The shooting guards in the NBA often have a common requirement: score the basketball. Most often in the past, the shooting guard was the team’s best scorer and the one who demanded the ball on most occasions. Nowadays, in a positionless game, the position also involves a ton of other aspects in the game including playmaking and defense. Still, the shooting guard position remains one of the most important positions in basketball.
- Tier 5: Average Starters
- Tier 4: Quality Starters
- Tier 3: All-Star Caliber
- Tier 2: Elite Stars
- Tier 1: Best of the Best
- James Harden
- Next
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In today’s NBA, the best shooting guards in the league have the green light to take a lot of shots and take over games. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly important for these players to defend their position well and create for others. Gone are the days when a shooting guard can just shoot, and players are not more varied in their skill sets than ever before.
Here are all the NBA’s best shooting guards divided into 5 tiers, until the king of the position is crowned.
Tier 5: Average Starters
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Eric Gordon, Malik Monk, Duncan Robinson, Jalen Suggs, Seth Curry
Tier 1 point guards are considered at the bottom of their class as starters, although they do their job at the basic level. They are all worthy NBA professionals who contribute on the court without making too much impact and are often looked over on the stat sheet.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was signed to a big contract and played very well last year. But this season, his production has waned which is why he has been involved in trade rumors. Averaging 12.5 PPG and 3.7 RPG, Bogdan has been an average starter this year.
Hardaway Jr is putting up 14.2 PPG and 3.7 RPG this season, average but unspectacular numbers for the Dallas Mavericks. The shooting guard is only nailing 33.6% of his threes, and 39.4% of his shots overall so he has also been average at best.
The Houston Rockets are in the process of tanking, but Eric Gordon might be their best player on both ends of the floor. He is a go-to player in the clutch, and at age 33, he is averaging 14.4 PPG and 3.2 APG while nailing 43.9% of his threes.
Malik Monk has been one of the few bright spots for the Los Angeles Lakers this year because the young man has provided solid production and energy for an old and withering team. Monk is putting up 12.1 PPG and 3.1 RPG for the Lakers and has only started 12 games so far. Expect Monk to have more starts after the All-Star break.
Duncan Robinson was clearly overpaid when he received his money, but so did other shooters in recent years. The shooting guard is putting up 12.0 PPG on 36.5% shooting from three, very average numbers for a player of Robinson’s caliber. But because he can be trusted to make threes, he just cracks the list.
Jalen Suggs was drafted No. 5 overall for a reason because the young man has a ton of upside. Standing 6’4”, Suggs has decent size and a nice all-around game which includes passing and rebounding. In his rookie season, Suggs is putting up 12.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 4.0 APG.
Seth Curry will always be compared to his brother, but he doesn’t have to be anymore. The 76ers shooter is averaging 15.6 PPG on 41.3% from three, very strong numbers. If Seth keeps this up, he will start climbing the tiers.
Tier 4: Quality Starters
Terry Rozier, Alex Caruso, Collin Sexton, Will Barton, Cade Cunningham, Jordan Poole, Caris LeVert, Desmond Bane, Josh Hart, RJ Barrett, Tyrese Haliburton, Derrick White, Gary Trent Jr.
Tier 4 players are quality starters who can be relied upon to play big minutes every night. They are scoring at a high clip and are often the main contributors to their teams. While not All-Stars, these players are very solid NBA players.
Terry Rozier is a high-energy guard that attacks the game with vigor, making up for his lack of All-Star talent with effort. The former Celtics guard is averaging 18.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 4.0 APG this season, excellent numbers for a Charlotte Hornets team that will most likely make the playoffs this year.
Alex Caruso was one of the best signings this offseason because he is easily one of the best defensive players in the league at his position. Caruso is putting up 8.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 3.9 APG while chipping in 1.9 SPG. The Bulls are probably the best team in the East this year, and Caruso is a big reason for that.
Sexton was on his way to having another great season following his year in 2021, but his season was cut short after 11 games. Cleveland’s shooting guard put up 16.0 PPG through these games and has the excellent scoring ability at only 23 years old.
The Denver Nuggets rely a lot on Will Barton to score and be one of the most important figures in their offense. Without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, the Nuggets need Barton to be the sidekick to Nikola Jokic. Averaging 15.4 PPG and 4.9 RPG, Barton has been a solid starter.
No.1 overall pick Cade Cunningham is showing signs of stardom, as he is only 20 years old and still averaging 16.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5.2 APG. The guard does a lot well on the floor, and the Detroit Pistons have a franchise cornerstone on their roster. So far, Cunningham is off to a great start to his career.
Jordan Poole is one of the contenders for Most Improved Player because he is averaging 16.8 PPG in a career-high 29.1 MPG. Poole’s production has been a massive factor in the Golden State Warriors’ quest to return to the Finals because he is simply an above-average shooting guard for a team that already has two elite guards.
Caris LeVert is 27 years old and has around 5 years left of his prime. The shooting guard is putting up 17.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 4.2 APG this season for the Indiana Pacers and has had some big performances for his team this season. Expect Caris to be involved in trade rumors all season long because the Pacers should be tanking at this point.
Alongside Ja Morant, Desmond Bane is a critical part of the Memphis Grizzlies’ excellent season. The sharpshooting guard is putting up 17.8 PPG on 41.6% shooting from three, excellent numbers from a promising young player. Expect the 23-year-old to continue his upward trajectory as he aims to climb tiers.
