NBA shooting guard Mount Rushmore: Top 4 SG of all-time ranked feat. Kobe Bryant
Throughout NBA history, some of the greatest players of all time have been shooting guards.
From the greatness of Michael Jordan to the second coming of Kobe Bryant, two guards are leaders on the offensive end with explosive traits to help them put the ball in the cup.
Here's a closer look at a Mount Rushmore list of the best shooting guards in NBA history:
Top 4 shooting guards in NBA history
#1. Michael Jordan
Who didn't see this pick coming? The first face on the Mount Rushmore of shooting guards is the most recognizable name in NBA history – Michael Jordan.
The great "Air" Jordan's resume speaks for itself: Five NBA MVPs, six NBA championships, six NBA Finals MVPs, 11 All-NBA selections, nine All-Defensive selections, 10 scoring titles and a DPOY award in 1987-88.
In his 15 years, Jordan was voted to 14 All-Star games, only missing the 1994-95 season when he returned to the NBA after trying out professional baseball. He averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game for his career.
#2. Kobe Bryant
The second face on the shooting guard Mount Rushmore is the closest thing to Michael Jordan the NBA ever saw.
From being told he'd never fill the shoes of Jordan, to capturing five NBA championships of his own, the late great Kobe Bryant showed that nothing is impossible with hard work.
In a storied 20-year career, the "Black Mamba" earned 15 All-NBA selections, 12 All-Defensive selections, two NBA Finals MVPs and a lone NBA MVP in 2007-2008. Bryant was also named to 18 NBA All-Star games and managed to surpass Jordan to finish fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 33,643 points.
For his career, Bryant averaged 25.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 4.7 apg.
#3. Dwyane Wade
Next on the Mount Rushmore of all-time NBA shooting guards is "The Flash", Dwyane Wade.
Entering the NBA, Wade was one of the many legendary faces of the historic 2003 NBA draft class, but his career was one of few.
In his 16 years in the NBA, Wade made eight All-NBA teams, three All-Defensive teams and earned 13 NBA All-Star selections. Wade won three NBA championships with the Miami Heat and a Finals MVP in the 2005-06 NBA Finals, officially turning Miami into "Wade County".
He finished his career averaging 22.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 5.4 apg, also winning a scoring title in 2008-09.
#4. James Harden
The final spot on the shooting guard Mount Rushmore will need some extra time to sculpt "The Beard".
Over the last decade, James Harden has been one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, including three straight seasons of averaging 30-plus points per game from 2017-2020.
In his career, James Harden made 10 NBA All-Star games and earned seven All-NBA selections, winning the NBA MVP in 2017-18. He has averaged 24.1 ppg, 7.1 apg and 5.6 rpg in his career so far.
Harden arguably made better cases for the MVP in the two seasons that followed, averaging 36.1 ppg, 7.5 apg and 6.6 rpg in 2018-19 and 34.3 ppg, 7.5 apg and 6.6 rpg in 2019-20 while playing for the Houston Rockets.
Do you agree with this list? Who makes your Mount Rushmore of all-time NBA shooting guards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.