Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson are notable names on a long list of guards with stellar NBA careers. Smart missed out on an All-Defensive Team selection in 2020-21 for the first time in three years, likely due to only 48 games played because of injuries or coronavirushealth and safety protocols. Los Angeles is firing on all cylinders. Few players can be said to have influenced the NBA like Curry. As well as hes played so far, we still havent seen Morant with his full complement of weapons. He was one of the best finishers around the basket, shooting over 76 percenton shots within three feet of the rim. Booker climbs to the top of this list following a breakout season that helped lead the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. Period. The Lakers hope LeBron James can unlock Beasleys latent value. The 23-year-old has a crafty floater and finishing package, a quick trigger from the outside and elite court vision. Harden came into this season in the shape of his life and has reaped the benefits. These are the players fans wish their teams would load manage. Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. 8. Is the Hayes-Cunningham combination something that can work long-term. Wanna see a 3-and-D forward who doesnt play defense or make his three-pointers consistently anymore? The player with the highest 2K Rating among current players whose height is 6'3 on NBA 2K23 is Ja Morant. The 24-year-old (he turns 25 on Oct. 30) had the best game of his young career in his Conference Finals debut, going for a 40-point triple-double to lead the Suns to victory without floor general Chris Paul. Lillard is reportedly targeting a return for Sundays home matchup against Indiana (9 ET, NBA TV). As long as Lillard is in Portland, the Trail Blazers will be worth watching. Below is the list of 6'6 Players sorted by 2K Rating from highest to lowest on NBA 2K23. Will there be a changing of the guard in the NBA this season? Going 37-137 deserves something more recognition than a pink slip at the end of the season. Download this stock image: Utah Jazz guard C.J. The point differential is just five points on that list. The talent at the point guard position has helped revolutionize the NBA in recent years. Download this stock image: Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, center, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets guards Chauncey Billups, left, and Arron Afflalo defend in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Denver tried converting Hyland into a point guard. He also shot better than 50% from the field and more than 40% from downtown in 2020-21. However, fans havent stopped voting for Curry for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. The NBA released its first All-Star Game fan vote Thursday. Hes shooting a career-low from mid-range, and his corner-3 shooting efficiency has plummeted 17 percentage points. Jordan Poole landed at the No. But the frenetic style didn't translate nearly as well for Steve Nash and the Suns in the postseason, where they advanced no further than the Western Conference finals. PRL (Position Replacement Level) = 11.5 for power forwards, 11.0 for point guards, 10.6 for centers, 10.5 for shooting guards and small forwards; EWA: Estimated Wins Added . It just makes too much sense. Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. 10. Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson are notable names on a long list of guards with stellar NBA careers. MORE: McCollum looms large in potential Ben Simmons trades. Already one of the best deals of the offseason, there's a case to be made thatIrving'suncertain futuremakes Mills the single most importantsigning of the summer. Many fans hoped Russell Westbrooks numbers would be crazy with Kevin Durant out of Oklahoma City. NBA Players By Position - Point Guards. Fans of the NBA will look back at this era and wonder just how so many great players ended up playing against each other in the same conference. You can e-mail himhere, find his archivehereand follow him onTwitter. The NBA is immersed in its golden age of point guards and the Western Conference has some of the best. 1. Somehow, Curry is having his best shooting season to date, and his numbers can only be put up in video games. This is all definitely a concern for Ja Morant going forward. Now entering his 13th season and free of carrying the team while playing next to Kevin Durant, Harden could deliver his finest season yet which is so small feat given we're talking about a formerMVP and three-time scoring champ. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. In terms of performance, Tatum is currently averaging 24.9 points per game which is a career-high for him. He was still a 3-point marksman and lockdown defender, and Golden State will hope he makes a full return to a similar player. When Phoenix eventually advanced to the NBA Finals, Booker stated his case for Finals MVP after scoring 40-plus points in Games 4 and 5, but coming up short of the title crushed those hopes. Murray's situation is more straightforward. But given what weve seen so far in the 2016-17 season, Chef Curry is the fourth best point guard out West. The downside is hes been a weight around the Clippers necks offensively. : https://t.co/30IBtt5FVg pic.twitter.com/oAUuXOWV7a, #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) January 5, 2023. Speaking of"Big Ballers," how will Lonzo Ball adjust to playing for his third team in five seasons? $5 $20 $50 $100 $250. Donovan Mitchell also made his second NBA All-Star appearance as Utah clinched the top spot in the West only to fall to the Los Angeles Clippers in six games in the Western Conference Semis. