Welcome to NSL end-of-season player rankings.

Top 10 Small Forwards in the NSL Part , 10 - 6 

This list ranks the top 10 Small Forwards in the NSL/NBA 2K23. These rankings are based partially on NBA 2k player overall rating and my opinion on how they fit within an NSL team structure.

No. 10 - Paul George - 89 - Paul is one of the most talented players in the league. With a great balance of athleticism and skill. Chiming in at 6�8� and 220lbs he has the Goldie Locks basketball player build, not too big not too small, not too fast, and not too slow. Just within the range to be able to do everything well. PG13 is a versatile scorer that has a number of tools in his bag. He can drive the lane, post up, spot up, make a play, and still play lockdown defense on the other end. He can be #2 or a #1 if need be on offense. The only really worrisome area of his game is availability. Over the past 5 years, George has only played an average of 47.2 games. Which makes him a gamble to rely on as a core piece of a team's roster. But on the upside he can play 65+ games it may be a risk worth taking for some teams. 

No. 9 - Kawhi Leonard - 92 - �The Claw� is as talented as he is enigmatic. Highly skilled and cerebral in his approach. Kawhi is arguably one of the best players in the game. At 6�7�, 225 lbs, and hands like an arcade claw machine. Leonard has an optimal body type for high-level basketball. An elite defensive player, Leonard can anticipate what the opposing team is doing on offense and guide his team into the correct placements and consistently disrupt their offensive strategies. On the offensive side, Kawhi is a high-IQ player that makes few mistakes and is a willing passer that can get teammates going and get his own shot. Although he has #1 scoring option skill he plays more like a #2. Which can be somewhat of a disappointment. But not nearly as frustrating as his prolific ability to load manage. With a games played average of only 38 games per season over the past 6 seasons. You have to wonder if basketball is really a priority for him. 

No. 8 - Brandon Ingram - 87 - �BI� is a Slim Jim of a player, slightly built at 6�8� and 190 lbs he is a little underweight for an NBA player of his height. But he has a decent amount of athleticism and agility with a scorers mentality. With a nose for getting buckets, he can score in a variety of ways. He has a great handle and can break down defenders to get his own shot even though he lacks the strength to finish strong through contact he can euro-step and slither his way through the paint with the best of them. He is a little bit of a turnstile on defense and has probably missed the opportunity to improve much in this area. He is also a bit of an injury risk. With an average of only 59 games played per season over the course of his 7-year career. Ingrams lack of bulk and strength are possibly key reasons why he�s missing a few more games than would be optimal for a team's overall success.

No. 7 - Khris Middleton - 85 - Khris is and has been for a number of years one of the most underrated Small Forwards in the game today. Not overly flashy but gets it done with a yeoman�s level of determination and a just-put-me-in-coach attitude. The 6�7� 222 lbs small forward is a turbocharged 3nD player. The kind of guy that can fit seamlessly onto any team as a multifaceted utility player that can be a primary option on offense or be the hustle guy that dives for loose balls and commits the hard fouls. Middleton is also a premiere defender that will happily guard the opposing team's best player and play a full 48 mins without missing a bit. Not the most durable player but generally plays most of his games and can be a must-have for any contending team.  

No. 6 - DeMar DeRozan - 87 - Straight Out of Compton, DeMar is essentially a midrange gunner, a silky smooth 6�7� 220 lbs slasher that can punish teams with a bevy of midrange pull-ups, euro-step drives to the hoop and the occasional 3-pointer. Also in recent years, he has become something of a modest playmaker. He may not be much of a defender considering his athleticism, and IQ. But with the ball in his hands and the right teammates to cover his defensive shortcomings he can be an invaluable asset for any team in need of a near-elite scoring presence. Very few teams can devise defenses to stop him and his game should age fairly well despite above-average athleticism being a big portion of what he does.