We have taken our HoopsHype 79 list and split it into five positions. The players who received some votes but were ultimately left out are now included in the positional rankings, so you can see who nearly made the cut for our Top 79.
We continue here with who we consider to be the best shooting guards who ever played basketball, led off by our GOAT selection: Michael Jordan.
1. Michael Jordan
Top accolades: Six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, 10 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 14 All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two Olympic gold medals
Regular season ranking: 4th in steals, 5th in scoring, 52nd in assists, 126th in blocks, 141st in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 2nd in scoring, 3rd in steals, 13th in assists, 34th in blocks, 40th in rebounds
Probably the most iconic and famous athlete in all of sports, Michael Jordan was the face of the NBA for a long time, and his star status outside of sports was almost hard to believe, and still sort of is.
Jordan’s mid-range game – face-ups, jab-steps, pull-ups, turnarounds, fadeaway, all of it – was second to none, and he was also a freakish athlete who could finish through contact and over length. And then there was the aspect of his clutchness, as Jordan was so often successful in nailing game-winners in the most high-pressure situations imaginable. Oh, and he was a top-tier defender, too.
Though we finally moved LeBron James ahead of him, it’s understandable many people are still in the MJ GOAT camp. (Full disclosure: The HoopsHype vote was split 50/50 on who the No. 1 should be and our editor-in-chief broke the tie in James’ favor.)
2. Kobe Bryant
Top accolades: Five NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, 11 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 18 All-Stars, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two Olympic gold medals
Regular season ranking: 4th in scoring, 17th in steals, 36th in assists, 117th in rebounds, 212th in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 4th in scoring, 6th in steals, 12th in assists, 42nd in blocks and rebounds
Not as high a peak as other megastars, but his career is one of amazingly sustained excellence – a result of an almost unparalleled work ethic and devotion to his craft, which helped him develop into an outrageous scorer out of the mid-range and near the rim, and a high-impact perimeter defender.
Kobe Bryant was first a sidekick to Shaq before then becoming the man for the Lakers and winning five titles overall, two of which he earned Finals MVPs for. Bryant, who finished his career with more All-NBA 1st Team selections than Jordan (!), also probably turned more people into basketball fans than any player not named Michael (or Earvin).
3. Dwyane Wade
Top accolades: Three NBA titles, one Finals MVP, eight All-NBA selections, 13 All-Stars, three All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, one Olympic gold medal
Regular season ranking: 32nd in steals, 34th in scoring, 48th in assists, 132nd in blocks and 292nd in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 12th in scoring, 15th in steals, 25th in assists, 27th in blocks, 65th in rebounds
One of the greatest shooting guards ever, Dwyane Wade never won a league MVP award but came close in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Wade was an elite scorer even without much of a three-point shot, as he was dynamic at splitting defenders in the pick-and-roll, possessing a rare ability to glide to the rim and score at the basket, while also having a reliable midrange game. He was also a solid playmaker and a plus-defender, especially as a shot-blocker, as he ranks as the player 6-foot-4 or shorter with the most blocks ever. Wade also showed great humility in playing second fiddle to LeBron to chase titles later in his prime.
4. Allen Iverson
Top accolades: One MVP, seven All-NBA selections, 11 All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 14th in steals, 30th in scoring, 53rd in assists
Playoffs ranking: 58th in steals, 60th in scoring, 82nd in assists, 404th in rebounds
A cultural icon as well as one of the best lead guards of his era, Allen Iverson has to be one of the most ridiculously explosive athletes the sport has ever seen, especially out of a player generously listed at 6-feet tall. Iverson’s crossover was devastating (just ask Jordan), and his bombastic style as a scorer made for thrilling viewing throughout his prime. Iverson was one of the most influential players ever, both on and off the court was one of the most exciting players to watch and in his prime. He could really score with the best of them in such an unorthodox package.
5. James Harden
Top accolades: One MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, 11 All-Stars, one Sixth Man of the Year award, one Olympic gold medal, one World Cup gold medal
Regular season ranking: 11th in scoring, 13th in assists, 26th in steals, 162nd in rebounds and 202nd in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 8th in assists, 12th in steals, 14th in scoring, 60th in rebounds, 84th in blocks
James Harden has a Hall-of-Fame resume thanks to his unreal scoring ability and playmaking. His crossover and stepback jumper made him impossible to slow down, as did his strong shoulder on drives to the rim. He still has a chance to add to his legacy over the coming years, though winning a championship ring in L.A. feels like a really long shot by now.
