The NBA has slowly evolved in the last decade to put a much heavier emphasis on the guards. The game is more about distance and spacing than it is about pounding it inside and looking to score in the paint. Just like point guards have become real scoring threats, shooting guards have managed to develop better ball handling skills and are looked at to sometimes run the offense. It's a hard thing to do, but this list will be ranking the Top 10 NBA shooting guards. Don't be too upset if your favorite player doesn't make the cut.
10 Devin Booker
Devin Booker is the strange NBA case where a team has a Top 5 to 10 player based purely on their scoring ability but hasn't managed to do much at all with them. Devin Booker is arguably the league's best young scorer and will likely take home multiple scoring titles before he hangs it up. In 2017, he pulled off a feat few others have, as he scored 70 points in a single game against the Boston Celtics. His scoring averages have gone up every year so look for him to contend for the scoring crown in 2019.
9 CJ McCollum
Now to most fans, CJ McCollum is the sidekick to the Portland Trailblazers' superstar point guard Damian Lillard. On most occasions, yes, people would choose Lillard over McCollum, but the underappreciated shooting guard was more consistent than Lillard at times in the NBA Playoffs and has played a big part in their success. In many ways, the relationship between the two Portland guards is similar to the Splash Brothers of Golden State. On any given night you're getting one of their best efforts, but just hope it isn't both of them.
8 Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks fans seemingly have a lot in common with NFL fans who cheer for the Green Bay Packers. Both franchises managed to say goodbye to one Hall of Fame-caliber player and roll right into a roster led by another potential all-time great. Luka Doncic is taking the reigns of the Mavericks from Dirk Nowitzki and looking to add his touch of European flair, as he hails from Slovenia. In 2018, Doncic managed to easily make the NBA All-Rookie Team on his way to also taking home Rookie of the Year for 2018-19.
7 Lou Williams
Being the sixth man on an NBA lineup is a thankless job, only appreciated by his teammates and diehard fans. Most people who are watching NBA games don't understand how important consistent bench scoring can be for a team's success. Lou Williams has managed to do that for several years and will look to give Paul George and Kawhi Leonard ample rest for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019. Lou Williams may be the most underrated and underappreciated shooting guard in the entire NBA.
6 Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal went from being the partner in crime to one of the league's best point guards, to now being their only true superstar in Washington. With John Wall's recent injury woes and his degrading performance beforehand, Beal is the main centerpiece for the Wizards moving forward. He's set to become a free agent following the upcoming season and will likely garner an impressive max contract offer, but will it be from Washington? It's unclear whether he wants out or not.
5 Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler happens to be one of the most interesting players in terms of a career path and trajectory in the NBA. During his early days with the Chicago Bulls, Butler quickly emerged as one of the league's premier defensive players. Since then, his defensive effort has fallen off but his scoring has consistently been around or above 20 points per game. He's currently looking to do his best to make the Miami Heat competitive in the West, despite the glaring lack of talent around him.
4 Victor Oladipo
Before his injury, Victor Oladipo was solidifying himself as a premier player and the go-to guy for the Indiana Pacers. He's currently in the prime of his career, which is evident by his back-to-back NBA All-Star nods, as well as taking home the award for the NBA's most improved player in 2018. Oladipo will look to land right where he left off once the season begins in hopes of showing the league he still is one of the best. With LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard in the West, there's no time like the present for Oladipo to chase playoff success.
3 Donovan Mitchell
In his first two years, Donovan Mitchell has quickly emerged as one of the game's most exciting young superstars. Going into the 2019 season, he'll now be suiting up alongside veteran point guard Mike Conley, who should alleviate some of the playmaking and scoring stress Mitchell's likely endured the past few seasons in Utah. They often say that the moment you get a nickname in the league that you've made it in terms of respect among your peers. Donovan, aka "Spida", Mitchell's career is headed on an incredible trajectory.
2 Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson has had the fortune and burden of playing right alongside the NBA's best point guard, Steph Curry. Together, as the Splash Brothers, they've managed to win 3 NBA championships and both of them played huge contributing parts in helping their teams accomplish each one. If Klay was the head superstar on an NBA team elsewhere, his numbers would likely be a lot higher and he'd be an even bigger name. It turns out he has the personality who doesn't mind being the sidekick, despite being a superhero all on his own.
1 James Harden
From a purely scoring and efficiency point of view, it's hard to find anyone near James Harden. Despite seeing any championship or playoff success, he's managed to carve himself out as a Top 3 to Top 5 player depending on who you ask. He's not only the best shooting guard currently playing in the league, but he'll likely go down as an all-timer. Whether he's able to add a championship and maybe an NBA Finals MVP to his resume could shoot him up the list when it comes to ranking the NBA greats.