Power Ranking Every NBA Team's Top Shooting Guard

Ranking the best shooting guards on every team in the NBA is no easy task, as each player on his respective team is on that roster for a specific reason.

Sometimes, the top overall "talent" doesn't necessarily fit the picture of what a club is attempting to do, and there is certainly a wide-range of opinions on the best players at the position.

With all of the incredible play stemming from the shooting guard spot, it makes for some interesting conversation among fans.

Agree or disagree, there is no doubting how exciting some of these guys can be to watch on a nightly basis.

30. Wes Johnson, Minnesota

John was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2010 draft, but he has really failed to live up to expectations since coming out of Syracuse.

Minnesota has yet to find an answer at the shooting guard spot, and the team's most productive lineup has been with two point guards playing together in the backcourt.

29. Anthony Parker, Cleveland

Parker re-signed with the Cavs during the offseason, and Cleveland still has serious issues about its depth on the wing.

The team has definitive questions about how to improve the attack from the wing, an area that was supposed to be the focal point of concentration heading into the campaign.

28. Gordon Hayward, Utah

Some got caught up in the Hayward hysteria following his incredible run at Butler, but he's yet to show that he can translate his skills to the next level.

He's had flashes of looking like a very capable player on the wing, but he simply disappears too often to be relied upon for a Jazz team that needs him to produce.

27. Delonte West, Dallas

West has been thrust into a starting role for the Mavericks this season, and he's done a fair job of adjusting to his newest role on the fly.

There is a lot to like about what he brings to the table, but he shouldn't be the most talented shooting guard on the roster if the Mavericks have any aspirations about attempting to defend the crown.

26. Evan Turner, Philadelphia

Turner was drafted with high hopes when the Sixers tabbed him at No. 2 overall in 2010, but he's yet to have the same success he did at Ohio State in Philadelphia.

He's got a versatile game and can contribute across the stat sheet when he's going right, but like some of his counterparts, he has struggled to bring it on a nightly basis.

25. Nick Young, Washington

Young has shown that he can be a volume scorer when he's in the zone, but that's just about all he has shown capable of doing during his brief career.

He is not very active on the defensive end nor does he look for his teammates on offense very often, and it's tough to progress as a player when working with a limited skill set.

24. MarShon Brooks, New Jersey

Brooks has come into the league with a bang during his rookie season, and he's already proven that he can score when given the opportunity.

On a team that is struggling to scrape together offensive production, Brooks has been asked to take a sizable role from the onset and has responded favorably thus far.

23. Iman Shumpert, New York

Shumpert has already established himself as a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden, and it took very little time for him to find his way into the starting lineup.

There was some controversy when the Knicks made him the No. 17 overall selection, but it's clear that the investment in his athleticism and upside is already paying dividends for New York.

22. Gerald Henderson, Charlotte

Henderson has shown some solid growth this year for the Bobcats, and he's one player who could really make a name for himself with a little bit more experience.

He's ticketed for a major role for Charlotte as long as he can stay healthy (he had offseason hip surgery), and he has been surprisingly active at the defensive end as well.

21. Ben Gordon, Detroit

Gordon was a forgotten man in Detroit during his first two seasons with the Pistons, but he's showing this season that he's still got plenty of gas left in the tank.

It might take some time for him to knock the cobwebs off of his game, and the assist to turnover ratio is going to be something to monitor with Gordon going forward.

20. Jared Dudley, Phoenix

Dudley showed some serious promise during the 2010-11 season when he found himself starting for the Suns, but he's yet to rediscover that same success this year.

He's really struggling to find that same level of play on both ends of the court, and his field-goal percentage is much lower than it has been at any other previous point in his career.

19. Stephen Jackson, Milwaukee

Jackson was brought into Milwaukee to serve as a source of stability in the backcourt, but he's struggled to find his groove in the early part of the year.

He's turning the ball over far too frequently, and Jackson is really struggling shooting the ball from the floor.

Perhaps his back injury is hampering him slightly more than he's letting on, or maybe his game just isn't at the same level that it once was.

18. O.J. Mayo, Memphis

Mayo might not be starting for the Grizzlies, but there's no question that he's the most talented 2-guard on the roster.

Tony Allen is an absolute beast on the defensive end, but Mayo's ability to impact the offensive attack in the blink of an eye is just too difficult to ignore.

17. Richard Hamilton, Chicago

Hamilton may be a veteran at this stage in his career, but he's still producing at a solid clip and appears to be a very sound fit alongside Derrick Rose in the Chicago backcourt.

He's not going to score in the same way that he did earlier in his carer, but he can still consistently knock down the mid-range jumper and remains stellar from the free-throw line.

16. Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers

Billups is playing out of position as a shooting guard for Los Angeles, but he's still got enough talent to make it work even if he's not used to playing that role of late.

He still has a lot left to offer as a point guard, but when pitting him against opposing shooting guards around the league, he doesn't measure up in the same manner.

