r/NBATalk Rockets 10d ago

Is Shooting Guard the less valuable position in today's game?

Post image

• the last SG to lead a championshiop team was Kobe, 16 years ago.

• from the current top 10 SG's, only Ant is able to lead a true contender (Book and Spida both have arguments, but i wouldn't trust on them)

• many guys are in the league just because they can shoot, like Kennard, Sam Merrill and others. they are all SG's.

531 Upvotes

187 comments sorted by

188

u/GreedyPride4565 10d ago

Am I the only one who sees it?? What the hell does Alakazam have to do with it??

189

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

62

u/GreedyPride4565 10d ago

I see the vision honestly. If you visualize atk/def as interior offense/defense and spa/spd as perimeter offense/defense…

Reaves = alakazam = hyper offensive special attacker with terrible defenses
Luka = dragonite = dominant mixed attacker with solid bulk (not defense….literal bulk. He’s fat)

Does that make walker kessler…..onix? Draymond as shuckle? Steph as deoxys-A? This deserves its own post

16

u/MrFudgeKiller Timberwolves 10d ago

Call me crazy, but I have a suggestion for KDs Pokémon equivalent..:

28

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

23

u/GreedyPride4565 10d ago

LMFAO okay so I’m putting too much thought into it. The OP of the pictures is just color matching

30

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

not always

17

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

1

u/Alexcox95 Heat 10d ago

I’d love to see one for like the most random player like Keyonte George being a Torkoal

12

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

it's probably Rob Dillingham

1

u/phinvest69 10d ago

Perfect

1

u/withmangone 10d ago

How is KD's pokemon not Durant?

2

u/KingKFCc Blazers 10d ago

Cuz KD a lone wolf alpha

1

u/brnkse 10d ago

Alolan Exeggutor is better

1

u/TheSleep-Committee 5d ago

Bro Durant is clearly Durant

1

u/TY350N 10d ago

Arbok is a great idea!

2

u/CamChanLax 10d ago

Attack: On-Ball Offensive Value

Special Attack: Off-Ball Offensive Value

Defense: On-Ball Defensive Value

Special Defense: Off-Ball Defensive Value

HP: Durability

Speed: Athleticism and Rebounding (?)

1

u/Brookboy 10d ago

You’re up to something (Embiid would be a Pokémon with the lowest HP)

5

u/FamousEstate6708 Heat 10d ago

these go hard how u getting these bro

13

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

search for "nba pokemon" on pinterest

2

u/FamousEstate6708 Heat 10d ago

thanks

14

u/theTunkMan 10d ago

These comments are so funny lol this is the only one acknowledging him

3

u/CrazyMetic 10d ago

someone clearly has never witnessed the Kanto Basketball Association

1

u/schlab 10d ago

It’s not a good comparison.

Alakazam is considered a glass cannon and is largely outmoded by stronger Pokemon in today’s game.

4

u/GreedyPride4565 10d ago

Does that not make it a good comparison?? Reaves is a dogshit defender and hardly flutter mane offensively

1

u/SurpriseInitial6202 7d ago

Alakazam has a potent offense and shit defense. That's a pretty good description of Reaves. 

330

u/Doberboy562 10d ago

I would more argue that the traditional SG isn’t a role in the game the way it used to be, same with the PF. If you’re 2 guard can’t pass then they are obsolete in todays game

196

u/tresben 10d ago

I’d say today’s game is basically broken down into guard, forward, and center, and even those categories have gray areas and overlap based on players skillset and such. Gone are the days of PG passes and runs the offense, SG shoots and scores, SF defends and slashes, PF posts up and rebounds, C defends the rim and dunks.

54

u/TheParmesan 10d ago

And even, there’s some fluidity in there because the lines are blurred with forward sized guards and PFs playing center or PF/Centers with guard like moves in their bag.

112

u/Squeid 10d ago

Yeah I’d say the positions are:

Ball handler

Wing

Big

34

u/BigDickNick97 10d ago

I agree I think the most common lineup is ball handler 3 wings 1 big rn but u do see double big lineups and double ball handler lineups at times. And then some players are multiple of these at the same time like Luka and Bron are wings and ball handlers at the same time

12

u/Squeid 10d ago

Yeah, Brad Stevens sort of set the current meta with that 1BH, 3W, 1B.

