Editing Small forward (section)

{{Short description|Basketball position}}
{{Multiple image
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| image1            = Lebron 2017.jpg
| caption1          = [[LeBron James]] (left) is regarded as the greatest small forward in the history of the [[NBA]].
| image2            = Maya Moore (23) dribbles around Alex Bentley (20) in the Minnesota Lynx vs Atlanta Dream game.jpg
| caption2          = [[Maya Moore]] is regarded as one of the greatest small forwards in the history of the [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 11, 2023 |title=Can Chelsea Gray guide Aces to back-to-back WNBA titles?
 |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/38624176/wnba-finals-2023-chelsea-gray-las-vegas-aces-point-gawd |access-date=June 9, 2024 |work=ESPN }}</ref>
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The '''small forward''' ('''SF'''), also known as the '''three''', is one of the five [[Basketball position|position]]s in a regulation [[basketball]] game.<ref name="SGoodsSF">{{cite web|url=https://protips.dickssportinggoods.com/sports-and-activities/basketball/court-essentials-basketball-positions-explained|title=Basketball 101: Basketball Positions Explained|website=[[Dick's Sporting Goods]]|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than [[Power forward (basketball)|power forwards]] and [[Center (basketball)|centers]] but taller, larger, and stronger than either of the guard positions.<ref name="SGoodsSF"/> They are strategic and are often relied upon to score, defend, create open lanes, and rebound for their team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ultimate Guide to Playing Small Forward |url=https://www.usab.com/youth/news/2011/06/the-ultimate-guide-to-playing-small-forward.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123002551/http://www.usab.com/youth/news/2011/06/the-ultimate-guide-to-playing-small-forward.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=www.usab.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The small forward is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the five main basketball positions as they contribute offensively and defensively.<ref name=VersatilityIsKey>{{cite news|last=Recruiting Nation|title=Versatility is key for small forwards|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/news/story?id=2677310|newspaper=ESPN|date=November 28, 2006}}</ref> In the [[NBA]], small forwards typically range from 6' 6" (1.98 m) to 6' 9" (2.06 m); in the [[WNBA]], they are usually between 6' 0" (1.83 m) to 6' 2" (1.88 m). This puts them at the average height of all professional basketball players because they are taller than the [[Guard (basketball)|guards]], but shorter than the [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]] and [[Center (basketball)|center.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basketball: The Small Forward |url=https://www.ducksters.com/sports/basketball/small_forward.php |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=www.ducksters.com}}</ref> 

Small forwards are responsible for scoring [[point (basketball)|points]] and defending, and often are secondary or tertiary [[rebound (basketball)|rebounders]] behind the power forward and center. In professional basketball, some have considerable passing responsibilities, and many are prolific scorers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/canada/Basketball_U_Players_and_Posi-Canada_Generic_Article-18037.html|title=NBA.com - Players and Positions|website=www.nba.com}}</ref>