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On an NBA roster, a shooting guard can be one of the best offensive weapons. In the modern NBA, shooting guards are asked to be solid shooters from all over the court while offering some playmaking ability.
Shooting guards are often a massive part of a team’s offensive strategy and can usually put up big scoring numbers on any given night. These five shooting guards should improve on previous seasons and play crucial roles in their teams’ success.
#5 Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers, Shooting Guard
Like most rookies, it took some time for Tyrese Maxey to get acclimated to life in the NBA. On top of that, he was playing on Philadelphia 76ers teams with clear NBA Finals aspirations, with a head coach who doesn’t play rookies often. Despite Maxey showing flashes in the playoffs, he still did not get the amount of playing time some 76ers fans believed he should get.
Maxey ended the regular season averaging just 15.3 minutes with eight points a game, shooting 46% from the field and 30% from three. Maxey struggled early in the season, posting a true shooting percentage of 50% before the All-Star break. However, his true shooting percentage went up to 56% after the break, while his offensive rating went from 106 to 115.
As Maxey got more comfortable and confident in the NBA, his production increased. He could be seen as a breakout player as he starts to reach his full potential because Ben Simmons will likely be traded at some point this season.
Simmons being traded will leave a massive hole in the 76ers starting lineup, and in due time Maxey might be able to fill it. In six games where Maxey played more than 30 minutes, he averaged 22.7 points, having a 59% true shooting percentage. If this can be translated into this season, Maxey could play a massive role in the post-Simmons 76ers.
#4 Nickeil Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans, Shooting Guard
Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be entering his third season in the NBA after being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets' 17th overall and then traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. Alexander-Walker had a rough rookie season, only played 12.6 minutes a game with 5.7 points, and shot 37% from the field.
In more minutes last season, Alexander-Walker showed that he could be more productive, doubling his minutes and points while improving his all-around shooting to 42%. His three-point shooting stayed the same both seasons, at 35%, but he nearly doubled his attempts between seasons.
Like Maxey, Alexander-Walker can take advantage of the hole Lonzo Ball will leave after being traded to the Chicago Bulls. After the All-Star break, Alexander-Walker started 10 out of the 18 games he appeared in, averaging 28.5 minutes and 15.4 points after the break. His shooting numbers went from 40% to 42% from the field, but the most significant jump was 31% to 38% in his three-point shooting.
In the first three pre-season games, Alexander-Walker has already scored 22, 19, and seven. If he can stay more consistent, he will be the starting shooting guard for the rest of the season.
#3 Kevin Porter Jr., Houston Rockets, Shooting Guard
The Houston Rockets should be an exciting team to watch this season. They are littered with young talent, one of those being Kevin Porter Jr.
Porter is in the perfect position to put up some great offensive performances this season, mainly because the Rockets don’t have a lot of other options to get their offense from. Christian Wood will be an option too, and rookie shooting guard Jalen Green will definitely have a few moments to shine.
But last season, Porter showed that he could be an offensive weapon, averaging 16.6 points and 6.3 assists in 26 games last season for the Rockets. His style of play is a perfect complement for Wood, and they will be running a smooth pick-and-roll offense together. Because of Porter’s playmaking ability, he might have the ball in his hand more than Green, allowing him more shooting opportunities.
Porter has already splashed in the preseason, dropping 25 points in the first preseason game for the Rockets. The question mark for Porter will be his three-point shot. Last season he was just 31% on 6.2 attempts, so seeing an increase in his shooting percentage might directly correlate with an increase in his scoring numbers.
#2 Kendrick Nunn, Los Angeles Lakers, Shooting Guard
In his rookie year, Kendrick Nunn exploded on the scene, making an All-Rookie team as an undrafted player. Nunn started every 67 games he appeared in, averaging 15.3 points on 44% from the field and 35% from three. However, late-season struggles, COVID-19 NBA break, and the rise of 13th overall rookie Tyler Herro saw Nunn’s minutes decrease in the playoffs.
The same thing happened to Nunn last season. He started most of the games, again averaging over 29 minutes a game. His shooting percentages increased to 49% from the field and 38% from three. However, he took two fewer shots, averaging 14.6 points a game and decreasing 0.5 points since his rookie season.
Nunn decided to leave the Miami Heat in free agency and took a cheap two-year $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nunn could still offer a lot to this team on its championship run, playing along with three ball-dominant stars in LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.
Nunn will be able to offer floor spacing for the big three to operate in the paint while also knocking down open threes. Nunn, in his career, has taken 5.8 threes a game, making 36% of them. This is a massive upgrade on Dennis Schroder, who only took 3.5 threes, making 34% of them in his one season with the Lakers.
Even though so far, this preseason, Nunn has not made his presence felt for the Lakers. But his shooting ability might make him a key piece if the Lakers want to win another NBA Finals.
#1 Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors, Shooting Guard
Jordan Poole exploded onto the scene last season, averaging 23.4 minutes and 14.4 points a game after the All-Star break. Based on his rookie season, his offensive explosion must have caught some people off guard. In his rookie season, he averaged 8.8 points, shooting 33% from the field and 28% from three, in 22.4 minutes a game.
Last season, Poole went down to 19.4 minutes a game, and just about every shooting static increased. Poole was able to find his role in the Golden State Warriors offense and was able to thrive. He became the player that Stephen Curry could count on when he was double-teamed just past half-court.
With Klay Thompson still expected to miss some time, this will be Poole’s chance to shine as a part-time offensive sidekick for Curry early in the season. In three preseason games, Poole has scored 30, 17, and 28. Yes, often, the preseason does not mean much, but if Poole keeps doing this, he could play a massive role for the Warriors early in the season.
Even when Thompson returns, Poole will still be the spark plug scorer off the bench. Late in the season, he will still be getting big minutes as the Warriors pish for a playoff run, and if they make it, expect Poole to play a crucial role for the Warriors.
