The Scorer's table

Walker supplements power

By David DuPree, USA TODAY

	By Elise Amendola, AP
	What's that you say? Boston's Antoine Walker leads power forwards in assists, steals, and three-pointers made.

Power forward has become the new glamour position in the NBA, with Karl Malone of Utah, Chris Webber of Sacramento, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota, Tim Duncan of San Antonio, Rasheed Wallace of Portland, Antonio McDyess of Denver and Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas leading the way.

But if you examine nine standard statistical categories — scoring average, rebound average, assist average, blocked shots average, steals average, turnover average, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and three-point shots made — a case can be made that the best of the power forwards could very well be Antoine Walker of Boston.

The Celtics star is the only power forward to be the best at his position in three of the categories: He leads all power forwards in assists, steals and three-pointers made.

The only other player to lead his position in as many as three categories is Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers, who tops centers in scoring, assists and field goal percentage.

Four other players lead their positions in two categories: small forward Wally Szczerbiak of Minnesota (field goal and free throw percentages), shooting guard Allen Iverson of Philadelphia (scoring and steals), shooting guard Tracy McGrady of Orlando (rebounds and blocked shots) and small forward Paul Pierce of Boston (steals and three-pointers made).

Only one pair of teammates is the best at their positions in two of the same categories — Boston's Walker and Pierce lead power forwards and small forwards, respectively, in steals and three-pointers made. Milwaukee's Lindsey Hunter and Ervin Johnson are the only other pair of teammates leading their positions in the same category: They're tops among point guards and centers, respectively, in fewest turnovers.

A look at the all-NBA teams based on the nine chosen statistical categories:

Scoring average

Power forward: Chris Webber, Sacramento. . . . 27.6
Small forward: Paul Pierce, Boston . . . . . . 25.4
Center: Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers. . . . . 27.9
Point guard: Stephon Marbury, New Jersey . . . 23.9
Shooting guard:  Allen Iverson, Philadelphia . 31.1

Rebound average

Power forward: Antonio McDyess, Denver. . . .  12.3 
Small forward: Shawn Marion,  Phoenix . . . .  11.1 
Center: Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia . . . .  13.8 
Point guard: Steve Francis, Houston . . . . . . 6.9 
Shooting guard: Tracy McGrady, Orlando  . . . . 7.8  

Assist average

Power forward: Antoine Walker, Boston . . . . . 5.3
Small  forward: Jamal Mashburn, Charlotte . . . 5.2
Center: Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers . . . . . 3.9
Point guard: Jason Kidd, Phoenix. . . . . . . . 9.9
Shooting guard: Jerry Stackhouse, Detroit . . . 5.0

Blocked-shots average

Power forward: Tim Duncan, San Antonio. . . . . 2.3
Small forward: Lamar Odom, L.A. Clippers. . . . 1.8
Center: Theo Ratliff, Atlanta . . . . . . . . . 3.7
Point guard: Jalen Rose, Indiana. . . . . . . . 0.7
Shooting guard: Tracy McGrady, Orlando. . . . . 1.6

Steals average

Power  forward: Antoine Walker, Boston. . . . . 1.7
Small forward: Paul Pierce, Boston. . . . . . . 1.8
Center:  Ben Wallace, Detroit . . . . . . . . . 1.3
Point guard: Mookie Blaylock, Golden State. . . 2.3
Shooting  guard: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia. . 2.5

Turnover average

Power  forward: Horace Grant, L.A. Lakers . . . 0.6
Small forward: Bruce Bowen, Miami . . . . . . . 0.9
Center:  Ervin Johnson, Milwaukee . . . . . . . 0.5
Point guard: Lindsey Hunter, Milwaukee. . . . . 0.9
Shooting  guard: Lucious Harris, New Jersey . . 0.8

Field goal percentage

Power forward: Bo Outlaw, Orlando. . . . . . . 60.7
Small  forward: Wally Szczerbiak, Minn.  . . . 50.4
Center: Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers  . . . . 57.2
Point guard: John Stockton,Utah. . . . . . . . 50.1
Shooting guard: Bonzi Wells, Portland. . . . . 53.4

Free throw percentage

Power  forward: P.J. Brown, Charlotte. . . . . 86.4
Small forward: Wally Szczerbiak, Minn. . . . . 86.8
Center: Marc Jackson, Golden State . . . . . . 80.2
Point guard: Chris Whitney, Washington . . . . 89.4
Shooting guard: Reggie Miller,Indiana. . . . . 92.4

Three-point field goals made

Power forward: Antoine Walker, Boston . . . . . 178
Small forward: Paul Pierce, Boston. . . . . . . 124
Center: Raef LaFrentz, Denver . . . . . . . . .  38
Point guard: Tim Hardaway, Miami. . . . . . . . 167
Shooting guard: Ray Allen, Milwaukee. . . . . . 169

Note: Players have to play at least 24 minutes a game to qualify; turnovers are based on fewest a game.