Golden State Warriors

Power ranking NBA Western Conference shooting guards

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Today, the NBA is in a golden era of point guards. But shooting guards are just as vital in an age where backcourts might matter more than ever.

Yesterday, we ranked the Eastern Conference’s premier shooting guards. The East has a nice crop of top-notch off-guards, which is especially stacked at the top. From Jimmy Butler to DeMar DeRozan, this season has been a wonderful coming-out party for that group of guys.

However, the Western Conference boasts the league’s best player at the position as well as a cluster of under-appreciated contributors surrounding him. In a conference that has been at the forefront of the league’s pace-and-space fad, the West’s two guards are largely of the sharpshooting variety. Plain ‘ole shooting guards.

Additionally, the West has an abundance of incredible backups like Alec Burks, Jamal Crawford and Will Barton who outperform the starters on other teams. Ranking guys so close together in skill and production is no easy task, and while objectivity is the goal, it’s eventually going to come down to preference.

In this ranking, defense and shooting were rated higher than almost any other category of value, as I see players of fitting into the shape of the modern Western Conference as more valuable than pure scorers or defenders. The rankings reflect such a valuation.

You may be surprised to see who made the first ten on this list:

The first ten

15. Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies

14. Alec Burks, Utah Jazz

13. Brandon Knight, Phoenix Suns

12. Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs

11. Allen Crabbe, Portland Trailblazers

10. Victor Oladipo, Oklahoma City Thunder

9. Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

8. Will Barton, Denver Nuggets

7. Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks

6. J.J. Redick, Los Angeles Clippers

Honorable Mentions: Lou Williams, Evan Turner, Jonathon Simmons, Tyreke Evans, Manu Ginobili, Seth Curry

Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) celebrates after a 3-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns during a NBA game at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Suns 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers

Clarkson is one of several Lakers to drastically exceed expectations this year. Fans and media were stymied by Kobe Bryant’s Farewell Tour last year and how it would affect the development of the young players on the team going forward.

Along with Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell, Clarkson represents part of an extremely competitive young core that is being maximized by coach Luke Walton. But don’t let his membership in that core or help from a wunderkind coach undersell what Clarkson has been able to do this year.

Clarkson is averaging 15.4 points and 2.3 assists per game in just less than 28 minutes, on a 50.6 percent effective field goal rate and more of a return to what he was in his rookie year. He’s not quite a point guard this season, but he shares the backcourt off the bench with Lou Williams, another combo guard.

That has unlocked extra ball-handling duties for Clarkson, and he’s rewarded Luke Walton’s confidence by returning to an above-.200 free throw rate (free throw attempts per shot attempt) and a usage rate just shy of 25 percent.

What can he do next? Why is he only fifth? Well, the defense still needs work. Though Clarkson is at a disadvantage with slow feet and subpar athleticism, he has to make more of an impact on defense to earn starter-level minutes on a competitive roster. And continuing to make an impact as a passer and play-maker, backing up Russell in the second unit more capably, would allow the Lakers to keep and push leads even further than they have so far this season.

Nov 18, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots the ball during warm ups prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Bill Simmons has often told the story of hanging out with Magic Johnson in the ESPN green room during the 2013 NBA Finals, and watching Magic’s reaction as LeBron James led the Miami Heat to consecutive close wins over the San Antonio Spurs to clinch their second consecutive title and the first definitive performance of James’ career.

While not in the same stratosphere in terms of accomplishment or legitimacy, we’re seeing a Little League version of that phenomenon occur this year with Devin Booker and the league’s superstars. From Kobe Bryant to Klay Thompson, champions across the NBA are already giving Devin Booker tremendous public respect.

The kid has only been in the league two years. He’s twenty years old.

And here’s the thing: Booker is somehow in the middle of what might be considered an underwhelming season, sitting at 19.8 points per game and 33.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. Eric Bledsoe has taken the lead for a young team that could have been considered Booker’s when the season started. T.J. Warren might even be the most surprising youngster in Phoenix, not Booker.

Even considering all of this, Booker is most definitely on his way to stardom. That he has been able to come into the league and demonstrate play-making, driving, and leadership abilities above and beyond his reputation as a knockdown shooter is remarkable.

