The position of shooting guard in today’s modern NBA is home to some of the biggest names in all of the sport. While the point guard position is the deepest in the league, shooting guard currently houses the greatest number of elite players. To land their name on the list of the top five shooting guards in the NBA exemplifies just how much these players contribute to their team. These individuals separate the good players in this league from the great ones.
Five Best Shooting Guards Currently in the NBA
Honorable Mention: CJ McCollum
CJ McCollum possesses all of the talent in the world to be one of the best shooting guards in the league. He is a deadeye shooter from behind the arc while also having the explosiveness and tenacity to finish inside. Since entering the league McCollum has matured defensively and has become an efficient all-around player. The one factor keeping him from being one of the top five shooting guards is Damian Lillard. Lillard has been the star of the Portland Trail Blazers for the better part of a decade now and McCollum has never been given a chance to prove he can do the same. The talent is all there, but his unknown leadership potential keeps him just outside of the top five.
5. Jimmy Butler
Despite some of the off-court drama that has surrounded Jimmy Butler over the past couple of seasons, he truly is a superstar in this league. Name a trait of a star player and Butler has it. On the offensive side of the ball, Butler possesses the ability to score from all levels of the court. On top of his scoring, he has become one of the better passers in the league in recent seasons. Pair this with his top-notch defense and you get a complete two-way player.
His leadership was called into question during his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his short time with the Miami Heat, he has seemingly shut those rumors down and shown the type of leader he can be. Butler may not be the best in any one area, but he is an incredible all-around talent.
4. Victor Oladipo
Victor Oladipo is the epitome of player development at it’s finest. At the start of Oladipo’s NBA career, it was clear he had what it took to be a star in this league, but needed plenty of refinement to his game. Year after year Oladipo showed his commitment to improving and it has paid off mightily over the past couple of seasons.
Oladipo has truly evolved into one of the premier guards in the NBA with virtually no weaknesses in his game. His vision, explosiveness, and shot off the dribble make him a matchup nightmare for defenders. Had it not been for his most recent injury he would have easily made the top three. Until we can fairly assess where he’s at physically after the injury he remains just outside of the top three
3. Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal is the textbook definition of an under the radar superstar. For years when the Washington Wizards were a playoff team, Beal played in the shadow of John Wall. In the past couple of seasons, however, Beal has taken his game to the next level and surpassed Wall as the Wizards star player.
Despite the team he plays for, Beal’s talent gives his team a chance to win night-in and night-out. Beal is an absolute machine on the offensive side of the ball and showcases his plethora of weapons every single night. There is arguably nobody more well rounded offensively than Beal in the entire NBA.
2. Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is by far the most efficient player on this list both offensively and defensively. He illustrates what it truly means to be a two-way player in this league. There isn’t a player with a more reliable jump shot than Thompson, and its not even close. His reliable shooting motion makes him one of the best shooters from downtown in the NBA.
On the defensive side of the ball, Thompson can lock down the best and the brightest stars in all of basketball. He is undeniably one of the best defenders in the league and an All-NBA Defensive Team snub. Thompson has the talent and fundamentals to be the best shooting guard in the NBA, but being paired with multiple all-stars has stunted him from getting the numbers of some of the other players on this list.
It remains to be seen how he will recover from his ACL injury, but his skill set isn’t predicated on athleticism. He should maintain his top-two ranking when he’s back on the floor, next season.
1. James Harden
The one word that instantly comes to mind when discussing James Harden is unguardable. It doesn’t matter who is defending him and how well because he will score on you either way. His level of shot-creating is unparalleled throughout the rest of the league. While there are always going be critics of the number of shot attempts Harden takes a game, it’s undeniable that he is a downright lethal scoring threat. While Thompson may be more efficient he is unable to match the elite scoring level of James Harden.
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