Fadeaway World’s Ultimate 1-On-1 Shooting Guard Tournament

Fadeaway World is back again with a special 1-on-1 tournament for our fans’ enjoyment. Last week, 16 of the NBA’s top point guards battled in our ultimate 1-on-1 tournament. This week, some of the best shooting guards in the NBA are ready to do the same to earn the title of the best in the NBA right now.

As always, we seeded these shooting guards and matched them up accordingly based on their performance on the court so far this season. As we have done previously, we have constructed a bracket so you can follow along with every matchup as the tournament progresses. There are also some rules we would like to lay out before we get started:

– Unlimited dribbles

– 16 Second Shot Clock

– Winner takes out (retains possession)

Now that our matchups are set and the rules have been discussed, let’s get into Fadeaway World’s Ultimate 1-on-1 shooting guard tournament.

Devin Booker vs. Klay Thompson

The first matchup of the ultimate shooting guard tournament is a matchup between two icons. Devin Booker and Klay Thompson face off in a battle of two completely different play styles. Booker is creative and shifty off the dribble, able to elevate over most defenders for his patented mid-range shot that has been falling at a high rate this season.

Thompson, on the other hand, has been under a microscope in 2023-24 with his struggles shooting the ball and poor decision-making being highlighted as a major part of the Warriors’ struggles thus far. In any matchup between the current versions of themselves, Booker is going to have the upper hand by a wide margin.

Thompson can do nothing to counter Booker’s assault on the paint and efficient shooting touch. Klay’s limited abilities off the dribble are going to be detrimental to his play in any 1-on-1 style and Booker exploits that with pressure on him from the opening possession. Booker sees this as a warmup game and that is exactly how it plays out as Thompson is booted from play in the first round and Booker is moving on.

Result: Devin Booker vs. Klay Thompson 21-14

Devin Vassell vs. Jalen Green

Our next matchup features two young shooting guards in today’s NBA who are working their way slowly toward star status. Devin Vassell is a talented shooting guard with the San Antonio Spurs currently averaging 18.3 points per game on 47.1% shooting from the field. Jalen Green is in his third season with the Rockets averaging 17.7% shooting on 41.1% shooting.

Despite his sometimes poor shot selection and inefficient shooting streaks, Jalen Green’s athleticism gives him an immense advantage over Vassell. Green’s quick first step off the dribble and sensational handles make him a premier 1-on-1 player. Vassell possesses some of the same traits but does rely on others to set him up during a game as well.

In this matchup, the bigger and more agile Green is too much of an athlete for Vassell. Green wears him down with his speed and length on the defensive end to make this matchup a bit one-sided as it continues to drag on. Vassell does show some fight but ultimately, Green advances in fairly easy fashion

Result: Devin Vassell vs. Jalen Green 15-21

Zach LaVine vs. Dejounte Murray

Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray are about as interesting of a matchup as we will see in the first round of this tournament. LaVine is an athletic and big shooting guard by modern-day standards with a decent scoring ability from three levels on the offensive end. Dejounte Murray is almost always in attack mode and has been applauded for his relentless effort on the defensive end of the ball.

In a matchup with one another, I am always willing to bet on the player with the more polished offensive skill set. Zach LaVine’s athleticism and ability to create from almost every angle give him a large advantage. Murray makes it difficult with his ability to disrupt the flow of LaVine’s play using his quick hands and vision to force turnovers.

In the end, LaVine emerges victorious thanks to a barrage of shots from mid-range and three-point land to put Murray away. Dejounte put forth his best effort, taking LaVine off the dribble on several occasions but LaVine quickly stopped the runs with his outside shooting.

Result: Zach LaVine vs. Dejounte Murray 21-18

Donovan Mitchell vs. Cam Thomas

Next up in our first round of exciting action from the shooting guards is a matchup between Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas. Over the last two years in Cleveland, Mitchell has been playing some of the best basketball of his career. With Brooklyn, Thomas has broken out as a legitimate scoring threat, putting opponents down with barrages of scoring that have electrified the team.

In any matchup between these two, Thomas is going to struggle mightily with stopping Mitchell from doing anything he wants. Mitchell has a significant size advantage as well as the ability to get by Thomas using any move he has in his bag. Thomas can score in droves but being shifty and creative will only get him so far against Mitchell. For these reasons, Mitchell will move on in the tournament with a win thanks to key defensive stops and premier shooting from within the three-point line.

Result: Donovan Mitchell vs. Cam Thomas 21-16

Desmond Bane vs. Anfernee Simons

The matchup between Desmond Bane and Anfernee Simons will not be considered a marquee matchup but it will be as evenly matched as any other in this first round. Bane is having a tough time navigating the Memphis Grizzlies without Ja Morant this season while Simons has struggled with health and adjusting to not sharing the backcourt with Damian Lillard.

