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Gameplay in the NBA has changed over time, producing players who have transcended their traditional roles and responsibilities. One such change has seen the emergence of the combo guard.
While the concept might be difficult to grasp, a combo guard is essentially a player who combines the skills of a point guard and a shooting guard. The great Allen Iverson is a great example in this regard because not only could he create, he was also an adept scorer.
Although either guard can bring the ball up the court, the idea is to have the ball in the hands of your best handler and passer to stand a chance of winning games in the NBA. While most shooting guards have decent ball-handling skills, not many can orchestrate the offense and drop dimes effectively.
On that note, here's a look at the top five combo guards in the NBA right now.
#5 Collin Sexton
Collin Sexton is traditionally a shooting guard. But his size puts him at a disadvantage in the NBA, especially against shooting guards like Klay Thompson, who stands at 6' 6". However, he has given himself an edge by developing point guard-like skills.
Sexton has been a bright spark for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are undergoing a rebuilding process since LeBron James' departure after the 2017-18 NBA season. In his rookie season, Sexton averaged 16.7 points and three assists.
Although the Cavs finished 13th in the Eastern Conference, Sexton enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 24.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. The Cavs have surrounded the youngster with decent talent heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.
#4 Kemba Walker
Injuries have plagued Kemba Walker in the last couple of seasons, limiting his production for the Boston Celtics. The last time he played all 82 games was during the 2018-19 NBA season when he was with the Charlotte Hornets.
While some might see Walker as strictly a point guard, his bucket-getting ability doesn't suggest that. He adopts a shoot-first mentality, but releases the ball if there is an open teammate, or if he fails to shake off his defender, which is quite unlikely.
If he manages to stay healthy, he could definitely improve on his 19.3 points and 4.9 assists averages he tallied the 2020-21 NBA season. He will be the second scoring option behind Julius Randle, and is expected to link up with players in offense.
#3 Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is the most explosive guard in the NBA right now, and easily functions as a combo guard for the Chicago Bulls.
Although the Bulls had an outstanding offseason that saw the acquisition of Lonzo Ball, LaVine would still be the focus of their attack.
The Bulls have not had much success in the 21st century, but things could be different moving forward. LaVine recorded career-high numbers in points (27.4), assists (4.9), rebounds (5) and field goal percentage (.507) in the 2020-21 NBA season. He also shot an effective 41.9% from beyond the arc.
#2 Devin Booker
The acquisition of Chris Paul has been one of the best decisions the Phoenix Suns front office has made in years. Although Devin Booker is the shooting guard, he brought the ball up the court for the Suns more often than anyone else at the time.
Booker flourished in his former role, but was not getting much production from his teammates. With Paul on the court, he has had an easy time scoring and securing wins for his team.
Although his burden orchestrating the offense has reduced, he still performs as a combo guard on occasion. He has done that while continuing to develop as a scorer and as a playmaker. He ended the 2020-21 NBA season averaging 25.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
#1 James Harden
James Harden is traditionally a shooting guard, but has transformed his game to the point of being a master ball-handler and has developed incredible court vision. The NBA community recognizes his new prowess, more specifically, his teammates. That was evident when Kyrie Irving agreed to give up his role as the traditional point guard to enable Harden to be at his best.
Harden first led the league in assists (11.2 per game) during the 2016-17 NBA season. Over the next three campaigns, he was the scoring champion. During the 2020-21 season, he averaged a double-double in points (24.6) and assists (10.8) for the first time in his 12-year career.
Heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, Harden should continue his new role. That could be more beneficial for the Brooklyn Nets during the playoffs, as Harden has been an unreliable shooter during the postseason. Although he's not as nifty as Irving, Harden undoubtedly has better court vision and can link up well with his teammates on the court.
Guess the Lakers players!
