Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale had the most reliable post repertoire of any power forward in the history of the position. His combination of a 7-foot wingspan, quick-release footwork, and the psychological discipline to take only shots he could make from positions he had worked for made him nearly impossible to guard in one-on-one coverage and expensive enough in terms of defensive commitment that double-team schemes opened his teammates consistently.

Boston's three championships in the 1980s (1981, 1984, 1986) were built on the combination of Larry Bird's perimeter creation, Robert Parish's interior presence, and McHale's post scoring — a frontcourt that remains the most theoretically complete in the league's history. McHale's individual peak in 1986-87 produced 26.1 points per game on 60.4% shooting from the field — an efficiency record at his scoring volume that reflected the degree to which his shot selection was effectively constrained to shots he was nearly certain to make.

His career was shortened by ankle injuries that required multiple off-season surgeries in his late 20s and early 30s, limiting his sustained peak to a smaller window than his talent warranted. What he produced in that window was elite enough to place him among the three most technically skilled post players in league history.

McHale attended Minnesota — playing for a program in his home state — before Boston selected him 3rd overall in 1980. He became the ideal complement to Bird and Parish, and the three of them remain the most celebrated frontcourt combination in the modern era. He later served as a front office executive and head coach after his playing career.