What I based these rankings on are how they have played this year statistically, how much of an impact they make to their team, and how good their team is. Also, it's just my overall opinion.
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| Kobe Bryant |
1. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Vino keeps getting better with age. Anyone who wrote-off Kobe at the start of the year after a dismal beginning to the Lakers' season have been shut up. With averages of 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, he completed yet another outstanding regular season. The Lakers were playing horrible out of the gate and it seemed as if they weren't going to make the postseason. Kobe, however, put the team on his back like he always did and he made that push. Unfortunately, an injury derailed his and the Lakers' season and LA got swept by the Spurs. Kobe is my number 1 shooting guard because there is really no one more competitive, tough, and simply, better than him. I hope he makes a strong recovery because the Lakers without him is just something awful.
2. Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat)
- The Heat keep rolling. Wade has been consistently good and he adjusted his game well to accustom Lebron and Bosh. Like Kobe, Wade is a threat to score at will and come in the clutch. He also averages 20,5 and 5. Age is starting to come to him as injuries have nagged him a couple of games but Wade is still as effective as any other. The Heat, if healthy, should come away with their second championship in a row.
3. James Harden (Houston Rockets)
- We all knew he was a good player but we didn't expect this to come out after his first year as the focal point in the offense. He faded away in the finals last year and many believed he could not handle leading a team by himself. He killed all of that by exploding this year. He's a potent scorer, and like the other two above him on the list, averages over 20 points, 5 boards, and 5 dimes a game. It is evident in his playoff play that he has improved in every facet of his game. His three point shot is consistent and he gets to the rim easily. I'm expecting another big offseason for him and many more years of stardom to come. Harden is easily becoming one of my favourite players to watch. Fear the beard.
4. Andre Iguodala (Denver Nuggets)
- He's an athletic wing who could facilitate the offense well and also guard the opposing teams' best player. Statistically, his scoring numbers don't jump right out at you as it once did when he was on the 76ers. His scoring average dropped to 13 points per game but I put him here because he did other things well. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists while also putting up good defensive numbers. The thing I really like about the Nuggets is that they are the complete team. Iguodala would be your "all-star" but he's more of just a really really good role player on this team. I put him this high because he's been consistent and reliable for a winning team. He can still put up numbers among the best of them.
5. Monta Ellis (Milwaukee Bucks)
- The Ellis-Jennings duo might not last very long anymore but Ellis has showed enough to be a top SG in this league. He's still a very good scorer and facilitator. He has had a lot of clutch shots like his miracle throw up against the Rockets earlier in the year to beat them. I put him high on this list because of his scoring and the impact he has on the Bucks. Without him, there wasn't much else before the Redick trade. Monta is very fortunate to be here.
6. Joe Johnson (Brooklyn Nets)
- He has lost a step in his game when he was acquired by Brooklyn. However, he can still score in bunches and can still do it in the clutch. He may not be a max player but he is still one of the better two-guards in the game.
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| Demar Derozan |
7. DeMar Derozan (Toronto Raptors)
- I might be a little biased here but looking at the other starting shooting guards in the league, I really think Demar has an edge. What I love about his game is that he is consistently getting better every year. Screw analytics and true shooting percentages. The mid-range game is a lost art and Demar continually uses it. He is improving his three point shot and defense every game and I am getting excited. With Rudy Gay getting more of the attention from the opposing team, it opens up everything for Derozan. He gets to rim well and draws a good amount of fouls per game. If he continues to grow, I see him rising through the ranks and becoming a well-known player around the league.
8. Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
- He took another step forward this year. After Ellis was traded last season, there was more expectation for him to turn it up a notch. He proved that he is a legit shooter and can get hot quickly. The Warriors are making a nice run in the postseason and as long as Klay is playing the way he is, they should be able to keep moving up. He needs to work on his overall game but shooters always last in the NBA. He is a scary matchup for anyone.
9. Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers)
- I actually don't mind Evan Turner. He was brought into the spotlight after Iguodala left and he had similar stats as him this season. However, Iguodala was on a better team and less pressure was on him to do much more. Evan Turner had good production and he may not be a bust after all. I can see him being a very poor man's Wade. I can see him being a 17 ppg,6 rpg, 6 apg type of guy in the future but time will only tell. Hopefully he keeps improving.
10. Tony Allen (Memphis Grizzlies)
- The shooting guard position isn't as deep as other positions and that's why I like Tony Allen here at this spot. He's probably the best defender out of all of the shooting guards but I put him here because he is somewhat a liability on the offensive end. It's a good thing the Grizzlies can cover that because of their big men offense. He is aggressive on defense and always guards the best player on the other team. He's tough and I'm glad he's on Memphis. Without him, they'd have a tough time on the perimeter.
11. Gerald Henderson (Charlotte Bobcats)
- I like the strides he took this year for the Bobcats. After another dismal year as a team, the Bobcats are searching for answers. However, the bright spots have to be the development of their young guys. Henderson has improved as a scorer and a defender. People knew he could be a good scorer in this league when he was drafted but it didn't look too good after a couple of seasons. It's nice to see him dunking on people and being relied on in the offensive end of the ball.
12. Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
- He's already one of the better guards in this league but I did not think it was fair to the others to put him as high after one season. He has shown that he could score, shoot, and defend. He will only get better and the Wizards finally have a backcourt to work with. I see big things for Beal next year and beyond. I can see him being a 20 point scorer by season's end next year.
13. OJ Mayo (Dallas Mavericks)
- He started out really hot out of the gate but came back to reality by mid-season. Fortunately, there was enough improvements in his game that we can say he could be a reliable starter. It doesn't look like he could become the all-star we all thought coming out of college but he has cemented a good label for himself as a scorer. He might be more suited as a sixth man but I really don't mind. He did well this year.
