The Top Shooting Guards in The NBA This Season
The sound of that ball dropping in is one of the most magical sounds there is in the world of sport. So often it’s the shooting guards that deliver that music to our ears. Here we celebrate the best of the best with a look at the top shooting guards in the NBA this season.
Number 5. Paul George, LA Clippers
Many people probably didn’t realize that Paul George was primarily a shooting guard this season, but he was. Kawhi Leonard took the small forward responsibilities and Serge Ibaka manned the four, leaving George with the shooting guard position.
He was great before the All-Star break, shooting 50% from the field and 45% from three; those percentages dropped towards the end of the year though. Even so, he was able to contribute defensively and put up similar points averages to keep the Los Angeles Clippers towards the top of the Western Conference.
Number 4. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker has always been a very talented shooting guard; this season though he has delivered at an even better level. He can thank Chris Paul in a lot of ways. Paul joined the Suns and completely elevated the entire roster to the next level.
They were the second seed out West and Booker was able to average 25.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game whilst playing off the basketball in favour of Paul. Devin was also the official scoring leader for Phoenix by the end of the season and dropped 30 plus points over 20 times!
Number 3. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
There will be plenty of fans out there saying that Booker should rank above Donovan Mitchell but, in our opinion, the duo are pretty interchangeable between fourth and third spot.
Both of the players led their team in points and both ensured their team reached the postseason through the loaded Western Conference. The reason we lean towards Mitchell is that he averaged career highs in multiple categories; they include points and assists per game.
Donovan was also able to go through a crazy hot streak; it was a run that saw him sink over 40 points in three out of four games at one point. Injuries plagued him towards the end of the year but he was a major reason for his teams’ success.
Number 2. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
If you’re talking about the top shooting guards in the NBA this season then there is absolutely no doubt that Wizards man Bradley Beal deserves to come in near the top of our rankings; the reason he sits second rather than the top is something that should be angled at his teams’ lack of success rather than a reflection on the player himself. What did Beal deliver as an individual?
Well, he finished as runner-up in this season’s scoring charts – the only player to outscore him was the phenomenal Steph Curry who has cemented his place as one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. Beal averaged 31.3 points per game including sinking a 60 and 50 point performance. Unfortunately, the Wizards lost that match that saw the 60 point outburst and ended up not performing well when they made their way into the postseason.
Number 1. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
Are we ready for a controversial top pick in our list of the top shooting guards in the NBA this season? Kyrie Irving’s inclusion might upset a few. Why? Well, under normal circumstances Irving would be listed as a point guard, however, this Brooklyn Nets team is anything but normal.
The combination of James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Blake Griffin has thrown around the starting rotations for the Nets; as a result, Irving has found himself playing shooting guard on a number of occasions.
Irving, who posted game averages of 26.9 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds, became just the ninth player in NBA history to join the 50-40-90 club, which makes his number one rank hard to argue with in our eyes.
There you have it, the top shooting guards in the NBA this season. Find out which names in this list are included in the top shooting guards of all time according to TwinSpires Edge list: edge.twinspires.com/nba/the-best-shooting-guards-in-nba-history/
