Ranking the Best Shooting Guards in the NBA Today

Many NBA fans believe that right now in the league there is a dearth of premier shooting guards. And, to an extent, that is true; we don’t currently have any stars like Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, or Allen Iverson. Guys like Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant—both of whom will be first-ballot Hall of Famers—are on the downsides of their careers, and while there are many good players waiting to take their place, none has emerged as a bona fide superstar.

It's a transitional time for NBA shooting guards, wherein the old guard and new, young talent are all equally in the mix for the title of league’s best. One of them is, of course, birthday boy Dwyane Wade, who turns 32 today. In honor of D-Wade’s birthday, we took a shot at Ranking the Best Shooting Guards in the NBA Today.

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
2013-14 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG

J.J. Redick may be a bit of a one-trick pony with his shooting, but he does it so well that he continues to be a valuable asset for teams looking for consistent perimeter scoring. Playing as a starter for the first time in his career, Redick has responded with personal bests in points per game and field goal percentage, and the Clippers have gone 14-5 with him in the lineup compared with just 13-8 without him. Especially come playoff time, Redick will be counted on to provide the kind of perimeter punch that has been absent from the Clippers for several years, and he can certainly deliver.

Team: Chicago Bulls
2013-14 Stats: 12.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.8 SPG

With Luol Deng now in Cleveland, Jimmy Butler will be handed even more responsibility for the seemingly always shorthanded Chicago Bulls. He has been banged up all season—playing just 24 of the Bulls' 37 games thus far—but when he's on the floor he provides incredible effort on both ends. He is one of the most fit players in the NBA, and Wednesday night set a Bulls’ franchise record with 60 minutes played (yes, like an hour) in their triple-overtime win over the Magic. Since the Deng trade, he's been able to elevate his game by increasing his points, rebounds, and assists per game totals while also taking an additional four-plus shots per contest.

Team: Los Angeles Clippers
2013-14 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.9 APG

Don’t let his status as a sixth man fool you. Jamal Crawford still manages to play over 30 minutes a game and, especially with Chris Paul out, has become a go-to scorer for the Clippers both over the course of the game and especially in crunch time. The NBA may have no better “heat check” player than Crawford, who can get hot at any time and single-handedly win a game for his team. While his defense may leave something to be desired, he more than makes up for it with his scoring that tends to come both in bunches and at the exact right time.

Team: Orlando Magic
2013-14 Stats: 13.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.5 SPG

Victor Oladipo has only played 39 NBA games, but already he's showing signs that he's going to be a fixture in the league for the foreseeable future. His per game averages for the season may be modest, but they also don't tell the full story of the impact he has had on the court. His defense is already at a borderline All-NBA level, and recently he has begun to see a strong uptick in his statistical output across the board. Over his last seven games, Oladipo is averaging 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, and he even played over 57 minutes on Wednesday night in a triple-overtime loss to the Bulls. Games like that—along with other performances such as his December 3rd triple-double against the 76ers—reveal just how talented Oladipo is and why he'll be on lists like these for a very long time.

Team: New Orleans Pelicans
2013-14 Stats: 16.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG

The question with Eric Gordon has never been one of ability; we could tell from early on in his Clipper days that the former Indiana Hoosier was immensely talented. No, the problem has always been that Gordon can't seem to stay on the floor and out of the training room. He has managed to stay healthy this year, participating in 35 of 38 Pelicans' games and averaging over 32 minutes a night. While his scoring has taken a slight dip now that he's sharing the ball with fellow guards Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans as well as emerging star Anthony Davis, Gordon has been particularly good lately; he is averaging 23.4 points over his last five games, including a season-high 35 on Wednesday night against Houston.

Team: New Orleans Pelicans
2013-14 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.2 SPG

Usually when guys sign big free agent contracts, they regress the following year. Tyreke Evans has bucked that trend, putting up the most efficient numbers of his career as he reinvents himself as a sixth man after being a starter his entire career with Sacramento. Playing just 25.2 minutes per game, Evans is posting the best per-36 minute rebounding and assist numbers of his career and his second-best total in points. With Eric Gordon and Jrue Holliday, the Pelicans have an exciting young backcourt that, while it hasn't yet translated to a ton of wins, makes them one of the league's most fun-to-watch teams.

