While the shooting guard position in the NBA today is not as important as it was once before, it still holds significant value among teams today primarily due to shooting and defense. After all, the greatest of all time, more affectionately known as the GOAT, played the spot throughout his career in the league. Yes, it’s none other than Chicago Bulls’ great Michael Jordan which we’re talking about here.
Today, we will take a look at all 30 NBA teams’ shooting guard Mount Rushmore. Which four players made it for your team?
Which renowned shooting guards made the list for each NBA team?
Atlanta Hawks – Joe Johnson
Iso Joe was a six-time All-Star who played for the Hawks from 2005 to 2012. His career with Atlanta was full of clutch shots, game-winners, and buzzer-beaters.
Atlanta Hawks – Pete Maravich
Pistol Pete was a four-time All-Star with the Hawks. Although he didn’t win a championship with the team, his savvy ball handling paved the way for a new era of guards who widely emulated his game.
Atlanta Hawks – Steve Smith
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After a brief stint with Miami, Smith played for the Hawks from 1994 to 1999. He was a deadly marksman for the team and one of the top guards in the league in the late 1990s.
Atlanta Hawks – Lou Hudson
Hudson was a six-time All-Star for the Hawks, playing 11 seasons for the team from 1966 to 1977.
Boston Celtics – John Havlicek
Havlicek alternated between playing shooting guard and small forward for the Celtics in the NBA. He made 13 All-Star appearances and won the Finals MVP award in 1973.
Boston Celtics – Sam Jones
Jones, who played for the Celtics from 1957-1969, was named a five-time All-Star and won 10 championships.
Boston Celtics – Ray Allen
Even though Allen’s time with the Celtics was filled with controversy, he was instrumental in their 2008 NBA championship title and contention in the late 2000s.
Boston Celtics – Bill Sharman
Sharman was an eight-time All-Star for the Celtics from 1951 to 1961. He also won 4 championships with the team.
Brooklyn Nets – Dražen Petrović
Even though Petrovic only appeared in one All-Star game, his impact on the Nets and the rest of Europe was undeniable. He tragically died in a car crash in 1993.
Brooklyn Nets – Vince Carter
Carter played for the Nets from 2004-2009. He led the team into two Eastern Conference Semifinals during his tenure with the team and brought excitement to the franchise due to his high-flying dunks.
Brooklyn Nets – Joe Johnson
Johnson only played for the Nets from 2012 to 2016, but like his stint with the Hawks, he delivered countless clutch moments for them that will live on forever.
Brooklyn Nets – Kerry Kittles
Although Kittles was never an all-star caliber player, he was the team’s starting shooting guard during their back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.
Charlotte Hornets – Dell Curry
Dell Curry played for the Hornets from 1988 to 1998. During his time with the team, he was one of the most lethal Sixth men in the league.
Charlotte Hornets – Glen Rice
Rice was a two-time All-Star with the Hornets and came home with the 1997 All-Star MVP after scoring 26 points off the bench for the East team.
Charlotte Hornets – Rex Chapman
Chapman played for the Hornets from 1988-1992. He was a deadly shooter and was a fan favorite during the early years of the then-young franchise.
Charlotte Hornets – Kendall Gill
Gill had two stints with the Hornets and was a deadly shooter from the perimeter during his heyday.
Chicago Bulls – Michael Jordan
14 All-Star selections, six championships, and Finals MVP awards – Jordan was not just the best shooting guard to ever play in the NBA, but he’s also widely considered the greatest of all time.
Chicago Bulls – Jerry Sloan
Sloan was a two-time All-Star with the Bulls and played for them from 1966 to 1976.
Chicago Bulls – Reggie Theus
Many may forget about Reggie Theus as a player with the Bulls, but he was one of the brightest stars on the team from 1978 to 1984.
