Kevin Garnett puts Charles Barkley on his top 5 power forwards of all time
Hall of Fame power forward Kevin Garnett had an illustrious career in the NBA. Garnett is one of the most recognizable players of the 2000s and has been closely associated with the league even after his retirement in 2016. During his prime, he battled it out with some of the best big men the league had to offer.
On Instagram, the NBA legend shared his top five power forwards of all time. Surprisingly though, Garnett didn't include himself on the list, but instead gave the proper respect his competitors deserve.
The great career of Kevin Garnett
The defensive forward started his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He spent 12 years with the Wolves before getting traded to the Boston Celtics. In his first year with the Celtics, he won his only championship. Kevin Garnett has also won the MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year and one All-Star game MVP award.
He's also one of the few players who was drafted right out of high school. KG's intensity on the defensive end was a big reason for his success. He's also notable for being one of the best trash talkers in the association. Garnett played in the NBA for 22 seasons.
Without much ado, here are the five best power forwards, according to the Big Ticket.
Rahseed Wallace
Rasheed Wallace is well known for the phrase "ball don't lie." He's also the record holder for having the most technical fouls in a season with 41, including 29 ejections. But that's not what made him great. Wallace was one of the first few power forwards to make a living from the 3-point arc.
The 6-foot-10 forward finished his career as a four-time All-Star. Wallace was also one of the players who defeated the LA Lakers in the finals in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons. Late in his career, he teamed up with Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics before calling it quits three seasons later.
Chris Webber
Chris Webber was a unique power forward. He was undersized, had a smooth jumper and liked to share the ball with his teammates from the post. In his prime, he was the leader that rivaled the LA Lakers' dynasty. Without him and the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers could've won their rings much more easily.
C-Webb spent most of his career in the Western Conference, allowing him to have tough battles against Kevin Garnett. The 6-9 forward was a five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA player and was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
Karl Malone
Kevin Garnett chose to include Karl Malone on his list for good reason. Malone is one of the strongest players to play in the NBA and used to be second on the all-time scoring list. "The Mailman" may have retired ringless, but his legacy lives on.
Malone may be recognized by newer fans as the player that rivaled Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the finals. But he's more than that. Through 19 seasons, Malone was an All-Star 14 times, a member of the All-NBA for 14 seasons and a two-time MVP.
Charles Barkley
The younger generation knows Charles Barkley as a humorous NBA analyst on "Inside the NBA." But before making Shaquille O'Neal laugh, he was grabbing every rebound he could. The Round Mound of rebounds is on KG's list for a reason.
Chuck is an icon in the NBA. As an extremely undersized power forward in the 1990s, he led many teams to playoff success. Barkley played in the league from 1985 to 2000. In his career, he was named an All-Star 11 times, an All-NBA player 11 times and topped it off with an MVP win in 1993.
Tim Duncan
Out of everyone on this list, Tim Duncan might be Kevin Garnett's biggest rival. Throughout their careers, both forwards were often compared to each other. While Garnett was collecting individual awards with the Wolves, the "Big Fundamental" was winning titles with the San Antonio Spurs.
The greatest Spur of all-time is a five-time NBA champion, two-time season MVP, Rookie of the Year winner and a Hall of Famer. His game was also different from Garnett's high-energy skills. They are polar opposites, but they're both great in their own right.