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| Tyreke Evans |
- He has steadily regressed from his rookie season and it's looking more and more likely that he will be nothing more than a role player. He was once averaging 20.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.8 apg, and 1.5 spg as a rookie but he is now averaging 15.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, and 1.4 spg. Every year, his numbers have gone down and he's looking lazy out there. There needs to be a change of scenery for both parties. Again, like many other players, he is talented and young enough to turn his career around. What started out to look like the next phenom is starting to spiral into a rollercoaster career.
15. Danny Green (San Antonio Spurs)
- I like Danny Green and I would take him on my team anytime. He isn't flashy or exciting but he does many things well. This might be a little biased putting him here as he isn't as big of a name but he is an integral role player for the Spurs. The Cavaliers gave up on him too early and the Spurs found another gem. He is a special player who can play defense and shoot the three ball pretty well. In this day and age, the 3+D guys are the hardest ones to find.
16. Eric Gordon (New Orleans Pelicans)
- He was once one of the top up and coming guards in the league but his injuries and his attitude set him back big time. He still shot the ball well and scored a lot every night but he seemed disinterested. Maybe a change of scenery is good for him.
17. Arron Afflalo (Orlando Magic)
- He became somewhat of the face of the Magic after the Howard era. Their young core is looking pretty good and I think Afflalo can lead that team into the right direction. They don't have to have one superstar player to be a good team. I think Afflalo improved and steadily made himself into a threat to score 20-30 points a night.
18. Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- He has showed that he can play in this league. I thought it was too high for him to get drafted at number 4 but he showed me why. He's quicker than he looks and scores from everywhere. He was as NBA ready as anybody. The only knock on him is that I do not like his shot selection all too much. I don't see him being an all-star but I do see him becoming one of the more polished, sixth man scorers in the league like a Jamal Crawford or a JR Smith.
19. Wesley Mathews (Portland Trailblazers)
- He would have been higher on my list if it was last year. He remained a consistent player for Portland but I have forgot about him at times. I still think he's a good player and he's still pretty young to improve his overall game. His defense will always be there but let's hope he steps it up in the offensive end as well.
20. Thabo Sefolosha (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Another defensive specialist that holds his own every single night. He's reliable and will hit the corner three consistently. I look at him as a poor man's Bruce Bowen. The Thunder use him well and Kevin Martin comes off the bench for a good scoring punch creating a nice shooting guard combo here.
21. Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers)
- He's a tough kid and is pretty streaky. He's holding his own in the postseason so far and has improved since the beginning of the year. He could become a Tony Allen type of player with a bit more offensive punch.
22. Randy Foye (Utah Jazz)
- Foye is a quiet contributor. He isn't a bad starter but he's not anymore a good one. I'll take his scoring though.
23. Avery Bradley (Boston Celtics)
- It seems like we are heading into the defensive department. Bradley missed a good portion of the first half but returned strong. He really couldn't carry the ball-handling load when Rondo went down. I see him as no better than a role player but can become a better version of Sefolosha in the long run.
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| Iman Shumpert |
24. Iman Shumpert (New York Knicks)
- He's called upon to be a defensive stopper for the Knicks and he has done just that. Still young, could be in line for more work in the future.
25. Marco Belinelli (Chicago Bulls)
- He wasn't supposed to be the starter but he made the most out of his opportunity. Good scorer and came up with some big shots.
26. Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- I like Shved. He could be a good running mate with Rubio in the future despite not starting a lot. When he started, he did it nicely.
27. Luke Ridnour (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- He's not even a true shooting guard but he played it with Rubio at the point. He is small but held his own. The NBA is transforming into small ball and he did ok.
28. Wesley Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
- He really came on in the end when he was given a chance. He should be the starting two guard for the Suns in the future.
29. Jared Dudley (Phoenix Suns)
- He was demoted to a bench role after the late emergence of Wesley Johnson. He can still play good defense, hustle and shoot the ball well though.
30. Rodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons)
- He too, lost his starting gig when Calderon came in. He was once thought to be the future point guard but he had score-first mentality. He'll stay in this league but his time as a starter should be gone.
31. Devin Harris (Atlanta Hawks)
- He is not even a shooting guard either. Was once one of the best point guards in the league has slowly played his way out of the spotlight. He shouldn't be a starter any longer after this season.
32. Willie Green (Los Angeles Clippers)
- He was demoted to the bench when Billups came back but he filled in as well as he could. He is the definition of a veteran and locker room guy.
My Tier System
The Ultimate One - Kobe Bryant
Elite - Dwayne Wade, James Harden
Stat Stuffer - Andre Iguodala, Monta Ellis, Evan Turner, Tyreke Evans
"I just score" - Joe Johnson, OJ Mayo, Eric Gordon, Arron Afflalo, Randy Foye, Marco Belinelli
Up and Coming - DeMar Derozan, Klay Thompson, Gerald Henderson, Bradley Beal, Dion Waiters
Ultimate Role Player Starter - Danny Green, Wesley Mathews, Jared Dudley, Alexey Shved
Defensive Specialists - Tony Allen, Thabo Sefolosha, Lance Stephenson, Avery Bradley, Iman Shumpert
"I shouldn't be Starting" - Luke Ridnour, Wesley Johnson, Willie Green, Rodney Stuckey, Devin Harris
"I should be a Starter" - JR Smith, Jamal Crawford, Manu Ginobili, Kevin Martin, Marcus Thornton
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| JR Smith |
I hope you enjoyed my starting shooting guard rankings!
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