With training camp for the 2025-26 season inching ever so closer, now’s the time to continue looking around the league–specifically the Eastern Conference–and rank the players at each position. Sixers Wire will rank each starter at each position in the East continuing with the small forward spot.

Currently, Kelly Oubre Jr. holds down the Philadelphia 76ers at the position, but when considering the fact that restricted free agent Quentin Grimes is set to return, and could be traded, there is a chance Oubre will not be in Philadelphia for too long.

Please note that these starter rankings will be based on HoopsHype’s depth chart for each team in the NBA. 

Here is the ranking of each team’s projected small forward heading into the new season:

2024-25 stats: N/A

Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, takes this low spot because he’s a rookie and will likely play out of position a lot as Charlotte goes to some 3-guard lineups. He will look to bring his sharpshooting abilities from college with him to the league and space the floor for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to operate. One has to wonder if he will make that expected impact right away.

2024-25 stats: 12.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.3 spg, 42.1% FG, 28.1% 3FG

Coulibaly is a long wing player with a high basketball IQ on his way to already being one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. He plays with a ton of energy and effort every night, but his offensive game is still a bit limited to just slashes to the basket and buckets in transition. He does need to develop a 3-point shot for himself to take another step forward.

13. Isaac Okoro, Chicago Bulls

2024-25 stats: 6.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.6 spg, 46.4% FG, 37.1% 3FG

Okoro deserves a lot of credit for the strides he has made as a 3-point shooter. He is a reliable option from the corner and that will do wonders playing next to Josh Giddey now in Chicago. While Okoro is mostly known for his defensive work, and will be a big help for the Bulls in that respect, his 3-point shooting will fit in with what coach Billy Donovan wants to do on that end of the floor.

12. Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks

2024-25 stats: 14.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 43.6% FG, 30.7% 3FG

Kuzma will look to begin his first full season in Milwaukee getting back on track following a poor playoff performance. He averaged only 5.8 points and shot 20% from deep in the 5-game loss to the Pacers and looked out of sorts. One has to believe a full training camp will do him wonders to learn coach Doc Rivers’ system.

2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 47% FG, 29.3% 3FG

Oubre does everything the Sixers ask of him. Whether he’s starting, coming off the bench, or having to defend the opposition’s best player, whatever it is, Oubre is going to do his job. His 3-point percentage was bad in the 2024-25 season, but he was also dealing with a multitude of injuries so one has to believe that percentage will improve a bit in the coming season.

10. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

2024-25 stats: 12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.7 spg, 45.8% FG, 35.5% 3FG

Risacher quietly put together a solid rookie season as the No. 1 overall pick from 2024 continued to get acclimated to the game and how fast the NBA is. He improved vastly as a defender as time went on and also showed off an ability to stick an open 3-pointer which is important for Atlanta’s offense. One has to like the potential he showed as a rookie as heads into year 2.

9. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

2024-25 stats: 10.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 53.5% FG, 22.4% 3FG

While not quite the offensive player his twin brother, Amen, is, Ausar is fantastic on the defensive end. He uses his size and strength to be able to bother opponents and his athleticism is otherworldly as he is able to make plays on that end that many others simply cannot. He does have to improve as a 3-point shooter, but that will come with time.

2024-25 stats: 12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.8 spg, 50.7% FG, 43.1% 3FG

A legitimate 3-and-D player int his league, Nesmith is an elite shooter from beyond the arc. All throughout the 2024-25 season, as well as the playoff run, it felt as if Nesmith was always ready to step up and knock down an open look from deep. Even the tougher shots, he was knocking them down with ease. More pressure will be on him now with Tyrese Haliburton out with an injury.

7. De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers

2024-25 stats: 17.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 47% FG, 40.5% 3FG

Hunter is a great complement for this Cavs team. He can be a reliable defender, can get to the basket when it’s needed, and has improved as a 3-point shooter since entering the league in 2019. A full training camp to learn what coach Kenny Atkinson wants to run as well as gaining more chemistry with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell will help.

6. Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors

2024-25 stats: 22.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 46.5% FG, 37.4% 3FG

Ingram’s 2024-25 season was cut short after just 18 games as he began the season in New Orleans before he was sent to Toronto at the deadline. He has yet to make his Raptors debut, and his fit is questionable with this current roster, but one has to believe Ingram will make life easier for Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt.

2024-25 stats: 18.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 50.4% FG, 39.5% 3FG

A gifted scorer, Porter will look to carry his offensive production over to Brooklyn and make a statement with the Nets. He can score in bunches and one has to believe he will win the Nets a couple of games they probably shouldn’t here and there. He appears to be motivated to show what he can do at this point of his career.

2024-25 stats: 21.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 48.4% FG, 41.8% 3FG

The Heat need shooting and they went out and got it with the addition of Powell. He had a breakout season with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25 and will be looking to bring that production to a Heat team in need of somebody who can score from the perimeter and bring a different dynamic next to Tyler Herro.

3. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks

2024-25 stats: 17.6 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.2 rpg, 0.9 spg, 50% FG, 35.4% 3FG

While Bridges took big steps forward during his time in Brooklyn, he was a big complementary piece in New York as he was able to slide into a role where he can just shoot the open 3, make plays off the ball, and give the Knicks a defensive presence on the perimeter. His propensity to make clutch shots was a big help as well showing his ability to play under pressure.

2024-25 stats: 24.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 46.3% FG, 29.5% 3FG

Wagner’s offensive game is as smooth as they come. He is savvy enough to use his size off the dribble and he can get to the basket against most defenders despite not being the quickest guy on the floor. He understands how to get to his spots and he does a terrific job of getting teammates involved as well. He does need to improve his 3-point shooting, however.

1. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

2024-25 stats: 22.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 46.3% FG, 32.4% 3FG

The Celtics will turn to Brown to lead this roster with Jayson Tatum out for the season and so many changes around the overall roster. The 2024 finals MVP is more than capable of stepping his game up to another level to be sure the Cs don’t have too much of a drop off from their big 2024-25 season. He will have to get back to his usual efficient self in terms of his shooting, but the Celtics will count on him to lead the way.