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Western Conference Point Guard Power Rankings: 11. Through the first wave of voting, Curry was voted. 6. Accordingly, he is currently first in the league in time possessing the basketball. Feb 24, 2023, 05:46 PM EST. Thats especially apparent when eyeing the glut of talent vying for backcourt spots in the Western Conference, which, at this point, appears to feature stiffer competition than the Eastern Conference will at that position. 9 ranked shooting guard, but don't be surprised if new head coach Ime Udoka deploys Smart as the starting point guard to begin the season. The season is still young and Curry may just be taking time to adjust to playing with Kevin Durant. (Note: This list does not include players like reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson or sharpshooter Buddy Hield because they come off of the bench for their respective teams. Most players dont improve noticeably at the age of 31. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. Do you agree? There's a case to be made that you could shuffle those six in any order and still be correct. RPG. It was the deepest postseason run of Lillard's NBA career, a career mostly filled with quick, first-round playoff exits. That total trails only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15) and Doncic (14). He had those two incredible 40-point outings in Games 4 and 5 of the Finals, but he also had a couple of underwhelming performances in the series (10 points in Game 3; 19 points, six turnovers in Game 6). The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. But for all his elite class and self-confidence, Dame is yet to taste championship success. That he was the best player in the playoffs for a Suns team that also featured Chris Paul is a tribute to Bookers talent. Teams to look out for in the NBA Western Conference Zeleb.es Like Comments 6 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Of 2023 Ad Microsoft Scatter Charcoal In Your Home &. Westbrook was a grenade with a loose pin dangling out during his one-and-a-half seasons in Los Angeles. He is also a reliable three-point threat, shooting 40.2% from downtown last season and 39.8% over his eight-year NBA career. His influence and impact on the game has certified his stance as a future Hall of Famer, and he continues to grow his game despite his advancement in age. His play was a huge reason why Miami went toe-to-toe with the Nuggets and the Heat noticed. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. Woman granted diversion in crash that killed Mid-South pro basketball player Galen Young, Couple acquires hotel in Raleigh, continuing the history of Black hotel owners in Memphis, Strong storms likely this evening and again on Thursday night, Everything you need to know to prepare for severe weather, Morant, Grizzlies overpower Hornets for 4th straight win, Ja Morant gifts new Nike shoes to young Grizzlies fan, Morant has career-high 17 assists, Grizzlies rout Raptors. Can he pick up right where he left off, or will he experience a slight sophomore slump? The Northwest Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 18 in the 2009 NBA draft. Top NBA point guards for 2021-22: Ranking all 30 starters, Ranking the best NBA players entering the 2021-22 season, led the league in clutch points last season. Curry is a good enough player where his struggling is still All-Star level play. Push comes to shove, Harden is on the short list of surest buckets to ever lace 'em up in the backcourt. However, McCollum needs to be better than steady to make it to the next level of shooting guards. Curry is posting ridiculous numbers across the board, averaging 31.4 PPG on 51.8% from the field, 43.6% from three, and 90.7% from the free-throw line. As a result, nearly every team has a franchise floor general; only the 76ers, Bucks, and Kings havent invested highly into one. Oklahoma City is eighth in the Western Conference shooting 36.2% from downtown, led by Jaylin Williams shooting 47.7% from 3-point range. The east has finally pulled itself together and is deeper than the west. His play on the court has been terrific, including a triple-double on Tuesday night in the victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. MORE:Ranking the best NBA players entering the 2021-22 season. The main job of a point guard is to facilitate scoring opportunities for the team. https://warriorswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/05/warriors-steph-curry-leads-western-conference-guards-in-first-nba-all-star-voting-update/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. His