All the positions in basketball are very important for the progress of the game. However, in the NBA, the point guard position is often occupied by many of the sport’s greatest players of all time.
This can be seen over the last few decades, with athletes leaving their mark on the world of sport, contributing to the best strategies with their teams through their unique and impactful skills.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the 30 best shooting guards in NBA history, highlighting the players who have been successful in recent years, revealing which teams they were from, what their main titles were, and why they are known as the greatest.
The ranking features impressive athletes who have contributed to basketball history through their breathtaking talents. The players selected in the list of best shooting guards in NBA history have also served to influence future athletes, including the best in the position today.
Their talents have shaped the history of basketball as a whole, with their achievements being remembered to this day. Here’s a look at some of the best shooting guards in NBA history NBA.
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Meet the 30 best wingers in NBA history
The best wing-pivots in NBA history: complete list
- Tim Duncan
- Karl Malone
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Kevin Garnett
- Charles Barkley
- Kevin McHale
- Elvin Hayes
- Bob Pettit
- Kevin Durant
- Dennis Rodman
- Pau Gasol
- Chris Webber
- Bob McAdoo
- Anthony Davis
- Shawn Kemp
- Elgin Baylor
- George Gervin
- Blake Griffin
- Chris Bosh
- Dave DeBusschere
- Amar’e Stoudemire
- Horace Grant
- Paul Millsap
- Tommy Heinsohn
- Rasheed Wallace
- Buck Williams
- Jermaine O’Neal
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Dennis Johnson
- Kevin Love
The best wingers in NBA history: meet the players
1. Tim Duncan
- Titles: 5-time NBA champion
- Team: San Antonio Spurs
- Why is he the best? Consistency, leadership and versatility in defense.
2. Karl Malone
- Titles: 2x NBA MVP
- Teams: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? Second-highest scorer in NBA history and one of the most dominant pick-and-roll players.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion, 1-time NBA MVP
- Team: Dallas Mavericks
- Why is he the best? One of the best medium and long-distance pitchers in his position, as well as a great leader and competitor.
4. Kevin Garnett
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion, 1-time NBA MVP
- Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
- Why is he the best? Excellent defender, versatile and an intense competitor.
5. Charles Barkley
- Titles: 1-time NBA MVP
- Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets
- Why is he the best? Dominant in rebounding and scoring, despite his relatively short height for the position.
6. Kevin McHale
- Titles: 3x NBA champion
- Teams: Boston Celtics
- Why is he the best? One of the best ball-handlers in history, with several attacking moves.
7. Elvin Hayes
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion
- Teams: San Diego/Houston Rockets, Baltimore/Washington Bullets
- Why is he the best? Known for his versatility as a scorer.
8. Bob Pettit
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA MVP
- Teams: Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks
- Why is he the best? One of the NBA’s first great players, known for his scoring and rebounding ability.
9. Kevin Durant
- Titles: 2x NBA champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP
- Teams: Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets
- Why is he the best? One of the greatest offensive talents in NBA history, with incomparable height and shooting ability.
10. Dennis Rodman
- Titles: 5-time NBA champion
- Teams: Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? Considered one of the greatest rebounders and defenders in NBA history.
11. Pau Gasol
- Titles: 2x NBA champion
- Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? Unique ability to score and pass the ball.
12. Chris Webber
- Teams: Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers
- Why is he the best? Scoring ability and excellent passer of the ball.
13. Bob McAdoo
- Titles: 2x NBA champion, 1x NBA MVP
- Teams: Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? One of the first great wing-pivots to extend his game beyond the hoop.
14. Anthony Davis
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion
- Teams: New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? Dominant when it comes to protecting the rim.
15. Shawn Kemp
- Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers
- Why is he the best? Known for his combination of strength and attacking skills.
16. Elgin Baylor
- Teams: Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? One of the NBA’s first great wing-pivots, known for his ability to score.
17. George Gervin
- Titles: 1x NBA MVP
- Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls
- Why is he the best? He started out as a winger, but often played as a pivot because he could score a lot.
18. Blake Griffin
- Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets
- Why is he the best? He stood out for his good dunks and his ability to score and pass.
19. Chris Bosh
- Titles: 2x NBA champion
- Teams: Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat
- Why is he the best? Great ability to score and defend, but also for his contribution to the Miami Heat’s “Big Three” formation.
20. Dave DeBusschere
- Titles: 2x NBA champion
- Teams: Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks
- Why is he the best? Known for his defensive intensity and leadership, he helped the New York Knicks become NBA champions in 1970 and 1973.
21. Amar’e Stoudemire
- Teams: Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks
- Why is he the best? Known for its scoring ability and pick-and-roll game.
22. Horace Grant
- Titles: 4x NBA champion
- Teams: Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers
- Why is he the best? He contributed to the success of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, being great at rebounding and defense.
23. Paul Millsap
- Teams: Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets
- Why is he the best? Versatility in defense and leadership.
24. Tommy Heinsohn
- Titles: 8-time NBA champion
- Teams: Boston Celtics
- Why is he the best? In addition to his success as a player, he was a successful coach for the Celtics and enhanced their legacy in the NBA.
25. Rasheed Wallace
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion
- Teams: Washington Bullets / Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics
- Why is he the best? Known for his defense and shooting ability, especially from three-point range.
26. Buck Williams
- Teams: New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks
- Why is he the best? Outstanding rebound and save.
27. Jermaine O’Neal
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns
- Why is he the best? Excellent scoring ability in the basket.
28. LaMarcus Aldridge
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets
- Why is he the best? Excellent mid-range scorer and skillful in the basket.
29. Dennis Johnson
- Titles: 3x NBA champion
- Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics
- Why is he the best? He stood out as one of the best defenders in the NBA.
30. Kevin Love
- Titles: 1-time NBA champion
- Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Why is he the best? One of the best rebounders in the NBA, known for his three-point shooting ability.
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