Every NBA player in the league, sortable by conference and position, and organized alphabetically for optimal searching. This report ironically comes on the same day Morant officially became the new face of Powerade. But Booker isnt having it and showed as much in dropping 51 points in Wednesdays win over Chicago. To qualify a player must play 70% of his team's games 5 Los Angeles Clippers and a four-game lead over the No. The first WEST returns for #NBAAllStar 2023! Fox jumped up to 25.2 points per game last season, a higher mark than LeBron James (25.0) and Kawhi Leonard (24.8). The 23-year-old MVP candidate put on a show on Tuesday in becoming just the sixth player to post five or more 40-point triple-doubles in Dallas win against Golden State, joining the likes of Oscar Robertson (22), James Harden (16), Russell Westbrook (13), Wilt Chamberlain (7) and LeBron James. In just his fifth season, Doncic is now tied with Dirk Nowitzki for the second-most 40-point outings in Mavs history (20), trailing only Mark Aguirre (22). I want to be one of the greatest to ever play. Looking at his assist numbers, a career-best 5.9 apg in 2020-21, Gilgeous-Alexander is already making steady progress in the NBA as a playmaker, but at 23.7 ppg for 2020-21, he has already done better than Nash ever did in a single NBA season. Having played 32.6 MPG, the reigning MIP has . If Portland resolves some of their issues, they will match or exceed last years success on the strength of their franchise player. Only Steph Curry and Luka Doncic have more votes than the Grizzlies point guard. The Denver Nuggets new bespectacled point guard might have the most fly eyewear in the league, but it begs the question: How well can he see the rim with those bifocals? Push comes to shove, Harden is on the short list of surest buckets to ever lace 'em up in the backcourt. Curry recorded an outstanding 42.1% of his shots from beyond the arc, further establishing his position as the greatest shooter of all time. 28. Placing the defending unanimous league MVP fourth in a power ranking of players at his position in his conference is ridiculous. Curry led the Warriors to three straight wins before falling Tuesday to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in an epic duel that came down to the end. Take a look back at each of the NBA All-Star Game's MVP winners. He has consistently been one of the NBA's most dangerous scorers, one capable of hitting shots from anywhere on the floor. As a result, this list of projected starters has been modified since its original publication. 18 in the 2009 NBA draft. Key Subtractions: Carlik Jones, Moses Wright, Justin Jackson Much of the team that earned the Legends their first-ever playoff berth last season has departed, with none more important than point. https://t.co/adp3wELT5y pic.twitter.com/DI89zzTPOR. Thus far this season, Damian Lillard has improved again. Will there be a changing of the guard in the NBA this season? 10. Charlotte doubled down on their bet with Rozier, offering the 27-year-old a four-year, $97 million extension this offseason. Western Conference Point Guard Power Rankings: 15. As we continue to countdown to the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, which gets underway on 19 October, we are ranking the five best players in each conference across positions. 2. The player backed himself to deliver after underperforming yet again in his and the Lakers second game of the season against the Phoenix Suns. It's no surprise that the Suns had re-signing Paul at the top of their offseason priority list. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Coming up shy of the Conference Finals will leave Mitchell hungry for more this upcoming season. Murray's situation is more straightforward. This is all definitely a concern for Ja Morant going forward. However, the Grizzlies star point guard is facing some legal issues. The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Be the first one to comment on this story. Point guards in the NBA assume the number 1 position on the court and are usually the offensive anchors on a team. The Rockets look rudderless and disheveled, and execute sets with the organization of a church league team. They are ranked 20th in offense at a 113.0 rating, and the 12th ranked defense at a 113.0 rating. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets 13. The west is loaded to say the least and these are the best players on each team in the conference. $5. There's a case to be made that you could shuffle those six in any order and still be correct. McCollum was well on his way to his first-career All-Star bid last season before a foot injury derailed his blazing start just 13 games in. In fact, they never got to a seventh game in three tries there. Some are genuinely here due to their low basketball IQs, while others are just held in low regard by fans. Beasley has the worst clutch field goal percentage among 82 players with at least 25 attempts. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 9 ranked shooting guard, but don't be surprised if new head coach Ime Udoka deploys Smart as the starting point guard to begin the season. February 28, 2023 9:43 PM PST. Steph Curry has missed the last 10 games for the Golden State Warriors due to a shoulder subluxation. Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. Without Chris Paul (out the last 11 games with a heel injury), Cameron Johnson (out the last 13 games with a torn right meniscus), and Jae Crowder (who hasnt played all season), Booker has carried the Suns to the best record in the West. