The power forward position is the most unique in the NBA.  There are so many players at the 4 who have such vastly different skill sets.  Some get minutes for the ability to defend or rebound, while others do their work on the offensive end.  Some do most of their damage in the paint while others get it done in the face up game.  No matter how each player gets it done, one thing is clear, the power forward spot is a deep as its been in a long time.

Here is a look at the best power forwards in the NBA for the ’13-14 season.

30.  Shane Battier, Miami Heat: The Heat played small most of the season with Battier as the starter.  When they went big it was a spot filled by Udonis Haslem.  Since Battier started the most games, he makes the list.  In 73 games (56 starts), he averaged 4.1 points on 38.2 percent shooting from the floor and 1.9 rebounds

29.  Jason Smith, New Orleans Pelicans: Smith was one of four players to start at the power forward for New Orleans.  Since he put up the best numbers of the bunch and started the highest percent of games, he gets the spot.  In 31 games (27 starts), he averaged 9.7 points on 46.5 percent shooting from the floor.  He also added 5.8 rebounds with just under an assist and a block a game.

28.  Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings: Even though Thompson had his fewest field goal attempts per game of his career, he still had a solid season for the rebuilding Kings.  In 82 games (61 starts), he averaged 7.1 points on 50.6 percent shooting from the field to go along 6.4 rebounds a game.

27.  Marvin Williams, Utah Jazz: Williams moved into the starting lineup after the Jazz got off to a horrible start and provided a spark from the outside.  In 66 games (50 starts), he averaged 9.1 points on 43.9 percent shooting from the floor, including 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. He also put up 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in more than 25 minutes a night.

26.  Brandon Bass, Boston Celtics: Even though Bass was serviceable, the Celtics didn’t have a great season in the first year without Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.  In 82 games (73 starts), he averaged 11.1 points on 48.6 percent shooting from the floor.  He also added 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and nearly a block in more than 27 minutes a game.

25.  Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks: Ilyasova spent the majority of the season as a starter when he was in the lineup for the ever changing Bucks.  In 55 games (47 starts), he averaged 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in nearly 27 minutes a night.

24.  Channing Frye, Phoenix Suns: Frye is the prototypical stretch-4 because of his ability to knock down the three-point shot.  In 82 games, he averaged 11.1 points on 43.2 percent shooting from the floor.  He also shot 37 percent from behind the arc in 5.3 attempts per game, according to Basketball-reference.com.   He added 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 in more than 28 minutes a night.

23.  Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets: With the loss of Brook Lopez to injury early in the season, Plumlee got plenty of time to show that the Nets made the right pick in the first round.  In 70 games (22 starts), he averaged 7.4 points on 65.9 percent shooting from the floor to go along with 4.4 rebounds.

22.  Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats: After bouncing around the league, McRoberts found a role and an opportunity to shine.  In 78 games as a starter, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in more than 30 minutes a night for the Bobcats.

21.  Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs: Splitter was a key piece as the Spurs won the NBA championship thanks to his ability to rebound and play on the defensive end.  In 59 games (50 starts), he averaged 8.2 points on 52.3 percent shooting from the field to go along with 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in more than 21 minutes a night.

20.  Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors: Johnson had one of the best years of his young career to help the Raptors return to the playoffs.  In 77 games (72 starts), he averaged a career-high 10.4 points on 56.2 percent shooting from the floor.  He also registered 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks in nearly 29 minutes a game.

19.  Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets: After playing very little as a rookie, Jones found a spot in the rotation for the Rockets and had a breakout season.  In 76 games (71 starts), he averaged 12.1 points on 54.2 percent shooting from the floor.  He also contributed 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocks in more than 27 minutes a night.

18.  Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers: Thompson had another effective season even though the Cavaliers underachieved.  In 82 starts, he averaged 11.7 points on 47.7 percent shooting from the floor.  He also registered 9.2 rebounds and nearly an assist in a career-high 31.6 minutes per game.

17.  Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls: he isn’t the player he once was, but Carlos Boozer is still a solid scorer and rebounder.  In 76 starts, he averaged 13.7 points on 45.6 percent shooting from the field.  He also contributed 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in more than 28 minutes a night.

16.  Tobias Harris, Orlando Magic: In his first full season in Orlando, Harris had a career year.  In 61 games (36 starts), he averaged 14.6 points on 46.4 percent from the field.  He also recorded seven rebounds and 1.3 assists in more than 30 minutes a game for a young and upcoming Magic squad.

