Ranking The Best NBA Shooting Guards By Tiers For The 2022-23 Season

The shooting guard position in the NBA has always been one of the most exciting positions throughout history. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Allen Iverson are just a few examples of the talent that has occupied shooting guard over the last 30 years. In 2022-23, shooting guard is once again one of the best positions in all of basketball, with elite talent at the top and immense talent and production as it descends from there.

Just as we did with the point guard position recently, I will rank the 30 best shooting guards in basketball and place them into tiers. We will start with the lowest tier, including role players and backups while working our way to the top where the elite of the elite sit. These rankings are based solely on their production so far during the 2022-23 season, so throw everything they have done in their careers before this season out the window. These rankings will look much different from our preseason rankings going off their performance so far in 2022-23.

These are the 2022-23 NBA shooting guards ranked by tiers

Tier 5

Spencer Dinwiddie, Grayson Allen, Luguentz Dort, Austin Reaves, Jaden Ivey, Devin Vassell

First up is the player who is playing beside a top MVP candidate so far in 2022-23. Spencer Dinwiddie came over to the Mavericks last season in a trade and provided a spark that ignited their run to the Western Conference Finals. His numbers are up from last season, as he is averaging 16.6 PPG and 5.2 APG alongside Luka Doncic. Dinwiddie could move up a tier or two if he continues on this path and Dallas wins a few more games.

One of the biggest villains in the modern-day NBA resides in Milwaukee by the name of Grayson Allen. He is currently serving as the starter for the Bucks, as he has appeared in 37 of 39 games in that position. Allen is averaging 10.2 PPG along with 3.5 RPG and 2.7 APG in 2022-23 as the Bucks have gotten off to a 27-16 start. Allen is connecting on 39.6% of his threes as well, with just over 4.0 attempts per game. Barring a major jump in production, Allen will remain just out of the running for Tier 4.

Coming into the 2022-23 season, there were huge expectations for the development of Luguentz Dort. In 43 starts, Dort is averaging 14.1 PPG on 40.7% shooting. His numbers shooting the ball and defensively mirror that of 2022, leading fans to believe that he is not ready to take the leap we expected just yet. The Thunder are just a bit more competitive than in 2022, and Dort can make them a play-in team with a much bigger second half of 2023.

One of the early surprises in 2022-23 has been the rapid development of Austin Reaves with the Los Angeles Lakers. Reaves has been a breath of fresh air for the Lakers off the bench and has improved slightly from his rookie season in 2022. Reaves has made 12 starts and appeared in 24 games off the bench for the Lakers this season. He is averaging 10.8 PPG on 48.8% shooting overall and 36.0% from three. If the Lakers are serious about a run at the playoffs, Reaves will be key for them in that pursuit.

The final member of Tier 5 is rookie shooting guard Jaden Ivey. The Pistons have suffered some major blows in the 2022-23 season, such as losing Cade Cunningham for the season due to injury and the impending trade of Bojan Bogdanovic. One small bright light for them has been the emergence of rookie Jade Ivey. In 43 games so far in 2022-23, Ivey is averaging 15.1 PPG and shooting 41.0% from the field. Ivey has struggled from three, shooting just 32.4% from long range. The future is bright for the first-year shooting guard and in the City of Detroit as well.

We end things on Tier 5 with one of the more pleasant surprises of 2022-23 for the San Antonio Spurs. Devin Vassell has stepped up in a big way for the Spurs as they seemingly head into a rebuild. Vassell has made 29 appearances, and 24 starts for the Spurs so far this season and is averaging 19.4 PPG while shooting 40.4% from three and 44.5% overall. After a hot start, the Spurs have cooled off tremendously after a hot start and entered themselves back into the race for Victor Wembanyama at 13-31 on the season. Vassell is expected to be out for a considerable amount of time with a knee injury but still did enough to be mentioned on Tier 5 here today.

Tier 4

Jordan Clarkson, Terry Rozier, Jalen Green, Kevin Huerter, Gary Trent Jr., Josh Giddey, Alex Caruso, Caris LeVert, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bennedict Mathurin

As we move into Tier 4, we take a look at some of the best No. 2 and No. 3 options in the NBA today. Leading us off is former Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson. Moving into a starting role in 2022-23, Clarkson has been Utah’s second-best player so far in 2022-23, averaging 21.1 PPG, which is a career-high, as well as 4.2 RPG and 4.4 APG, also career-highs. After a hot start, the Jazz have fizzled out 45 games into the season and are 22-24 on the year, which is 10th in the West. Look for Clarkson to be a hot trade commodity at the trade deadline.

Terry Rozier is also having a career-best scoring season with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, averaging 21.0 PPG on 41.3% shooting. He has made 34 starts so far in 2022-23, as the Hornets are among the worst teams in basketball at 11-33 through 44 games. Rozier is another player who contenders could make a move for at the trade deadline this season which would bode well for Rozier, who hasn’t played truly meaningful basketball since his days in Boston in 2019.