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2013-14 Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Talk about someone who looked done in last year's playoffs. Apart from Game 5, Manu Ginobili's Finals performance in 2013 was pretty horrifying. He was a turnover machine, particularly in Game 6 where he managed to give the ball away eight times. Fortunately, the 36-year-old Argentinian has enjoyed a resurgence in 2013-14, staying right on his averages from the last three seasons in most every category. Playing for a team like the Spurs affords Ginobili many nights where he can simply relax and defer to others, allowing him to age much more gracefully than many of his shooting guard counterparts.

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
2013-14 Stats: 19.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 SPG

It feels like Kevin Martin has been around forever, but at just 30 years old he should still have several productive years left in him. At 6'7", he's a matchup nightmare for the smaller players forced to guard him, and for years Martin has made a living draining shots in his smaller opponents' faces. While his defense is sub-par at best, he also has the second-best true shooting percentage of any active shooting guard who has played in over 250 regular season games, so the trade-off is fair so long as he keeps making his shots.

Minnesota will be counting on him to help carry the team to the playoffs this season, but with their record standing at just 18-20 in the crowded Western Conference, things aren't looking too good.

Team: Brooklyn Nets
2013-14 Stats: 15.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG

While Joe Johnson may be paid like one of the NBA's best players, his days as one of the planet's most deadly scorers are likely behind him. He's now averaging just 15.8 points per game with a .437 shooting percentage, both among the worst numbers of his career. Perhaps more significantly, even with Deron Williams and Brook Lopez missing significant time, Johnson has seldom been able to elevate his offensive game to help his beleaguered Nets squad. While he has had a couple vintage performances—including a game in which he drained 10 three pointers in mid-December—he also recently ran off a stretch of five consecutive games in which he failed to score in double-digit points.

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
2013-14 Stats: 16.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Wesley Matthews has been a big part of Portland's incredible start to the year, and now in his fifth season he has emerged as an elite outside shooter. He is currently ninth in the NBA in three point attempts, and his .421 percentage from long range is good for 10th. Digging a little deeper, the NBA’s SportVU stats indicate that Matthews is one of the best spot-up shooters in the league; he's tied for sixth in the NBA in catch-and-shoot points per game, and is fourth in catch-and-shoot three-pointers made per game as well. With Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge occupying much of opposing defenses' attention, Matthews should continue to get lots of open looks.

Team: Golden State Warriors
2013-14 Stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.0 SPG

Klay Thompson has emerged as one of the deadliest shooters in the league, and his SportVU stats back that up. He easily leads the league in catch-and-shoot points per game, 0.5 points better than the next-closest player. He has been an absolute horse for the Warriors as well, tying for the team lead with 37.8 minutes per game and not missing a start yet this season. At just 23-years-old, Thompson has the type of game that will age well, and it's a very realistic possibility that he will still be slinging up corner threes 15 years from now, á la Ray Allen.

Team: Orlando Magic
2013-14 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.0 BPG

The Orlando Magic may stink, but Arron Afflalo is not the problem. The seven-year veteran has had a breakout season, putting up career bests in points, rebounds, and assists per game, as well as leading the team in scoring and minutes per game. He currently ranks fourth among all shooting guards in the NBA in PER, and his 18.5 rating is easily the best of his career. While he may be a popular target at the trade deadline, it would take a significant package for Orlando to part with this talented and reasonably priced player who makes just under $7.8 million per season.

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
2013-14 Stats: 19.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG

While it may be a down year in Philadelphia, free agent-to-be Evan Turner is enjoying the best year of his career as he prepares to become the likely consolation prize for all teams that are hoping to land LeBron James this offseason. Turner has been able to hold most of his numbers steady from previous seasons, but has seen a major uptick in his scoring thanks to a .441 shooting percentage that he’s been able to sustain despite playing a career-high 36.2 minutes per game and averaging a career-high 16.6 shots a night. The 25-year-old leads the team or is second in pretty much in every statistical category, and his ability to become a go-to guy has likely earned him a lot of money for next season and beyond.