Chicago Bulls – Ben Gordon
Ben Gordon is the only rookie in NBA history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award. As a 6 foot 3 shooting guard, he had to navigate against taller defenders in the NBA.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Austin Carr
Carr played for the Cavaliers from 1971-1980. He was nicknamed “Mr. Cavalier” due to his unwavering dedication to the franchise.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Ron Harper
Before Harper joined the Bulls in the mid-90s, he was the primary defender of Michael Jordan as a member of the Cavs. Harper played for Cleveland from 1986 to 1989.
Cleveland Cavaliers – J.R. Smith
Who doesn’t love J.R. Smith as a member of the Cavs? The high-scoring shooting guard was instrumental during the Cavs’ 2016 NBA title run.
Cleveland Cavaliers – World B. Free
World B. Free played for the Cavaliers from 1982-1986. He was their main focal point on offense when he led the team to their first division title in 1985.
Dallas Mavericks – Rolando Blackman
Blackman was a four-time All-Star with the Mavs and played for them from 1981 to 1992. He’s often considered as one of the team’s all-time best players.
Dallas Mavericks – Michael Finley
Finley was a beloved member of the Mavericks from 1996 to 2005. During his early years in the NBA as a shooting guard, he was one of the league’s most recognizable high flyers.
Dallas Mavericks – Jason Terry
Terry played for the Mavericks from 2004 to 2012. All things considered, Terry is perhaps Dirk Nowitzki’s best teammate in Dallas. It’s quite baffling that this team has not retired his jersey number yet.
Dallas Mavericks – Jim Jackson
Before embarking on a career as an NBA journeyman, Jim Jackson was one of the premier shooting guards in the league during his time with the Mavericks from 1992 to 1997.
Denver Nuggets – David Thompson
Before Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler came to the league, David Thompson was widely known as “Skywalker” among league circles due to his acrobatic style of play.
Denver Nuggets – Allen Iverson
During Iverson’s brief stint with the Nuggets, he was named a two-time All-Star and continued his scoring prowess for them from 2006 to 2008.
Denver Nuggets – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
While KCP is not going to crack any All-Star game selection soon, he was a huge part of the Nuggets’ title run during the 2022-2023 NBA season as the team’s starting shooting guard.
Denver Nuggets – T.R. Dunn
Hardcore Nuggets fans might remember the tenacious T.R. Dunn, who, at 6 feet 4 inches, was named to three NBA All-Defensive Teams.
Detroit Pistons – Joe Dumars
This was a no-brainer. Dumars is a six-time All-Star and won two championships for the Pistons as a member of the team from 1986 to 1999.
Detroit Pistons – Richard Hamilton
One of the best perimeter shooters of all time, Rip Hamilton was a three-time All-Star and a one-time champion while playing for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons – Jerry Stackhouse
Stackhouse played for the Pistons from 1997-2002 and garnered two All-Star appearances for the team.
Detroit Pistons – Dave Bing
Bing was a seven-time All-Star for the Pistons and played for them from 1966 to 1975. He was perhaps the team’s first All-NBA caliber shooting guard.
Golden State Warriors – Klay Thompson
It’s hard to argue Klay Thompson’s place on this list. He is the most successful shooting guard the Warriors have ever had.
Golden State Warriors – Mitch Richmond
Richmond is a three-time All-Star with the Warriors and played for them from 1988 to 1991.
Golden State Warriors – Jason Richardson
While the high flyer was never named to any All-Star teams during his tenure with the Warriors, he won two Slam Dunk Competition titles as a member of the team.
Golden State Warriors – Monta Ellis
Arguably one of the best second-round picks to play in the last couple of decades, Ellis went from virtually an unknown player into a solid 20-point scorer for much of his time in a Warriors jersey.
Houston Rockets – James Harden
In addition to being named the 2018 Regular Season MVP, Harden was an eight-time All-Star with the Rockets and was on multiple All-NBA teams.
Houston Rockets – Clyde Drexler
Already a dynamic shooting guard before being traded to Houston, Drexler was the missing piece the Rockets needed in order to capture the 1995 NBA Championship.
