One of the most illustrious positions in NBA history is shooting guard. Whether it be scoring or defending those to enter the NBA by way of college basketball, they are forever woven into a distant time when these abilities were celebrated. The following is an in-depth analysis of the 10 greatest shooting guards ever based on skills, stats, and their influence on basketball.
Michael Jordan
Skills: "His Airness," is the GOAT of basketball. He has a unique combination of athleticism, skill, and competitive drive. He bears great scoring to defense and a clutch gene.
Accomplishments: Jordan has a myriad of hardware to his name. These include his six NBA championships and five MVP awards. He also secured 14 All-Star game appearances. Alongside all of this, he led the league in scoring ten times. He then became known as one of the greatest clutch performers in NBA history.
Impact: Jordan transcended sport and became a global icon. His influence on basketball and culture is inestimable.
Kobe Bryant
Skills: The Black Mamba was able to score in every way imaginable. He worked harder than anyone else offensively, making him one of the most dangerous scorers ever. His footwork and ability to shoot the ball are strong suits of his game. However, the Lakers legend excels more on defense.
Accomplishments: Bryant notched five NBA championships and is a two-time Finals MVP, and 18-time all-star (4x All-Star Game MVP). He also had a run with 2 scoring titles.
Legacy: The Mamba Mentality became a symbolic nomenclature for an entire generation of ball players and helped shape the game —before it all came crumbling down, solidifying his spot as one of the GOATs.
Jerry West
Skills: Jerry West, the man who inspired the NBA's logo was a tremendous scorer and defender. As a player, he handled the ball like a guard and shot it with range (he nailed 84 three-pointers in '90–91).
Accomplishments: West won a championship, and made 14 All-Star appearances and one scoring title. He was also popularly known as "Mr. Clutch."
Legacy: West became more than just a player after he retired, building quite possibly the most successful executive career in NBA history.
Dwyane Wade
Skills: Dwyane Wade was explosive and a great two-way threat, plus a scorer of the finest order. The way that he was able to get into the rim and his defense was what separated him from everyone in my opinion.
Accomplishments: Wade notched three NBA titles, and a Finals MVP award. He also earned 13 All-Star appearances, and once led the league in scoring. His imprint on the Miami Heat as an organization and around the league is unquestioned.
Legacy: Wade will be remembered for more than their on-court accomplishments, and he has served as an inspiration to many with his rise from humble beginnings.
Clyde Drexler
Skills: The Glide was a high-flying 6'7″ guard that could do it all on the court. He became a prolific scorer, rebounder, and defender.
Accomplishments: He won the NBA Championship once. Moreover, Drexler was a 10-time All-Star and won an Olympic gold medal. That consistency on both ends of the floor is where he left his imprint.
Legacy: Drexler's impact transcended his years as a player, and his presence off of the court ensured that he would be remembered in basketball history.
Allen Iverson
Skills: Allen Iverson has to be the coolest Hall of Famer. He changed the one spot from being primarily playmaking to scoring-centric.
Accomplishments: Iverson won an MVP award, four scoring titles, and 11 All-Star selections. However he transcended statistics. The Answer's influence on the game made it possible for more guards to be looked at as scorers.
Legacy: Iverson changed the game and served as a blueprint for how guards can take on responsibility: Iverson continues to mold some great young watchmen today in Hoop Culture, with the impact he had.
Reggie Miller
Skills: Reggie was the ultimate three-point wizard of his time. Known for his clutch moments and tireless hustle, he was an opposing player to be feared.
Accomplishments: In his career, Miller was a five-time All-Star. He established himself as one of the best shooters in NBA history. We saw the strain he put on defenses and his promise in pressure moments.
Legacy: Miller's impact on the game does not end with his playing days, as he lives forever in lore for helping spark the three-point revolution and authoring postseason heroics that have confirmed him among the greatest shooting guards of all time.
Ray Allen
Skills: Allen is a 10-time NBA All-Star. He was one of the best pure shooters and is one of the most well-conditioned players in league history. It led him to six seasons shooting better than 40% from three-point range to lead his team in scoring while adding terrific perimeter defense. His ability to play off the ball and hit big shots made him an asset for any team.
Accomplishments: Jesus Shuttleworth has 10 All-Star nods, and is a two-time NBA champion. He used to hold the record for the most three-point shots made in league history. His influence on the game was through his ability to stretch the floor and come up big in clutch moments.
Legacy: Allen's impact on the trajectory of shooting in today's game, and his performances on the biggest stages, etch him as one of a small handful at this level among NBA off-guards.
James Harden
Skills: On offense, he has an elite scoring touch combined with genuine passing ability. James Harden has changed the shooting guard position for good due to his pair of attributes. He is a threat on step-back threes as well and can get to the foul line, which opens up nightmares for defenders.
Accomplishments: Harden has won only one MVP, yet also sports two scoring titles alongside several All-Star appearances. The way he affects the game with his scoring creativity and by serving as a primary option for an offense is exceptional.
Legacy: Harden's everyman influence on the offensive approach to playing in today's NBA and his scoring ability as a guard solidifies him among the all-time greats.
Joe Dumars
Skills: Joe Dumars could defend and make timely shots off the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys." He was an invaluable role player to championship teams who could defend opposing guards and still provide some scoring.
Accomplishments: Two NBA titles (1989, 1990) and Six-time All-Star Finals MVP Through his defensive efficiency and leadership on winning teams, he was felt in every game.
Legacy: Dumars was arguably the greatest two-way shooting guard in NBA history a clutch performer on both ends of court. His acumen allowed him to rule the late 1980s alongside Isiah Thomas.
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