Team: Utah Jazz
2013-14 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG

In a year where he has been asked to be the primary offensive weapon for the tanking Utah Jazz, Gordon Hayward has elevated his game and cemented his spot as one of the best young shooting guards in the league. Despite playing over 36 minutes a night and averaging almost four more shots per game than last year, Hayward has actually increased his PER and most of his per 36 minute stats. He’s missed their last three games with a strained hip flexor, though, and you can bet that with Richard Jefferson and Marvin Williams playing key roles on this Jazz team, they are doing everything they can to get the former Butler standout back on the floor ASAP.

Team: Washington Wizards
2013-14 Stats: 17.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG

John Wall may get most of the national attention, but a major reason that basketball is officially back in Washington is the play of Bradley Beal. The second-year shooting guard has firmly cemented his status as the Wizards' No. 2 option on offense, filling up the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Before he went down with a right leg stress injury in late November, Beal was leading the NBA in minutes per game (40.2) and was also leading his team in scoring at 20.6 per night. While his numbers have dropped off since he returned (he's averaging 14.5 points and 28.0 minutes per game since getting back), in the long run this will be merely a speed bump in what should be a long, productive career.

Team: Dallas Mavericks
2013-14 Stats: 20.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.8 SPG

It has been a complete turnaround in 2013-14 for Monta Ellis, who has transformed himself from one of the NBA's most hard-to-watch guards into a strong distributor and (gasp!) enjoyable teammate to play with. He's still getting his, pouring in 20.0 points per game, but he is doing it by taking just 16.1 shots per game, the fewest he's attempted since 2007-08. He's also shooting .458 from the field, likewise his best total since 2007-08. He has relied much less heavily on the three-pointer this year, and according to SportVU actually leads the NBA in both drives to the hoop and points per game on said drives.

Team: Phoenix Suns
2013-14 Stats: 19.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG

The Phoenix Suns have been the NBA's biggest surprise this season, and a huge reason for their 21-16 start is the play of Goran Dragic. Forming a dynamic backcourt with the now-injured Eric Bledsoe, Dragic is putting up easily the best numbers of his career. There are few players in the game better at taking it to the hole than this slippery Serbian guard; per NBA.com’s SportVU database, he is fifth in the league in total drives to the hoop and fourth in field goal percentage on such plays. Basically, that is a fancy way of saying Dragic goes to the rack a lot, and when he does he usually scores. With Bledsoe now out, it bears watching how defenses shift more of their focus onto this dynamic young guard.

Team: Indiana Pacers
2013-14 Stats: 13.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG

For a guy who came into the NBA as a second round draft pick whom many believed would never make it, Lance Stephenson has certainly molded himself into an elite player. It's never a dull moment with him, whether he's making choke signs at LeBron James during a playoff game or thoroughly humiliating Courtney Lee, but there's much more to Stephenson's game than YouTube highlights. He has already put up three triple-doubles this season (which leads the league), and as a free agent this offseason you can bet he won't be making just $1,000,000 for long.

Team: Miami Heat
2013-14 Stats: 19.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.9 SPG

After a lot of chatter in the preseason wondering if the relatively ineffective Dwyane Wade we saw in the playoffs would carry over into this season, the Heat mainstay has proven that he can still get it done on the court. While he has missed nine of the Heat's 37 games in order to rest his aging knees, Wade has been back to his old self when he's been able to play. While he's posting his lowest PER since 2007-08, he's also posting a career-best .545 shooting percentage, including an astonishing (for him) .421 from three-point land. He may not be the go-to scorer he has been in the past, but there's no doubt that a healthy D-Wade is still one of the best two-guards in the NBA.

Team: Houston Rockets
2013-14 stats: 24.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG

It appears that any concern over Dwight Howard stealing James Harden's spotlight on the Rockets was a bit premature. The Rockets are still very much Harden's team, and the bearded gunner has responded with another outstanding season as "The Man." Harden is posting nearly identical numbers across the board as he did in last year's breakout campaign, and has even slightly improved his field goal percentage (.450 versus .438). While everybody knows that his defense needs a lot of work, there's no denying that at least on the offensive end there is no more dangerous shooting guard in the game today.