One of the most important things to consider when evaluating shooting guards is their ability from a long distance. Many great shooting guards have emerged over the years who can shoot from long range with ease. Some players have shot from beyond the three-point line over 90 percent of the time during their careers! This makes them one of the most valuable members of any team
After carefully considering all of the shooting guards that have ever played in the NBA, we have narrowed it down to just a handful of players. All of these players were extremely capable three-point shooters, which is why they are so highly regarded among basketball fans. If you want to know which shooting guards were the best in NBA history, then keep reading!
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What Is a Shooting Guard?
A shooting guard is someone who plays the guard position and is primarily responsible for shooting from long range. Shooting guards are often very tall, which helps them be more effective on offense because they have a high standing when attempting a shot. To be a shooting guard, you must be able to shoot the ball more than anyone else on your team.
Shooting guards are also expected to contribute to the team’s defense. While they are not often responsible for covering the entire court, they must still be able to play good defense in the small area they cover.
Top Shooting Guards in the NBA History:
1) Mark Price
He was a player who played the shooting guard position during his entire career. He is most known for his time with the Atlanta Hawks, with whom he played one season before his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1993. While Price never won a championship, he is still considered one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history.
Trae Young has tied Sleepy Floyd and Mark Price for the 40th-most games (62) with 20+ points and 10+ assists in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/DJ1T3dMsXy
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) May 4, 2021
Price was a great three-point shooter throughout his entire career. His best statistical season came during the 1995-96 season when he shot 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range. Price also averaged over 19 points and nine assists per game during this season. Price was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
2) John Thompson
John “Johnny Basketball” Thompson is one of the most recognizable NBA players in league history. He played for the Syracuse Nationals, Providence Steamrollers, and Boston Celtics throughout his entire NBA career, which spanned from 1944 to 1960. John “Johnny Basketball” Thompson was an absolute superstar during his time in the NBA. He averaged 20 points per game over his entire career and was named to five All-Star teams.
He also won three championships with the Celtics. Johnny Basketball is a very significant figure in the history of the NBA because he is one of only two players to score over 20,000 points in his career. He is also one of only nine players to play in every single game of their career. John Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1962.
3) Dwyane Wade
After playing the shooting guard position for 12 seasons, Dwyane Wade eventually shifted to the point guard position as his playing career came to an end. While he is mostly known for his time with the Miami Heat (2004-20 season), Wade spent one season with the Chicago Bulls early in his career.
During his prime, Wade was considered one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. He was a great three-point shooter and could also drive to the basket and score from close range. He was selected to the All-Star team 10 times and also won the 2006 NBA scoring title.
Dwayne Wade – Número 3
A carreira do maior da história do Heat, Dwayne Wade, começou em 2003, e em seu terceiro ano de carreira, junto de Shaquille O'Neal, levou o Miami Heat ao seu primeiro título da NBA em 2006 pra cima do Dallas Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/hAkCqqT1T7
— Portal Heat Brasil ☄ (@PortalHeatBR) September 17, 2022
Wade won three NBA championships during his time with the Miami Heat, including two Finals MVP awards. He is also a 12-time All-NBA team member and 10-time All-Defensive team member. Dwyane Wade is a member of the NBA Hall of Fame.
4) Grant Hill
Played for a total of 19 seasons, but only seven of them were spent as a shooting guard. Hill played shooting guard for the first five seasons of his career, with the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. He then shifted to the small forward position for the remaining 10 years of his career, playing for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and LA Clippers.
He was a great three-point shooter and above-average defender during his time as a shooting guard. He was selected to the All-Star team in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and also won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2000. Hill was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
5) Ray Allen
He played for 19 seasons and spent the majority of his time as a shooting guard. Allen played for five teams throughout his career, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and the Houston Rockets. He won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008.
Allen was a prolific three-point shooter during his entire career, especially during his peak with the Seattle SuperSonics. He shot 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range during the 2005-06 season, which led to him winning the NBA All-Star Game MVP award.
Cut one player from this Sonics/Thunder all-time 5 🤔
Gary Payton Sr.
Jack Sikma
Ray Allen
Shawn Kemp
Kevin Durant
Russell WestbrookTough choice#NBA #Thunder #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/4hzzJg30BN
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) September 22, 2022
During his time with the Celtics, Allen was a reliable clutch shooter, making two game-winning shots in the playoffs. He is second on the all-time three-point shots made list. Allen was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. He finished in three-point shots with a total of 2,973 made.
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6) Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas was a shooting guard for 15 seasons during his long and successful career. He played for the Detroit Pistons for 10 seasons during his first stint there and then played for the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks for one season each. He won three championships with the Pistons and one with the Bulls.
He was a great all-around player who could score from inside and out. He was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1989 when the Pistons won their first championship. He was also named the regular season MVP in both the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. Thomas was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Why Are Shooting Guards So Valuable?
Shooting guards are the most important position in the NBA. The best shooting guards can win games for their team and score points at will, making them one of the most important players on the court. For this reason, there have been some truly great shooting guards throughout NBA history.
If you are interested in becoming a shooting guard, it’s known to be pretty tough to get in. There are many other ways to show your love for the game. Whether it be rooting for your favorite team, making NBA bets as a hobby or by playing the game itself, this shows your support and devotion as a fan.
Some of the best shooting guards ever to play in the NBA include Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash, and Larry Bird. While not all of these players were known for their scoring ability, they were all incredibly talented and could do it all on the court. With so many great shooting guards in NBA history, it can be difficult to choose who is the best shooting guard ever.
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Conclusion
One of the qualities that these players have in common is their range. They all have excellent shooting abilities from the perimeter. They also know how to get into the paint and score points. These players may have different styles and playing personalities, but they are all great shooters, both in stature and skill.
They are all able to shoot the ball from long range, which made them extremely valuable on the court. Shooting guards are often the first player to touch the ball on offense, so they must be able to knock down shots. With the right shooting guard on your team, you will always have a chance to win.
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