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Ja Morant had 23 points and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies raced to an early lead and coasted to a 112-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in a matchup of the Western Conference's top teams. Holiday is not at the same level offensively as some of the other point guards in this group, but he is arguably the best perimeter defender in the NBA. Assuming he slots into the starting lineup, Mills offers championship pedigree and can even tap into ascore-first mentality that's made him a superstar with the Australia national team. James Harden, Brooklyn Nets With or without Kyrie Irving in the fold, Harden figured to have the ball in his hands more than anyone in Brooklyn. Walker in particular could be a difference maker for a Knicks offense that sputtered in the playoffs. In 2019-20, Beal averaged 30.5 points per game, finishing with the second-highest scoring average in the league, trailing only Harden (34.3). While other elite players on this list shot close to or even more than 50% from the field in 2020-21, Mitchell shot only 43.8% correspondingly. Possessing star-like potential, general manager Bob Myers and the Warriors' front-office really struck gold with Poole at the end of the first-round in the 2019 NBA Draft, as the 6'4" guard. Below we continue our NBA odds series with a Suns-Hornets prediction, pick, and . : https://t.co/30IBtt5FVg pic.twitter.com/oAUuXOWV7a, #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) January 5, 2023. His defense improved and he notched a career-high in assists. It's safe to assume that ifthe scrappy guard participates in more games in 2021-22, he'll make his return to one of the two All-Defensive Teams. Their time will come. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans. Thats especially apparent when eyeing the glut of talent vying for backcourt spots in the Western Conference, which, at this point, appears to feature stiffer competition than the Eastern Conference will at that position. If Irving misses an extended period of time while navigating his decision on whether or not to comply with COVID vaccination mandates, chances are we'll see some version of the Harden that dropped 30 or more points in 32 consecutive games with the Rockets. RPG. The NBAs fifth-leading scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander sat out of Wednesdays win against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left hip contusion. After the All-Star break, Edwards averaged 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting a much-improved 45.4 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from 3. Not only was that the second-longest streak of its kind in NBA history, its twice as long as any other guard in the history of the league. It has been a fantastic year for Devin Booker. He is undeniably one of the 10 best shooting guards in the NBA. Houston Rockets (13-48, Last week 29th) Houston is a disaster. Seven guards from each conference played in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. Gettysburg, PA (17325) Today. At this point the season is still young, but Harden will probably eclipse those statistics. What they've been up to: Iguodala, who is the lone Lute Olson-coached Wildcat still playing in the NBA, is the highest-earning ex-Cat, making just over $185 . Jackson started more regular season games than any other Clipper except Ivan Zubac since the Tyronn Lue era began, but would go on long benders where he couldnt find the bottom of the net. Interestingly, those departures didnt leave much of a dent in the depth out West, which may feature as many as four players in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game that didnt participate in the 2022 contest. The Blazers are 4-6 this season without Lillard and 19-44 under those circumstances going back to the start of 2021-22. The veteran guard was spectacular in his first season with the Bucks as they captured their first title in 50 years. It looked like he had the 2020-21 scoring title all locked upuntil Stephen Curry went full Human Torch over the last two months of the season to finish with an average of 32.0 points per game, just edging out Beal's 31.3. Its been two long years since NBA fans around the world saw Klay Thompson in action. He is shooting a career-low percentage from three and isnt playing at the same level of the last couple years. The Western Conference has ruled over the Eastern Conference for the better part of the last three decades. The NBA released its first All-Star Game fan vote Thursday. Best NBA Players 33 Years Old | StatMuse best NBA players 33 years old Thompson Dieng Ibaka Morris Butler DeRozan Morris Bogdanovic Dedmon Harden Holiday Griffin Thomas Gordon Batum Westbrook Gallinari Marjanovic Beverley Young Love Rose Explore What is the highest PPG in a season by a rookie? He was one of the best finishers around the basket, shooting over 76 percenton shots within three feet of the rim. However, he has also faced tough times, last season a most recent indication. Ja is a verified lunatic. The battle of the west! With proven veteran leaders and the league's young stars all chomping at the bit to claim the crown of NBA Champion, this year's postseason has you on the edge of your seat. Despite being just 22 years old, Doncic is widely consideredthe favorite to win the 2021-22 NBA MVP award. When Bryant was on the floor, opposing teams averaged 126.7 points per 100 possessions. GP. He had those two incredible 40-point outings in Games 4 and 5 of the Finals, but he also had a couple of underwhelming performances in the series (10 