The Death Of The Power Forward, & Who's Next... 

The idea of the NBA evolving into a PG, 3 wings and a center was a genius take.

Rusty is in his hour long video essay era and I'm all for it

What’s interesting is Aaron Gordon IS the PROTOTYPICAL old school Power Forward. Denver was able to win with the traditional 4, who bangs inside- interior offense and defense, but was able to overcome that with spacing from their 5. 4 out, 1 in. Numbers and “positions” don’t matter. It’s about the roles you play and how that provides spacing, execution, and offensive flow/efficiency on the court. And great defense ofc.

Another data point for the PF transition is 2009-2010 Lakers B2B chips. While Andrew Bynum was starting, Lamar Odom was finish games with Gasol shifting to the 5. Back then it was called a "stretch 4".

with the SG death, it's like if you're a 2 that can playmake, you become a 1 (Shai, Luka, Murray, Booker, Harden as you mentioned) but i also think if you're a 2 that defends well, you essentially become a 3 think PG13, Jimmy Butler, Jaylen Brown, OG, Dort, even Klay gets significant minutes at 3

We’ve already seen the death of the shooting guard. Shai, Devin Booker and Luka are the only three truly elite shooting guards yet all of them are basically just point guards. Others players such as Tyler Herro, Jalen Green and Derrick White are also essentially Point Guards too. The only real Shooting Guards left are Klay, Desmond Bane and I guess Zach Lavine. edit: I typed this right before he actually talked about this

The 2, 3, and 4 are really the 3 wing players ordered by size in most cases. I don’t think shooting guards are dying or undergoing some great transformation. I think it’s just the lines between positions are blurring overall. Teams don’t have 1 of each position but instead most have 1 big guy, 1 main ball handler (sometimes a big time secondary one too), and 3 players that are out there for their versatility and defensive matchups

Can tell this is the most effort Rusty has ever put into a video ever. If this is the norm then I am more than ready for it. Glad that you were open about issues with this channel over the past year or so and glad you made the change. Clearly you’re getting better as a person and it is reflecting on RU-vid.

40 minutes long!? Damn I’m looking forward to more videos like this. This is one of the more obvious topics to dive deep into, so I’m interested to see what else Rusty + Rudy have planned!

The PF in my opinion is one of the most important positions. Each team who won a championship in the past all had PFs who were superstars or contributed heavy to winning the title (Anthony Davis, Aaron Gordon, Draymond Green, Pascal Siakam, Giannis, Kevin Love, Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett) the list goes on. Its the most underrated position in basketball

We often talk about how the transition between eras affected centers, but I think it affected power forward just as much. At a time when center was the weakest, the best power forwards were all old, and the most impactful players were all smaller. It forced the power forwards to pick up the slack of centers or change into big wings, instead of being able to hone their skills and be elite like previous power forwards.

Great video enjoyed it. Felt Charles Barkley should of been an honorable mention. He literally was the prototype to the modern PF way before Draymond. Barkley skill set being an undersized 4 was 30 years ahead of its time.

Rusty this is by far your best video in a very long time. Keep working we can see the love and effort

We supporting this one big time 💪🏾

I'm so glad to see you've come out swinging for this new stage of your life, Rusty! Keep up the good work!

This video is incredible - keep it up!! Your knowledge and analysis is first class and we're all better off as basketball fans for following you.

Thank you Rusty for pushing elite content. Yesterday's video was heartfelt and makes us wish you the best in future endeavors. Keep delivering💯🐏

Kevin Love came to mind while I was watching. He had traditional big man skills like rebounding, outlet passes and post up shots, but later developed into a 3pt shooter. He never fully became a center like Aldridge/AD since he sometimes played alongside a center in Cleveland and Minnesota but he also didn't fit the Jerami Grant archetype. Great video overall!

This video was EXCELLENT and possibly even my favourite you ever made. It really made me think and realize that most of the shooting guards in the league now are pretty much just catch and shoot role players. Even Booker, Edwards and Herro have all been at least floated as options at PG. As a Heat fan, no doubt in my mind D Wade would’ve been a PG in today’s league too but I think the Clippers messy Harden-Westbrook situation is one of the final nails in the coffin for the SG position. The fact that Harden is a (mostly) career SG while Russ is a career PG, but Russ still has to be damn near pushed out of the rotation for Harden to fit on the team is really telling

Absolutely incredible video. Loved your old long form videos and I’m sure I’ll love the new ones even more

This video is amazing Rusty You have a talent for storytelling and presentation that is sorely missed in basketball discussion This style fits you and your strenghts alot more than small "spur of the moment" videos

Damn, you weren’t kidding. This new format is so much more professional and polished. The difference between this and your old stuff is like night and day. Keep it up, this was awesome and engaging.