Second-year guard Jalen Green has made a lot of his critics look foolish in 2022-23 through 42 games. Green is still struggling to shoot the ball with even lower percentages than in his rookie season but is averaging 21.5 PPG on just 3.5 more shot attempts. Green still has many things to clean up in his game as far as turnovers and defense are concerned, but this No. 2 overall pick is showing that he could be a piece to build around moving forward.

In his first season with the Sacramento Kings, Kevin Huerter finds himself in the upper echelon of shooting guards on Tier 4. Huerter is averaging a career-high 15.7 PPG for the Kings this year while shooting a career-high 41.8% on 7.0 attempts from three. Huerter has been a difference maker for the Kings, who are looking to break the longest playoff drought in North American sports as they are 24-18 in 2022-23 and 4th in the Western Conference.

Gary Trent Jr. and the Toronto Raptors have taken a major step back from their playoff basketball in 2022. Trent Jr. is having a nearly identical season to 2022 numbers-wise, but the results have been far less satisfactory. The Raptors have limped to a 19-24 start to the year and are currently out of the play-in, 11th place in the East. Trent Jr. is another name to look for to be on the move at the trade deadline should the Raptors decide to blow it up.

Josh Giddey is one of the more all-around skillful players at the shooting guard position in all of basketball. After a great rookie season, Giddey is having another go with the Thunder in 2022-23 and has formed an electric backcourt with teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Through 39 games, Giddey is averaging 16.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 5.7 APG for the Thunder, who are looking to challenge for a playoff spot this year. If Giddey can continue this trend upward, there is no reason he cannot reach Tier 3 or Tier 2 by the start of next season.

The effect that Alex Caruso has on a team will not be found in any box score or stat sheet of any kind. Caruso’s impact is the energy he provides and the spark he can ignite on the defensive side of the ball. While he is far from actual GOAT status, you can see why Caruso is a fan-favorite across the league, as he gives everything he can give on every single possession that he is on the court for. The Bulls have struggled mightily to start this 2022-23 campaign, but Caruso has been an example of hard work and grit for the Bulls in 2022-23.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the NBA’s best teams for the majority of 2022-23. With the addition of Donovan Mitchell and the continued growth of their core players, Cleveland has propelled itself into the Top 5 conversation in the East. Another reason for that climb has been the play of their bench and, more specifically, Caris LeVert. After defeating cancer in 2022 and spending 19 games in Cleveland last season, LeVert has continued to produce at a high level for them in 2022-23. He is averaging 12.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG in just over 31.0 minutes for Cleveland this year.

Next up is a player who had been relegated to the bench for the start of 2022-23 after his team acquired a premier shooting guard in the offseason. After missing the first 22 games of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a big addition to the Hawks, who are struggling to remain a playoff team at this point in the year. Bogdanovic is having a great season as he returned to the court, averaging 16.0 PPG on 42.9% shooting from the field. If Atlanta is going to turn their season around, Bogdanovic will play a major role in doing so as a premier bench player.

The final member of Tier 3 is a rookie sensation who came out of nowhere and is making a big splash in 2022-23. Bennedict Mathurin has been a welcomed addition to the Indiana Pacers in 2022-23 so far. Mathurin was in serious contention for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award through 40 games, leading all bench scorers with 17.3 PPG. Mathurin has since stepped in for Tyrese Haliburton as he recovers from injury and has played at the same level. In his first 4 starts, he averaged 16.5 PPG and is shooting 41.5% from the floor.

Tier 3

Desmond Bane, Tyler Herro, Anfernee Simons, Dejounte Murray, Klay Thompson, Bradley Beal, Jordan Poole, Buddy Hield

Tier 3 marks the beginning of the introduction to the more elite shooting guards in the NBA today. Kicking things off for Tier 3 is Desmond Bane, a player who most thought would not repeat the success he had in 2022 along with the rest of the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only did Bane repeat his success from last season so far in 2022-23, but he has also gotten even better. Bane is currently averaging 21.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 3.9 APG through 22 games this season, as well as continuing to be a 40.0% shooter from three. Bane has been a big reason the Grizzlies are fighting for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference.

The NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year is another member of Tier 3. Tyler Herro has continued to be a bright spot for the Miami Heat even as they struggle in 2022-23. Herro is averaging a career-high 21.2 PPG in 32 starts for the Heat this season, shooting 44.5% from the field and 39.2% from three-point land. The Heat have picked things up as of late and are 24-20 so far on the season. Herro will be vital to any playoff run and success that Miami will have this year.

Anfernee Simons burst onto the scene in 2022, stepping in for the injured Damian Lillard. Simons has continued to be one of the better players on the Trail Blazers in 2022-23, now starting alongside Lillard. Through 41 games, Simons is averaging 21.9 PPG and 4.0 APG. He is shooting 37.4% from three and 44.2% overall. Simons and the Trail Blazers find themselves in the thick of the hunt for a play-in spot so far at 21-22 and 9th in the West.

