Ranking the Top 10 Power Forwards In the NBA
By Connor Cook
Number 9: Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz
2012-13 Numbers: 15.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 20.6 PER
It kind of shocks me how overlooked Millsap often is when talking about the league’s best big men. He is an absolutely tremendous offensive asset to the Jazz, both scoring and passing well from the block. He takes smart and efficient shots, with 35% of them coming at the rim. He’s attempted more shots at the rim than all but three of the other guys on this list. To top it all off, Millsap rarely turns the ball over, with turnovers coming on only 11% of his possessions. All of this combined makes Millsap a beast offensively, with a offensive rating that matches that of Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. Pretty great stuff.
However, Millsap often struggles defensively, which does not outweigh his offensive skill, but certainly hurts his pedigree. At 6-8, he’s a bit too small to cover every forward effectively, and his problems are compounded by the fact that his usual frontcourt mate in Utah, Al Jefferson, is one of the worst defensive players in the league. Overall, though, Millsap can be a tough cover for anyone, and is sure to get some serious money in free agency this summer.