Top 5 defensive Small Forwards of 2019-2020

Top 5 defensive Small Forwards of 2019-2020

The small forward position is my favorite position in basketball. The combination of being good at putting the ball in the basket and defending makes them very interesting to watch. This is part three of five showcasing the best defenders of 2019-2020 at their respective positions.  I will be using the same blueprint that I used for the centers and power forwards which is defensive statistics and of course the eye test. If you missed it the 9 stats were defensive ratings, defensive field goal percentage, defensive win shares, block percentage, steals percentage, defensive rebounding percentage, steals per game, blocks per game and defensive rebounds per game with a minimum of 30 games played.

5. Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)

Khris Middleton is another addition to this series that shows why the Bucks hold the best record in the league. They prioritize defense and it shows with Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo also making their respective lists. Middleton averaged 21.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and .9 steals per game. Middleton holds the best defensive rating in the position sitting at 103 and the third best defensive win shares at 3.1. He also held his opponents to shooting 40.5% from the field which is the third best in the position. As far as defensive stats go those were the only areas he shined in but watching him on the court his lateral quickness is very good allowing him to keep up with the elites scoring the ball. He is also able to rebound the ball well for a small forward grabbing 5.5 of them on the defensive side of the ball. That's also very impressive because his teammate Giannis has the most defensive rebounds in the league. 

4. Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)

Jimmy Butler has found his new identity with the Miami Heat being the clear cut leader. He regained his all-star status averaging 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Butler has been known for his grit on defense and this year was no different. He stole the ball 2.4% of the time he was on the floor which is the second best at his position. His defensive rating is the worst on the list sitting at 106 but he held his opponents to shooting 42% from the field. Butler is more active on defense than Middleton. Butler is able to create more turnovers ending an opponent's possession giving his team an extra chance to score. He is constantly in passing lanes and denying the ball while being able to stay in front of his man creating low percentage shots. His 4.8 defensive rebounds also lands him at number four in his position. 

3. Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

Lebron James continued his dominance over the league this year after missing the end of last year with an injury. Lebron and his new teammate Anthony Davis were able to bring the Lakers back to the playoffs with the second best record in the league. The four-time NBA MVP averaged 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 10.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He had defensive win shares of 3.4 which was the best on the list. His steals put him at fourth best and his defensive rating was 105 which was also fourth best at the position. Lebron was also the best defensive rebounder on the list averaging 6.9 a game rebounding the ball 21% of the time he was on the floor. He held his opponents to shooting 44.4% from the field which was fourth best on the list. Lebron has been overlooked as a defender in recent years but he shouldn't be this year seeing he was consistently top five in his position as far as defensive stats go. He is still able to guard the 1-5 spots, play passing lanes, and strip shooters when they are going up for the shot. 

2. OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors)

OG Anunoby is a player that knows his role and plays it very well. He is a starter because of his defensive production and he does it at a high rate. In his third year in the league he is top five in his position at every defensive stat besides rebounding percentage. Anunoby averaged 10.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and .7 blocks per game. He has a defensive rating of 104 which is tied for second best at his position along with his 3.4 defensive win percentage. He stole the ball 2.2% of the time he is on the floor and blocked the ball 2.1% of the time he was on the floor which is the best on the list. He held his opponents to shooting 45.1% from the field which is the worst on the list but he is the main defender on the Raptors guarding whoever has the hot hand which hurts him in that statistic. His ability to switch to any position and his grit on the defensive side puts him at number two on the list. 

1. Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)

To nobody's surprise the number 1 spot belongs to Kawhi Leonard. He has the nickname the Klaw for a reason, using his huge hands to be a pest on defense. The two-time defensive player of the year averaged 26.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was number one in defensive field goal percentage at 40.2%. His 1.8 steals per game was also number one stealing the ball 2.6% of the time he was on the court. His .6 blocks per game was second best on the list blocking the ball 1.7% of the time he was on the court. He had defensive win shares of 3 and and had a defensive rating of 104 which was tied for second best behind Middleton. He was also number two in defensive rebounds with 6.3 a game grabbing the board 19.7% of the time. Kawhi was so good he only fell out of the top three in his position one time which was defensive win shares where he was number 4. His wingspan allows him to guard any position with efficiency and he is able to create turnovers at a high rate. There really is no argument in who is the best defensive small forward. The Klaw sits at the top looking down at everybody else while staying efficient on the opposite end of the floor.