points in Game 3; 19 points, six turnovers in Game 6). The reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player edged out Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic for the top spot for Western Conference guards. As the early flameouts mounted, the basketball universe wondered why Lillard wasn't doing what many stars were - banding together to create what . It was another career-year for the Jazz superstar, who averaged 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while leading Utah to the best overall record in the NBA. He lands on this list as the No. The Thunder will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, while the Suns, who went 7-3 in the 10 games before the All-Star break, will be fully rested. We take a look at these five players who make up the very best of the shooting guard position in the NBAs Western Conference. The NBA has been the host to many world-class point guards. The Western Conferenceis one of two conferencesthat make up the National Basketball Association(NBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. The main job of a point guard is to facilitate scoring opportunities for the team. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. APG. Unfortunately, that's not what we're doing here. Despite that, Lillard and C.J. Mitchell has great athleticism, but he isnt that great a shooter from the floor. The next set of fan voting is set to be updated on Jan. 12. With reports of him returning to the Golden State Warriors line-up soon, we hope that Thompson can discover the very same form that won him millions of admirers around the world. 14 Bryant was a stretchy big, who put up flashy numbers in Anthony Davis absence. Going 37-137 deserves something more recognition than a pink slip at the end of the season. Hes shooting a career-best from three by four percent (44.3%) and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Simmons likewise remains in limbo, albeit for an entirely different reason. The scary part? PRL (Position Replacement Level) = 11.5 for power forwards, 11.0 for point guards, 10.6 for centers, 10.5 for shooting guards and small forwards; EWA: Estimated Wins Added . Thompson was by far the toughest to place on this list, because when fully healthy, he would come in much higher than seventh. As Allen Iverson put it, Lillard is a "certified killer." Ty Lawson, PG, Denver Nuggets. Tyler Schmidt previews the game and offers up his best bet below. Team - Boston Celtics. This big list of current 6'6 NBA players contains forwards and guards in both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. Top NBA point guards for 2021-22: Ranking all 30 starters | Sporting News NOP DAL 9 18 1st Quarter - 5:32 UTA CHI 15 18 1st Quarter - 4:07 ORL GSW 5:30p -6 pts LAL SAC 7:00p -8 pts PHI DET. As one of the best all-around defenders in the NBA, Smart plays with heart and intensity that is immeasurable beyond numbers. Possibly. With that said, let's try our hand at ranking every starting shooting guard in the NBA. Paul's impact goes beyond the numbers, though. Young can get much better, particularly on the defensive end. He is the engine of Atlanta's top-10 offense. It just makes too much sense. As the Golden State faltered in their run to the playoffs, Curry was unable to inspire a turnaround. Don't sleep on him. A basketball court is surely the only place where the height of 6 foot 6 is considered average. 8. Do you agree? Thompson is expected to make his debut some time around Christmas, meaning he'll likely miss half of the season. Lowry and "Heat Culture." With 21 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists a game, Fox is not only one of the most special parts of his struggling Kings lineup, he's one of the most exciting young players on the entire west coast. (PER - PRL)] / 67). The NBA is immersed in its golden age of point guards and the Western Conference has some of the best. Harden dominates the ball for Houston and creates plays of his own and for others. Hes been misfiring away as recklessly as his dad when he opens his mouth this season, cant finish on drives, building a dream home with his bricks, and fallen on hard times. Steph Curry is the best point guard in the Western Conference, and arguably in the NBA, ensuring his position at the top since his mid-twenties. Naturally, you would expect dropoff from a team missing three starters for so long. Back in 1996, when he made his debut in the NBA, Kobe was sporting a bald look. Period. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite shooting 46 percent from 3-point range and 52.3 percent from the field since the calendar flipped to February, hes still making fewer than 30 percent of his triples a night, a precipitous drop from a year ago when he was a near-40 percent shooter from distance and had the NBAs lowest efficiency field goal percentage on unguarded jump shots through January. 