nightly averages right now stand at 28.7 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.8 rebounds a game. In January, meanwhile, the Sixers torpedoed to 24th in that category (118 points allowed per 100 possessions) but went 11-3 . The Nuggets' starting point guard has quieted all the critics who said that he was too small, forcing him to drop to No. In just his third season, Bane has become a legitimate co-star opposite Ja Morant, and hes averaging career highs in points (24.7), rebounds (4.9) and assists (4.8), shooting 45.1% on 3-pointers. You never have to doubt his effort or commitment level. (PER - PRL)] / 67). Jackson's explosion with the Clippers was. With the Grizzlies chasing their quest of being the #1 team in the Western Conference, the availability of Morant will be extremely crucial. Example video title will go here for this video. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. The Slovenian superstarfilled up the stat sheet last season (27.7 points, 8.6 assists and8.0 rebounds per game), but he also managed to improve his shooting numbers in his third season (career-high 47.9 percent from the field and 35.0 percent on 3-pointers). In the 12 games prior to theinjury that sidelined McCollum for two full months, he averaged 27.6points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. With Klay Thompson expected to make his return some time around Christmas, where does the three-time NBA champion rank? MPG. His basketball IQ, communication skills and overallleadership are so important for a locker room full of youngsters. The Kings' speedy floor general also handed out 7.2 assists per game. Walker in particular could be a difference maker for a Knicks offense that sputtered in the playoffs. In just his fifth season, Doncic is now tied with Dirk Nowitzki for the second-most 40-point outings in Mavs history (20), trailing only Mark Aguirre (22). Stats: 2.3 points, 2.3 rebounds. Please logout and login again. But after missing the past two full seasons recovering from an ACL injury and an Achilles injury, respectively, what version of the 31-year-old will we see? He joined Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only players in league history to post those stats. The season culminated with a Second Team All-NBA nod and the Trail Blazers won a surprising 51 games. In the clutch, only Karl-Anthony Towns, Zion Williamson, James Harden and Damian Lillard scored more points while shooting better than Rozier's 50.0 field goal percentagemark when it mattered most. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports. The best point guard in the NBA will be an All-Star starter again, and for good reason. Overcoming his bad start to the season, the two-time NBA MVP averaged 36.9 points per game-night in his final 24 appearances of the season. In a recent interview to GQ magazine, the Oklahoma City Thunder player called himself the Black Steve Nash. As Allen Iverson put it, Lillard is a "certified killer." An All-Star for the 2nd time in his career, the 23-year-old is among the best guards in the league. The division consists of five teams: the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz.The Northwest Division is by far the most geographically expansive of the six divisions; the Nuggets, Trail . With the conference stacked from top to bottom with playmakers, a simple All-Star nod at guard will be a great honor this year. He displayed his enduring class as he led the Wizards' charge in the playoffs, averaging 23.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 13.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 36 matches from March to the close of the league year. Its hard to reconcile Winslows switchability on defense with his offensive ineffectiveness. Darren Collison, Sacramento Kings 14. They are expected to control the ball in games, managing the pace of the game and distributing the ball while in possession. Does any of that actually matter? Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves. That'sthe difference between a top-10 offense and the worst offense in the NBA. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting a career-high 50.3 percent on field goals and 39.2 percent on 3-pointers during the regular season. Morant and Gilgeous-Alexander are rising in a hurry, but they aren't quite ready to bump Conley down. The NBA has been the host to many world-class point guards. Before that, the 24-year-old had five consecutive 30-point games, the most by a Thunder player since Paul George in 2019. With that said, let's try our hand at ranking every starting shooting guard in the NBA. Lawson is a . Darren Collison, Sacramento Kings 14. We now turn our attention to the five best shooting guards in the West. Young made a leap in Year 3, guiding the Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals by posting 28.8 points and 9.5 assists in 16 playoff games. The NBA All-Star Game is an honor bestowed upon the most distinguished hoopers every season. But with so much talent, its not entirely clear who the best ones out West truly are. However, the NBA . Bane