I've been a fan for few years, and I gotta you've really hit gold with this new format of vids. i watched your update video and am glad you're doing much better. it really reflects in your work. not that your vids have been bad, its just that you've turned up the heat and I can't wait for a new video

Your new format is awesome, vids like this are really worth watching. I like the way you evolved the channel, good job!

I used to love your old deep dives so it’s cool to see them comeback

Funny thing about Blake is that he had that style of game all along. If you watch some clips of him in Oklahoma and also his pre draft workouts, he showed his ball handling and passing ability. Oddly enough I think CP3 coming to LA is what forced him into a traditional PF role because of his dominance on ball.

Love the video and where the channel is going! If anything, I'd note that the chapter cards are a little long on my end (like Chapter 2: What is even is.. was like 10 seconds), but otherwise excited for the future

Rusty, I love these types of videos! Make this the style you go for, and keep the other videos on “also rusty buckets.” This video is on pace to be a top 10 highest viewed video on your channel. Congrats man!

It's interesting to see how the death of the PF is pretty much the same as the death of the full back. Tight ends were just shown they could do pretty much all the full back things but in a more versatile role with the "passing revolution".

Love this! I think a good video would be breaking down the wing position. Since it seems like anyone without the height to be a center, or the playmaking skills to be a PG has to be a wing, there has to be many molds a wing can come in.

Shooting Guards are tuning into wings I think Anthony Edwards will bring the position back. Its also interesting that they have been using him at the 1,2 and 3 so this will be interesting

This is a brilliant video. Well articulated and paced. Great work 🤘🏾🤘🏾

You should do a video about the evolution of point guards focusing on the shifts between Stockton, AI, CP3, Curry, and now Haliburton

Video contains Raptors Bosh highlights, instantly makes it a 10

Damn this was so good! Thank you for putting the time and work into this incredible video essa

love this new format and i hope you're doing well with your addiction and mental health, all the best!

Love this content!!!! This stuff sets you apart man no one is doing this like you. 1000% sure you will find success with this type of content.

Love the longer essay format. I think it really brings out your strength at laying out the history behind basketball's evolution. I got into watching basketball in the late 90s qnd for years it was a league of great power forwards and shooting guards. It's wild to be watching the demise of both positions.

Very insightful and well-thought-out! Think you are pretty spot on on all of this.

Fantastic video. Can’t wait for what’s next!

This is definitely one of your best videos so far. I've been following for years but the quality, knowledge, research and heart is all felt hear and explained well. Thank you for this

Loving the new style of content Rusty. Looking forward to seeing the channel continue to grow man👍🏻

LOVE THIS!!! thanks Jacob, keep it up and good luck with these new videos

This is the best rusty buckets video I’ve seen in a long time. I have watched this channel for years on and off but this is an era I’m so happy is here. I’m definitely subscribing now

I've started referring to positions as "guards, wings, and bigs" a few years ago. Every team is heavier in one of those categories than the others, but its the best categorization imo

I love this video and what your doing. Would love more of this but understand that it might take a long time to make them.

RUSTY!!!! This is what we've been waiting for, as a fellow recovering addict and young 20 something my heart is with you as you walk the path of recovery. Obviously much love to rudy too, I think this was your best video since the video that brought me to your channel the goat debate video mj VS. bron. I'm so excited to watch your new content and i cant wait to see what you put out next

Great analysis. Looking forward for more content like this. That being said, l really miss the late 70's, 80's, and 90's NBA.

I adore long-form content and I'm eagerly awaiting more of these videos. I loved your deep dives before. - Jrez

If you were to guess another position to "die" / be remodeled. Which position would it be? Personally, I think we are gonna see it at the point guard position over the next decade. (More so in the sense of a small guard, like a CP3, IT, Nash, )