1. Jackson's explosion with the Clippers was. Although Conley just turned 34, he's showing little signs of slowing down. But the frenetic style didn't translate nearly as well for Steve Nash and the Suns in the postseason, where they advanced no further than the Western Conference finals. Stare into this dark void with me and commemorate the NBA players whove been generating negative plays for their respective (or former) squads all season. Russell Westbrook improves every summer and comes back and plays basketball at a higher level every season. He hits open shots off the catch or off the dribble. Keep in mind that the starting groups for both conferences feature two guards and three frontcourt players, while the reserves are comprised of two guards, three frontcourt players and two wildcard selections. Booker climbs to the top of this list following a breakout season that helped lead the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has made plenty of headlines recently. Stephen Curry has played at an All-Star level this year; he is ninth in the league in scoring despite a lower usage rate than last year. If Damian Lillard has to stay in Portland, it is paramount that McCollum gets better and when it matters most. At 6'8, Jayson is on the list of the tallest point guards in the NBA. Edwards' firstseason may have come up just short of Rookie of the Year honors, but the former No. If the Jazz are going to similarly shed their"very good regular season team, but wake me up when they actually win something" label, they will need Conley to be humming on all cylinders in April, May and June. Portland went all the way to the Western Conference finals, where they lost. He and Steph Curry are the first two players in NBA history to have seven straight seasons (between 2012-2019) of 200 plus made three-point shots each season. Can he pick up right where he left off, or will he experience a slight sophomore slump? Dallas now has a one-two punch of Irving and Luka Doncic, arguably the most talented duo in the league right now. Woman granted diversion in crash that killed Mid-South pro basketball player Galen Young, Couple acquires hotel in Raleigh, continuing the history of Black hotel owners in Memphis, Strong storms likely this evening and again on Thursday night, Everything you need to know to prepare for severe weather, Morant, Grizzlies overpower Hornets for 4th straight win, Ja Morant gifts new Nike shoes to young Grizzlies fan, Morant has career-high 17 assists, Grizzlies rout Raptors. Is he the shooting guard? But with so much talent, its not entirely clear who the best ones out West truly are. After playing only five games during a disastrous 2019-20 campaign, Curry returned to form last season, averaging a league-leading 32.0 points per game with 48.2/42.1/91.6 shooting splits (field goals/3-pointers/free throws). Most players dont improve noticeably at the age of 31. had the NBAs lowest efficiency field goal percentage. Simply put, Curry is one of the most impressive offensive forces in the history of the game. This offseason, the Bulls have surrounded LaVine with the most talent he's ever played with in adding Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan to the trade deadline acquisition of Nikola Vucevic. Western Conference Point Guard Power Rankings: 11. SPG. 2021-22 NBA Western Conference team-by-team preview capsules Matt Eppers, USA TODAY 10/17/2021 In most circumstances, when LeBron James is on a team that team is expected to at least be in the. Already arguably the most complete point guard in league history, his improved shooting could have brought his game to a new level. 1 overall pick has the physical tools to be the ideal NBA2K 23 user player, but his feel for the actual pro game is non-existent. When things arent going his way, Brooks slings more mud on the basketball court than anyone else in the league to gain an upper hand. But for all his elite class and self-confidence, Dame is yet to taste championship success. Partly cloudy this evening then becoming cloudy with periods of light rain after midnight. For now, Irving is out of the picture in Brooklyn. However, McCollum needs to be better than steady to make it to the next level of shooting guards. The Warriors trailed by as many as 23 points but rallied to complete their biggest comeback of the season, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 123-105 at Chase . The former No. Hes a serial offender perpetually walking the line between irritant and combatant. Accordingly, he is currently first in the league in time possessing the basketball. MORE: Where does Lillard's peak rank all-time? Now entering his 13th season and free of carrying the team while playing next to Kevin Durant, Harden could deliver his finest season yet which is so small feat given we're talking about a formerMVP and three-time scoring champ. None of this bodes well for the Grizzlies star, and there appears to be a pattern of behavior here that needs to be addressed. MPG. Overcoming his bad start to the season, the two-time NBA MVP averaged 36.9 points per game-night in his final 24 appearances of the season. In a new report that dropped on Wednesday, Morant is facing multiple allegations of violent behavior, according to Molly Hensley-Clancy of The Washington Post. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant. NBA star Ja Morant was accused of violent or threatening behavior in two police reports, including previously unknown allegations that Morant threatened a mall security director. Morant was also in headlines recently when associates of his reportedly made Indiana Pacers staffers feel like they were in grave danger after a game in a truly bizarre incident. Nearly every statistic posted by James Harden this year is remarkable. Triple-doubles are routine for him at this point. