His stats may not be as flashy as previous players on this list, but there is no shooting guard in the league other then the number one player that can play inside and outside the paint as effectively as Manu Ginobili. Playing less minutes than all the other marquee superstars, Manu Ginobili manages to stuff the stat sheet at just under the twenty, five, and five mark for the '07-'08 season. Manu Ginobili has a gather and two steps before a layup or a dunk that is fluid and with it he is able to cut through the paint like a hot knife through butter. Manu Ginobili may not be the fastest or the most explosive two guard, but at his best he is right up there in the upper echelon. Compliment that with his forty percent three point percentage this past season and you have one of the most dangerous inside and out threats in the entire league. Many analysts, though I disagree, believe Manu is now the best player on the Spurs roster;, and though Tim Duncan is still the great one, and Tony Parker is quickly coming into his own, Manu Ginobili can still be considered one of the best guards in the entire league. Playing only thirty-one minutes a game for the season and twenty-eight for his career, Manu proves he is one of the most productive player for the minutes he receives.
Career Averages: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals.
1. Kobe Bryant
The number one shooting guard in the league and the best player in the NBA is without a shadow of a doubt, Kobe Bryant. This man is a sniper and one of the best sharpshooters in the league, able to get his shot off accurately from absolutely anywhere on the floor. Kobe can play the post up game, the pick and pop (though not as effectively as proven by his team USA shooting percentages...), and any other style that can enable him to hit a jumper, even in the form of a turnaround post shot. Now, that alone can make him an upper echelon player in the NBA, but compliment this with one of the best, if not the best, inside games in the NBA and you have the best offensive player in the league. Kobe is unstoppable driving it into the paint. His agile or powerful finishes take your breath away and if that doesn't work, then most of the time he's going right to the charity stripe for an easy two. On top of his offensive skills, Kobe is a defensive terror, which makes him one of the most complete players since Michael Jordan. In fact, some people argue that with the competition these days, Kobe could, in fact, be better than MJ. Though I don't think it's the case, the fact that Kobe's name is up for the debate against 'Air Jordan' speaks wonders about Kobe's all around game.
Career Averages: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals.
Hardest Omissions/Honorable Mentions:
Joe Johnson: This player really came into his own this past NBA season, averaging almost twenty-two points, six assists, and five rebounds for the young Atlanta Hawks. He is an All-Star caliber player that will easily make the top five list sometime during his career.
Vince Carter: Though Vince Carter hasn't been Vince Carter for a while, twenty-one points, six rebounds, and five assists is still amazing and deserves mention among the best players in the league. Though Carter is no longer dominant taking it to the rack and relys on his jump shot too often, he still has the potential to be a top five shooting guard at almost thirty-one years of age and should be a perennial power and solid threat on offense until he retires.
Ray Allen: Ray Allen is the best shooter in the league and has one of the deadliest and quickest releases in the NBA. Though he played with two other superstars, he still put up productive numbers and percentages that merit his inclusion in any offensive powerhouse discussions.
Rip Hamilton: Richard Hamilton is a player that will go into a game and give you twenty points each and every night. One of the most consistent players in the NBA, you know what to expect from Rip and his awesome mid-range jump shot.
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