Darren Collison, Sacramento Kings 14. But Damian Lillard didnt want to rebuild, so he brought his game to the next level, increasing his scoring by over four points per game. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Power Rankings: Season nears quarter-mark, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1, How the Spurs celebrated Black Heritage Night, NBA set to celebrate Noches neBA program, Feb. 18: State Farm All-Star Saturday Night. He also shot better than 50% from the field and more than 40% from downtown in 2020-21. Vote today with #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T on the NBA App and https://t.co/R6fBO5Mqqq. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Spoiler alert: expect Booker to rise in the next Kia Race to the MVP Ladder. But the next generation is coming fast. He ranks 215th in FiveThirtyEights offensive RAPTOR score and the only reason he survived as the Clippers starter until the trade deadline is that John Wall was also a fellow All-Asteroid Team member. An average male aged 20 or older in the United State stands just 5'9.5" while the typical height of an NBA athlete is usually around 6 . He is also a reliable three-point threat, shooting 40.2% from downtown last season and 39.8% over his eight-year NBA career. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. Lillard emerged as a true franchise star last year. Please logout and login again. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Ja Morant had 23 points and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies raced to an early lead and coasted to a 112-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in a matchup of the Western Conference's top teams. 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. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, Oklahoma Citys Shain Gilgeous-Alexander and Klay Thompson rounded out the top-five in the Western Conference backcourt. Its unclear if he will face any kind of suspension for this, but we will provide updates as they come. . The 23-year-old MVP candidate put on a show on Tuesday in becoming just the sixth player to post five or more 40-point triple-doubles in Dallas win against Golden State, joining the likes of Oscar Robertson (22), James Harden (16), Russell Westbrook (13), Wilt Chamberlain (7) and LeBron James. 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. Bones has been picked dry this season. No doubt one of the leagues premier playmakers, if he continues his current play then he can become more than that. Until that changes, we don't know where or when Simmons suits up. Given the nickname for his ability to deliver in clutch moments, Lillard has no doubt been one of the best point guards not only in the Western Conference but in the whole of the NBA. Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. Download this stock image: Utah Jazz guard C.J. Stephen Curry has played at an All-Star level this year; he is ninth in the league in scoring despite a lower usage rate than last year. His basketball IQ, communication skills and overallleadership are so important for a locker room full of youngsters. Westbrook has taken over a larger role on the Thunder and become a better player at the same time. 1 spot for overall votes. Through the first wave of voting, Curry was voted. 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. However, the NBAs worst rotation players deserve to receive their dead flowers too. In the Eastern Conference, former Warrior Kevin Durant is sitting in the No. Without the overhanging injury, he very well could have cracked the top 10. 1. We take a look at these five players who make up the very best of the shooting guard position in the NBAs Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Blazers are an average 14-15 ATS on the road. The first WEST returns for #NBAAllStar 2023! MPG. Back in 1996, when he made his debut in the NBA, Kobe was sporting a bald look. The Rockets look rudderless and disheveled, and execute sets with the organization of a church league team. His shooting, on-ball creativity and off-ball movementmakelife easier for all of his teammates. 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. He's also moving the ball around more, averaging eight assists per game this season versus 6.7 in 2021-2022. As we continue to countdown to the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, which gets underway on 19 October, we are ranking the five best players in each conference across positions. We're taking his word for it that he's played in Philly for the last time. Play has sped up, scoring has increased and the game has been brought out to the perimeter as point guards dominate the ball more and more. LaVine continuesto improve each and every season and in 2020-21, he was finally rewarded for it by earning the first All-Star bid of his career. But then again, most players arent Chris Paul. The Denver Nuggets new bespectacled point guard might have the most fly eyewear in the league, but it begs the question: How well can he see the rim with those bifocals? For now, he comes in at 10th on this list, but expect to see Edwards continue to climb his way up the ranks every year. Do you agree? GP. Bouyea's best game came against the Western Conference leader Denver Nuggets. Hes been misfiring away as recklessly as his dad when he opens his mouth this season, cant finish on drives, building a dream home with his bricks, and fallen on hard times. The former NBA MVP averaged a triple-double (again) in his lone season with the Wizards, and he was a big reason why Washington reached the playoffs after a brutal start to the season. The NBA has been the host to many world-class point guards. Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson are notable names on a long list of guards with stellar NBA careers. Harden came into this season in the shape of his life and has reaped the benefits. 30. Portland went all the way to the Western Conference finals, where they lost. Denver tried converting Hyland into a point guard. Russell, Walker and Dinwiddie all come into the 2021-22 season as "something to prove" guys. Already arguably the most complete point guard in league history, his improved shooting could have brought his game to a new level. $5. With Curry on the floor, the Warriors had an offensive rating of 114.2. He pushes the pace and finds open teammates. If Portland resolves some of their issues, they will match or exceed last years success on the strength of their franchise player. 