This was absolutely great. Really happy with the new format, something i can be invested in for 40 minutes. I hope that you are in a better mind state, and that you finding friends around you. I also hope that you found help and got out of the hole that depression makes your life. Weed is a real addiction, it is easier to fight than other addictions but it is still an addition. It makes people more depress, and reduces motivation. Their is actual science behind it, so reducing the levels of weed you consume or cutting out for a while will help. In pandemic i was in a similar hole, and cutting weed out of my life really help. Im happy you move out to a new home and you feeling better. I think on the topic of the video. The Power foward and shooting guard are nowadays kind of lost positions. With the less specified roles what make them special, kind of been hibrid high scoring positions have lost relevance. Nowadays other positions do the same, score a lot, capability to defend multiple positions. I think that explains why they are disappearing. SF was always the more hybrid position, so it has somehow also disappear. Now all that three positions are merging into the foward positions as you saying. The only two positions that still make sense are C and PG. C is defensive anchor and rebounder, PG is the ball handler and playmaker. They will never disappear but all the other three have merge into a nothingness XD

I really hope the SG doesn't die. It's the most aesthetically pleasing position to me.

Always like when someone's passion for a topic shines through in their work. This new long-form format is great for going in-depth and showing how much he cares about the history of the game and where it's headed

Always love these type of “evolution of the game” type essays. Great quality too, looking forward to more

i love the new video format, can't wait to see what you put out next!

Great story telling Rusty, thoroughly enjoyed.

The first guy that I can remember breaking the PF model was prime Shawn Kemp. At the time, the prototypical PF was Charles Barkley and other similar guys like Dennis Rodman and Larry Johnson. Muscular, fast but not agile, rebound and post up focused. The Reign Man was a 6'10 PF on defense but he could run the floor like a Wing and could stretch the floor a bit(by 90's standards) with a decent mid range game.

I really love these long videos, not many basketball RU-vidrs do them anymore but there’s always a ton of topics you can use to make these vids

This video was absolutely exceptional and it has inspired me to subscribe. Great job, sir. Your analysis was excellent and great food for thought.

Good to see you see you back old friend. I can relate with the weed addiction too but I’m also stopped and it been good for me. You’re not fighting these battle alone dude!

Love the new style of content, can’t wait for more. Keep it up rusty!

Fantastic work, Rusty. Initially I thought the point guard position might be next with the expectation that every non-big on the team should at least make a play for themselves or others but I get why a position who's only expectation is to score would be next

First video I've seen by you. Instant subscription. Super high understanding of basketball and its history.

This is a good come back of your long video essay style! Chapeau!

100% agree with this, I've been saying it without saying it for some time now, it's not enough to just be a scorer you need to bring another elite skill to contribute to winning basketball. Love the high level analysis & basketball knowledge, you are clearly a student of the game. Thanks for putting the time and effort in to create such high quality, thought provoking content 👏

Rusty, Ive been dealing with depression too, I just wanna let you know that youre not alone, and I am here to support your new content. Gonna get comfy in my bed and enjoy the video!

This is the best basketball evolution doc I’ve seen in my life. Great job!!!

That was excellent… loving the new longer form content. Keep doing it

Clicked on it. Liked it. Turned out to be an amazing video and hear for more

I agree with everything you said. The only thing I’d add is that part of the reason the 2 is dying is height. As you correctly pointed out, taller and taller players are developing perimeter skills as opposed to big man skills. Ideally, you need to be around 6’8 to be an effective wing in the NBA these days. Teams can’t afford having 2 6’5 or under guys in the line up. If you can score and are undersized, but also can’t really play the one. The best you can hope for is being a back up one. Also: I’ve always believed small ball officially started with the Heat as well. I’d say the Lakers (with Odom) followed by the Magic (with Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis) were what gave it intrigue.

I agree with all your points. Great video, and congratulations on your new direction

I really enjoy these type of videos just as long as your consistency doesn’t decline I would say it’s a good thing

The idea behind the evolution of positions is a good way to put into words what the media and fans have been discussing for the previous 5-6 years and its a great way to look into the future. I've always been uncomfortable looking at a 2 and seeing them "carry" a team because it seems impossible without a good facilitator by your side, and I'm glad to hear that this seems to be a big change. Also, not a necessary insight, but you look like a mix between the Technology Connections youtuber and late season Timothy Magee from NCIS. That's it.

This is a great analysis, but one guy that's worth mentioning in the preamble is Robert Horry. Drafted as a 6'9 small forward, he played that position his first two years in the league and won a championship in 1994. In 1995, the Rockets traded their All-Star power forward Otis Thorpe for a wing, and moved Horry to the power forward position. They'd win a championship that year with four shooters and Hakeem. A year later, Horry found himself paired with Shaq and won another three championships, before going to the Spurs and winning another two with Tim Duncan. While he wasn't a true "stretch forward," Horry could guard down to the wings, help on centers, and had three point shooting range in an era where that wasn't really what a "traditional" 4 did.

