Rank the NBA's Best Guards under 28

[The-Power]

Leaving out the post-prime Guards, how would you rank the NBA's Guards that are currently in their (early) primes, both currently and over the next five years?

Here's the list of relevant players (sorted by age taken from bbref) but feel free to add. I tried to only include those players who have made an All-Star team or have played at a level that makes them at least valid candidates.

– Devin Booker (27)
– Jalen Brunson (27)
– De'Aaron Fox (27)
– Donovan Mitchell (27)
– Desmond Bane (25)
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)
– Trae Young (25)
– Luka Doncic (24)
– Darius Garland (24)
– Ja Morant (24)
– Tyrese Haliburton (23)
– Tyrese Maxey (23)
– LaMelo Ball (22)
– Scottie Barnes (22)
– Anthony Edwards (22)

edit: Added poll on the second part of the question.

[Colbinii]

Every time I see Anthony Edwards is still only 22 I am blown away--and he is a young 22 [He will be 22 for the duration of the season].

This is strictly Regular Season [Tiers in no order]

Weak MVP Tier
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)
– Devin Booker (27)
– Tyrese Haliburton (23)
– Luka Doncic (24)

All-NBA Tier
– Ja Morant (24)
– Trae Young (25)
– Jalen Brunson (27)
– Anthony Edwards (22)
– De'Aaron Fox (27)
– Donovan Mitchell (27)
– Tyrese Maxey (23)

All-Star
– LaMelo Ball (22)
– Darius Garland (24)
– Scottie Barnes (22)
– Desmond Bane (25)

In the Post-Season, I like these guys as players who can be either the best or have the ability to take over a series offensively

– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)
– Devin Booker (27)
– Tyrese Haliburton (23)
– Luka Doncic (24)
– Anthony Edwards (22)
– De'Aaron Fox (27)
– Donovan Mitchell (27)

[EmpireFalls]

Doncic is the best.

[cupcakesnake]

1 and 2. Luka/Shai
I have a Shai/Luka argument in my head. I've already seen Luka do some stuff in the playoffs, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt until I see Shai do some stuff there too. I think Shai and Luka both have elite gifts they use to produce easy offense. With Shai it's the first step combined with the deacceleration that he uses for deadly counters. For Luka it's the brute strength combined with the passing and midrange touch. I think Shai has less warts than Luka, and we've gotten to see him in less helioccentric situations on offense.

3. Tyrese
The offensive package is simply outrageous and far more advanced than anything the guys below him on this list are bringing to the table. As far a playmaking guards who are shooting threats, he's seperated from the pack (Garland, Trae, Lamelo) and is orchestrating some Nash-ty offense in Indiana. The defense stops him from going any higher, and gives the guys below him a strong argument against him. Sometimes he looks so physically weak on defense, and he's not currently making up for his lack of physical advantages with noticeable focus, motor, or smarts.

4. Book
After that Booker has accomplished the most. He's ridiculously consistent with that strong pull up game, and he's really built out the accoutremonts on offense. He's a better passer, driver, and off-ball guy every year.

5. Ant
I got Ant next. I think he has the talent to eclipse Booker, but Booker has the decision making tree a little more down pat. Ant's shooting is sneaky very very good. If he has one more mini-leap as a playmaker or rim pressuring scorer, that would be all it would take to get into the top 3 guards.

6. Ja
Premium rim pressure guard + the transition attack. He can be inconsistent with his shot and the playmaking comes and goes. I don't love the whole game and worry about his longevity. But he has an elite skill that brings immense value.

7. Mitchell
8. Fox

Things get murkier and murkier after this. Maxey, Brunson, Trae, Lamelo, Bane are all bringing different strengths and weaknesses.
I have no idea how to compare Barnes to these players. I get that he's the primary playmaker in Toronto right now, but big stretch to call him a guard. You can for sure make the argument he's the 2-guard in Toronto (say OG is the 3 and Siakam is the 4), but it's a very weird roster and I doubt too many teams would play him in the backcourt. He's an interior scorer on offense, and a weakside disruptor on defense.

[Texas Chuck]

1 and 2. Luka/Shai
I have a Shai/Luka argument in my head. I've already seen Luka do some stuff in the playoffs, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt until I see Shai do some stuff there too. I think Shai and Luka both have elite gifts they use to produce easy offense. With Shai it's the first step combined with the deacceleration that he uses for deadly counters. For Luka it's the brute strength combined with the passing and midrange touch. I think Shai has less warts than Luka, and we've gotten to see him in less helioccentric situations on offense.

FWIW Luka also has the elite deacceleration and its long been a huge part of his game.

I'd also agree SGA has less flaws than Luka. But to date he has lower highs as well. I think in the context of a championship level squad that probably makes SGA the choice over Luka, who is the guy who can do stuff like take a pretty marginal Mavs team to the conference finals. But whose defense, carelessness with the ball, and FT shooting can hurt more against other championship level teams.

[LukaTheGOAT]

Luka based on past performance, although I don't like this newer version of Luka that does less work at the rim and in the post. I am hoping he is just pacing himself, and will up his rim attempts in the PS as needed. If not, well then this post of me picking Luka might look bad a few months from now.

I pick Luka, because his PS performances since 2020 matchup well with any player sans maybe Giannis/Joker.