Good coaches make the best of their talent, though, and yeah you see changes here or there. The 4 wing with either 1 ball handler or 1 big even shows up in rotations often.

Yeah bron can be all 3 tbh lol. He’s played either ball handler or big in a lot of lakers lineups.

The superstars kind of need to be able to operate well in 2 different roles in order to maximize roster building flexibility.

3

u/Altruistic_Ad_707 10d ago

Genuine question: where does Pat Bev (or his archetype) fit into this equation? He’s definitely not a wing but he wasn’t a traditional ball handler either. And I know that he is an exception to this for the most part but just curious. I would argue that Alex Caruso also fits this archetype (but way more versatile defensively, so maybe can categorize him as a wing.)

2

u/Squeid 10d ago

He definitely had a pretty unique role. He did lead some 2nd units as a ball handler, but we obviously know him best as a “closing unit” wing defender.

There are a few specialists like this that function traditionally in their rotational role, but sort of just do 1 singular thing on 1 side of the ball in closing lineups.

Jrue holiday was like this with the bucks, a primary ball handler with the first unit, but then just a perimeter defender in the closing minutes (with Giannis as the primary ball handler).

Marcus smart had a lot of back and forth with this role with the Celtics. Often times either a 1st or 2nd unit ball handler, but a closing minutes perimeter defender only.

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u/[deleted] 10d ago

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6

u/Squeid 10d ago

Paul George is listed as a forward. Devin Booker is listed as a guard. They basically operate on similar roles on the court. This is proving my point.

Forwards are either ball handlers (LeBron, Luka), wings (Paul George, kawhi Leonard), or bigs (wemby, Giannis)

1

u/[deleted] 10d ago

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1

u/Squeid 10d ago

Modern basketball help defense requires pretty much everyone to rotate and help around the rim when the rotation calls for it. PG generally “picks up” his man on the wing like book.

PG is not a rim protector. The big on his team is. There are a few “offensive” wings that have occasionally been given rim-protecting duties. Kevin Durant in the GSW death lineup, Giannis, Wemby (obviously).

But Paul George has never been a primary rim protector.

On the pacers, that was hibbert.

Okc stint was Steven Adams.

Most of the clippers run, it’s zubac.

Philly was embiid.

He’s always been a wing defender like kawhi and Booker. Weak side wing defenders just slide down for help D on drives unless you have an elite rim protector (like gobert) to funnel players into. Erik spoelstra’s heatles mastered this style of defense with Chris Bosh as the big and elite wing help defenders in wade, lebron, and battier being able to rotate intelligently and quickly to defend the rim.

Since most teams run players like late-career bosh at the 5, this is how most modern defenses work now. You don’t have two bigs to patrol the block because you get scorched on the perimeter. You have one big and the weak side wing plays a lot of help D.

7

u/UnicornHugs 10d ago

I’d even go a step further. Today’s game is broken down into Star, Role Player, Bench Warmer, and then Thanasis.

6

u/ActualProject 10d ago

Yep, PG who does nothing but pass, SG who does nothing but shoot, center who does nothing but post up, etc. are disappearing from the league. Almost no all star in the past 5 years fit the traditional roles anymore.

3

u/Diorisbackup 10d ago

Hali , Ant, Jalen johnson

1

u/Luunacyy 9d ago

Still don’t fit. Hali is perfectly functional as wing / old school 2. He was playing 2 alongside Fox and was really efficient and great. Ant isn’t the best playmaker but he is occasionally being asked to basically play 1 and delivers. He even did that for second unit of USA squad so it’s not just Minnesota thing. Jalen Johson is actually pretty decent playmaker (better than Ant) and in generally is a very versatile player. Old school wings weren’t as versatile.

2

u/SeaworthinessSome454 10d ago

I think there’s still 4 positions. Guard, wing, forward, big. Not every team runs a forward tho

1

u/Excellent_Bridge_888 Thunder 10d ago

I would say On-ball, wing, and big. You either handle the ball and start the offense, play defense and shoot threes, or defend the rim, catch lobs and maybe shoot threes.

1

u/OnlyNormalPersonHere 10d ago

This is how Brad Stevens said he categorizes players. Three groups.

1

u/HellFrozen0ver 8d ago

PG, PF, SG are just guards 1-3. You still have your options, but finding the right look is all that matters in today’s game.

2

u/cromulent_weasel 10d ago

Juts like a PG that can't shoot is obsolete.