This past offseason, Dejounte Murray was seen as one of the premier acquisitions by any team in the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks decided to pair Murray with Trae Young, their superstar point guard. Murray and the Hawks are struggling, also sitting at 21-22 and 9th in the East after having monstrous expectations headed into the season. Murray is currently averaging 20.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.1 APG, and 1.7 SPG in 2022-23 through 38 games. Murray has been great, but the rest of the Hawks have not and they will need to get in sync in order to make any noise come playoff time.

It may be weird to see Klay Thompson only sitting on Tier 3 but remember what I said about forgetting their previous accomplishments. Thompson isn’t having a bad season by any means and is actually producing more than he did after returning from injury in 2022. Thompson is averaging 20.9 PPG on 45.6% shooting from the field. The Warriors are far from the team they were in 2022 at this point, however, and sit at 8th in the West at 21-22.

After missing over half the season in 2022, Bradley Beal has returned to the Wizards in 2022-23. Beal already missed 19 games in 2022-23, though, and is struggling to shoot from the field. Beal is still one of the most talented shooting guards in the game, especially when it comes to scoring. He is averaging 22.9 PPG on 53.5% shooting overall but is shooting just 34.0% from three. Beal and the Wizards find themselves struggling once again this season and are 18-25 on the year.

The next player is another electric shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors. In the offseason, Jordan Poole signed a massive contract extension with the team and has, for the most part, begun to earn the money. Poole is averaging a career-high 20.7 PPG for the Warriors, who find themselves in a fight for the playoffs at this point. One spot that Poole must improve is his 3-point shooting this season, as he is hitting on just 31.0% of his three-point attempts.

As we all know, Buddy Hield has been one of the best shooters in basketball over the last several seasons. Hield is shooting 42.4% from three-point range this season and averaging 10.0 PPG as well as 4.9 RPG and 1.0 SPG. Hield’s performances have helped the Pacers shock a lot of fans with their 23-21 start right in the thick of the playoff chase. Despite his name being mentioned in trade talks for as far back as I can remember, Hield still shows up and does his job well, and it is paying off for Indiana so far in 2022-23.

Tier 2

Paul George, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Anthony Edwards

As we make our way into Tier 2, we begin to enter the elite category of shooting guards in the NBA. The following 6 players are definitively the 6 best at the position in the NBA this season, and that cannot be disputed. Kicking things off is Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul George struggled with injury for most of 2022 and has been in and out of the lineup in 2022-23. He is still producing at a high level with 23.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.5 SPG. The Clippers have struggled so far due to the constant rotation of players in and out of the lineup, sitting at 23-22 on the season.

James Harden missed a large portion of the early going to the 2022-23 season but has been brilliant on the court for the 76ers this season. Harden is averaging 22.3 PPG and 11.2 APG for Philadelphia through 28 games this year and has formed one of the best duos on the court in the entire NBA. If Harden can maintain his health, the 76ers will look to build on their 27-16 record as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings even more.

By all accounts, Zach LaVine has had a visibly frustrating season with the Chicago Bulls halfway through 2022-23. Even as the Bulls continue to stumble down the standings, LaVine has been good for the team. With reports of locker room frustration and LaVine visibly toned out, he is still producing some of the best numbers at the shooting guard position this season. LaVine is averaging 23.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.0 SPG through 40 games.

The final member of Tier 2 is someone we expected to be even higher in the rankings this season. Anthony Edwards is getting even better in his 3rd season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but as far as the team is concerned, things look bleak at the moment. Edwards is averaging 23.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.6 SPG so far in 2022-23 but has failed to take the superstar leap he was projected to. The Timberwolves are 22-22 on the season in 2022-23 and are fighting to maintain the 7th position in the West. If they are going to be the competitive team that everyone projected, Edwards will need to step up even more.

Tier 1

Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker

The race for the top shooting guard in basketball comes down to two players, and honestly, take your pick at this point. Donovan Mitchell is the first of these top shooting guards, having the best season of his young career with the Cavaliers. Mitchell has already become the 7th player in NBA history to score 70 points in a game this season and is slowly entering MVP conversations. Mitchell is averaging 28.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.9 APG, and 1.5 SPG. Mitchell has been a welcomed addition to Cleveland and has propelled them to a 27-17 record on the season. With Mitchell playing this way, the Cavaliers are a formidable opponent for whoever they will meet in the playoffs.

The other shooting guard sitting at the top of our Tier 1 is Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Now, many fans, mostly younger, seem to have a real problem with Booker and love to underrate how good he is on the court. If you need any evidence of how valuable Booker is to the Suns, look no further than their slide down the standings since he went down with an injury in late December. Before the injury, Booker was averaging 27.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 5.6 APG. As much as he rubs people the wrong way, Booker is still one of the two best shooting guards in the NBA, period.

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