Houston Rockets – Tracy McGrady
At 6 foot 8, McGrady alternated as a shooting guard or the small forward for the Rockets from 2004 to 2010. If it wasn’t for injuries, maybe his tandem with Yao Ming could have brought a team a title in the mid to late 2000s.
Houston Rockets – Vernon Maxwell
Although Maxwell’s stint with the team ended in such a frustrating way, he was nonetheless instrumental in their surprising title run in 1994.
Indiana Pacers – Reggie Miller
Miller played for the Pacers from 1987 to 2005. He is arguably the greatest player to ever wear a Pacers jersey.
Indiana Pacers – Jalen Rose
Rose may come up short when it comes to personal accolades on the court, but the versatile guard/forward was a lethal scorer, especially from the perimeter.
Indiana Pacers – Victor Oladipo
Oladipo only spent a few seasons with Indiana, but he was a two-time All-Star for the team. Arguably, he had his best seasons as a pro as a member of the Pacers.
Indiana Pacers – Lance Stephenson
Hate him or love him, Lance truly made the defenders dance. He had two separate stints with the Pacers and almost made the All-Star game if it wasn’t for a few factors against his way. Stephenson was certainly a fan favorite in Indiana due to his antics on the court.
Los Angeles Clippers – Randy Smith
Truly one of the best players of the franchise, Randy Smith was named the All-Star Game MVP in 1978. He was fast and strong as a shooting guard and was also a strong finisher inside the paint during his NBA career.
Los Angeles Clippers – Jamal Crawford
Crawford played for the Clippers from 2013 to 2017. He won two Sixth Man of the Year trophies during the “Lob City” era of the team.
Los Angeles Clippers – Lou Williams
Like Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams was also a stud for the Clippers in a sixth-man role. As a result, he also won two Sixth Man of the Year trophies while playing for the team and had his best years as a pro as a member of the Clippers.
Los Angeles Clippers – J.J. Redick
Redick played for the Clippers from 2013 to 2017, during the “Lob City” era. Initially viewed as a bust during his early years with the Magic, Redick reinvented his game for the Clippers and was one of the best shooters in the league for nearly a decade.
Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant
Nobody would argue Kobe’s place in this list. Not only was he one of the greatest players to ever don a purple and gold jersey, but Kobe was also one of the best shooting guards to ever play in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers – Jerry West
West was named an outstanding fourteen-time All-Star during his career as a Laker. He also won one championship for the team in 1972 and played for them from 1960 to 1974.
Los Angeles Lakers – Gail Goodrich
Goodrich’s name may be lost to some Lakers fans, but his contributions to the team in the 60s and early 70s were impressive. He won a championship with the team as the backcourt mate of Jerry West in 1972.
Los Angeles Lakers – Byron Scott
While we mostly remember Byron Scott as an NBA head coach, he was the starting shooting guard for the Showtime Lakers during their multiple title runs in the 1980s.
Memphis Grizzlies – Tony Allen
The heart and soul of their ‘Grit-N-Grind’ era, Allen garnered multiple All-NBA Defensive Teams as a member of the Grizzlies in the 2010s.
Memphis Grizzlies – Mike Miller
Miller played for the Grizzlies from 2003 to 2008 and 2013 to 2014. He was part of the Pau Gasol-led team in the mid-2000s and reached the NBA Playoffs a few times during that era.
Memphis Grizzlies – O.J. Mayo
Although Mayo only played four seasons with the Grizzlies, he had his best seasons as a pro with the team from 2008 to 2012.
Memphis Grizzlies – Desmond Bane
Bane’s inclusion in this list is warranted due to the fact that he was overlooked as a prospect but somehow blossomed as a member of the Grizzlies in recent years. He is currently part of their franchise core alongside Ja Morant.
Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade
Wade is Mr. Miami. He was the Finals MVP in 2006 and won two more championships with the team from 2012 to 2013. DWade is also considered one of the best shooting guards in NBA history.
