Sixers: Ranking Seth Curry and every starting shooting guard in the NBA

Ranking NBA starting shooting guards — 9. CJ McCollum, Trail Blazers

Portland’s collapse has naturally coincided with widespread doubts about CJ McCollum’s future with the franchise. Rumor has it he’s viewed as a negative trade asset by some league executives, which is pretty foolish in this writer’s opinion. Even so, it does speak to the dire situation in Portland and the kind of uphill battle McCollum is fighting.

A collapsed lung has kept McCollum sidelined for a good chunk of the season, but he has been productive when healthy. His averages of 20.6 points and 4.5 assists on .424/.393/.700 splits do justice to one of the NBA’s most aesthetically pleasing two-guards. McCollum and Damian Lillard have always overlapped in unfortunate ways, but you can’t go too wrong with a crafty self-creator with McCollum’s knack for timely buckets and strong leadership.

Ranking NBA starting shooting guards — 8. Klay Thompson, Warriors

Klay Thompson only recently returned from a two-year absence, which makes it difficult to gauge his exact placement in the shooting guard hierarchy. That said, you don’t forget how to shoot, and Thompson is arguably the No. 2 shooter in NBA history, behind only his teammate. Thompson’s gravity is virtually unrivaled, and if the early returns show us anything, it’s that Thompson’s general confidence has not dissipated.

In addition to his honey-sweet stroke beyond the arc, Thompson is an excellent wing defender who can handle the most challenging of assignments when given to him. He is the ultimate 3-and-D wing, and the Warriors’ league-leading offense should only flourish further with Thompson back in the mix.

Ranking NBA starting shooting guards — 7. Jaylen Brown, Celtics

For all the talk about Jaylen Brown’s future in Boston, it’s easy to forget just how consistently dominant his play has been. He’s averaging 24.4 points and 6.4 rebounds while slashing .460/.375/.778, which is more than most No. 1 scorers — not to mention the clear second option on a playoff hopeful. Could Brown do more to create for others? Sure, but his constant pressure on the defense is essential to Boston’s offense.

At 6-foot-7, Brown is a versatile and effective wing defender. He can score virtuously at all three levels, with explosive athleticism around the basket and a soft, high release on his pull-up jumper. Brown’s steady arc of improvement over the course of his career has been special to watch. He gets better every year, with new tools in the tool kit. He deserves his flowers.