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Shooting guard is stacked in 2021/22 with numerous All-NBA candidates across the league
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Ascending young stars meet established veterans at the top of our rankings
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Read below for the 10 best shooting guards in the NBA in 2021/22
The best shooting guards in the NBA in 2021/22 showcases a range of talents.
All have the ability to light up the box score with a 40-point night, swinging NBA betting in their team’s favour. Some provide plus-defence, while others could easily play the one if they were in a different situation.
The role of the top guards in the NBA has evolved over the past decade. Positionless basketball has changed how we talk about each role, but there’s still room for classifications like shooting guard.
These players might not come close to Michael Jordan net worth or his career production, but they have shown they can dominate in the NBA. Here are our 10 best shooting guards right now…
10) Bogdan Bogdanovic
Featuring heavily in live betting as the Atlanta Hawks went on a surprise run to the Conference Finals last season, Bogdan Bogdanovic was overlooked as a member of the Kings, and injury derailed his first regular season with the Hawks.
Alongside the offensive supernova that is Trae Young and battling for wing minutes with Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter, Danilo Gallinari and De’Andre Hunter, Bogdanovic will not always standout.
His skillset is invaluable, however. The shooting, secondary playmaking and solid defence could slot onto any roster in the league.
9) Caris LeVert
Caris LeVert has a knack for getting to his spots. He ranks among the league leaders in the percentage of his attempts from short mid-range, meandering his way through the defence for short pull-ups and floaters.
Indiana will be fascinating this year under Rick Carlisle. Hopefully LeVert can get healthy quickly and we can see how Carlisle runs the offence. He’s made meaningful strides as a playmaker in the last couple of seasons.
8) CJ McCollum
One of the best players in the league to have never made an All-Star team, CJ McCollum has been at the centre of trade rumours all offseason after another disappointing playoff exit for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The McCollum and Dame Lillard backcourt might have put a ceiling on Portland as title contenders, but their partnership has made them regulars in the postseason and guaranteed an elite offence.
They haven’t been outside the top five in offensive rating since 2017/18. If the backcourt is split up through trade this season, McCollum could be appearing on point guard rankings at the start of 2022/23.
He’s got the vision and playmaking to run the one on some teams.
7) Devin Booker
Perhaps seventh is harsh for a player who had two 40-point outings in the Finals. Devin Booker starred on the two seed in the West, but he was feast or famine in the playoffs and there are still holes in his game.
Booker’s playmaking needs to improve – he averaged 3.1 turnovers on just 4.3 assists last season. The three-point shot should become more efficient and even with defensive improvement, he can still be targeted on that end.
This list is very congested – Booker could easily be in the top three within a few months.
6) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Averaging 5.9 assists last season and often initiating the offence, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a true combo guard.
He might play some of the one for Oklahoma City this year, but the former Clipper is more of an off-guard than a lead creator.
Gilgeous-Alexander was in Most Improved Player running before he was shut down in the second half. Not many will be rushing to watch Thunder games this year; SGA could go under the radar.
He’s definitely deserving of a top six spot here, though.
5) Zach LaVine
Finishing seventh in scoring last season, Zach LaVine turned heads with his breakout year.
The three-point shot fell over 40% of the time, he had by far the most efficient year of his career as a scorer, and there were signs of progress on defence.
Like so many of the best shooting guards right now, LaVine’s ceiling will be determined by his defence. If he can maintain the level he showed at the Olympics, he could climb into the top three this year.
4) Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell is a dark horse MVP candidate in 2021/22. Mentored by one of the greatest NBA players, Mitchell is coming off a strong second half where he was second in the league in scoring.
He’s already shown what he can do on the postseason stage, even when the Utah Jazz have fallen short.
Mitchell shooting over 38% on nearly nine three-point attempts per game to go with his superhuman explosiveness makes him one of the league’s most dynamic scorers.
3) Klay Thompson
No player is trickier to rank than Klay Thompson right now. Having not played since the 2019 Finals, Thompson isn’t due to return until around Christmas.
It’s nothing more than a guess to project how Thompson will perform, but if he can get back to his best, he’s among the best shooting guards in the game.
He’s different from the players around him. Thompson isn’t going to pull off mesmeric iso moves or highlight dunks. Prior to his injuries, though, he was the best defender of these 10 by a distance.
Thompson will impact season long NBA predictions more than any other player this season. If Golden State gets 90% of pre-injured Klay, they are legitimate title challengers.
2) Bradley Beal
Only Steph Curry scored more points per game than Bradley Beal last season.
He has made real strides as a playmaker over the last few campaigns, and heads into 2021-22 with All-Defense ambitions.
The defence has been Beal’s biggest weak point. Improvement on that end will jolt him into the upper echelon of guards.
1) Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving has been a shooting guard since James Harden arrived in Brooklyn. The former first overall pick was effectively the off-guard playing alongside LeBron James in Cleveland, too.
Irving posted a 50/40/90 season in 2020-21 on 27 points per game. He earned his third All-NBA nod as a result.
It’s unclear if the former Celtic will play at all in 2021-22. The Nets recently announced that Irving will not take part in team activities until he is vaccinated.
Off-court drama has often overshadowed Irving’s brilliance once he does take the hardwood. If available this season, he will show why he’s top of our list.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
