20 greatest shooting guards ever: The HoopsHype list

We have taken our HoopsHype 78 list and split it into five positions: point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers. 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 78.

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

NBA rank: 4th in steals, 5th in scoring, 52nd in assists, 125th in blocks, 137th 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.

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

NBA rank: 4th in scoring, 16th in steals, 33rd in assists, 116th in rebounds, 209th in blocks

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

NBA rank: 31st in steals, 34th in scoring, 47th in assists, 130th in blocks

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

NBA rank: 14th in steals, 28th in scoring, 53rd in assists

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 styler 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 and in his prime, was one of the most exciting players to watch. 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, 10 All-Stars, one Sixth Man of the Year award, one Olympic gold medal, one World Cup gold medal

NBA rank: 14th in assists, 20th in scoring, 37th in steals, 187th in rebounds, 228th 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

NBA rank: 46th in scoring, 195th in blocks, 213th 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

NBA rank: 9th in steals, 37th in scoring, 38th in assists, 136th in rebounds, 179th in blocks

One of the best 2-guards ever, 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

NBA rank: 23rd in scoring, 52nd in steals, 117th in assists

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 playing 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

NBA rank: 27th in scoring, 58th in steals, 99th in assists

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 and facing defeat to the Spurs. We all remember how that ended.

10

Vince Carter

Top accolades: Two All-NBA selections, eight All-Stars, one Olympic gold medal

NBA rank: 21st in scoring, 45th in steals, 77th in assists, 128th in blocks, 147th 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, one Rookie of the Year award

NBA rank: 93rd in scoring, 161st in assists

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

NBA rank: 75th in scoring, 115th in assists, 120th in steals, 152nd in blocks

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

NBA rank: 40th in scoring, 90th in assists, 218th 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

NBA rank: 141st in scoring

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

NBA rank: 143rd in scoring

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

NBA rank: 65th in steals, 124th in assists, 191st in scoring

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

NBA rank: 53rd in steals, 55th in assists, 140th in scoring, 192nd in blocks

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

NBA rank: 84th in assists, 111st in scoring, 239th in steals

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

NBA rank: 246th in scoring

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

NBA rank: 62nd in scoring, 76th in assists

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.