Zimpapers Logo

The National Basketball Association (NBA) season 2022/23 is moving into its later stages and the most exciting part for most people. Fans of the teams involved in the play-offs will be watching with their hearts in their mouths.

By this point, the standings tell us many of the sides that will compete in the play-offs and all of them will need their power forwards. These are players that handle offensive duties like mid-range jump shots alongside defensive ones like rebounds and shot blocking. 

They are vital to overall team success, so which power forwards could prove the difference this season?

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks became the first side in the NBA to secure a playoff berth and also claimed the Central Division title. The performances of their power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been a contributing factor in that.

He is the league leader when it comes to free-throw attempts and his 31.4 points a game average is the best he has managed so far in an impressive career. He remains a particularly important player when it comes to blocks, although perhaps is not quite hitting the heights of two years ago.

That season saw the 28-year-old Greek player signed from Filathlitikos in 2011 crowned NBA Finals MVP as his team won the championship. He is still formidable though, which is why the NBA finals odds have the Bucks among the hot favorites.

AJ Horford

The Boston Celtics are one team that could stand in the way of another championship win for the Bucks. They have had the beating of them during the regular season and their veteran Dominican power forward AJ Horford is enjoying an Indian Summer.

Last season he reached his first ever finals with the Celtics and was a standout even though they eventually lost to the Golden State Warriors. Horford nailed six rebounds and 26 points in Game 1, with his six 3-pointers setting a record.

This is his second spell with the Celtics having previously played for them between 2016 and 2019 and he has been an NBA all-star player five times in his career. He has struggled a bit with injuries this season, but this is probably the last chance the 35-year-old has to play in a championship-winning team.

Michael Porter Jr.

The 2022/23 season has seen a massive improvement in the performances of Denver Nuggets power forward Michael Porter Jr. His previous weakness was in defense and that flaw was ruthlessly targeted by opposing sides.

He has made giant strides by enhancing his technique and making himself into a key part of the overall defensive unit for Denver. Porter Jr. has always been among the best offensive power forwards in the NBA, with 42.2% shooting stats from the 3-point range and 49.1% from the field, but he is now more of a rounded talent.

Drafted in 2018, he missed most of last season due to surgery on a back injury, but has been influential this season. He recently provided 19 points and seven rebounds to help the Nuggets beat the Bucks and is one reason why many think it could be their year.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Another player who has recovered from injury to help his team to the play-offs is Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies. Ahead of the start of the season he was cited by pundits as among the best power forwards in the league and he has lived up to that billing despite missing the start through a foot injury.

Drafted into the NBA by Memphis before the start of the 2018/19 season, Jackson Jr. played for Michigan State during his college basketball career. Although he is only 23 he has established himself on the grounds of sheer defensive versatility.

His strengths lie in protecting his team on the rim and sticking to opposition guards out on the perimeter of the court. If there is a weakness it is that he can rush into needless fouls that cost him and his team.

He has cut much of that out this season though and has more blocks per game than any rivals, at 3.1. He is also second in the NBA when it comes to overall blocks, with 177.

He had to step up to cover the suspension of Ja Morant recently and produced an average per game of 2.5 blocks. That helped Memphis into the play-offs and has him among the favorites for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

The NBA is a sport that enjoys a following outside of the US as well as inside that country. Sports fans in Zimbabwe and other nations want to know who will win the finals and these are four players that could help determine that.