Miami Heat – Dan Majerle
Marjerle played for the Heat from 1996 to 2001. In his twilight career, he brought toughness and leadership to a young squad during their playoff runs in the late 1990s.
Miami Heat – Steve Smith
Smith won Rookie of the Year in 1992 as a member of the Miami Heat. He was a tall shooting guard by NBA standards, standing at 6 foot 8.
Miami Heat – Jimmy Butler
You can argue that Butler plays either the shooting guard position or the small forward position but we can’t deny the impact he’s had on the team in recent years. He made Miami an unlikely contender despite the multitude of injuries the team has gone through since 2020.
Milwaukee Bucks – Sidney Moncrief
Moncrief was a five-time All-Star as a member of the Bucks and was certainly the best player of the team throughout the 1980s.
Milwaukee Bucks – Ray Allen
Ray Allen played for Milwaukee from 1996 to 2003. He was one of the best players to ever come out in the legendary 1996 NBA Draft class and steered the Bucks into an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2001.
Milwaukee Bucks – Michael Redd
While Michael Redd’s stint with the Bucks was often tainted with injuries, he was still one of the best shooters in the league for nearly a decade. Redd was also a member of the famed US Olympic team, the Redeem Team.
Milwaukee Bucks – Ricky Pierce
Pierce was one of the league’s best sixth man in the 1980s. As a result, he has won two Sixth Man of the Year trophies as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards
Just in his early 20s, Edwards is arguably the best shooting guard for the Timberwolves, not just now but maybe ever. He’s rising fast as the best American-born player in the league in recent years and that’s all because of his swag on and off the court.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Latrell Sprewell
Sprewell had a brief stint with the Wolves but was the starting shooting guard for them during their Western Conference Finals run in the 2004 NBA Playoffs.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Wally Szczerbiak
Szczerbiak was named to his lone All-Star as a member of the Timberwolves in 2002. He was not flashy as a player but was a great teammate and a shooter for the team during the KG era.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Doug West
West played for the Timberwolves from 1989 to 1998. He was the original Mr. Timberwolf as he was one of the team’s first-ever draft picks when they started out in the NBA as a new expansion franchise in 1989.
New Orleans Pelicans – David Wesley
Wesley played for the Hornets from 2002 to 2005 and was the running backcourt partner of point guard Baron Davis.
New Orleans Pelicans – Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon is one of the best ultimate role players in the league in the last decade or so. He played for the Pelicans from 2011-2016 and was often one of the team’s best shooting guards in that NBA era.
New Orleans Pelicans – CJ McCollum
McCollum has played both guard positions in his time with the Pelicans and is a solid veteran presence for this fairly young team.
New Orleans Pelicans – Jrue Holiday
Like CJ McCollum, Jrue Holiday also alternated between both guard positions as a member of the Pelicans. While he was not named an All-Star in New Orleans, he was widely considered one of the best shooting guard defenders in the entire league during his time with the team.
New York Knicks – Allan Houston
Houston was a two-time All-Star as a member of the Knicks from 1996 to 2005. Who could forget his game-winning floater against the Heat in the first round of the 1999 NBA Playoffs?
New York Knicks – Earl Monroe
Earl the Pearl Monroe alternated between the point guard or shooting guard role for the Knicks during their title run in the early 70s. To this day, he’s still a beloved figure in the popular franchise.
New York Knicks – John Starks
When it comes to popularity when it comes to Knicks shooting guards, there’s no denying that John Starks takes the cake for this NBA team. The former undrafted guard was instrumental in the team’s playoff runs throughout the ’90s.
New York Knicks – Latrell Sprewell
Sprewell donned the Knickerbocker jersey from 1998 to 2003. He had a huge role during their surprising NBA Finals run in 1999 as an eight seed in the East.
