5. Jamal Crawford, I believe, is the fifth best shooting guard in the National Basketball Association. The former 6th man of the year still comes off the bench, but has the mentality and talent of a starter. Crawford is a high volume scorer capable of putting the ball in the hoop in a variety of ways. His biggestdownfall is perhaps his greatest strength; he is not a set-up man. Crawford rarely looks for others, which is perhaps why scoring comes easy to him. He is not bashful to get shots up. His attack mentality occasionally results in opposing teams sending double teams his way, because they know he is thinking of scoring. A big reason scoring comes easy to him is because he's got the rock on a string. He can handle the pill better than anyone in the league, arguably other than his teammate Chris Paul. He admits he never dribbled through cones or chairs crowing up. He didn't do stationary ball handling drills. Therefore, his handle is far from robotic. He did, however, always have a ball in his hands growing up. He loved to dribble, no matter his location. It shows on the court. Crawford's nasty handle, high energy, and lengthy stature make him a tough cover for defenders across the league.
4. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors comes in as my fourth best shooting guard. Though Curry can also play point guard, he plays alongside Jarrett Jack who pushes him to the two spot, making him a combo guard. The 6'3 25 year-old first made a name for himself in the NCAA tournament at Davidson College where he averaged more than 25 points per game for his career. He was known as a great shooter then, and still is today. In fact, Curry, in my opinion, is the best shooter in the NBA, and probably the world. What separates him from guys like Ray Allen is that he can shoot off the dribble as well as, if not better than, he can off the catch. Whether shooting a fifteen foot jumper or a long-range three , shooting seems to come easy to Steph, who is the son of ex-NBA player Dell Curry and former volleyball standout Sonya Curry. His most recent improvement to his game has been his ability to finish. Lately, Curry has turned finger rolls, floaters, and scoop layups high off the glass into a regular part of his repertoire. The best part about him is that he turns it up in the clutch. Curry has increased his scoring average by three points per game to 26.5 points per game thus far in the first two rounds. After already upsetting the explosive Denver Nuggets in the first round, he has his team outplaying the veteran San Antonio Spurs so far in conference semifinals. Curry's playoff legacy, God willing, is just beginning.
3. James Harden has earned himself the third spot on my list of great shooting guards. One thing often overlooked about this young superstar is the he is still only 23 years of age. The L.A. native has drastically improved his game in each of his four seasons in the league. In his rookie year for the Oklahoma City Thunder, James scored 9.9 points per game. The following two seasons, he poured in 12.2 and 16.8 points per game respectively. Though he won the 6th man of the year award last season, that was still when he was the third cog on a dangerous squad featuring Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook. Leaving OKC behind for Houston might not have been the best thing for the Thunder, but it has been for James Harden. In his first year removed from Oklahoma, he has jumped his scoring average from 16.8 up to 25.9 points per contest. No longer a roll player, Harden is now the main man in Houston. The Rockets have quickly become his team. His ability to change speeds and directions so quickly and smoothly makes him a tough cover. Harden plays with a silky, European type style as evident by the patented euro step he uses so often. Scoring, moreover, is not the only thing he is capable of. James also makes finding people a habit. While in OKC, Harden would play point guard and handle the ball for the Thunder when Westbrook sat. Now in Houston, he spends time at the one when Jeremy Lin makes his way to the bench. While he has found great success as a shooting guard, he's also efficient at the point. This season he averaged a career high 5.8 assists per game. As a dual-threat guard, Harden is the complete package. Fear the beard.
2. Dwyane Wade is the world's second best two-guard. He is perhaps the most athletic player on this list. Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. is a two-time world champion, former scoring title champ, and former finals MVP. His resume is well worthy of a spot on this list. While suffering from knee issues all season long, the 2012-2013 season has been anything but easy for him. Nevertheless, he is still putting up impressive numbers while being overshadowed by his teammate, Lebron James. Flash is recording 21.2 points per game, 5.1 assists per game, and 5.0 rebounds a game. While his numbers are not the best they have ever been, Wade remains the Heat's all-time leader in both points and assists. He is still more than capable of being a franchise's top player. Had James and Bosh not joined him in Miami, he might still be putting up numbers closer to 30 points per game. He has the experience, athleticism, and skill-set to dominate games. He can still carry a team on his back at any given time, on either end of the court. Yes, his ability to play defense is often overlooked and under-appreciated. Wade can do it all on both offense and defense. If it weren't for the next guy on this list, Wade would be the best two guard the NBA has to offer.
1. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is still the world's best shooting guard. While the Black Mamba has five rings to go with far more accolades than anyone on this list, the awards he has received are not what make him so great. It's his killer instinct, confidence, and assassin's mentality that separates him from the pack. Kobe might be the most confident player the game of basketball has ever seen. He always wants the last shot, and if I were his coach, I would be more than happy to give it to him. Kobe is a winner (as evident by the five championships he has won) and still has top-tier skills. Though he's not as youthful or explosive as he once was, and his prime is over, he, like Wade, can still be dominant on any given night. Kobe has turned his game into a well-crafted art. His attention to detail and flawless footwork make him the craftiest player on this list. At age 34, Kobe "Bean" Bryant put up impressive numbers once again this season, scoring 27.3 points per game, dishing out 6.0 assists per game, and grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game. While most know him to be among the greatest scorers the game of basketball has ever seen (he is currently fourth behind Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list), what he has shown this year, in particularly, is his underrated ability to see the floor and create for his teammates. Since Steve Nash was sidelined do to injuries for much of this season, Kobe took on the responsibilities of point guards at times, and ended up tying his career high in assists per game. The Mamba can do it all. He can pass, shoot, rebound, defend, and lead. While Kobe tops my list of top five shooting guards in the NBA, he's also got his spot on my list of the top five basketball players this world has ever seen.