R buckets you nailed it ! Great show with tons of insight . Awesome job one if the best I've seen in a minute

I love this video format. Fantastic.

As a biologist and a basketball fan that Darwinism comparison was awesome and totally echoed my own perspectives. I would argue that in truth, the game will break down over time to really big wings. Point guards are definitely useful, but dudes like Luka who are somewhat of a point forward are pretty ideal. Above Luka in terms of what I expect a star player to look like in about 20 years is Jayson Tatum. Tall, fast, great on defense, willing to make the right play, and an excellent shooter and cutter. I expect to see a lot more “two way” forwards in the near future that overtake the shooting guard position, and eventually the point guard position.

I would like to see a breakdown of the OKC Thunder in the 2016 playoffs. For the final 3 games of the conference semis against the Spurs and the first four games of the conference finals against the warriors, they went 6-1, against two teams whose combined regular season record was 140-24. When the Thunder would go big with Adams at the 5 and have Kanter come off the bench to play the 4, then you put Ibaka at the 3 and then you have Durant (an effective 5 if he played 40 years ago) who is playing the 2. This lineup was unstoppable for a time! I would like to see a breakdown of how this lineup dominated two of the best regular season teams of all time and then choked.

This was really good! Per your changes video, I was expecting better content, but not this much better! I’m excited for what is to come if this is a shadow.

Great video Rusty!

honestly I am not THE biggest fan of your prior videos, but I understand how much research goes into doing these new types of videos that you are trying to do and in all honesty (with me as mentioned not being so much into your content) this is a great video and a really good analysis, and I cannot wait what is in store for next, keep it up and great job

I think that instead of OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes is the example that I would go to for the future of shooting guards. He’s an excellent defender and (this year) an excellent shooter. He is also good enough to be a very good-great secondary playmaker, which I think is the main point that might have been missed in the video. Overall though, great video Rusty, I can’t wait to see more.

This is a terrific video. Well done

Been watching for a couple years and this is the best video you’ve ever made. Good work Rusty

Jacob, I’m turning 21 in a few weeks, and this has been the first year that I have actually been sober from weed and nicotine in 4-5 years. The difference has been night and day. I found the love of my life and have been so motivated that I have even learned a new language in only 7 months. It all started with me making the decision to admit that weed wasn’t medicine for my depression, but rather a major contributing factor. All that to say, I am so happy to see you admitting your addiction, because that’s the first step into a new life. I am also so excited to see your much improved content and wish you best of luck for your creative ventures. You can do it! And don’t forget that help is always a Rudy away❤

Zach lavine as the thumbnail for a power forward video is crazy💀

Really well done Rusty!

This is my second watch and the video goes so fast that it doesn't even feel like 40 mins. Really love it!! ♥️

Joel Anthony is one of those players who seems bad but actually played a large role in that team. Played a lot of defense and made a lot of hustle plays.

LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO ITS FINALLY HERE

Great video, learned a lot! Thanks

This was vital. Thank you sir

Not home rn but I’m really excited to get home and watch just to figure out why the hell Zach Lavine is next to Tim Duncan

While I think the PG/Wing trio/C is a good take, don't forget about the other teams who are doing a PG Duo type of approach and finding varying success. Celtics doing the best with it rn, Dallas has quite the offense with their duo, OKC and Atlanta has potential to grow if they can get some better forwards or develop their current ones faster. Also, where does this leave SGs that aren't quite great passers, but have high scoring potential like Anthony Edwards or a bench player like Tim Hardaway Jr.? Nice video Rusty.

Great video allows us to see your real knowledge on subjects and to get really in depth on interesting topics

Amazing video! Instantly puts you right at the frontier of basketball knowledge

Love the new format! It's crazy to think that SGs will go the way of the dodo. Twenty years ago, that was probably the most hyped position with Kobe, McGrady, Vince and AI. All good things must come to an end, however.

Alternative take: PG position already died. The "pass first" PG had always been the traditional role. The advent of "shoot first" point guards really just meant a shooting guard is bringing the ball up. NBA teams are built around superstars. Those superstars play-make. The superstars that are not centers are called point guards. Current NBA is ordinarily, but not necessarily, A SG with two SF and a C. That might just be semantics because it still agrees with the premise. Regardless, a great video and breakdown! I enjoy hearing from people who understand the game.

Great video. One of the best basketball analysis videos I've seen in a while

The thoughtfulness of this video. Thank you dude.