Oklahoma City Thunder – James Harden
*While the Thunder and the SuperSonics technically share team records, let’s just separate the two teams and solely list the Thunder as a standalone team due to the fickle history of how the Sonics were relocated to OKC more than a decade ago.
With that being said, a then-young James Harden is arguably the best shooting guard this NBA team has had throughout their history. Had they not elected to keep the underwhelming Serge Ibaka instead of Harden, there’s no doubt in our minds that this team could have won a championship with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in tow.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
You may argue that SGA is a point guard, but yes, you are right. However, during the 2019-2020 season, Shai was tasked to play the shooting guard position with Chris Paul running the point for a single NBA season. During that time, he truly became a star under the tutelage of CP3.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Josh Giddey
With a relatively short list for OKC, Josh Giddey takes the third place as one of the team’s best shooting guards. However, his spot is still up for grabs as he’s fairly inconsistent during his time with the Thunder.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Andre Roberson
Pre-injury, Roberson was one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. He was the perfect role player behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook’s reign with the team.
Orlando Magic – Nick Anderson
Anderson gets credit here as he’s the first player ever selected by the Magic as an expansion team in 1989. He played for Orlando from 1989 to 1999.
Orlando Magic – Tracy McGrady
T-Mac was truly magical for Orlando(no pun intended) during his four-year stint with the team from 2000 to 2004. He was widely considered to be one of the best players in the entire league during that time.
Orlando Magic – J.J. Redick
While Redick’s career start was full of challenges with the Magic, he slowly worked his way up the ladder and became a solid starter for them at the latter part of his Orlando Magic tenure.
Orlando Magic – Victor Oladipo
Oladipo was one of the best rookies in 2013 and displayed his insane athleticism for the Magic from 2013 to 2016.
Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Iverson
The 6-foot Iverson was named league MVP in 2001. He was the heart and soul of this Sixers team from 1996 to 2006. He then came back for the 2009-2010 season and finished his career donning the Sixers uniform.
Philadelphia 76ers – Hal Greer
Greer was a ten-time All-Star and won a championship as a member of the Sixers from 1958 to 1973. His jersey is hanging at their team’s rafters.
Philadelphia 76ers – Andrew Toney
Toney played for the 76ers from 1980 to 1988. He was a two-time All-Star and a member of their 1983 NBA championship team as their shooting guard.
Philadelphia 76ers – Hersey Hawkins
A one-time All-Star with the Sixers, Hawkins played from 1988 to 1993. After the Dr. J era ended, he played an important role as the team’s star shooting guard.
Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker
Booker is arguably the best Phoenix Suns player since being drafted by the team in 2015. He’s considered one of the best shooting guards in the NBA in recent years.
Phoenix Suns – Paul Westphal
Westphal was a gifted scorer as a member of the Suns from 1975 to 1980 and 1983 to 1984. His number 44 jersey was retired by the team up in their rafters.
Phoenix Suns – Dan Majerle
Majerle played for the Suns from 1988 to 1995 and was named to three All-Star games for his efforts on both ends of the floor.
Phoenix Suns – Jeff Hornacek
Hornacek’s high basketball IQ and clutch shooting endeared him to Phoenix Suns fans during his time in the desert. He is a beloved figure in the franchise to this day.
Portland Trail Blazers – Clyde Drexler
Drexler is certainly the NBA’s best shooting guard in the 1980s and 1990s not named Michael Jordan. The renowned high flyer led the Blazers to two Finals appearances in the early ’90s.
Portland Trail Blazers – Brandon Roy
Roy’s career in the NBA might be short, but during his heyday, certainly, nobody in the league could stop him one-on-one. Even Kobe Bryant was impressed with Roy’s skillset as a player.
Portland Trail Blazers – CJ McCollum
Naturally a point guard, CJ McCollum emerged as the team’s starting shooting guard after his rookie season in the league in 2013 while playing alongside star Damian Lillard.
Portland Trail Blazers – Jim Paxon
Fans fondly remember Paxon as Chicago’s beloved role player, but before he even donned a Bulls jersey, he was a two-time All-Star as a member of the Blazers throughout the ’80s.