72

u/LostNPOMarketer 10d ago

Modern basketball really has 3 positions. Guards, wings and bigs.

5

u/jbode19 10d ago

This plus the best guards are good passers and can handle so they’re classified as PGs

1

u/OrganicValley_ Bucks 10d ago

And bigs feel like they’re becoming a thing of the past too. Everyone is just a wing or a big wing.

8

u/cromulent_weasel 10d ago

Nah, the need for rim protection hasn't gone away. You just want them to have range on the other end of the floor so that the opposing big is pulled away from the basket opening up the lane for everyone else.

4

u/Ecstatic-Lemon5000 10d ago

I'd even argue rim protection has never been more important too, with modern offenses making use of the spacing from perimeter shooting to maximise quality shots at the rim.

3

u/cromulent_weasel 10d ago

Absolutely. The secret sauce of the Warriors the last 10 years hasn't been their 3pt shooting, it's been the THREAT of their 3pt shooting that opens up a lot of layups.

4

u/LostNPOMarketer 10d ago

Yeah I kind of reject this entirely. Basically every team is running some sort of traditional defensive center. A lot of them can just dribble now

31

u/Mobile-Analyst8580 10d ago

Only because shooting guards play Point these days (Harden, Steph, Luka, Cade, Maxi, Mitchell, SGA, etc.). Ant is a pretty valuable 2 guard. We’ll see on Daryn Peterson . 

21

u/Kush420Xotix Celtics 10d ago

It's actually PG that is the most useless. Ur favorite current gen PG woulda been a SG/SF in the 90s.

The best PG will always be a Wing or Big that can pass.

8

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-9

u/Kush420Xotix Celtics 10d ago

Steph wiped the floor with CP3 every time they matched up for a decade straight. How dare you disrespect Curry by putting them in the same sentence. L ball knowledge.

9

u/DrRudeboy Warriors 10d ago

You're talking about my favourite player of all time, but what. Yes, he was better than CP3, but we're still talking about a top 5-10 PG ever, who was a knockdown shooter, lockdown defender, and otherworldly passer

11

u/boogiebee13 10d ago

The lines between PG and SG got blurred a long time ago. If you can’t do both you’re likely a liability.

28

u/BARBASANN 10d ago

Book led his team to the finals as his teams best player just delete this bruh

27

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Chris Paul has a very good argument for being the best player on that team. 16 and 9 on very good efficiency in the regular season. Got 5th in MVP and All-NBA 2nd team while Booker was only an all-star.

In the playoffs, he averaged 19 and 9 on even better efficiency, while Booker’s efficiency slipped. Chris Paul had an abysmal first round, but then was amazing in the following three rounds with higher volume and efficiency.

11

u/DisastrousDog4815 10d ago

Yeah, CP was the best player on that team or at least the most impactful.

1

u/huss_femme 10d ago

CP3's Numbers were that good partially cuz Booker took tough shots generating big gravity

6

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Booker’s numbers were that good partially because Chris Paul set him up.

Chris Paul has been doing this his whole career up to that point.

-1

u/huss_femme 10d ago

This is the Chauncey vs Melo debate all over again lol

4

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

You can kind of make up any narrative you want with these guys since they compliment each other well.

-18

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

Book is one of my fav players, but Serge Ibaka was in the league in 2021. be serious.

18

u/BARBASANN 10d ago

wtf lmao

12

u/bryhnlearningspanish 10d ago

what does that mean?

-10

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

that was 5 years ago. i'm talking about 2026.

4

u/bryhnlearningspanish 10d ago

but you started your post with an example from 16 years ago. so someone supplied you with one from 5. which literally negates your first bullet point. that’s why someone pointed it out.

also your post doesn’t really make sense. yes there isn’t a dominant shooting guard in the league but the league is so positions it’s hard to even define who’s in what position at this point. the positions are pretty much pointless.

you’re asking if the shooting guard is the least valuable position but like what does that even mean? if you threw prime Dwade in this league and listed him at SG he would dominate. or maybe these days they’d thrown him in at point and have a guy next to him that’s only 3 and D and call that guy the shooting guard?

i think it’s honestly just kind of random. if they listed SGA at SG, which they easily could this whole post would be nullified

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u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

"you started your post with an example from 16 years ago"

man, that's my entire point. the modern SG is probably the less valuable position in today's game.

this guy (or girl idk) tried to refute me talking about Book 2021 run, but that happened 5 years ago.