15. Paul George, Indiana

George has made a rapid ascension in league circles since attaining the starting job, and he doesn't look like he's ready to let go of his stranglehold on the position at any point in the near future.

He's got unbelievable athleticism and has really improved his outside shot. It's scary to think about what the kid's ceiling could be if he continues to progress every season.

14. Jason Richardson, Orlando

Richardson had a tough start to the season, but he's beginning to show signs of turning it around for Orlando.

After initially really struggling, the veteran is illustrating why the team brought him back for another four seasons. He's going to have to be productive in order for the Magic to sustain success.

13. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto

DeRozan isn't a household name—yet.

He's very well known among diehard hoop fans, and there is good reason for that.

The USC product has established himself as a scoring machine, and now that he's developed an outside shot, the floor could really open up for him to dominate with his phenomenal athleticism.

12. Arron Afflalo, Denver

Afflalo does so many things well, and although they don't always show up in the box score, he is extremely valuable to what Denver does.

He plays outstanding defense on the perimeter and has really worked on developing his offensive approach. The fact that he barely ever turns the ball over is a serious plus in his game.

11. Marcus Thornton, Sacramento

Thornton was buried at the end of the bench in New Orleans before arriving in Sacramento, and that's when the scorer broke out in a big way.

There is no doubt that he's got to answer to some questions at the defensive end of the court, but this kid is a big time scorer capable of hitting it from anywhere on the floor.

10. Wes Matthews, Portland

Matthews went from undrafted free agent to wanted commodity almost overnight, but it didn't come without him putting in some serious work to get there.

He can knock it down from deep at the drop of a dime, shoots it well from the foul line and can rebound surprisingly well despite standing just 6'5".

If he improves his assist to turnover ratio, Matthews could soar even higher.

9. Kevin Martin, Houston

Martin is often overlooked when discussing the top shooting guards in the league, but his name definitely deserves to be in the middle of the conversation.

He got a rap for being an injury-prone player earlier in his career, but Martin has improved in that regard recently and has illustrated exactly what makes him so valuable on the offensive end.

8. James Harden, Oklahoma City

Not only does Harden have the best beard in the NBA (sorry, Baron Davis), but his progress from the time he was initially drafted doesn't deserve to go unnoticed any longer.

He's shown an inclination to get better every single season he's been in the league, and he is anything but a one-dimensional player despite most noting him for his ability to swish it from beyond the arc.

7. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio

Ginobili is aging and his career doesn't have an infinite amount of time left, but his production remains plentiful and consistent for the Spurs.

It's going to be impossible for San Antonio to replace what he brings to the table while he recovers from a broken hand, but Ginobili is far too regularly undervalued when discussing the value of players.

6. Eric Gordon, New Orleans

Gordon has really struggled to stay healthy during his brief career, and his troublesome knee has gotten his tenure in New Orleans off to a rocky start.

However, this kid can flat out play the game of basketball, and he's got legitimate star potential if he can ever manage to stay on the court with consistency.

He's surprisingly athletic, isn't afraid to attack the basket and is known for his ability to hit a myriad of jumpers no matter where he is on the court.

5. Ray Allen, Boston

Allen might be nearing the end of his playing days, but you wouldn't know it by watching him play and continually produce at an incredible clip.

Still shooting the lights out from everywhere on the court, Allen keeps himself in remarkable shape and could very well have similar success until he decides to retire.

With the report that he'd like a multi-year contract extension from Boston, any retirement talks will have to be put on hold for the foreseeable future.

4. Joe Johnson, Atlanta

Johnson gets a harsh assessment by a lot of fans because of the max contract extension he signed with Atlanta, but he's got some serious talent and deserves his placement inside the top five.

Having said that, Johnson's production has gone in the backward direction since averaging 5.8 assists per game in consecutive seasons (2007-09), and he'll have to buck that trend in order to justify his long-term placement in the No. 4 slot.

3. Monta Ellis, Golden State

Ellis is an unbelievable talent, but there are a couple of guys in this league whom he's going to have a tough time overtaking while they're still out on the court.

He's a volume shooter and has been throughout his entire career, but if he can continue to improve his facilitating skills within the offense, that will be something most people would be willing to overlook.

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Bryant is a warrior, a five-time champion and one of the best players to ever suit up in the NBA, but at this stage in his career, he comes in at the No. 2 spot.

There is a lot of mileage on his tires, and while he's still producing for the Lakers in a big way, there's no doubt that the guy in front of him deserves to be there.

1. Dwyane Wade, Miami

What can't Wade do on the basketball court?

He scores, rebounds and dishes the rock to his teammates on offense, but he sacrifices nothing on the defensive end, where he is averaging 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game this season.

Wade is one of the most versatile players in the NBA, and the fact that he's on the cusp of just his 30th birthday is a downright scary thought for the rest of the league.

As long as he's healthy, there are no limitations on what he can do on a basketball court.