Shooting guards are, and have been for a very long time, one of the most exciting positions on the floor. Not really known for versatility, shooting guards are tasked with being scorers. Be it a pick and pop shooting guard or a slasher, shooting guards are known for their offensive versatility rather then their stat sheet stuffing. But what separates the best shooting guards from the rest are their ability to score in a myriad of ways while also contributing in other ways on the court.
5. Tracy McGrady
Though he played the small forward extensively throughout his career, and was included in my 'The NBA's Top Five Small Forwards' article, he has made the two position his role in recent years while still maintaining his dynamic and versatile skill set. When not injured, Tracy McGrady is one of the most dangerous players in the entire league. He has the ability to get his shot off and hit his buckets accurately from everywhere on the court. Alongside his cousin Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady in his prime was perhaps one of the top five most powerful finishers at the rim and was known for his explosive dunks and agile layups. But don't let that fool you, leave Tracy McGrady a little space outside and he will hit a jumper right in your face. When Tracy McGrady is on his game, he is unguardable, which is a hallmark of elite shooting guards. If you leave T-Mac open he'll hit a jumper, get too close and he will blow past you for the easy basket; and if you try and stop him you'll end up giving him two easy points at the charity stripe. As of late, the dominant offensive juggernaut within Tracy has been mostly dormant but he is still in the upper echelon of offensive players in the NBA and has shown signs of the monster within. Perhaps with Ron Artest playing lock-down D and taking pressure of T-Mac to guard elite scoring threats, Tracy can focus on his offense and reclaim the scoring title he is still capable of winning.
Career Averages: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal.
4. Allen Iverson
Though he played the point guard for the majority of his career, his Nuggets tenure has seen him play the two position extensively. Allen Iverson is a nightmare on the offensive end. Allen Iverson plays with all his heart, and it shows as he continually drives into paint on every possession and gets his baskets through agile and athletic finishes or an easy two free throws at the stripe. What helps Allen Iverson get deep into the paint despite his small size and stature is his lightning quick agility and his masterful ball handling skills. The master of the crossover, Allen Iverson is still one of the best scorers in the league at the veteran age of thirty-three. But don't let his offensive proficiency fool you, Iverson is an above average passer as well for a combo guard, with a career average of six assists. Iverson is also an above average defender who plays the passing lanes well, averaging a little over two steals per game. Perhaps one of the most overlooked and underrated parts of Iverson's game is his ability to grab a decent amount of boards despite his six feet tall height. Averaging four rebounds a game for his career and a season high of just under five rebounds a game during the '98-'99 season prove that Iverson plays a hundred percent every game. By the end of Iverson's career, he can easily be placed among the top ten scorers in the league all time and will be remembered for his small frame combined with his large heart.
Career Averages: 28 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals.
3. Dwyane Wade
An injury free, one hundred percent Dwyane Wade is a top five player in the entire league and easily the second best shooting guard in the NBA. But as of late, D-Wade has not been in his usual Finals MVP self due to injuries, but is still one of the more dangerous players in the NBA. Not since Vince Carter and T-Mac in their respective primes have we seen such an athletic and powerful finisher at the rim; while it's been since Iverson in his prime since we've seen an athlete willing to take a pounding each and every time he drives it into the paint, which is almost on every offensive possession D-Wade executes. Dwyane Wade at his best is one of the, if not the most, athletic guards in the league. Flash also has a very dependable mid-range jumper that compliments his inside game extremely well. But when his jumper fails him and his drives to the rim are negated by a top notch defender, don't sleep on his play-making abilities. Dwyane Wade has averaged almost seven assists in all but two of his seasons in the NBA. Those two seasons were his rookie season, and his '06-'07 campaign, which saw him average over seven assists. Another underrated yet scarily effective part of D-Wade's game is his post game. Not since Michael Jordan have many analysts seen a guard so proficient at playing the post game against other guards. Dwyane Wade could go down as one of the most exciting, dynamic, and dominant players in NBA history or go the Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill route because of his reckless drives to the rack. It all depends on the condition of his return this upcoming NBA season.
Career Averages: 24 points, 6.5 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals.
2. Manu Ginobili
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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