Best NBA small forwards for 2025-26: Ranking all 30 starters from Kawhi Leonard to Josh Hart and Cooper Flagg

Which team has the best starting small forward, and which one has the worst? The Sporting News is ranking every team's starter at each position for the 2025-26 NBA season.

It wasn't long ago that wings were the kings of the NBA. Some of the best scorers of the 2020s were found at the position.

Many of those players have moved up to power forward as they've aged. There are only a handful of 20 point-per-game scorers on this list. More teams are opting for role players who can play both ends of the floor. 

Kawhi Leonard is still the most talented small forward on this list. He reminded everyone how good he was when he returned to the Clippers' lineup towards the end of the season and playoffs. His constant injury risk drops him down a few spots though, and it's the 24-year-old Jalen Williams who is the new top dog on this list. 

Here are the top 30 shooting guards, listed from best to worst.

NBA RANKINGS: Starters 1-10 | 11-150 | PGs

NBA small forward rankings 2025-26

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1. Jalen Williams, Thunder

Williams isn't the best player on the Thunder. He's one of the best No. 2s in the league though. He can do a little bit of everything, shooting 3's, driving the ball, and playmaking for teammates. Defensively, he capably guards all five positions for the Thunder, including centers, thanks to a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan.

Williams piled up the accolades last season, making the All-Star Team, Third Team All-NBA, and Second Team All-Defense. He's a massive reason why the Thunder fielded the best defense in the league and were able to win the championship last season. 

2. Jaylen Brown, Celtics

Brown has had huge moments in the past, highlighted by winning the 2023 Finals MVP. He will have to step his game up again and be the main guy for a depleted Celtics team missing Jayson Tatum. 

Brown is a very capable scorer, averaging over 22 points per game in each of the last five seasons. He's a decent shooter that had a down year last season, a good passer, and a good shot creator. His defense also slipped last season. He can have bouts where he doesn't lock in enough away from the ball. When he's at his best though, he is capable of being an above-average defender. 

Brown is going to have to do everything for the Celtics. This should be a great individual season for him. 

3. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers

Leonard is never going to play a ton of games over the course of a regular season. He managed only 37 last year. But he is still incredible when he does suit up, as evidenced by his terrific performance in the first round of the 2025 playoffs where he averaged 25.0 points per game on 54 percent shooting against the Nuggets. 

Leonard isn't Defensive Player of the Year material any more, but he is still a steals magnet and well above-average on that end of the floor. And on offense, he will methodically get to his spots to pick teams apart. The career 39.2 percent 3-point shooter has only gotten more accurate with age. He also has one of the best midrange jumpers in the league. 

MORE: Inside NBA's investigation into Kawhi Leonard, Clippers

4. Franz Wagner, Magic

Wagner took over as a point forward last season for the Magic and thrived in that role. He's a good distributor, averaging 4.7 assists per game last year, and he can score the ball from anywhere inside the arc. He's got great size at the position, which helps him play solid defense. 

Wagner's one weakness is in his 3-point shooting. He has shown flashes of competence there, but his percentages have dipped below 30 percent over the past two years. He's also developed a nasty hitch that lends little confidence when he lets it fly. 

Despite that lack of shooting touch, Wagner is still able to score effectively and set up others, making him a borderline All-Star two-way wing. 

5. Trey Murphy III, Pelicans

Murphy would have been in contention for last season's Most Improved Player award had injuries not removed him from 29 games. He's a high-volume 3-point threat who can also get to the rim and finish with plus athleticism. He averaged 21.2 points per game last season, and that number should go up this year with the Pelicans clearing out some of their volume scorers. 

Earlier in his career, Murphy wasn't a great defender. He's improved dramatically on that end of the floor. He has good size to guard his position. 

6. DeMar DeRozan, Kings

DeRozan is still getting it done at age 36. He's the pump-fake god of the league, getting players in the air and drawing fouls at a prodigious rate. When defenders don't bite, he's able to rise up and drain more midrange jumpers than anyone in the league. He has tremendous footwork, skill, and poise, making him an old school volume scorer. He's also an underrated passer who has experience in multiple stops as a point forward. 

DeRozan will always have his critics due to his lack of 3-point shooting and defensive limitations. He's still a very good player though who can get a bucket under any circumstances. 

7. Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves

McDaniels is a streaky offensive player, as evidenced by his 2024-25 campaign. When he's aggressive, he can give the Wolves 20+ point performances. He's a capable shooter and a good finisher at the rim. He can also disappear for stretches though. When his shot is not falling, he doesn't provide much offensive value.

One area where he is always consistent is with his defense. Few players have a better motor. He is willing to pressure up on players, get into passing lanes, and be disruptive. He's been recognized for that effort, making the All-Defensive team back in 2024.

"I try to ruin their days, their nights," McDaniels told Sporting News about how he treats opponents on defense. 

8. Cam Johnson, Nuggets

Johnson joins a Nuggets team that should be a perfect fit for him. He's an elite catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, hitting 40.3 percent of those looks last year. He is a very good finisher at the rim. And he showed that he could even initiate some offense in Brooklyn. His role gets much easier playing next to Nikola Jokic, who always makes teammates better by setting them up for easy shots. 

Johnson isn't an elite defender. He can get backed down by stronger forwards, and he doesn't have the footspeed to keep up with fast guards. But he is solid against other wings. He should play much better defense than Michael Porter Jr., who he replaces in the Nuggets' starting lineup. 

9. Josh Hart, Knicks

Hart finds a ton of different ways to leave his imprint on games. He's the best rebounder at his 6-foot-4 size in the league. He will fly in from anywhere to grab offensive rebounds. He's a one-man fast break, grabbing the ball and sprinting down the floor where he is a good finisher and foul-drawer. He's a good cutter, passer, and defender. 

