We're ranking all 30 NBA starters at every position during the offseason. Shooting guard is up next.
A few caveats before we begin — coaches don't release their starting fives before tipoff of games, let alone in October when they've barely seen how their players perform together. These starting units for all 30 teams are my best guesses, but there will inevitably be some that I get wrong.
Some of these positions may also look a little funky. But what do you do with a team like the Raptors when their small forward, power forward and center are all between 6-7 and 6-9? Stick 'em all somewhere.
More and more, teams play a positionless form of basketball. As Jalen Rose noted in his live roasting of Skip Bayless, positions are more designations for fans than anything else these days.
With that out of the way, here are the 30 best shooting guards for the 2022-23 season.
MORE: Offseason additions and departures for all 30 teams
NBA shooting guard rankings 2022-23
1. Devin Booker, Suns
Booker is coming off a season in which he finished fourth in MVP voting and made his first All-NBA team. The empty stats critiques that have plagued him throughout his career have withered away, and it's now impossible to deny his excellence.
He's an unbelievable scorer and was one of the best clutch players in the league last year.
2. Paul George, Clippers
George only played in 31 games last season, so it's easy to forget how good he was. He averaged 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game while bringing his usual superb defense on the other end of the floor.
George did have a dip in his efficiency, but he had to carry the load on a Clippers team that was missing Kawhi Leonard, among others. He has a lot more help this season.
3. Zach LaVine, Bulls
LaVine had an outstanding season before being slowed by a knee injury that required offseason surgery.
He's one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league, able to hit tough shots from every spot on the court. He's also one of the better pull-up shooters in the league. And once he gets going downhill, his touch and athleticism make him a terror at the rim.
Following his second straight All-Star appearance, he should be a no-brainer to earn another selection.
4. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
Mitchell has a special ability to create advantages offensively. He can't be guarded one-on-one, and his pull-up 3-point shooting is one of the hardest skills to find. He should look even better in Cleveland, where he can focus on scoring and let Darius Garland do more of the playmaking for the team.
While he has the tools to be a good defender and was projected as a plus on that end coming out of the NBA Draft, he still needs to improve there.
5. Jaylen Brown, Celtics
Brown had an outstanding postseason, showing that he had a little bit more shot creation than previously thought and hitting seemingly everything from 3-point range.
He's a great two-way player, and he was critical to the Celtics making the 2022 NBA Finals. He does need to work on a loose handle in order to move up this list.
6. Bradley Beal, Wizards
Beal had a strange year. He was able to put up 23.2 points and a career-high 6.6 assists per game, but he hit only 30 percent of his 3-pointers. His defense also took a tumble.
If the Wizards do get more competitive, perhaps he can find more motivation and return to form.
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander has steadily gotten better every year for a Thunder team that not many people outside of Oklahoma City are watching.
He's able to get downhill with ease and has great touch on his shots. He's also improved as a playmaker and has a nice feel for the game. And his defense is solid, with great size and length.
When the team returns to relevancy, he will be a likely All-Star.
8. Klay Thompson, Warriors
Thompson remains an elite shooter. He hit 38.5 percent of his 3-pointers in the regular season and playoffs.
But other parts of his game don't quite look the same after all of his injuries. He has begun forcing up a lot of long midrange shots and looks like he has lost a step defensively.
It's hard to know if that decline is permanent or the normal result of coming back from a lot of time off. Either way, Thompson is still an extremely talented player, and he was central to the Warriors' title run last season.
9. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
Edwards is one of the most fun players in the league. His positive energy translates onto the court, where his superb athleticism and quick first step allow him to control the game. In only his second year in the league, he was already dropping 21.3 points per game.
Edwards still has to add a little bit of polish, but the talent is undeniable. And at 21 years old, there's no telling how good he will end up.
10. Ben Simmons, Nets
The last time we saw Simmons on the floor, he was passing up a dunk attempt as the Sixers were eliminated from the 2021 NBA Playoffs. That poor postseason showing has probably swung the pendulum too far.