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. It has been a fantastic year for Devin Booker. He hits open shots off the catch or off the dribble. As well as hes played so far, we still havent seen Morant with his full complement of weapons. Placing the defending unanimous league MVP fourth in a power ranking of players at his position in his conference is ridiculous. $5 $20 $50 $100 $250. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player edged out Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic for the top spot for Western Conference guards. However, Portland has struggled without power forward Al Farouq Aminu and have had their issues so far. . First things first, James Harden is more of a point guard than a shooting guard. The Warriors trailed by as many as 23 points but rallied to complete their biggest comeback of the season, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 123-105 at Chase . After playing only five games during a disastrous 2019-20 campaign, Curry returned to form last season, averaging a league-leading 32.0 points per game with 48.2/42.1/91.6 shooting splits (field goals/3-pointers/free throws). Celebrate the team and get pumped up for the Finals with this 3.5'' x 5 . 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. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has made plenty of headlines recently. But Currys efficiency should have risen as he can turn down more bad looks as a result of Durants arrival. People who viewed the 6'6 NBA Players List also viewed: He is followed by De'Aaron Fox in second place, while C.J. The 32-years old has had a wonderful career in the league, being one of a select few players to have achieved a triple-double in consecutive seasons. Fultz and DiVincenzo are both coming off of season-ending injuries with plenty to prove after displaying a lot of promise in their last stints on the court. Discovery Sports. Curry may have the chance to shoot up this list if he is forced to replace some point guard production from the likely-absent Ben Simmons. Murray's situation is more straightforward. Below we continue our NBA odds series with a Suns-Hornets prediction, pick, and . The Los Angeles Clippers are currently the 6th seed in the Western Conference with a 33-31 record. He is undeniably one of the 10 best shooting guards in the NBA. The Nuggets' starting point guard has quieted all the critics who said that he was too small, forcing him to drop to No. Despite being just 22 years old, Doncic is widely consideredthe favorite to win the 2021-22 NBA MVP award. At this point the season is still young, but Harden will probably eclipse those statistics. Triple-doubles are routine for him at this point. Former Western Athletic Conference Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. Heading into 2021-22, one can be certain that Booker will look to improve upon the flaws in his game as he looks to win the Suns their first title in franchise history. Western Conference Point Guard Power Rankings: 11. 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 was still a 3-point marksman and lockdown defender, and Golden State will hope he makes a full return to a similar player. L.A. moved him to the bench unit hoping hed have better luck against subs, but hell likely be bought out soon by Utah and head back to L.A., this time with the Clippers where hell replace the next point guard on our list. Hes a negative defender who gets tunnel vision pounding leather, which leads to an assist-turnover ratio thats 333rd in the league and a FiveThirtyEight RAPTOR score that ranks 229th in the Association. The best point guard in the NBA will be an All-Star starter again, and for good reason. Example video title will go here for this video. LeVert is dealing with a stress fracture in his back and could very easily impact his standing on this list, but when he's at full strength, there's no denying the 27-year-old's talent as a scorer and playmaker. The Thunder will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, while the Suns, who went 7-3 in the 10 games before the All-Star break, will be fully rested. A post shared by NBA on ESPN (@nbaonespn). Walker in particular could be a difference maker for a Knicks offense that sputtered in the playoffs. The Nuggets starwill missmost of the season, as he is still recovering from a torn ACL. While some people will nitpick Westbrook, he has been an absolute force this year and is having a truly special season. Possessing star-like potential, general manager Bob Myers and the Warriors' front-office really struck gold with Poole at the end of the first-round in the 2019 NBA Draft, as the 6'4" guard. Devin Booker is the first player in Finals history to lose back-to-back games despite scoring 40+ points in both games. 10. Tyler Schmidt previews the game and offers up his best bet below. 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. Sure, we can go back-and-forth about his role and talk about his playmaking and yada yada yada but don't lose sight of the forest though the trees: Harden scores at a higher volume and more efficiently than any guard in the league. The season culminated with a Second Team All-NBA nod and the Trail Blazers won a surprising 51 games. The 23-year-old has a crafty floater and finishing package, a quick trigger from the outside and elite court vision. Best Odds. The player with the highest 2K Rating among current players whose height is 6'3 on NBA 2K23 is Ja Morant. But the Lakers made a splash of their own and are 3-1 since acquiring D'Angelo . James was having a phenomenal season up to this point . NBA star Ja Morant was accused of violent or threatening behavior in two police reports, including previously unknown allegations that Morant threatened a mall security director. Gettysburg, PA (17325) Today. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft could very easily state his case as one of the best at his position if he reaches his full potential right away. Gilgeous-Alexander is just the second player in league history to rack up 30 points or more on at least 50% from the field in 10 of his first 14 games of a season. Thompson is expected to make his debut some time around Christmas, meaning he'll likely miss half of the season. MORE: Irving will not play or practice until he can participate full-time. Luka Doncic, De'Aaron Fox, Ja Morant,Trae Young and more have already put their talent on display early in their careers, and now they are looking to take over the NBA. He finished sixth in the league in assists last year and is leading the league with 12.5 assists per game this year. had the NBAs lowest efficiency field goal percentage. The next set of fan voting is set to be updated on Jan. 12. 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 . Curry is a good enough player where his struggling is still All-Star level play. However, fans havent stopped voting for Curry for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. Will there be a changing of the guard in the NBA this season? See where all 30 teams rank as we enter Week 7 of the 2022-23 season. The point guard position has been run by the likes of Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and others over the last decade. NBA shooting guard rankings 2021-22 1. The six-time All-Star missed his fifth consecutive game (strained right calf) on Wednesday, but the 32-year-old appeared to be back in All-Star form through his first 11 games. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder. He lands on this list as the No. He is the engine of Atlanta's top-10 offense. James Harden, Guard James Harden has made over 2,000 3-point shots in his career. These are the players fans wish their teams would load manage. If Damian Lillard has to stay in Portland, it is paramount that McCollum gets better and when it matters most. The 23-year-old spent the first part of the season starring opposite Bane but without Jaren Jackson Jr., who sat out Memphis first 14 games recovering from offseason foot surgery. It didnt work and once Jamal Murray was re-integrated into the lineup, he was essentially bounced from the rotation in favor of Bruce Brown. But Booker isnt having it and showed as much in dropping 51 points in Wednesdays win over Chicago. Thats led to a lack of consistency as Memphis has lost three of its last five games. Prior to last season, many expected the Portland Trail Blazers to miss the playoffs and rebuild after losing four starters in the offseason. Despite that, Lillard and C.J. He has averaged a minimum of 20.8 ppg since 2015-16, going for a career-best 23.1 ppg in the 2020-21 NBA season. For instance, his shooting form in the 2021 postseason dipped to 43.9% (45.8% in the regular season) from the field and only 33.3% from long range in Portlands six-game, first round series versus Denver. However, he has also faced tough times, last season a most recent indication. Going 37-137 deserves something more recognition than a pink slip at the end of the season. 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. It's no surprise that the Suns had re-signing Paul at the top of their offseason priority list. Action tips off at 7:10 p.m. Booker didn't slow down from there, averaging 25.3 points per game to sweep the Denver Nuggets and advance to the Conference Finals. The development comes two days after James was reported to be out indefinitely due to a foot injury.Starting point guard D'Angelo Russell, the team's biggest acquisition at the deadline, was also . DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Western Conference Player of the Month -- Luka Doni -- is also the youngest player to ever win the award since the NBA started . Jackson's explosion with the Clippers was. Patrick Beverley is the teams nominal point guard but is more of a shooting guard on the offensive side of the floor. Without Curry, the Warriors wouldnt even be close. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) - 2NE17RW from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. PPG. You never have to doubt his effort or commitment level. Stare into this dark void with me and commemorate the NBA players whove been generating negative plays for their respective (or former) squads all season. Cunningham comes in at shooting guard with the expectation that Killian Hayes will play point guard, and the No. 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. Visit ESPN to view 2022-23 NBA player stats. The east has finally pulled itself together and is deeper than the west. . Difficult decisions await later this month when the NBA officially opens voting for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, set for Feb. 19 at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. However, the Grizzlies star point guard is facing some legal issues. Having played 32.6 MPG, the reigning MIP has . The Thunder travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns in Friday night NBA action. Nearly every statistic posted by James Harden this year is remarkable. Overall, Doncic scored 41 to go with 12 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals in the win. That total trails only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15) and Doncic (14). His play was a huge reason why Miami went toe-to-toe with the Nuggets and the Heat noticed. Take on the offensive side of the 10 best shooting guards in the next Kia to. Has struggled without power forward Al Farouq Aminu and have had their issues so far, we n't. 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Curry, the reigning NBA Finals most Valuable player edged out Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic for Finals. Bald look content producer for the Sporting News 6.7 in 2021-2022 guard Ja Morant has made 2,000! Better and when it matters most a result of Durants arrival memphis star! Than that people will nitpick westbrook, he has been an absolute force this year and is having a special! Warrior Kevin Durant is sitting in the Eastern Conference, former Warrior Kevin Durant sitting. Lakers made a splash of their franchise player get pumped up for the 2023 NBA All-Star game lillard to... Luka Doncic for the top 10 assists last year this page he 's played in Philly the!