Where are all the young all star SF's at?

[JasonMartin]

We've seen a lot of good players emerge from the drafts over the past few years but what amazes me is that there are few really good SF's coming out of the drafts.

You see a lot of high potential PG's, PF's, C's who emerge and show talent and become really good players and all stars but I haven't seen a single SF who came beasting in the league.

In 2007 you had KD but I would like to start with the 2008 NBA draft and further.


2008 draft SF's (by position only, no changed positions)
1st round 6th pick Gallinari
1st round 8th pick Joe Alexander
1st round 25th pick Batum
1st round 28th pick Donte Green

Gallinari and Batum are really good players, so you get 2 SF's out of the 1st round. In the meanwhile you got D-Rose, Westbrook, Love, Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert, OJ Mayo, Ibaka who have become really good and important players to their team.


2009 draft
1st round 14th pick Earl Clark (plays PF now)
1st round 15th pick Austin Daye
1st round 22nd pick Victor Claver
1st round 23rd pick Omri Casspi
1st round 27th pick Demare Carroll
1st round 30th pick Eyenga


Nothing special or mind blowing.

2010 draft
1st round 2nd pick Evan Turner (SG position but plays at the SF)
1st round 4th pick Wesley Johnson
1st round 8th pick Aminu
1st round 9th pick Hayward (plays the SG position a lot right?)
1st round 10th pick Paul George (SG again nowadays)
1st round 16th pick Luke Babbit
1st round 24th pick Damion James
1st round 26th pick Pondexter
1st round 30th pick Lazer Hayward


Paul George, all star player, but he doesn't play at the SF. Wesley Johnson hasn't been special, even though he has been picking up his game and has improved since he got more playing time.

2011 draft
1st round 15th pick Kawhli Leonard
1st round 18th pick Chris Singleton
1st round 30th pick Jimmy Butler

Leonard showed he can play in his rookie year and he has improved this season. Butler has finally gotten some playing time and showed he can play ball this season.

2012 draft
1st round 2nd pick MKG
1st round 7th pick Harrison Barnes
1st round 15th pick Harkless

3 rookies having a pretty OK season. MKG should become a great player.




So my point is, in every draft since 2008 you got only a few SF's per 1st round and no one has become as big as eg. Derrick Rose or Westbrook or Paul George. No one has shown he can take over and become great in a short amount of time. I do believe young players like Leonard, MKG, Butler... will show greatness in 1 to a few years but it goes much slower than some of the other players in their draft class.

I know a lot depends on the team, the coach, the players around you, the minutes you get (eg. Lillard in Portland). But still, why haven't we seen a true SF superstar yet? I'm not expecting the next Lebron or Durant but maybe a better/more consistent version of Rudy Gay.


I find I'm going a bit light over this but I don't see a lot of SF's coming in the drafts. So why is there a lack of SF's?

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Paul George plays Sf nowadays ...

The position has always had less Stars at that position than The others.

[JODYE]

Maybe because these players that play that position have games tailored around athleticism more than say actual fundamental ability that is required to play the PG position, or to be a great PF.

Just a rhetorical thought. It's sort of a tweener position with no real definition which I think is why you see few great SF, unless they are just exceptional all-around players without a true position. Durant the first that comes to mind.

[JazzMan]

To answer your question on Hayward, he plays more SG/PG than SF.

[cavsfan2]

Well this year there are a few promising SFs coming into the draft such as Muhammad, Bennett (might be more of a PF) and Porter.

[Macar91]

Just wait for next year when Andrew Wiggins gets drafted. Jabari Parker, too, although he may be more of a PF in the NBA.

[ojandpizza]

I wouldn't say there is any less young small forwards than there is any other position.. Other than point guards.

A better question would be where are all the good young centers?

[JasonMartin]

Monroe, Cousins, Vucevic, Kanter,...