Believe it or not, Harden is now higher on the all-time assists list than he is on the scoring list, which speaks to his genius as a playmaker to go with his historical scoring skills. But he continues to fall short in the playoffs, which might just be a part of his legacy.
6. George Gervin
Top accolades: Five All-NBA 1st Team selections, nine All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 46th in scoring, 199th in blocks, 215th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 113th in scoring, 172nd in blocks, 206th in steals
A smooth operator on the wing as a scorer, George Gervin could fill it up with the best of them despite lacking much of a three-point shot. He is best remembered for his beautiful finger-roll layup, still one of the nicest moves in any player’s arsenal ever, but his game was far more than that, as the Ice Man was one of the best all-around scorers the league has ever seen. He did it in a 6-foot-7 package, too, making him a very unique player for his prime and opening the door for other supersized wings later to play more on the perimeter.
7. Clyde Drexler
Top accolades: One NBA title, five All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal
Regular season ranking: 9th in steals, 38th in scoring, 39th in assists, 140th in rebounds, 182nd in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 13th in steals, 24th in assists, 33rd in scoring, 51st in rebounds, 68th in blocks
Clyde Drexler was a fantastic scorer, rebounder and playmaker for his position, while also using his athleticism well defensively. Drexler even won a championship in his career, arguably the toughest in NBA history at that, playing a fantastic second fiddle to Olajuwon and turning the Rockets that year from a borderline playoff team into a championship repeater.
8. Reggie Miller
Top accolades: Three All-NBA 3rd Team selections, five All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal, one World Cup gold medal
Regular season ranking: 26th in scoring, 54th in steals, 120th in assists, 390th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 32nd in scoring, 59th in steals, 108th in assists, 251st in rebounds, 285th in blocks
One of the finest shooters ever, Reggie Miller ranks fifth in league history in made three-pointers (2,560). He was also extremely clutch about his shot-making, with a career highlight tape featuring multiple game-winning threes from high-pressure postseason contests. Miller is another player who, despite being an all-time great in his era, would probably have been even more effective today, as his shooting would have translated beautifully to this era that places such an emphasis on outside shooting.
9. Ray Allen
Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal
Regular season ranking: 29th in scoring, 59th in steals, 101st in assists, 253rd in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 39th in scoring, 50th in steals, 76th in assists, 129th in rebounds, 235th in blocks
Had his peak come 20 years later, it’s fascinating to ponder what Ray Allen’s numbers might have looked like, as his bombastic style of play consisting of shooting a ton of threes would have fit wonderfully in today’s NBA. Still, Allen carved out a Hall-of-Fame career in his era anyway as one of the best shooters ever. Allen was also very clutch, with a highlight reel of playoff daggers and game-winners, including arguably the clutchest three-pointer ever, which came in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals with his Heat down 3-2 in the series
10. Vince Carter
Top accolades: Two All-NBA selections, eight All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal
Regular season ranking: 22nd in scoring, 48th in steals, 82nd in assists, 129th in blocks, 150th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 112th in scoring, 129th in steals, 149th in assists, 194th in blocks, 213th in rebounds
Aside from being one of the most explosive dunkers in league history, Vince Carter was a productive player for 22 years – something that not many could have expected considering how reliant on athleticism he was during his prime. Many argue that with his talent, he should have done more in his prime than just two All-NBA selections (neither was even 1st Team) and many questioned his drive and love for the game. Even so, he was one of the best 2-guards in the NBA at his peak and a fan favorite even if he never won anything that noteworthy. Plus, would he really have played for 22 years if he didn’t love basketball?
11. Earl Monroe
Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-NBA 1st Team, four All-Stars, Rookie of the Year award
Regular season ranking: 95th in scoring, 165th in assists
Playoffs ranking: 135th in scoring, 168th in assists, 422nd in rebound
Nicknamed The Pearl, Earl Monroe was a smooth ballhandler and scorer from the midrange who could stop on a dime and knock down jumpers with aplomb. His accolades and production don’t speak to how well-respected he was as a player, with his game being one of the original confident guards who scored with creativity. A lot of players of later generations modeled their games after him, so his influence was huge.
12. Tracy McGrady
Top accolades: Seven All-NBA selections, seven All-Stars, one Most Improved Player award
Regular season ranking: 78th in points, 118th in assists, 123rd in steals, 153rd in blocks, 252nd in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 216th in points, 186th in assists, 194th in blocks, 387th in rebounds, 300th in steals
A more impressive playoff career (he never made it out of the first round in his prime) could have greatly changed where Tracy McGrady finished in this ranking, as could have more longevity. But at his peak, McGrady was one of the most explosive and productive do-everything wings in basketball, one who would have dominated in the modern NBA.