In 1-on-1 competition, Simons seems to have a slight advantage thanks to his scoring ability from everywhere on the court and his ability to create shots using slick handles and a high IQ. Bane is combative though and uses his strength and skill to push the game into the post where he can dominate Simons.

Bane uses this power and ability to wear Simons down as the game goes on. Simons begins to lose strength on his shots from the outside, giving away free possessions to the oft-efficient Bane. In a slight upset, Bane takes home the win and advances to the quarterfinals

Result: Desmond Bane vs. Anfernee Simons 21-17

Mikal Bridges vs. Tyler Herro

Another underrated yet entertaining matchup of this first round will be the one between Mikal Bridges and Tyler Herro. Both players are particularly advanced in certain areas that perfectly combat one another on the basketball court.

Bridges is going to be a tough matchup for Herro due to the challenges he presents on both sides of the ball. While he has become an elite three-level scorer, Bridges is also one of the better perimeter defenders in the game, particularly in isolation situations. We all know about Herro’s shooting ability and creation off the dribble but that will not be enough to overcome Bridges’ two-way play.

Bridges is going to make Herro’s life a nightmare on the outside, not allowing any easy shots to be taken from anywhere on the court. Furthermore, his length is going to make it nearly impossible for Herro to get around him. Bridges forces turnover after turnover which he converts into easy buckets offensively and takes the win dominantly.

Result: Mikal Bridges vs. Tyler Herro 21-12

Anthony Edwards vs. Terry Rozier

The next matchup we will see is the No. 2 overall seed Anthony Edwards taking on No. 15, Terry Rozier. While Rozier has been an offensive force of nature for the Hornets over the last several seasons, Edwards is approaching superstar territory thanks to his constantly improving play on both sides of the ball.

Edwards’s skill mixed with his size, speed, and strength are going to be far too much for Rozier to handle on a possession-after-possession basis. Rozier is certainly going to convert some of his offensive opportunities but not enough to match Edwards’ intensity and finishing ability at the rim. With explosive and athletic ability like Edwards’, this matchup gets out of hand quickly in favor of Edwards.

Result: Anthony Edwards vs. Terry Rozier 21-11

Jaylen Brown vs. RJ Barrett

Jaylen Brown and RJ Barrett face off to finish the first round of this tournament. Brown is clearly the superior player in terms of his success on the court but Barrett is no pushover in any 1-on-1 situation. Brown’s two-way play could be the difference in a game between these two but Barrett’s offensive skill set is nothing for him to look past too easily.

Barrett gets the scoring going early, building a small lead with four straight buckets. He even gets a timely stop on Brown as well to limit the damage done on offense. Barrett continues to build his lead but Brown is not going away, forcing timely turnovers and making tough, contested shots at the rim.

After another turnover by Barrett, Brown goes on a run to end the matchup despite Barrett’s best efforts. In the end, poor shot selection and looking for the dagger came back to haunt Barrett, leading to a narrow win for Jaylen Brown and a riveting slate of quarterfinal games.

Result: Jaylen Brown vs RJ Barrett 21-15

Quarterfinals

Devin Booker vs. Jalen Green

To kick off the quarterfinals, Devin Booker finds himself in another favorable matchup against Jalen Green. While Booker will be a heavy workload for Green to handle defensively, Booker is also capable of forcing Green into enough poor shot selections to make a difference defensively as well.

That is precisely the plan of attack Booker takes to the court with him in this contest. Offensively, Booker makes Green look silly on multiple occasions with his quick stop and ability to rise over Green from the mid-range. Green tries to attack Booker off the dribble but Booker quickly adapts and allows Green to start firing from the outside.

This goes perfectly according to Booker’s plan as Green is way off on his outside attempts, awarding more and more possessions in Booker’s favor. With these extra possessions for a scorer like Booker, victory is inevitable and Booker advances to the semifinals.

Result: Devin Booker vs. Jalen Green 21-14

Zach LaVine vs. Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell and Zach Lavine are still two of the premier shooting guards in the NBA in 2023-24. Mitchell is having the best stretches of his career over the last two seasons and even though he is struggling to begin the 2023-24 season, Zach LaVine is still proving to be an elite scorer and positive asset on the court.

Mitchell and LaVine make for an exciting matchup with two extremely similar play styles clashing on the court. Both players will rely on their athleticism and scoring ability to carry them through to the semifinals and the challenge of taking on Devin Booker in the next round. With all eyes on this matchup, it won’t take long for the fireworks to start.

As each player trades baskets on consecutive possessions, it becomes clear that the one who can get a defensive stop is going to be the one to advance. LaVine is shooting well from the outside but is also struggling to create against an aggressive Mitchell off the dribble. This aggression proves to be the edge that Mitchell needs, earning him extra possessions and easy buckets off turnovers. In an extremely close battle, Donovan Mitchell eeks by Zach LaVine to advance to the semifinals.

