Mount Rushmore of Power Forwards Since 2000

No longer a primary high-post or back-to-the-basket position, power forwards who entered the league since 2000 have become versatile, floor-spacing playmakers. Among those players who began their careers in 2000 or later, four names have defined the position in their own way, earning a spot on Mount Rushmore 2000. 
*Mount Rushmore 2000 criteria requires players to have entered the league no earlier than the 2000 season*

The “Greek Freak” leads this group without much question. A back-to-back NBA MVP, the Milwaukee Bucks forward added an NBA title and Finals MVP to his list of accomplishments in 2021. A unique combination of size, athleticism, and skill has made him one of the most unstoppable forces in modern NBA history. Capable of playing and guarding all five positions, Antetokounmpo’s accomplishments have him in conversation for a top-five power forward of all time, not just of his era. 

A ten-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA member, Davis is one of the most mobile players of his size, combining elite rim protection with the ability to stretch the floor offensively. Averaging 24 points per game throughout his career while anchoring defenses as one of the game's best shot-blockers, Davis represents the modern big man ideal. Though he's proven to be a better Robin than Batman, his complete skill set and sustained excellence make him a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Drafted 35th overall by the Golden State Warriors, few, if any, other than Green himself, believed that the second-round pick would become a vital component to a four-time championship dynasty. A nine-time All-Defensive Team member, four-time All-Star, and former Defensive Player of the Year, Green has the ability to impact the game, posting a quadruple-double stat line. 

Entering the league as the third pick in 2001, Gasol would become the first foreign player to win the Rookie of the Year award. In his third season, the Spanish forward would lead the Memphis Grizzlies to their first postseason appearance. While he would have individual success in Memphis, it would be the trade to the Lakers that brought Gasol a pair of NBA titles and three of his four All-NBA Team honors. One of the best passing big men in league history, Gasol’s touch in the paint and from the high post made him one of the most fundamentally sound power forwards of his generation.