Heading into the 2026-27 NBA season, there’s plenty to keep an eye on with the league’s top shooting guards. A few guys are taking on more responsibility, while others just need to show they can stay on the court. You’ve also got some young players who look ready to break out after really solid years. It all gets going Tuesday, Oct. 20, when the New York Knicks get their rings and host the Philadelphia 76errs.
To put this list together, we looked at how guys played last season, how many games they actually showed up for, their shot selection, defense and what they did in the playoffs. Age, injury history and what their teams need them to do this year were big factors, too.
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You’ll find a bit of everything here: proven stars, young guys on the rise and a second-year player who can already flat-out shoot. A couple of them got dropped into better situations over the summer, while others are under way more heat after their front offices shook up the roster.
Here are the top shooting guards heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
10. Tyler Herro, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro (11) poses for a photo during Media Day. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Tyler Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in only 33 games last season. He shot 48 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three, and 91.7 percent from the line. His 56.1 percent effective field-goal percentage was also strong.
The biggest issue was availability. Herro missed 49 games after averaging 23.9 points the previous season and making the 2025 All-Star team. He has also shot at least 36 percent from three in every NBA season.
Miami traded him to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. The Bucks also received Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and first-round picks. Milwaukee went 32-50 last season.
Herro should have a major offensive role. His scoring ceiling is higher than most players near the bottom of this list. However, his health and expiring contract create questions. Milwaukee could also listen to trade offers.
9. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel (7) dribbles the ball up the court during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Kon Knueppel had an excellent rookie season. He played 81 games and averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes. He shot 47.5 percent from the field and an impressive 42.5 percent from three on 7.9 attempts per game.
His 273 made threes led the NBA. That also made him the first rookie to lead the league in threes. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to college teammate Cooper Flagg and made the All-Rookie First Team.
Charlotte has since moved on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. That should give Knueppel more responsibility. During Ball’s 10 missed games, Knueppel averaged 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 63.2% true shooting.
A left hamstring strain suffered in September is the concern. He missed the entire preseason and was set for a re-evaluation in early October. Knueppel is the best pure shooter in this group, but his limited experience and health concerns keep him below.
8. Derrick White, Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) returns the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half during Game 5 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Derrick White played 77 games and averaged 16.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists. He also had 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. His shooting fell sharply, though, as he hit only 39.4 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three.
That decline came after a much better 2024-25 season. He shot 44.2 percent overall and 38.4 percent from three that year.
Defense remains his biggest strength. White made the 2026 All-Defensive First Team and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Boston traded Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and picks, so White could take on more offense.
He is signed through 2027-28 at $30.3 million per year, with a player option for 2028-29.
7. Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) shoots a foul shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter of a play-in round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Desmond Bane played all 82 games and averaged 20.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He shot 48.4 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three and 90.8 percent from the line.
Durability is a major part of his case. He was the only Orlando player to play every game. Bane has also made 40.7 percent of his threes across 395 career games.
His playoff numbers were solid as well. He averaged 18.1 points and shot 43.1 percent from three. His 2026-27 salary is $39.45 million.
Bane is one of the safest choices. His limitation is creation, and 4.1 assists per game give him a lower ceiling than some of the guards above him.
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6. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) defends during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Stephon Castle averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 68 games. He started 67 times and shot 47.1 percent from the field. His 3-point shooting improved from 28.5 percent to 33.2 percent.
The 6-foot-6 guard ranked sixth in the NBA in assists and recorded five triple-doubles. He also averaged 18.2 points and 6.1 assists in 23 playoff games.
San Antonio reached the Finals before losing 4-1 to New York. Castle averaged 14.6 points in the series.
His rookie contract has two years and $22.7 million remaining. The Spurs now have Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper in the backcourt. That crowded group could affect his role, while his jumper still needs work.
5. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Amen Thompson averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 79 games. He shot 53.4 percent from the field and added 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL pushed Thompson into a bigger ball-handling role. He responded with better counting numbers, although his Box Plus/Minus fell from 4.1 to 2.6.
Defense, rebounding and finishing make him special for a guard. His biggest weakness is long-distance shooting. He made only 21.6 percent of his threes.
Thompson signed a five-year, $208 million extension. He is also working with shooting coach Chip Engelland. A better jumper could take his game to another level.
4. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) dribbles down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during Game 2 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Austin Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 51 games. He shot 49 percent from the field and 36 percent from three. His 64.1 percent true shooting was excellent.
Without LeBron James, Reaves averaged 28.4 points, 7.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 16 games. James is now with Philadelphia, leaving Reaves as Luka Doncic’s clear No. 2 option.
Reaves signed a four-year, $180 million deal. That is the biggest contract ever for an undrafted player.
Health is the concern. Groin, calf and oblique injuries limited him to 51 games and six playoff contests. If he stays healthy, his role could make him one of the league’s best shooting guards.
3. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half during Game 4 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Devin Booker averaged 26.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6 assists in 64 games. He shot 45.6 percent from the field and 33 percent from three.
Phoenix made the playoffs as the eighth seed but was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Booker averaged only 21.3 points in the series and shot 25 percent from three while committing four turnovers per game.
He earns about $57.1 million in 2026-27 and remains Phoenix’s main offensive option. Jalen Green is also in the backcourt after arriving in the Kevin Durant trade.
Booker’s long track record keeps him this high. He turns 30 on Oct. 30 and still has elite shot-creation ability.
2. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts in the third quarter against the New York Knicks during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Donovan Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 70 games. He shot 48.3 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three, and 86.5 percent from the line.
He made the All-Star team and All-NBA Second Team while finishing seventh in MVP voting. His 61.3 percent true shooting and 32.2 percent usage showed how much Cleveland relied on him.
The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, their first since 2017-18, before losing to New York. Mitchell averaged 26 points in the playoffs.
He signed a four-year, $273 million maximum extension. At 30, he remains Cleveland’s go-to scorer and has one of the strongest overall cases among NBA guards.
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1. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) looks on against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half during Game 6 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Anthony Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 games. He shot 48.9 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three on 8.4 attempts per game.
His 28.8 points ranked third in the NBA. He also had 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. Edwards made his fourth straight All-Star team and won the 2026 All-Star Game MVP. He also scored a career-high 55 points against San Antonio.
The main concern was availability. He missed the 65-game All-NBA threshold after playing at least 72 games in each of his first five seasons.
A left knee hyperextension also forced him to miss around 10 days in the playoffs. He returned against San Antonio, but the Spurs won the series in six games. Edwards averaged 21.6 points during the postseason.
Minnesota added LaMelo Ball and Josh Green while moving Naz Reid and multiple picks. The team also re-signed Ayo Dosunmu for five years and $112 million. Ball gives Edwards a true point guard beside him.
Edwards has the best mix of scoring, shooting, defense, age and upside. His 39.9 percent 3-point shooting came on high volume. That makes him the clear No. 1 shooting guard entering 2026-27.
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