The one area where he struggles is with consistently shooting 3's. He can knock down the wide open ones, but he is hesitant to take them. Opposing centers oftentimes guard him, which makes him a tough player to fit into lineups at times. 

10. Aaron Nesmith, Pacers

Nesmith is a physical, aggressive defender who isn't afraid to take on the toughest wings in the league. He's a great shooter, making the prestigious 50/40/90 club last season by hitting 50.7 percent of his field goals, 43.1 percent of his 3's, and 91.3 percent of his free throws. He has a penchant for hitting tough, big, shots and was a major part of the Pacers' unexpected Finals run last season. He will take on an even more important role with Tyrese Haliburton out for the season. 

MORE: Ranking the 15 best games on the 2025-26 NBA schedule

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11. Rui Hachimura, Lakers

12. Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers

13. RJ Barrett, Raptors

14. Ausar Thompson, Pistons

15. Andrew Wiggins, Heat

• Hachimura is a pure scorer with a nice step-back midrange jumper and good 3-point shooting. He has defensive weaknesses but has good physical tools. 
• Camara is the best wing that you may not have heard of. He's an elite defender, earning Second Team All-Defensive honors last season. And he has become a good 3-point shooter, offensive rebounder, and slasher on offense. 
• Barrett plays basketball like a battering ram, imposing his physicality on his drives. He is going to find a way to get to the rim, and he counterbalances those attacks with capable 3-point shooting and passing. He's not a great defender, which limits his impact.
• Thompson is an old school center in a forward's body. He's a tough defender and fantastic rebounder who isn't afraid to scrap it up. He's among the league's best athletes and a good finisher who gets to the line a ton via drives and cuts, but he's not a great shooter. 
• Wiggins doesn't have the best motor in the league, but he has a good skill package. He's a good defender and can be a great rebounder when he tries. He's also a capable shooter and scorer. 

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16. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks

17. Devin Vassell, Spurs

18. Dorian Finney-Smith, Rockets

19. Khris Middleton, Wizards

20. Max Strus, Cavs

• How good will Flagg be as a rookie? The Mavericks need him to play a big role. He will get opportunities to show off all of his strengths as a playmaker, jack-of-all-trades defender, and scorer. His defense should be good from Day One. The shooting may take some time to develop, but he's a high-feel player that will contribute immediately.
• Vassell has the tools to be a great two-way player. He hasn't been consistent enough in his minutes yet. At his best, he's been a knockdown 3-point shooter that supplements that skill with a nice midrange and floater game. At his worst, he's been passive on offense and prone to lapses in defensive focus. 
• Finney-Smith is a rock-solid veteran who isn't going to create any offense for himself but will drain open 3's and guard multiple positions. He was the linchpin of the Lakers' defensive surge last season, capably switching onto wings and centers. 
• Middleton is a stabilizing force that can still hit jumpers at a good clip. Injuries have robbed him of his mobility though, and he's no longer able to stay in front of players defensively or stay healthy for full seasons. 
• Strus is a try-hard defender who flies all over the floor trying to hit 3's or drive the ball. His offense can run hot-and-cold, but the effort will always be there.

21. Buddy Hield, Warriors

22. Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies

23. Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks

24. Royce O'Neale, Suns

25. Isaac Okoro, Bulls

• Hield never met a shot that he didn't like. He's been one of the biggest volume shooters in the league, and he's a marksman from 3. When he puts the ball on the floor, he can get himself into trouble. He's good in the passing lanes, but his gambling style can compromise the rest of the defense. 
• Wells turned in a terrific rookie season in which he showed that he could hit 3's, defend his position, and provide some secondary playmaking. He has good floor awareness and runs well in transition. 
• Risacher improved drastically in his rookie season as the year wore on. He's a good cutter, can finish with both hands, and showed nice touch on his 3's. He has great length and tools defensively, and is already able to defend multiple positions capably. 
• O'Neale has lasted eight years in the league by being good at what he's good at, and staying in that role. He can defend other wings adequately, and he knocks down open 3's at a career 38.5 percent clip. 
• Okoro is one of the better defenders in the league. He's built like a brick wall and gives good effort. His offense is shakier. While he improved his 3-point shooting last year, teams still sag off him. That shot has disappeared in high pressure moments. 

26. Kyle Kuzma, Bucks

27. Kon Knueppel, Hornets

28. Ziaire Williams, Nets

29. Ace Bailey, Jazz

30. VJ Edgecombe, Sixers

• At one time, Kuzma was a good jack-of-all-trades player. He had one of the worst seasons of any high-minute player in the league last year though, making mental mistakes and taking bad shots for two different teams. There's some hope that Kuzma can return to the solid defender, playmaker, and shooter he was a few years ago. 
• Knueppel is one of the rookies that looks most ready to contribute from his class due to his high feel on both ends. His stellar shooting should translate right away too. 
• Williams averaged career-highs across the board for the Nets after struggling to stay healthy earlier in his career with the Grizzlies. His offensive game still doesn't have a ton of polish and he can have problems taking care of the ball. But he has tools and tenacity as a defender
• Bailey is a pure scorer that was ranked as high as No. 3 on many draft boards. He's got good size at 6-foot-9 to get his jumper off against anyone and play good defense. He's not much of a passer, and he had issues with turnovers in college. There aren't many better shot-creators that we've seen at the college level. 
• Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in the draft, is an elite athlete with a great motor who has All-Defensive upside. He's an unselfish player who is a terror in transition and shows some shooting potential.