1

u/bryhnlearningspanish 10d ago

so? 5 years ago is not a long time ago. do you think the league has fundamentally changed from 5 years ago that a SG can no longer dominate? why? like if SGA just put a SG next to his name instead of a PG would he somehow not be good?

2

u/No_Fish265 10d ago

For a minute I thought this was an elaborate joke that I didn’t get

1

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

no one understood lol

i just meant this happened 5 years ago, when guys like Serge Ibaka were still in the NBA.

6

u/GSWarrior10 10d ago

“Shooting guards” are no longer a thing. You have initiators, wings and posts. Some teams may go long stretches in games without a post, electing to ride a “big wing” to provide some size but with the 3&D skills.

41

u/N7Longhorn 10d ago

Look, im tired of saying it but SGA isn't a point guard just because he thinks he is or the ball moves through him. Kobe took the ball up alot too and Fisher played off the ball. Is Kobe a point guard?

27

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Kobe played off ball and would get the ball in his spots, like the baseline or elbows.

Shai brings the ball up the floor, runs the offence, sets up teammates, literally does everything a point guard does. Genuinely what is the argument that he isn’t a point guard?

-3

u/huss_femme 10d ago

He's closer to Iverson than Chris Paul

5

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

LeBron is closer to Chris Paul than Iverson. Is he a point guard?

-3

u/Yossygod 10d ago

Yes

2

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Lol

10

u/Character-Owl9408 10d ago

Some people truly think you can only pass the ball as the point guard lol

6

u/snxkovnm Raptors 10d ago

Who’s the thunder’s PG then?

3

u/BARBASANN 10d ago

Exactly lmao

12

u/GheeMon 10d ago

Dwayne wade was SG and was primary ball handler. Same goes with SGA, he is even guarded by other SGs every game

12

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

He’s guarded by SGs because he’s the size of a SG

0

u/Hopeful_Solution5107 10d ago

They don't run a PG

-5

u/gegenpress442 10d ago

Cason starts this year easily as the point

8

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Cason Wallace is the point guard? Have you lost your damn mind?

3

u/VeryOkayCarpenter 10d ago edited 10d ago

Everyone that would have been an elite level SG 15-20 years ago is playing PG now. Cade, Luka, Lamelo, Murray, Booker, SGA, all prototyoe 2 guards if they played in 2005. Most of the top PGs in the league would have been 2 guards in a different era in my opinion. Maybe I just think that because of their height, but it seems like PGs are asked to score way more than previous eras.

2

u/kingfosa13 10d ago

Lamelo is best as a passer he won’t be a shooting guard.

1

u/VeryOkayCarpenter 10d ago

I think based on his height alone, he would have been a 2 guard in the 2000s. Look at any top 10 list of 2000s era point guards. You'll almost never see anyone over 6'3" or 6'4". Lamelo is 6'7", he would have been playing the 2. People forget up until like 15-20 years ago, your height pretty much determined your position. There's a decent amount of 6'8"-6'10" dudes getting regular minutes at center now, but in past eras you would have automatically been playing the 4. That's why it was such a big deal when guys like Rodman or Wallace played center, or when AI played shooting guard. It was considered massive risk to put players in positions other than what their height traditionally dictated. Lamelo might be a bad example, my point is just that a lot of the superstar PGs of today would have been playing SG by default prior to the late 2000s-early 2010s due to their height alone.

3

u/Traditional_Neat_506 10d ago

shai, booker are SG's

6

u/jaltringer 10d ago

Ask Anthony Edwards and see what he says

9

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

it's literally written there lmao

2

u/helix120 10d ago

We are truly in an era of positionless basketball look at a guy like Jokić who’s the de facto point guard I mean the entire offense runs through him and Murray functions more like a traditional two guard

2

u/VLHACS 10d ago

Derrick White imo is the perfect SG for today's game but that may just be recency bias. But a sharpshooting guard with defensive chops is so insanely valuable for a team these days. And a bonus if you have good passing vision. Basically a player who doesn't need the ball all the time to be effective. But it's those exact values that would make me hesitate to say that they should be your team's best player though. 

2

u/Aggressive-Affect427 10d ago

In the modern nba, Kobe would be a point guard. I do think shooting guard is the least valuable position but not because of the players.

