10 Best Shooting Guard Draft Classes in NBA History

NBA fans have had the opportunity to witness several skilled shooting guards over the years.

We've seen unstoppable scorers at the position such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Allen Iverson and George Gervin. 

We've seen guys who were money from beyond the three-point line like Reggie Miller, Ray Allen and Dale Ellis.

And then there's dunkers who could bring down the house such as Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, Isaiah Rider and Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner.

Here's a look at the NBA 10 greatest shooting guard draft classes of all time. In order to make this list, it's imperative that the class has at least three solid two-guards.

With that said, a draft class such as 1987, which produced All-Stars Reggie Miller and Reggie Lewis, won't appear on the list.

Alright, let's go ahead and begin.

10. Class of 1995

Two All-Star shooting guards (Jerry Stackhouse and Michael Finley) and slam dunk champ Brent Barry were selected in the 1995 draft.

Stackhouse was one of many youngsters from the '90s who were unfairly labeled "The Next Michael Jordan." Stack never quite became MJ 2.0, but he did put together a solid career.

Finley, taken 21st overall, proved to be a major draft steal, as he emerged as a 20-point per game scorer during his stay in Dallas. 

Barry blossomed into a valuable role player and possessed the ability to drain thee-point shots consistently.  

9. Class of 1986

The late Drazen Petrovic, Ron Harper, Jeff Hornacek and Dell Curry were all a part of the 1986 draft class.

One of the greatest European basketball players ever, Petrovic was on his way to becoming a perennial NBA All-Star before dying in a car accident in 1993.

Before emerging as the starting point guard in Chicago, Harper was a high-scoring shooting guard in Cleveland and Los Angeles.

Hornacek was part of the Utah Jazz's "Big Three" that also included Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton. Hornacek helped his Utah mates reach the NBA Finals in both 1997 and 1998 and was truly a gifted shooter.

And Curry, the father of current Golden State Warriors guard Stephen, was a threat from beyond the three-point stripe.    

8. Class of 1979

Shooting guards Vinnie Johnson, Sidney Moncrief and Jim Paxson came out in 1979, the year Magic Johnson was taken first overall.

Vinnie Johnson's career began in Seattle and ended in San Antonio. But, he's best known for his tenure as a sparkplug off the bench for the Detroit Pistons.

"The Microwave" backed up both Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, helping the Pistons win it all in 1989 and 1990.

Moncrief was one of the top defenders of the 1980s, winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award in '82 and '84. 

Paxson, the brother of former Chicago Bulls sharpshooter John, was a two-time All-Star in Portland. 

7. Class of 1999

The youngest class on the list, the Class of '99 produced current two-guards Rip Hamilton, Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili. 

Hamilton, a three-time All-Star, was a key member of the 2004 Detroit Pistons title team that shocked the mighty Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Hamilton has drawn comparisons to the legendary Reggie Miller because of the way he moves without the ball.

Terry won the league's Sixth Man of the Year award in 2009 and, of course, helped the Dallas Mavericks finally win a championship this past season.

Then there's Ginobili, one of the biggest draft steals of all time (taken 57th overall). The star from Argentina has made two NBA All-Star teams and hooked up with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to lead the San Antonio Spurs to three titles in the 2000s.     

6. Class of 1984

1984 was the year Michael Jordan took his talents from the University of North Carolina to the National Basketball Association. 

Jordan isn't just the greatest shooting guard in NBA history, but the greatest player in NBA history. He won a plethora of NBA awards during his career, and of course, led the Chicago Bulls to six titles.

Jordan won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, but he wasn't the only shooting guard from the Class of '84 to win that honor, as Alvin Robertson won it in '86. A four-time NBA All-Star, Robertson was selected to five All-Defensive Teams.

Tony Campbell, who was neither a Defensive Player of the Year nor an All-Star, was also a shooting guard taken in the famous '84 draft. The former Ohio State Buckeye put together a few decent seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the early '90s.    

5. Class of 1983

Shooting guards Clyde Drexler, Dale Ellis, Byron Scott, Jeff Malone and Craig Ehlo arrived in the NBA in 1983.

Drexler, a Hall of Famer, is one of the greatest showmen in league history. "Clyde the Glide" led Portland to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992 before teaming with Hakeem Olajuwon to carry Houston to a championship in 1995. 

Ellis is currently sixth all-time in three-pointers made with 1,719, Malone was a two-time All-Star, Scott was an important part of the "Showtime" Lakers and Ehlo served as a starter on some talented Cleveland Cavalier teams in the early '90s.

4. Class of 1988

An All-Star two-guard trio was drafted in '88: Mitch Richmond, Dan Majerle and Hersey Hawkins.

Richmond was one of the top players in the '90s, possibly the best shooting guard not named Jordan. And there's a chance that he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame at some point in the future.

Majerle, also known as "Thunder Dan," was simply a fan favorite during his tenure in Phoenix, and Hawkins was a starter for the majority of his 13-year NBA career.

Other two-guards from the '88 draft include the long-range shooting Vernon Maxwell and current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro.

In addition, 1994 NBA All-Star and 1997 Sixth Man of the Year John Starks went undrafted that year.

3. Class of 1970

One of the greatest NBA drafts ever, the 1970 draft produced shooting guards Pete Maravich, Geoff Petrie and Charlie Scott.

Maravich, known by many as "Pistol Pete," was an incredible ball handler and outstanding scorer during his time with the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Jazz. The flashy Hall of Famer averaged a career-best 31 points per game in 1976-77.    

Currently the GM of the Sacramento Kings, Petrie won the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1971 and was named to two All-Star teams during a career that was cut short due to a knee injury. 

Scott was a multiple All-Star in both the ABA and NBA and helped the Boston Celtics capture a title in 1976.  

In addition, former Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) star Randy Smith took home All-Star Game MVP honors in '78. 

2. Class of 1965

When you think of Laker legends, you probably think of guys like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant.

But what about Gail Goodrich?

Goodrich was a star for L.A. back in the '70s, and his No. 25 jersey is retired by the team.

He was one of five All-Star shooting guards drafted in 1965. The others are Jerry Sloan, twin brothers Dick and Tom Van Arsdale and John McGlocklin.

Sloan was a star in Chicago way before Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen came to town. The Van Arsdales are likely the best set of twins in NBA history, and McGlocklin helped Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson win a title in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks.    

1. Class of 1996

Can you possibly think of a shooting guard class greater than the one drafted in '96?

Nope.

This talent-rich class produced MVPs Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson as well as the NBA's all-time three-point leader in Ray Allen. 

Bryant is considered by most as a top-10 player in league history, and some might place him in the top five. He was a major part of five Laker championship teams and just might bring the team another one or two before he retires.

Iverson never won a ring, but he did lead the league in scoring four times and is perhaps the greatest little man to ever play the game of basketball.

Allen has been named an All-Star 10 times and helped lead the Boston Celtics to a title in 2008, as the team defeated Bryant's Lakers in the Finals.

It's basically a guarantee that Bryant, Iverson and Allen will each make the Hall of Fame sometime after their standout careers come to an end.