15.  Nene Hilario, Washington Wizards: Even though his season was limited by injuries, Nene was a huge piece as the Wizards made the playoffs.  In 53 games (37 starts), he averaged 14.2 points on 50.3 percent shooting from the floor to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals and nearly a block in more than 29 minutes a night.

14.  Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers: Even though the 76ers struggled through a very difficult season, Young was able to show his versatility on a game-by-game basis.  In 79 games (78 starts), he averaged 17.9 points on 45.4 percent shooting from the floor.  He also put up 6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals in more than 34 minutes a game.

13.  David West, Indiana Pacers: The backbone of the Pacers had another solid campaign on the way to the Eastern Conference finals.  In 80 starts, he averaged 14 points on 48.8 percent shooting from the floor to go along with 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and nearly a block in more than 30 minutes a night.

12.  Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets: Faried is one of the best young big men in the game thanks to his ability to dominate the glass and finish around the rim.  In 80 games (77 starts), he averaged a career-high 13.7 points on 54.5 percent shooting from the floor.  He also chipped in with 8.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and just under a steal a night.

11.  Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons: Monroe had another impressive season even though he plays in the loaded Detroit front court.  In 82 starts, he averaged 15.2 points on 49.7 percent shooting from the floor.  He also added 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in more than 32 minutes a contest.

10.  David Lee, Golden State Warriors: Even though the Warriors are known for their fantastic play from the guard line, they have a special player in Lee.  In 69 games (67 starts), he averaged 18.2 points on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor as well as 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in more than 33 minutes a game.

9.  Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers: It wasn’t a good season for Los Angeles, but Gasol stills showed why he is an elite level big man.  In 60 games, he averaged 17.4 points on 48 percent shooting from the field.  He also chipped in with 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks for the undermanned Lakers.

8.  Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks: In his first season away from the Jazz, Millsap did it all for the Hawks on the way to the playoffs.  In 74 games (73 starts), he averaged 17.9 points on 46.1 percent shooting from the field.  He also registered 8.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks to make his first all-star appearance.

7.  Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies made another trip to the playoffs in ’13-14 on the shoulders of Randolph.  He is a beast on the offensive glass and has a wide array of post moves to create space and score from the block.  In 79 starts, he averaged 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and a career-high 2.5 assists in more than 34 minutes a contest.

6.  Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder: He doesn’t have the offensive game of some of the other players on this list, but Ibaka just may be the best defensive player after earning all-defensive first-team for the third straight season, according to Basketball-reference.com.  In his fifth season with the Thunder, he averaged 15.1 points on 53.6 percent shooting.  He also recorded 8.8 rebounds, an assist and 2.7 blocks in more than 32 minutes a night.

5.  Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks: Even at 35-years old, Nowitzki was the catalyst of another impressive Mavericks club that pushed the Spurs to a seventh game in the first round of the playoffs. In 80 starts, he averaged 21.7 points on 49.7 percent shooting from the floor, including 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.  He also came away with 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in more than 32 minutes a game to make his 11th all-star game in last 12 seasons, according to Basketball-reference.com.

4.  Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks: What a difference a year can make! After a stellar campaign for the Knicks in ’12-13, they floundered a season ago and missed out on the playoffs all together.  Even in a down season for the team, Anthony put up huge numbers once again.  In 77 games, he averaged 27.4 points on 45.2 percent shooting from the floor.  He also added a career-high 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and  1.2 steals to make his seventh all-star team.

3.  LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers: Aldridge had another fantastic season as he made the all-star game for the third consecutive year and propelled the Blazers to the second round of the playoffs.  In 69 starts, he averaged 23.2 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field to go along with a career-high 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a block in more than 36 minutes a contest.  That production was good enough for all-NBA third team honors.

2.  Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers: after being known primarily for his high-flying dunks on the break and in the paint, Griffin showed a much more well-rounded game in ’13-14.  His improved numbers at the free-throw line (71.5 percent on 674 attempts according to basketball-reference.com), helped him averaged a career-high 24.1 points.  He also put up 9.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 80 games.  That stat line was impressive enough to earn him all-NBA second team for the third straight season.

1.  Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves: His last season with the Timberwolves just may have been his most complete.  Even though Minnesota failed to make the payoffs once agin, Love played the most games since his rookie season (77) and averaged a career-high 26.1 points on 37.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.  He also added 12.5 rebounds and a career-high 4.4 assists to earn all-NBA second team for the second time in three seasons.