Sacramento Kings – Mitch Richmond
Richmond was a five-time member of All-Star teams for the Kings. During this time, he was often the lone bright spot for the team from 1991 to 1998.
Sacramento Kings – Doug Christie
Christie did not have any personal accolades on the court as a member of the Kings, but he was a pest defensively. He was the team’s starting shooting guard during multiple NBA playoff runs in the early to mid-2000s.
Sacramento Kings – Kevin Martin
Who could forget Kevin Martin’s odd yet effective shooting stroke? He was the team’s go-to scorer from the mid to late 2000s after the Chris Webber era.
Sacramento Kings – Buddy Hield
Even though Hield never truly developed a game aside from his reliable three-point shot, he was often one of the lone bright spots for the team from 2016 to 2022.
San Antonio Spurs – Manu Ginobili
Not only was Ginobili the best shooting guard ever for San Antonio, but he was also one of the best sixth man to ever play in the NBA. He won four titles with the team and was a crowd favorite during his entire stay in Texas.
San Antonio Spurs – George Gervin
Fondly nicknamed “The Iceman,” Gervin dazzled the NBA with his athleticism, especially with his famous move, the finger roll. He was an elite scorer while a member of the Spurs.
San Antonio Spurs – Alvin Roberston
Robertson was a defensive pest while playing for the Spurs. He won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1986. Opposing players feared him as he never backed down from any defensive assignments.
San Antonio Sours – Sean Elliot
Elliot had two stints with the Spurs, but his most memorable one was from 1994 to 2001. He played a crucial role in the team’s playoff success in the latter part of the 1990s.
Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan
It’s safe to say that DeRozan was the best two-guard to ever play for Toronto. He was effective as a scorer and was equipped with the clutch gene too.
Toronto Raptors – Morris Peterson
During Vince Carter’s Raptors era, Morris Peterson was the team’s starting shooting guard. He was not flashy like VC but he was a stable presence at the backcourt.
Toronto Raptors – Tracy McGrady
Before going off with the Magic, McGrady’s legend started off in a Raptors jersey. His refusal to share the spotlight alongside his cousin Vince Carter in Toronto led to his exit from the team in 2000.
Toronto Raptors – Norman Powell
Powell was not a regular starter for the Raptors, but whenever he’s called to play, he almost certainly delivered every single time. He was an instrumental part during the team’s 2019 NBA Championship run.
Utah Jazz – Pete Maravich
Maravich was a four-time All-Star as a member of the Jazz. He was one of the most popular players in the league in the 1970s.
Utah Jazz – Jeff Hornacek
Hornacek was the team’s most important member as the starting shooting guard during their back-to-back NBA Finals runs in 1997 and 1998.
Utah Jazz – Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell led the Jazz to the Western Conference Semifinals as a rookie – a feat almost unheard of. He helped bring Utah to relevance for nearly half a decade, especially in the Western Conference.
Utah Jazz – Darrell Griffith
Griffith won Rookie of the Year in 1981 as a member of the Jazz. While he did not become a star many have predicted, he was one of the best players for the team throughout the 1980s.
Washington Wizards – Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal’s time with the Wizards was a fun time for the team and its fans. They were consistently participating in the playoffs. He was also a three-time All-Star during his time in DC.
Washington Wizards – Jeff Malone
Malone played for the Wizards(then Bullets) from 1983 to 1990 and was named to a couple of All-Star games.
Washington Wizards – Phil Chenier
Chenier was one of the best players in Washington during their title-winning run in 1978. He was also a three-time All-Star while donning the Bullets jersey.
Washington Wizards – Michael Jordan
Okay. While this seems out of the blue, let’s just let this slide because it’s Michael Jordan. While his Wizards team was rather forgettable to many, he did have some memorable moments for the team. Plus, his two-year stint with them became a huge drawback then.