hasnt played since Nov. 11 as he continues to recover from a Grade 2 sprain of his right big toe suffered in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. BPG. He is followed by Zion Williamson in second place, while Jaylen Brown is third. Hes the Grizzlies player who initially sparked a beef with Shannon Sharpe at Staples Center, he injured Gary Payton III in the postseason, and he slapped Donovan Mitchell in the nuts. He has scored less than 20 points in just six of 32 games he's played this season, and so far has recorded three triple-doubles and eight double-doubles, including setting a career-high 17 assists in a game against Toronto on Dec. 29. He was a whisper of his pre-injury self and he never developed a shot or a style that could survive what a ruptured Achilles took from him athletically. If they struggle to start the season, though, will Lillard be forced to re-evaluate his future with the only NBA franchise he has ever known? Action tips off at 7:10 p.m. Whether its effort, low basketball IQ, rigidness, or the passage of time, these Anti-All Stars, the All-Nosebleeds, All-Asteroid team, or whatever you prefer to refer to them is populated with the NBAs least popular players. NBA shooting guard rankings 2021-22 1. Bones has been picked dry this season. PRL (Position Replacement Level) = 11.5 for power forwards, 11.0 for point guards, 10.6 for centers, 10.5 for shooting guards and small forwards EWA: Estimated Wins Added - Value Added divided by 30, giving the estimated number of wins a player adds to a team's season total above what a 'replacement player' would produce. Unfortunately, thats not what were doing here. NBA Trade Machine; Draft; G League; World of Woj; Awards; NBA History . Visit ESPN to view 2022-23 NBA player stats. Spread. Smart's averages don't do justice to what he brings to the court. For that reason, he's not included. The NBAs fifth-leading scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander sat out of Wednesdays win against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left hip contusion. Odds to win NBA title: +900 (Fifth-best) First-round opponent: NuggetsLost season series, 1-3 Golden State opened up the season 18-2 with Klay Thompson still sidelined and Steph Curry looking. NBA started tracking the data eight seasons ago (since 2013-14). Still, the Pacific Time Zone features some of the most talented All-Stars in the NBA. He delivered theindisputableDunk of the Yearand also began to step up as "the guy" for his team late in games. The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He hits open shots off the catch or off the dribble. Patrick Beverley is the teams nominal point guard but is more of a shooting guard on the offensive side of the floor. Tyler Schmidt previews the game and offers up his best bet below. His highest scoring game was a 22-point effort in Game 3. They were the league's best unit in November (106.4 points allowed per 100 possessions), but went 8-6 during that stretch while navigating significant foot injuries to standout guards James Harden and Tyrese Maxey (whose offensive abilities far outweigh their defense). Updated: 2:18 PM CST January 5, 2023 MEMPHIS, Tenn. Grizzlies superstar point guard Ja Morant ranks third among all Western Conference guards in the NBA's first All-Star Game fan vote,. Lets take a look at the best point guards, aged 30+ in the NBA Western Conference. Thats led to a lack of consistency as Memphis has lost three of its last five games. The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors.All teams, except the Raptors, are located on the East Coast of the United States. Unlike other positions in basketball, point guards are usually specialists on the court, saddled with playmaking affairs on the court. He scored 30-plus points in seven of his 10 playoff games, averaging 32.3 points while shooting a blistering 43.5 percent from 3 during the Jazz's run to Western Conference Semifinals. He is a few boards and points short of averaging a triple-double while leading the league in scoring. The arrival of Kevin Durant, one of the most talented players on the planet, was naturally going to make Currys numbers dip this year as his usage goes down. Booker went for 30-plus points four times against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, including a 47-point, 11-rebound masterpiece to close out the series and hand LeBron James the first opening-round exit of his entire career. Will the 6-foot-3 superstar be suiting up tonight? The 20-year-old took things up a notch once he got settled into the NBA, taking over as the Timberwolves' full-time starting shooting guard 18 games into the season. There's a case to be made that Mitchell could have been in MVP conversations last year, and yet, the 25-year-old didn't even crack an All-NBA Team. Ja is scoring at a rate of 27.1 points per game this season, just off his career-high 27.4 he set during 2021-2022. He has averaged over 25.0 points per game for three-consecutive seasons, shooting an efficient47.1 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from 3 and 84.7 percent from the free throw line over that stretch.