When the living legends show respect for a young player, fans would do well to open their minds and listen.

Nov 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots the ball during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

3. Rodney Hood, Utah Jazz

If you’ve heard news about the Utah Jazz over the past two seasons as a casual NBA fan, or a SportsCenter viewer, that news has probably been focused mostly on injuries. Whether it be Rudy Gobert last year, Derrick Favors this year, Dante Exum last year, Alec Burks both years, or Gordon Haywood both years, Utah has had some awful luck.

Constant and unwavering amid a roster falling apart around him, Hood has played his game and continued to get better every season.

This year, Hood is up to 17.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 37 percent on 3-pointers per 36 minutes. The Jazz are +4.0 points per 100 possessions when Hood is on the court, the highest mark of his career. Utah has succeeded in the draft by continually nailing late-lottery do-it-alls, and Hood may represent their greatest success.

Without a point guard last year, Hood often handled the ball and initiated the offense. This year, with both Hayward and new acquisition George Hill healthy, he has more often moved without the ball, and he has accordingly upped his volume and efficiency on threes.

He could get to the line more to further diversify his offensive game inside the arc, but he seldom turns the ball over and makes things happen with the ball in his hands.

Similarly, there is a nitpicking possibility in his lack of turnover creation on the defensive end despite his long and athletic frame. Yet he uses that body nicely to stay with ball-handlers and affect drives to the hoop consistently.

Hood is as well-rounded as they come in a league that continues to emphasize versatility and malleability.

Oct 25, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) celebrates after a basket by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Portland won 113-104. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

2. CJ McCollum, Portland Trailblazers

What’s not to love about the CJ McCollum story? From mid-major standout to Duke upsetter in the 2012 NCAA Tournament to lottery pick. Then from bench rider to starter to star. Blue-collar as they come.

So it’s only fitting that he end up in a gorgeous Terry Stotts offense next to Damian Lillard in Portland, swerving through and around screens, chucking shots over a scrambled defense, and getting to the rim. The Blazers make the end result appear slick, but you’re constantly aware that work is being done.

It’s popular to lump Lillard and McCollum together, both stylistically and statistically. While they both possess incredible off-the-bounce shooting ability and creative play-making technique, they are different players. McCollum is better suited for the in-between game, constantly launching crafty shots in the paint or from midrange.

Portland is at full-strength when both get going, but Lillard needs McCollum at this point. The Blazers’ success has continued without LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews largely because of McCollum’s craftiness and instantaneous development.

He has improved upon a season in which the NBA media voted him as the league’s Most Improved Player, so what does that make him now? Ignore the awards; McCollum has continued his improvement in nearly every statistical category and belongs in the superstar conversation just as much as his more famous backcourt-mate.

Nov 21, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) signs autographs for fans before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

1. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

The best shooting guard in the Western Conference (and possibly the entire NBA) has a shoe deal with a Chinese company named Anta Sports. Let that sink in, and it’ll tell you a lot of what you need to know about Klay Thompson.

Thompson has always been about taking what he’s given, striving for improvement, and deferring celebration to others. The shoe deal is a microcosm of his existence in the spectrum of NBA stardom.

On a Golden State superteam, Thompson has supposedly slowed down. Except that in every major category except 3-point shooting, he’s remained stationary statistically. In fact, his free-throw shooting is better this year, as is his efficiency on 2-pointers. As Kevin Durant has occupied more space on offense, Thompson has further managed to make the most of his looks.

The Warriors still play quickly, and the attention drawn by Durant and Stephen Curry open things up underneath quite a bit. Thompson has taken advantage this year by being aggressive in transition and attacking closeouts whenever possible. The 3-point shot will come. It always has.

More importantly, Thompson will be a big part of the Warriors’ eventual positive regression on the defensive end. He is currently off to the worst start of his career on the defensive end, per several advanced metrics. A -3.3 Defensive Box Plus-Minus and a 110 Defensive Rating would both be the lowest since his rookie year. If Golden State can find big man defense from some crevice of its own roster or the trade market, Thompson’s life will be made easier, and his defensive stats will return to career norms.

Either way, when a “down” year means 21 points and three made 3-pointers per game, you have a clear step up on the rest of the league. When improvement is expected, it means you’re the best off-guard in the entire darned conference.