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. Rozier has been an awesome success story over the past few seasons, going from a reserveguard to a solidified starter in the NBA. It was previously reported that Ja Morant was facing a lawsuit for allegedly striking a minor during a pickup basketball game at the beginning of the year, and now this report goes into more detail on that encounter and more. Former Western Athletic Conference Players Who Played In The NBA * Including anyone currently in the NBA; NBA career stats since the 1946-1947 season. LeBron James and Kevin Durant lead their respective conferences in the first fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T. Prior to last season, many expected the Portland Trail Blazers to miss the playoffs and rebuild after losing four starters in the offseason. All rights reserved. A post shared by NBA on ESPN (@nbaonespn). Moreover, advanced metrics place him as one of the leagues best defenders now, too. Darren Collison, Sacramento Kings 14. When he rested, the Lakers allowed 114.4. The Northwest Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Booker went for 30-plus points four times against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, including a 47-point, 11-rebound masterpiece to close out the series and hand LeBron James the first opening-round exit of his entire career. Your Golden State Warriors kept the momentum going strong and are one step closer to the title after becoming the 2022 Western Conference Champions! Gilgeous-Alexander has only made people sit up and take notice of his game since his NBA rookie season. "Ja Morant has been accused of . View player profile, bio, stats, news and video highlights. During that span, Lillard averaged 26.3 ppg and 7.0 apg, including a pair of 40-point nights in back-to-back games in October. His highest scoring game was a 22-point effort in Game 3. Hyland might be the first player in years who couldnt fit in with Jokic since Jusuf Nurkic. Deron Williams, Dallas. Suggs figures to be a major part of the Rookie of the Year discussion. NBA Trade Machine; Draft; G League; World of Woj; Awards; NBA History . With Klay Thompson expected to make his return some time around Christmas, where does the three-time NBA champion rank? Fan voting accounts for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters, while NBA players and a media panel account for 25% each. Visit ESPN to view 2022-23 NBA player stats. But Westbrook has matched or eclipsed his career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists, and three point percentage so far. Defensive lineups featuring Nowell are basically at a 4-on-5 disadvantage. But even though Thompson has missed the last two seasons, there is no denying his genius and greatness. Who is the best shooting guard in the NBA? Westbrook has taken over a larger role on the Thunder and become a better player at the same time. Seven guards from each conference played in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. However, recent times have seen changes to the technicality of the position, and the rise of the shooting point guard, capable of scoring points and dictating the games. The 24-year-old averaged 25.6 points, 4.3 assists and4.2 rebounds per game during the regular season to help Phoenix snap a 10-year postseason drought, then in his inaugural playoff run, he elevated his game to another level. In a new report that dropped on Wednesday, Morant is being charged with two additional disturbing encounters, according to Candace Buckner of The Washington Post. But, the Western Conference point guards are ridiculous. Fans can vote for NBA All-Stars via the NBA App and NBA.com. December 3, 2019 / 4:03 PM / CBS Texas. Fox and Domantas Sabonis have become a formidable duo that give the Kings a real shot at making the postseason for the first time since 2006. Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. Morant and Gilgeous-Alexander are rising in a hurry, but they aren't quite ready to bump Conley down. Still, the Pacific Time Zone features some of the most talented All-Stars in the NBA. Best Odds. The Nuggets starwill missmost of the season, as he is still recovering from a torn ACL. We're taking his word for it that he's played in Philly for the last time. Dort has become one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA but still has a ways to go in fine-tuning his offensive skills. The talent at the point guard position has helped revolutionize the NBA in recent years. . Stats: 2.3 points, 2.3 rebounds. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs 12. Is the Hayes-Cunningham combination something that can work long-term. Hes been more wince-inducing than the time Giannis Antetokounmpo leapfrog dunked over him. The Nuggets' starting point guard has quieted all the critics who said that he was too small, forcing him to drop to No. We now turn our attention to the five best shooting guards in the West. The point guard position has been run by the likes of Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and others over the last decade. Power ranking Western Conference point men is a topic that is hotly debated, but weve got the answers for which have been the best in the 2016-17 season. Jordan Poole landed at the No. When hes off the floor, Houston defends 8.8 points per 100 possessions better. First things first, James Harden is more of a point guard than a shooting guard. Harden came into this season in the shape of his life and has reaped the benefits. The NBA has been the host to many world-class point guards. LaMelo Ball's terrific rookie campaign was cut short because of a wrist injury. Due to last years First Team All-NBA selection, this was going to be hard to do this year. The season is still young and Curry may just be taking time to adjust to playing with Kevin Durant. Curry is a good enough player where his struggling is still All-Star level play. Mann and Alexander-Walker are two players to watch for breakout seasons in new roles for their respective teams this year. But other than a historic night against the Pelicans, Curry just hasnt been as electric.
