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Who are the top shooting guards in NBA history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Tracy McGrady: though he was plagued by injuries later in his career, McGrady was brilliant at his peak, winning back-to-back scoring titles in the early 2000s while garnering seven All-Star and All-NBA selections across his time with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets.
9. Reggie Miller: known for his clutch shooting in the 1990s (particularly vs. the New York Knicks – who can forget his eight points in nine seconds?), Miller was a 5x All-Star who was regarded as the elite shooter of his day, draining 39.5% of his three-point attempts and retiring as the NBA’s all-time leading three-point shooter (he currently ranks #2 behind Ray Allen).
8. Ray Allen: a lethal marksman for nearly 20 years, Allen was a 10x All-Star who currently holds the NBA record for most career three-pointers made; before the explosion of three-point shooting in the 2010s, he held the single-season record with 269 three-pointers made in 2005-2006.
7. George Gervin: perhaps the NBA’s preeminent scorer of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gervin won four scoring titles with the San Antonio Spurs (including three straight scoring crowns); overall, the 12x All-Star and 7x All-NBA selection averaged 25.1 points per game for his career.
6. Clyde Drexler: though he was generally overshadowed by Michael Jordan throughout his career, Drexler was a dynamic player in his own right – the 10x All-Star and 5x All-NBA selection averaged over 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for his career and ultimately won an NBA title with the Rockets while playing alongside his old college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon.
5. James Harden: arguably the best offensive player of his era, Harden was originally an elite sixth man for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but truly blossomed after being traded to the Rockets – as the lynchpin of the team’s offense, he has won multiple scoring titles (career scoring average of around 25 points per game) while being an All-Star and All-NBA selection year in and year out.
4. Allen Iverson: despite his diminutive size, Iverson was a 4x scoring champion who averaged 26.7 points per game for his career, earned 11 All-Star and seven All-NBA nods, and was named 2000-2001 MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers.
3. Dwyane Wade: the greatest player in Miami Heat history, Wade led the team to three NBA titles (including earning Finals MVP for the team’s first championship) during his career while winning a scoring title and racking up 13 All-Star, eight All-NBA, and three All-Defensive selections.
2. Kobe Bryant: the youngest All-Star starter in NBA history and known for his “Mamba Mentality”, the late Bryant was an MVP, 18x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, and 12x All-Defensive selection who led the league in scoring 2x and helped the Los Angeles Lakers win five titles during his 20-year career with the team.
1. Michael Jordan: widely regarded as the GOAT, Jordan did it all during his career: not only was he a 10x scoring champion with the highest scoring average in NBA history, but the 5x MVP was also Rookie of the Year, a 14x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 9x All-Defensive, and Defensive Player of the Year while leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: While Jerry West played guard during his career, he is being classified as a point guard and thus is not included as part of this list.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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