For the month of June, we will be ranking the top 10 NBA players at each position. These rankings will be solely based on the portion of the current season that has been played and will not include any injured players.
The positions of players were determined by ESPN.com.
Check out our previous ranking of point guards.
Without further ado, it is time to examine the league’s best shooting guards.
No. 10 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
After an average rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to the Thunder where he became their go-to scorer. He averages 19.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting and excels at getting to the rim and finishing through contact. Without a doubt, Gilgeous-Alexander will move up on this list over the next few years.
No. 9 | Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings
Buddy Hield is one of the best shooters in the league. He scores 19.8 points per game and shoots up to around 40 percent from the three-point line. While Hield can catch fire from beyond the arc, he does not limit his game to only three-pointers. When defenders fly out to contest his shots, Hield can attack the rim or knock down a mid-range jump shot, which shows his versatility at the shooting guard position.
No. 8 | Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
Jrue Holiday evolved his game from a pass-first point guard to a shooting guard who scores with the best of them. Although scoring has been his main option this season, Holiday ranks third at the position with 6.9 assists each game to go along with his 19.6 points per game. Additionally, Holiday continues to dominate on defense as his 1.7 steals per game ties for sixth out of all positions.
No. 7 | C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard has had the spotlight on himself all season, however, CJ McCollum has quietly put together another great campaign. He ranks sixth among shooting guards with 22.5 points per game while adding a career-high average of 4.3 assists. McCollum is a nightmare matchup for defenses due to his frequency to heat up from the three-point line and his crafty shots in the paint.
No. 6 | Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown is a completely different player this season. He entered the year with a new haircut and tons of confidence. Brown is averaging career highs in points (20.2), rebounds (6.4), assists (2.2), steals (1.1), and shooting percentage (49 percent). Brown is one of the most athletic players in the league, which he shows often with his rim-rocking dunks over defenders.
No. 5 | Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker is a tough player to rank. Every season he ranks near the top in points scored, but the Suns are never in playoff contention. Although he might not be able to carry a team, Booker deserves to be on this list due to his playmaker abilities. Booker is tenth in the league in points per game (26.1) and has dished out 6.6 assists per game this season. The Suns might not be ranked but Devin Booker sure is.
No. 4 | Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
Donovan Mitchell was a star the moment he stepped onto the court as a rookie. After two years of development, he entered this season better than ever. Mitchell averages 24.2 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field. He’s a quick and shifty guard who can shoot the ball at a high clip and dunk over defenders around the rim. Mitchell earned his first All-Star appearance this season.
No. 3 | Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal is one of only two players to average over 30 points per game this season (30.5). He has single-handedly carried the Wizards into the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference and has given them a shot at a playoff berth. Beal is a master at creating his shot, and his 6.1 assists per game show he can distribute the rock as well.
No. 2 | Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Shockingly, Luka Doncic is only 21 years old. He’s averaging 28.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists per game, and he has totaled 14 triple-doubles this season. Doncic ranks sixth in points per game, fourth in assists per game, and first in triple-doubles out of all players. He is in the conversation for MVP in only his second year in the NBA. Doncic would be an easy choice for best shooting guard if it weren’t for James Harden.
No. 1 | James Harden, Houston Rockets
James Harden has found a style of play that opponents cannot stop. His 34.4 points per game leads the entire league this season and ranks 15th in NBA history. While Harden scores the ball with ease, he also grabs 6.4 rebounds, and dishes out 7.4 assists per game. Not only is he a monster on offense, but he is one of the best defenders on paper. Harden’s 1.7 steals per game is second best at the shooting guard position, and his 0.9 blocks per game leads the position. He truly is a special player and well-deserving of number one on this list.
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