13. Hal Greer
Top accolades: One NBA title, seven All-NBA 2nd Team selections, 10 All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 41st in points, 92nd in assists, 222nd in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 82nd in points, 88th in assists, 203rd in rebounds
One of the best and underrated guards of the 1960s, Hal Greer was an All-Star 10 times that decade and an All-NBA 2nd Teamer seven times, helping lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship in 1966-67 alongside Chamberlain in what was one of the most slept-on guard-big duos in league history.
14. Klay Thompson
Top accolades: Four NBA titles, two All-NBA 3rd Team selections, five All-Stars, one All-Defensive 2nd Team selection
Regular season ranking: 111th in points, 475th in assists, 611th in rebounds, 329th in blocks, 366th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 29th in points, 54th in steals, 101st in blocks, 113th in assists, 136th in rebounds
His all-time statistics may have been the primary reason why he didn’t make the final NBA75 list, but it must be taken into account that Klay Thompson missed two full seasons in the midst of his prime due to injury, and even with that, he has made five All-Star rosters and won four championships while already ranking Top 6 all-time in three-pointers.
15. Sam Jones
Top accolades: 10 NBA titles, three All-NBA 2nd Team selections, five All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 150th in points, 368th in rebounds, 405th in assists
Playoffs ranking: 35th in points, 101st in rebounds, 107th in assists
The go-to scorer for the Celtics dynasty of the 1960s, Sam Jones was also an extremely clutch performer who always managed to deliver in the playoffs. Jones also had a very accurate jump shot, a rarity for players of his era, even the guards.
16. Manu Ginobili
Top accolades: Four NBA titles, two All-NBA 3rd Team selections, two All-Stars, one-time Sixth Man of the Year
Regular season ranking: 66th in steals, 127th in assists, 195th in points, 465th in rebounds, 479th in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 10th in steals, 27th in points and assists, 71st in rebounds, 145th in blocks
A confident, energetic scorer, Manu Ginobili was able to get buckets in a variety of ways, including slashing to the rim, finishing over big men and hitting step-back threes in foes’ faces. The Argentine southpaw was a natural leader on the court with great quickness in his prime and helped make the Euro step a common move in the NBA.
17. Dennis Johnson
Top accolades: Three NBA titles, one Finals MVP, two All-NBA selections, five All-Stars, six All-Defensive 1st Team selections
Regular season ranking: 55th in assists, 56th in steals, 146th in points, 197th in blocks, 378th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 15th in assists, 20th in steals, 25th in points, 63rd in blocks, 81st in rebounds
One of the best defensive guards ever, Dennis Johnson also had an offensive game, as he was an elite playmaker at the combo-guard spot. Johnson had superstar potential but had the selflessness to accept a role-player position in the Celtics dynasty of the 1980s.
18. Joe Dumars
Top accolades: Two NBA titles, one Finals MVP, three All-NBA selections, six All-Stars, six All-Defensive selections
Regular season ranking: 87th in assists, 117th in points, 241st in steals
Playoffs ranking: 61st in assists, 92nd in points, 133rd in steals, 435th in rebounds
An elite defender out of the backcourt, Joe Dumars was a pivotal part of the Bad Boys Pistons dynasty who won back-to-back championships in the late ’80s. Dumars was a fantastic glue guy on many elite teams in his career, one who could knock down jumpers off the dribble in the mid-range at a high level. Also an underrated playmaker.
19. Bill Sharman
Top accolades: Four NBA titles, four All-NBA 1st Team selections, eight All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 252nd in points, 438th in assists
Playoffs ranking: 145th in points, 260th in assists, 462nd in rebounds
One of the NBA’s first shooting specialists, Bill Sharman could knock down jumpers from deep in his prime, and was an important member of various elite Celtics teams in his heyday. High basketball IQ, too, as evidenced by his becoming a successful head coach after his playing days.
20. Gail Goodrich
Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-NBA 1st Team selection, five All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 63rd in points, 80th in assists
Playoffs ranking: 122nd in assists, 142nd in points, 445th in rebounds
In his prime, Gail Goodrich was a great shooter, especially for his era, who could also finish at the rim at a good rate. Goodrich also always managed to come up clutch when his team needed it. The Hall-of-Famer was purely an offensive player, though, providing little defensively.