The New Orleans Pelicans are a bad team, but Josh Hart is not a reason why. The shooting guard is putting up 13.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG this year while shooting 51.2% from the floor. The former Laker is a solid player and will be considered a long-term piece for the future by the Pelicans franchise.
RJ Barrett is coming into his own in his third NBA season, putting up 17.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG while shooting 36.0% from three. The former Duke star is a key piece for the New York Knicks, as the team brought in a familiar face in Cam Reddish to join him. Expect Barrett to become an All-Star at some point over the next two years.
The Sacramento Kings have been involved in trade rumors for a while now, and Tyrese Haliburton is certainly a key asset for the franchise. The shooting guard is putting up 14.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 7.2 APG while nailing 42.5% of his threes. As a solid scorer and playmaker, Haliburton is easily an above-average shooting guard.
Spurs guard Derrick White is a solid two-way player, putting up 14.2 PPG and 5.7 APG for San Antonio this season. Even if his numbers don’t leap off the page, White’s defense has improved along with his playmaking ability. At 27 years old, White needs to show improvement in his game soon to maintain his status in Tier 4.
Gary Trent Jr can certainly shoot the ball, and he is having a solid season for the Toronto Raptors this year. The former Trail Blazer is averaging 17.4 PPG on 38.0% shooting from three, while also chipping in a career-high 1.9 SPG. Trent Jr has improved his play over the past two years and is an above-average shooting guard at this point of the season.
Tier 3: All-Star Caliber
Tyler Herro, CJ McCollum, Jaylen Brown, Bradley Beal, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Tier 3 shooting guards are players who are All-Star talents that will be considered on All-Star teams this season or the next. Thanks to their very effective play on a consistent basis, these guys can be the best player on their teams at moments but are usually the second or third option on championship teams.
Tyler Herro is having his best season yet, averaging 20.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 4.0 APG while shooting 38.1% from three. A potential All-Star in the East this season, Herro has been the best 6th man in the league and is in contention for Most Improved Player as well. There should be no surprise if Herro becomes a first-time All-Star this year.
CJ McCollum can certainly score at an elite level, although his fit alongside Damian Lillard has come under question at times. The shooting guard averaged 20.6 PPG through 31 games this season, although he could be finally traded to another team if the price is right. As things stand, McCollum is in Tier 3 for his elite scoring ability.
Jaylen Brown is a baller, and he has proven to be an All-Star in the East as of last year. Jaylen is putting up 24.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 3.0 APG this season while shooting 36.2% from three. An elite scorer and improving defensive player, Brown has almost become untouchable in Boston as the team looks to build around him and Jayson Tatum.
One of the most talented scorers in the league, Bradley Beal is not having his best season from a numbers perspective. He is only averaging 23.2 PPG 30.0% shooting from three, below-average numbers for Beal since the shooting guard averaged over 30 PPG the past two seasons. Still, based on his scoring ability, Beal is easily a Tier 3 star.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not getting enough recognition for how dominant he is at his position, mainly because his size at 6’6” gives him an advantage almost every night. Not to mention, the No. 11 pick has a ton of athleticism and explosiveness to showcase as well. Averaging 22.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 5.5 APG; Gilgeous-Alexander has a chance to become a superstar in the league very soon.
Tier 2: Elite Stars
Zach LaVine, Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell
This next tier contains the very best shooting guards in the league. They are easily All-Star players and some will be featured on All-NBA teams as well. All 4 players in this tier are superstars and are having excellent seasons on the stat sheet for their teams.
Zach LaVine is playing the best season in NBA his career, averaging 24.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.3 APG. At this point, he’s the best shooting guard in the league after James Harden. The Chicago Bulls currently lead the Eastern Conference, and it would be great to see them in the NBA playoffs after a 4-season absence from the big party.
Klay Thompson has only returned for 9 games this season, averaging 15.8 PPG on 35.4% shooting. After being out for two full seasons, Thompson will need a few weeks before he returns to his superstar form. But make no question, Klay Thompson is a Tier 2 star in the NBA. Klay’s ability to defend 3 positions in an elite manner while knocking down threes at an all-time great level makes him one of the best shooting guards of his era.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker is putting up 25.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 4.5 APG on 37.8% shooting from three. The All-Star shooting guard has formed one of the best duos in the NBA with Chris Paul and is a massive reason why the Phoenix Suns hold the number one seed in the Western Conference. As a star who can create his own shot, Devin Booker continues to showcase elite scoring ability as only a 25-year-old stud.
Donovan Mitchell is putting up 25.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 5.2 APG while shooting 45.0% from the field. The explosive shooting guard deserves to be an All-Star this year because of the way he has led the Jazz to a top-4 record in the West. Expect the budding superstar to continue to improve his game as he tries to boost the team to the Western Conference Finals.
Tier 1: Best of the Best
James Harden
Out of all the top shooting guards in the game, there is no doubt that James Harden is the cream of the crop. The Beard is simply the most unstoppable offensive guard in the game right now, because he brings physicality and skills to the forefront every night. Even if Harden is struggling with his efficiency, he is still a baller.
Shooting 42.0% from the field and 33.7% from three are not good for Harden’s standards, but his overall stats certainly are. The Nets superstar is putting up 23.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 10.1 APG this year, and will likely make his 10th All-Star Team in his career. Devin Booker is cutting it close, but Harden is the best shooting guard in the world.