Simmons is still a dominant defensive presence. He's one of the most switchable defenders in the league, very capably guarding point guards and bigs alike. Maybe he won't ever shoot 3-pointers comfortably, but he's great facilitating fast breaks and can finish plays in the dunker spot on offense.
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11. Desmond Bane, Grizzlies
12. Dejounte Murray, Hawks
13. Tyrese Maxey, 76ers
14. Herbert Jones, Pelicans
15. Tyler Herro, Heat
- Bane is solid in every aspect of the game. His short wingspan made him fall in the NBA Draft, but he has great feel, outstanding shooting, knows how to get open off screens and is a tough defender.
- Murray, a first-time All-Star last season, will have to adjust after being a ball-dominant guard on the Spurs. He's not a great 3-point shooter, so that change will be interesting to watch. He will bring excellent perimeter defense to his new team.
- Maxey is a lightning bolt on the floor. His speed and energy will give the Sixers a big lift.
- Jones is quickly becoming one of the best wing defenders in the league. And he's developed a passable 3-point shot to go with his lockdown skills.
- Herro, the recipient of the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, is a great shooter and can create some good offense. But he has been a target defensively.
16. Spencer Dinwiddie, Mavericks
17. Gary Trent Jr., Raptors
18. Terry Rozier, Hornets
19. Kevin Huerter, Kings
20. Collin Sexton, Jazz
- Dinwiddie looked better after being traded to the Mavericks in February. He's a solid defender and capable of giving Luka Doncic some breathers as an on-ball creator.
- Trent is a fearless shooter and a much-improved defender. He's capable of getting hot and dropping a ton of points.
- Rozier has quietly turned into a pretty solid NBA player. He's a very good scorer both on and off the ball and one of the best catch-and-shoot 3-point threats in the league.
- Huerter is a good 3-point shooter that should get a chance to show more of his playmaking chops in a new role with the Kings. He's a much better passer than he's given credit for.
- Sexton is a very good scorer, but there wasn't a ton of demand for his services this summer because his game isn't well-rounded at this point in his career.
21. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nuggets
22. Anfernee Simons, Trail Blazers
23. Buddy Hield, Pacers
24. Jalen Suggs, Magic
25. Jalen Green, Rockets
- Caldwell-Pope is a rare 3-and-D player who is pretty good at both. His championship pedigree should be a nice addition to the Nuggets.
- Simons took a huge leap in Year 4, upping his scoring to 17.3 points per game. Still a very young player, he needs to improve defensively to move up this list.
- Hield is a 3-point gunner that could be on the move for a rebuilding Pacers team.
- Suggs, the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, had an up-and-down rookie year offensively. But he did bring consistently good defense.
- Green also had an inconsistent offensive season. But he finished the year on a tear, averaging 22.1 points in the final 24 games of the year.
26. Evan Fournier, Knicks
27. Wesley Matthews, Bucks
28. Jaden Ivey, Pistons
29. Devin Vassell, Spurs
30. Austin Reaves, Lakers
- Fournier's defense has slipped a bit from his prime, but he's still a good 3-point shooter and solid veteran with the best nickname in the league ("Don't Google").
- Matthews will be 36 to start the season, but he is still a rugged on-ball defender. He rarely shoots, but he can still hit the occasional open 3-pointer.
- Ivey will have high expectations after being taken fifth in this year's draft. The athletic guard has drawn some comparisons to Ja Morant.
- Vassell took over starting duties after the Spurs shipped Derrick White to the Celtics in February. He provided good 3-point shooting and defense, closing his season on a high note.
- Reaves, an undrafted rookie, was one of the lone bright spots for the Lakers last season, and he will likely be fighting with Kendrick Nunn for this starting spot. Reaves has high feel and was one of the few members of that team who gave great effort on defense.
