The NBA has had royalty go through their league through the years. We have gone over the top five power forwards and the top five centers, now it is time to go over the shooting guards. Suffice to say, the shooting guard spot has been loaded with firepower through the years in this league. One and two should come as no surprise, but three to five could certainly stir up some discussion. Without further adieu, let’s dive in and discuss the top five shooting guards in NBA history.
NBA: Top Five Shooting Guards of All Time
5. Clyde Drexler
Clyde “The Glide,” Drexler was one of the best Trail Blazers in franchise history. Some may even make the argument for being the greatest Trail Blazer of all time. He did not win a title with Portland, but he did help lead the team to a Finals appearance in the 1990s. One could say the only reason Drexler does not have another ring is due to the great, Michael Jordan. Drexler would finish his career averaging 20.4 points per game, 5.6 assists per game, and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Drexler put together quite the NBA resume throughout his career. The man is a 10-time All-Star, one-time champion, and a five-time All-NBA Team member. He won his ring in the 1994-95 season as a member of the Houston Rockets forming a dynamic star duo with Hakeem Olajuwon. Not to mention, he is a Hall of Famer. Drexler is certainly a top-five shooting guard in NBA history.
4. Allen Iverson
Do not let the fact that Iverson has no titles fool you. The man put a 2001 Philadelphia 76ers team on his back and willed them to a Finals appearance as the lone superstar. Despite running into a buzz saw which was the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, Iverson was still able to put on a show in the Finals, which included his iconic step over over Tyronn Lue. Iverson finished his career with numbers of 26.7 points per game, 6.2 assists per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Iverson put together a remarkable resume as well. He is a Hall of Famer, 11-time All-Star, four time scoring champion, three time steal champion, and a two time All-Star Game MVP. On top of this, he has also made the All-NBA Team seven times, been the Rookie of the Year, and the league MVP. Iverson is truly one of the greats to ever play this game.
3. Dwyane Wade
Flash will no longer be playing in the NBA, but it is important to not forget how much of a threat he was in his prime. Despite being in the 2003 NBA Draft class along with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony, he was the first star of the class to win a title. This was before LeBron and Chris Bosh formed the “big three.” His co-star on the first title team was a Shaquille O’Neal in his 14th season. No one could stop the athleticism of Dwyane Wade in his prime. Wade finished his career tallying 22 points per game, 5.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Of course, we cannot forget the accolades of Wade. He is a three-time champion, one-time scoring champion, and a 13-time All-Star. On top of this, he also has eight All-NBA Team appearances, three All-Defensive Team appearances have been an All-Star Game MVP, Rookie of the Year, and of course, a Finals MVP. With a resume like this, Wade is certainly deserving of being ranked third on the all-time shooting guards list.
2. Kobe Bryant
Where do we even begin with the Black Mamba? The man was one of the few players blessed with a killer instinct and a gift to score at will. In his prime, there was no one who could stop him, no matter how good they were on the defensive end. While he was a career 25 point per game scorer, he was anything but one dimensional. He finished his career averaging 1.4 steals per game, 4.7 assists per game, and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Mamba’s resume is absolutely insane. He has five titles to his name, two Finals MVP’s, and two scoring titles as well. Not to mention, he has made the All-NBA Team 15 times, All-Defensive Team 12 times, All-Star Team 18 times, and was the MVP of the All-Star Game four times. We are not done though. Bryant was also on the All-Rookie Team and also possesses a league MVP. Kobe Bryant is definitely the second-best shooting guard of all time, but most of us know who probably is ahead of him on this list.
1. Michael Jordan
This should come as no surprise. Jordan is not just the GOAT (greatest of all time) of shooting guards, he is also the GOAT of the NBA. We know that he is a Hall of Famer, a six-time champion, and a multiple time scoring champion. Jordan would finish his legendary career averaging an insane 30.1 points per game, 5.3 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Where do we even start with MJ’s NBA resume? The man is a 14-time All-Star, three-time steal champion, and an 11-time All-NBA Team member. Not to mention, Jordan has made the All-Defensive Team nine times, been the Rookie of the Year, been the league MVP five times along with being the Finals MVP six times. To finish this stacked NBA resume, he also has been the Defensive Player of the Year, and the All-Star Game MVP three times. Not many shooting guards can compete with a career like this, let alone any player in general. This is just another reason that Michael Jordan is the GOAT.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images