Result: Zach LaVine vs. Donovan Mitchell 19-21

Desmond Bane vs. Mikal Bridges

To follow up the battle of LaVine and Mitchell is one of the less exciting matchups of the entire tournament. After squeaking out a win in round one against Anfernee Simons, Desmond Bane may have finally met his match against a superbly talented two-way savant in Mikal Bridges.

Bane was able to find the spacing against Simons that simply does not exist against a more pressing player as bridges. This leads to Bane forcing shots he normally wouldn’t in game situations. Bridges, with an improved and deadly offensive attack, takes advantage of these errant shots and inexplicable turnovers with efficient play on offense drawing fouls and attacking the rim which in turn sets up the dagger and final blow from beyond three-point range.

Result: Desmond Bane vs. Mikal Bridges 15-21

Anthony Edwards vs. Jaylen Brown

We are right back with fireworks in our fourth and final matchup of these quarterfinals with Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards looking to punch their ticket to the semifinals. Brown and Edwards both play at an extremely similar pace with nearly identical offensive attacks and parallel defensive skills.

Edwards and Brown are no strangers to tough, physical play and that is exactly what they treat the fans to in the early going of this matchup. Each player tries to gain a psychological advantage over the other by attacking the post and establishing their dominance over the other. After a few possessions in which each player sees their attempts sail to the side, one player finally begins to see their shots fall.

Anthony Edwards strikes both first and often, using his athletic leaping ability to get some easier looks over the top of Brown. Brown is battling hard and not letting the matchup slip away without a fight. By the end of this one, Edwards’ legs just have too much life for Brown to keep up with and Edwards’ finishing ability is just too advanced for Brown as Edwards pulls away and earns a spot in the next round.

Result: Anthony Edwards vs. Jaylen Brown 21-17

Semifinals

Devin Booker vs. Donovan Mitchell

At this point, we have made our way into the semifinals and what better way to kick it off than with a matchup of the two shooting guards who have been at the top of the position for the last three seasons? Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell often find themselves in the middle of the debate for the best in the NBA at their position and finally get to settle the dispute on the court.

Mitchell and Booker are extremely similar in that they can use the entire floor to find their shots on offense. They are extremely similar on defense as well, both conceding easy shots at times and putting up more than a decent fight at other times. At first, it seems as if Mitchell is going to cruise to a win, finding the bottom of the net with almost every shot attempted from within and beyond the three-point line. Booker isn’t going to be that easy of an out.

Booker fights back with consecutive mid-range shots that look flawless in their trajectory and finish. Then, the wheels come off for Mitchell who goes cold from the outside and allows Booker to not only climb back into the matchup but overtake and defeat him in the process. With efficient shooting and premier shot selection, Booker advances to the Finals.

Result: Devin Booker vs. Donovan Mitchell 21-19

Mikal Bridges vs. Anthony Edwards

The fact that Mikal Bridges has made it to this point is a testament to the advances he is making as a shooting guard in the NBA today. With a new role in Brooklyn, Bridges has unlocked a side of his offensive game he was always capable of showing but finally has the opportunity to let it loose. With that being said, Anthony Edwards is currently on a superstar trajectory that doesn’t reach those levels being disturbed by elite defense.

This battle begins as an extremely physical and heated exchange. Each player wants their shot at the title of best shooting guard in the NBA for different reasons. Bridges looks to shed the underrated label while Edwards looks to solidify his superstar status. With those things on the line, it is truly anybody’s game.

With baskets being exchanged as a rarity, this one is going to come down to physical dominance and stamina. Anthony Edwards displays a much more impressive showing in the athletic department while Bridges displays his mental and physical toughness. Edwards pulls away using his high basketball IQ and his tough shot-making, setting up a dream matchup between him and Devin Booker in the Finals.

Result: Mikal Bridges vs. Anthony Edwards 16-21

Finals

Devin Booker vs. Anthony Edwards

Having just done an extremely close comparison between these two premier shooting guards, it is only fitting that they are the last players standing in this ultimate 1-on-1 tournament. The debate between Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards rages on as they meet in a battle for ultimate bragging rights.

Booker comes in with the better shot-making and overall scoring ability compared to Edwards. On the defensive side, Edwards is the more impactful defender as well as a more athletic and impactful overall player. This is the perfect segue into the beginning of our Finals matchup as the two push all their chips into the center and go all in on the championship.

Both players are eager to shed the nerves and get the scoring started early with mid-range buckets from Booker falling effortlessly and Edwards getting to the rim at will. Edwards makes a few defensive stops to take a late lead while Booker crawls back with smart shots taken and made off misses from Edwards. In the end, Booker overtakes Edwards with timely buckets and soft finishes on picturesque floaters and becomes the 2023-24 Fadeaway World’s Ultimate 1-on-1 shooting guard champion.

Result: Devin Booker vs. Anthony Edwards 21-18

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