Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking the top 5 power forwards of the last 10 seasons
The power forward position has been a surprisingly fruitful one for the Milwaukee Bucks over the last 10 seasons or so. Although it may not have the overall depth that point guard has had in that time, there have certainly been some very impactful and notable names that appear.
Similar to the small forward ranking, there is an obvious choice for the number one player at this position over the last 10 seasons, but who fills in behind that player (and in what order) is an interesting discussion.
It’s an interesting mix of players that combines a long-time Buck and one that had a very memorable half-season stint with the organization. It features one that never quite realized his incredible promise and one that never quite reached the expectations of a big contract. No two NBA careers are the same, and this list of power forwards encapsulates that, as dramatic as that may sound.
As the power forward position has evolved, this group of Bucks’ power forwards from the last 10 seasons shows how diverse the position has become. There is such a wide range of play styles in this group, it’s my favorite cast of players in these rankings so far because of their diverse playing styles and personalities.
Top 5 Milwaukee Bucks power forwards of the last 10 seasons – No. 5: Drew Gooden
The man who has seen his Google results taken over by a popular YouTuber claims the number five spot among the fours. Drew Gooden came to the Bucks on a five-year, $32 million contract after playing for eight different teams prior to becoming a Buck.
The fourth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, Gooden had some pretty solid seasons in his three-year Bucks career. He played 107 games for Milwaukee (the second-most games played for a single team in his career, actually) and averaged 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 23.2 minutes per game. In his final season, Gooden was limited to just 16 games and a little over nine minutes per game, a far cry from his 25.6 minutes a night in his first two seasons.
Gooden struggled with injuries throughout his Bucks tenure (as 107 games over three seasons would suggest) and was eventually waived after being designated as the Bucks amnesty clause player. Although his body never allowed him to quite live up to the expectations of that contract, when he was on the court, Gooden was a pretty solid Buck.