Ranking NBA starting shooting guards — 3. Devin Booker, Suns
Devin Booker helped lead Phoenix to the NBA Finals last season. Now, he looks even better. His elite spot-up jumper is now joined by an elite pull-up jumper. He’s burying teams with his 3-pointer like never before, all while continuing to come into his own as a ball-handler and secondary creator next to Chris Paul.
For the season, Booker is averaging 23.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on .437/.409/.871 splits. The Suns are a deep and beautifully balanced team, and it’s easy to look at Booker’s backcourt mate and give Paul all the credit for Phoenix’s success. But Booker deserves immense respect. He’s going to be the face of this Suns franchise for a long, long time.
Ranking NBA starting shooting guards — 2. Kyrie Irving, Nets
There’s a constant humming of noise around Kyrie Irving that is unlike any NBA player and he is only playing half-time right now. You cannot count on great leadership or even consistent participation from the 29-year-old, but he’s also a 6-foot-3 guard who joined the 50/40/90 club while averaging 26.9 points and 3.7 assists last season.
When he’s on the court. When he’s healthy and engaged, not many guards can match Irving’s skill level. He is rightfully considered the most creative ball-handler in the league, and he’s also the best at-rim finisher of anyone remotely close to his size. Irving has a way of navigating defenders that is preternatural, and he’s an elite elite shooter on top.
Ranking NBA starting shooting guards — 1. Paul George, Clippers
Injuries have unfortunately sapped away a good chunk of Paul George’s season already, but he’s still the best shooting guard in the NBA. At 31 years old, George doesn’t get the credit (nor the respect) he deserves. He was a top-3 candidate only a few years ago, and the Clippers’ status as a true championship contender last season centered largely on George’s sustained productivity on the wing, even after Kawhi Leonard’s season-ending injury.
For this year, left to captain a half-healthy ship, George is averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on .421/.323/.880 splits. The efficiency is down slightly, but George is a talented scorer and — with an entire career of data behind him — and elite 3-point shooter by now. He’s also a versatile, All-Defense caliber defender at 6-foot-8, which puts him in something of a unique position on this list.