[JoeWolf1]

Versatility is definitely a hot commodity in today’s game especially at the forward position. There are certainly “bangers” and energy guys at that position, but a forward who can handle the ball, knock down jumpers and play face up ball as well as having back to the basket moves is easily the most desired forward in today’s game. Those type of players weren’t nearly as common fifteen years ago as they are today. Karl Malone had a great jumpshot, but couldn’t handle or dish as well as a lot of today’s “point forwards.” The forwards of the 80’s and 90’s especially at the power forward position were more classic forwards, and i was trying to think of a player who kind of changed this turn in the forward position at a professional level. You could argue that the international influence that happen at that time period showed the league the value of a forward who could handle the ball like a guard and knock down 25 footers, but many of those players such as Toni Kukoc, Dirk and others, weren’t the best defenders and weren’t as complete of players as many of today’s elite forwards are. Kevin Garnett in my opinion was the player that kind of shifted the tide as far as the new age complete forwards are concerned. After coming in the league in 95′ Garnett in the next few years rose to be an elite small/power forward, who could shoot a good mid range jumper, handle the ball like a guard at 6’11” and still play a post up game, block shots are rebound with the best of them (4 time league leader ). In the years to follow Lamar Odom, Chris Bosh, and plenty of others shared this new “versatile power forward.” The pro game is always changing and i attribute a lot of the evolution at the power forward position to Kevin Garnett.

What do you guys think about the evolution of the forward position in the last 15 or so years?

[aj81Participant]

erase this weak ass post

[dwat4444Participant]

If its evolution then Ben Wallace is a Dinosaur

[j1232eParticipant]

what are you talking about malone was a great passer, the pick and roll would not have been so great with malones passing skills.

[Champzilla21Participant]

Kevin Garnett has Been my favorite plaver since i stated watching basketball, he is won of the only playes in the league able to play all 5 postions effectively both offensively an defensively, you mentioned lamar odom and chris bosh as next generations, their ot even in the relm of kg, odom had all the potential in the world but his best year he aeraged 17 pts 9 boards and 4 assists, Bosh is closer to kg, he steps out and shoots the jay out works bigger players for the boards, but hes no where near the passer, defender or dribbler kg is, if i could name a player before kg who was just underneath him is derrick coleman

[JoeWolf1]

yeah Malone was a great passer, but i was mainly referring to his lack of ball handling skills when i brought him up in the comparison, although he was a highly skilled player as far as shooting and passing goes, he lacked the overall ball handling Garnett has. Champzilla21, yeah pre-fat DC was an absolute beast, its a shame he got out of shape and was content walking from end to end shooting 15 footers, Tom Chambers was another guy i thought of, but he as well as Coleman weren’t quite the ball handler Garnett is.

[Champzilla21Participant]

I dont think theirs gunna be another kg for another long time, theirs people who can do 2/3 the things he does but theirs just no1 out their who can replicate it all

[Tha King2121Participant]

My favorite play as welll

[PsychoTforPresidentParticipant]

This is easy, before the candy bars, pizzas, and 18 kids I remember watching him in the early 90’s destroy the NBA, nobody knew what to do about guarding him. He took over when Xavier Mcdaniel left that team, if you wanna talk about where KG’s style screams Kemp. He may not have the numbers of Garnett but that is because he was on a championship caliber team with numerous all-stars.

[Pacers31]

but KG is 7-1 and kemp is 6-10. i also think that KG has a higher hoops IQ than kemp ever did.

[Champzilla21Participant]

i was going to say kemp but hes no where near the jump shooter, passer and defender kg was, also kemp only averaged around 10 rebs fr 6 years straight kg did it for like 10, kemp highest assits average was a mediocore 2.5, kg hovered around 5 and once averaged 6 dimes in a season, kemp was a pretender

[PsychoTforPresidentParticipant]

Like I said he had 3 all-stars on his team, he didn’t have to produce the numbers KG did. Do you honestly think KG would have the same numbers if he had pierce, allen, and Rondo on his team for 5 or 6 years in his prime. Kemp not a jumpshooter?? He was lethal out to 18′, people remember him as a dunker just because he embarassed everyone.

[JoeWolf1]

Kemp wasn’t the passer Garnett is, Kemp was a beast no doubt, but Kemp was in no way a point forward type player Garnett is, he was more in the classic power forward mold, he couldn’t run a break like Garnett, although he sure knew how to finish one, Garnett also averaged 6 apg one year, Kemp was good, but not the same style player

[PsychoTforPresidentParticipant]

KG is one of my top 5 favorites of all time, but to compare them statistically isn’t realistic. One was asked to carry a team for nearly a decade while the other got to play on a top 3 team in the west for years. I remember when he came into the league and made his first all star game he was like a little kid in a candy store because he got to goof off and put on a dunking show in all star game warm ups with Kemp. I will give you that KG is a better passer but to say Kemp was a pretender is just not accurate.

[PsychoTforPresidentParticipant]

That was seattles bread and butter, kemp or payton leading the fast break. I agree about the passing, and type of player but to say Kemp was not a complete player, sorry you must have watched a different kemp then I did everynight.

[JoeWolf1]

Kemp was not a pretender, he was such a fun player to watch for close to a decade, people forget he had a lot of back to the basket post moves too including a fadeaway, I totally sported Sean Kemp’s Reebok Kamikazes in 8th grade basketball, haha, he was one of my favorites of the 90’s

[PsychoTforPresidentParticipant]

I wish they would get re-released along with the Nike Air FOrce 180 pump.

[PsychoTforPresidentParticipant]

was a good one to.

[j1232eParticipant]

what about oliver miller. Maybe one of the fattest players ever in the nba. But that fat son of a biatch could dribble, pass, and had a very soft shot. lol!

[thepoopsmithParticipant]

7-1??? that sounds pretty inaccurate

[sameolGParticipant]

KG helped change the PF position, it was just a banger position before but his play kind of made scouts look for a player like him in young kids

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Larry Bird says: “what about me??!!!”

He wasn’t a true PF like KG but he rebounded like one and was a do everything forward that broke the mold as a passer, shooter, rebounder and team defender.

[JoeWolf1]

Larry was a great player but no where near the athlete Garnett is, Garnett isn’t the shooter Bird was, but Garnett’s athleticism set him apart with his ability to block shots and Larry was a good rebounder, about 10 over his career, but Garnett’s length and athleticism allowed him to be a more productive rebounder too

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