Davis could finish second or third on this list by the end of the regular season, but only if he plays more than 60 games. He’ll be playing a lot of center unless the Lakers plan on rolling out Thomas Bryant at the five as a long-term solution.
Siakam was often deployed as a small-ball center throughout his last run with the Toronto Raptors and posted a career-high 8.5 rebounds per game because of it. Operating in the post didn’t limit his playmaking, though, as he also tallied a career-high 5.3 assists per game in 2021-22. Fred VanVleet’s monopoly of the point guard position and Scottie Barnes’s versatile skill set won’t slow down Siakam, who seems set to finish among the league leaders in minutes per game after playing nearly 38 minutes a night last season. He could jump past Davis and Williamson in the season-long standings if their coaching staffs manage their loads too much. Siakam will be suiting up whenever he can and fills up the box score every time he laces up.
Power forward rankings
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL
2. Domantas Sabonis, SAC
3. Zion Williamson, NOP
4. Anthony Davis, LAL
5. Pascal Siakam, TOR
6. Kristaps Porzingis, WAS
7. Julius Randle, NYK
8. Christian Wood, DAL
9. Jerami Grant, POR
10. Scottie Barnes, TOR
11. Evan Mobley, CLE
12. Paolo Banchero, ORL
13. Kyle Kuzma, WAS
14. John Collins, ATL
15. Jaren Jackson, MEM
16. Lauri Markkanen, UTH
17. Marvin Bagley, DET
18. Kevin Love, CLE
19. Draymond Green, GSW
20. Aaron Gordon, DEN
21. Al Horford, BOS
22. P.J. Washington, CHA
23. Keegan Murray, SAC
24. Jabari Smith, HOU
25. Darius Bazley, OKC
26. Patrick Williams, CHI
27. Brandon Clarke, MEM
28. Jae Crowder, PHO
29. Chris Boucher, TOR
30. Obi Toppin, NYK
31. Kelly Olynyk, DET
32. Larry Nance Jr., NOP
33. Maxi Kleber, DAL
34. Precious Achiuwa, TOR
35.Rui Hachimura, WAS
36. PJ Tucker, PHI
37. Robert Covington, LAC
38. Nic Batum, LAC
39. Marcus Morris, LAC
40. Daniel Theis, IND
41. Dario Saric, PHO
42. Jarred Vanderbilt, UTH
43. Serge Ibaka, MIL
44. Jalen McDaniels, CHA
45. Grant Williams, BOS
46. Zach Collins, SAS
47. Trendon Watford, POR
48. Jake LaRavia, MEM
49. Trey Lyles, SAC
50. Jonathan Isaac, ORL