Luka's last 3 PS

3-Year BPM-9.7

20 Backpicks BPM-7
21 Backpicks BPM-7
22 Backpicks BPM-7.5


3-year Minute-Weighted RAPTOR-8.59

3-year Minute-Weighted EPM-5.89



For comparison sakes,

Steph's last 3 PS

3-Year BPM-6.4

19 Backpicks BPM-5.9
22 Backpicks BPM-6.3
23 Backpicks BPM-3.1

3-year Minute-Weighted RAPTOR-7.26

3-Year Minute Weighted EPM-5.14


Embiid's last 3 PS

3-Year BPM-3.1

21 Backpicks BPM-4.3
22 Backpicks BPM-1.8
23 Backpicks BPM-2.1

3-year Minute-Weighted RAPTOR-6.95

3-year Minute-Weighted EPM-1.91


KD's last 3 PS

3-Year BPM-5.7

21 Backpicks BPM-6.7
22 Backpicks BPM-1.8
23 Backpicks BPM-3.7

3-year Minute-Weighted RAPTOR-1.25

3-year Minute-Weighted EPM-3.42


Luka comes out looking better in every number metric listed here. Keep in mind we didn't even get to see 2023 Luka (the best version of Luka) in the PS, so the gap Luka has in these metrics might really be understated. Luka has quite arguably been better his last few PS the biggest contenders here, and he is the youngest here.

You would expect based on typical aging curve, that Luka should be moving further into the heart of his prime, so perhaps there is even more to be excited about. Yet even if Luka weren't to grow and just maintain his past PS production, it still looks much better than many established stars who are often given top 3-5 player in the world shouts.

[rk2023]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=_HOjrsiLtTYaVpOZxyl7Iw

The answer for 1 will stay the same until another one of the young guards steps up like this come April

[Colbinii]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=_HOjrsiLtTYaVpOZxyl7Iw

The answer for 1 will stay the same until another one of the young guards steps up like this come April

Luka did this in August. I doubt any 21 year old would ever replicate this in August.

[shakes0]

Leaving out the post-prime Guards, how would you rank the NBA's Guards that are currently in their (early) primes, both currently and over the next five years?

Here's the list of relevant players (sorted by age taken from bbref) but feel free to add. I tried to only include those players who have made an All-Star team or have played at a level that makes them at least valid candidates.

– Devin Booker (27)
– Jalen Brunson (27)
– De'Aaron Fox (27)
– Donovan Mitchell (27)
– Desmond Bane (25)
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)
– Trae Young (25)
– Luka Doncic (24)
– Darius Garland (24)
– Ja Morant (24)
– Tyrese Haliburton (23)
– Tyrese Maxey (23)
– LaMelo Ball (22)
– Scottie Barnes (22)
– Anthony Edwards (22)

edit: Added poll on the second part of the question.

and Trae Young continues to be the most disrespected star player on RGM.

[Colbinii]

Leaving out the post-prime Guards, how would you rank the NBA's Guards that are currently in their (early) primes, both currently and over the next five years?

Here's the list of relevant players (sorted by age taken from bbref) but feel free to add. I tried to only include those players who have made an All-Star team or have played at a level that makes them at least valid candidates.

– Devin Booker (27)
– Jalen Brunson (27)
– De'Aaron Fox (27)
– Donovan Mitchell (27)
– Desmond Bane (25)
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)
– Trae Young (25)
– Luka Doncic (24)
– Darius Garland (24)
– Ja Morant (24)
– Tyrese Haliburton (23)
– Tyrese Maxey (23)
– LaMelo Ball (22)
– Scottie Barnes (22)
– Anthony Edwards (22)

edit: Added poll on the second part of the question.

and Trae Young continues to be the most disrespected star player on RGM.

Why?

[shakes0]

Leaving out the post-prime Guards, how would you rank the NBA's Guards that are currently in their (early) primes, both currently and over the next five years?

Here's the list of relevant players (sorted by age taken from bbref) but feel free to add. I tried to only include those players who have made an All-Star team or have played at a level that makes them at least valid candidates.

– Devin Booker (27)
– Jalen Brunson (27)
– De'Aaron Fox (27)
– Donovan Mitchell (27)
– Desmond Bane (25)
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)
– Trae Young (25)
– Luka Doncic (24)
– Darius Garland (24)
– Ja Morant (24)
– Tyrese Haliburton (23)
– Tyrese Maxey (23)
– LaMelo Ball (22)
– Scottie Barnes (22)
– Anthony Edwards (22)

edit: Added poll on the second part of the question.

and Trae Young continues to be the most disrespected star player on RGM.

Why?

because he's not even listed as a poll option. And he's better and more accomplished than at least half the people in that poll.

[Colbinii]

and Trae Young continues to be the most disrespected star player on RGM.

Why?

because he's not even listed as a poll option. And he's better and more accomplished than at least half the people in that poll.

You can only have 10 options in a poll. Someone had to be left out of the poll, but Trae is in the OP and the only person who made a list with everyone included Trae in their [It is me!] Top 11, with clear arguments for #5.

[shakes0]

Why?

because he's not even listed as a poll option. And he's better and more accomplished than at least half the people in that poll.

You can only have 10 options in a poll. Someone had to be left out of the poll, but Trae is in the OP and the only person who made a list with everyone included Trae in their [It is me!] Top 11, with clear arguments for #5.

believe me, I know that you are a Trae supporter. It's easy to remember all of them on this site since there's about 5 total not counting Hawks fans.

[The-Power]

because he's not even listed as a poll option. And he's better and more accomplished than at least half the people in that poll.

As Colbinii already stated, I could only include nine players plus the other option. Trae was my last cut. Considering that the ‘Other’ option only has one vote right now (maybe yours?), it doesn't seem like many people have him #1.

And if you don't have him #1 either, then it doesn't really matter whether he's listed or not, does it? You can make an argument that he should be included over some of the others but you can also make the argument for each of them over Trae. Choices had to be made.

This is not some disrespect campaign towards Trae either. Feel free to check my posting history, I know what kind of offensive talent he is and I knew that since before he was even drafted. Stuff like this really shouldn't bother you as much.