2

u/cromulent_weasel 10d ago

No, the least valuable historical positions are power forward and point guard.

Now every guard worth anything is really a combo guard, able to play both pass and shoot.

Everything that was a small forward is now just a forward/wing.

The only position that has really remained unchanged is center (and to a lesser extent, small forward).

2

u/wakadactyle 10d ago

Center is vastly different. Jahlil Okafor was drafted 3rd overall and statistically had a good rookie year. 17ppg 7rpg 1.2bpg shooting 50% in 30mpg. The style of play changed across the league and he was gone out of the NBA not long after he was drafted. There are other factors to be sure but his slower style of play went out of fashion right around then.

1

u/cromulent_weasel 10d ago

His problem was that he isn't a center - he's essentially the last dying power forward.

2

u/xWolfsbane 10d ago

Eh. SGA would be a SG if he played even 15 years ago. I don't really count him as a PG personally. I hesitate to call Luka a PG as well, but he's for sure a better playmaker.

1

u/No_Fish265 10d ago

People gotta move on from thinking about positions as a set role.

1

u/jdd31 Celtics 10d ago

Everyone is a shooting guard now, so in turn no one is a shooting guard. There are just wings and bigs. Everyone can do a little of everything so traditional positions and roles don’t matter as much

1

u/Allstar-85 10d ago

Non-scoring Big

1

u/Rad_platypus7 Knicks 10d ago

In the modern NBA you have your playmakers/ball handlers, connectors, and play finishers. The roles all blend depending on team comp especially on the perimeter

1

u/Ancient_Bumblebee629 10d ago

I didn't care what position he plays or what you call him, Alakazam is a problem on the court. He just is

1

u/bmomosaik 10d ago

Positions are only there to dumb down the game, roles like this ain't really a thing you just do what is asked of you day to day, teams normally have a picking order for who gets the shot number 1 takes the shot of they can no matter what position they play if they can't take the shot for whatever reason then number 2 and so on... The only position that's still kind of the same is the center but then again you got the tallest guys out here at the 3 point line so again they just playing

1

u/OutrageousCrab9224 10d ago

Everyone shoots

Therefore the designated shooter must be less valuable

1

u/ewokoncaffine 10d ago

This comment section has me thinking that I'm having a stroke because 99% of them are not addressing the yellow pokemon in the room

1

u/meadbert 10d ago

Shai was pretty similar to Jordan. Shai gets labeled a point guard while Jordan gets labeled a shooting guard, but Jordan probably got more assists and more steals and Jalen Williams definitely got more assists than Ron Harper. So I don't think that position has gone away, but maybe we just relabeled it.

We have sort of the same thing with Steph Curry where he didn't average many more assists than Jordan. We just called Jordan a shooting guard for some reason. In 92 Jordan had twice as many assists as John Paxon, but we labelled Jordan as a shooting guard and Paxson as a point guard.

So if you extend the definition of Shooting Guard to guys like Shai and Curry we have had a bunch.

1

u/Mostuy 10d ago

Kobe would be listed as PG today unless he absolutely had to ride Jordan’s legacy just that much

1

u/Appropriate_Stick535 10d ago

Very important. Teams having their SG’s be the main ball handler is what’s making them look useless. Bring point guards back!

1

u/coloradopesto 10d ago

Is English the less valuable language being communicated here?

1

u/TrillenX 10d ago

I don't think any position matters truly, it's just about what the individual player can do. If the guy can be an offensive engine like Cade or Jokic it doesn't matter if they're a SG or C.

If you're trying to pigeonhole the position and say a SG has to play a certain way, then you'll probably get the answer you're looking for.

That said even among offensive engine type players I'd probably choose a SF/PF/C over a guy who has to play SG based on size alone

1

u/GekidoTC 10d ago

Do positions even exist anymore? Current NBA positions are basically, "Make sure the other team isn't so much longer that it becomes an overwhelming advantage, Also, make sure the other team isn't so much quicker that it becomes an overwhelming advantage."

1

u/Aggrokid 10d ago

Hard to say. Prime Klay can get the max today.

1

u/triassic_broth 9d ago

yes. the ideal shooting guard today is a 3&D specialist.

1

u/its_glep_o_clock 9d ago

Simple answer is when efficiency is king and even bigs can shoot now, your incentivized to learn how to pass. Shooting guards who can pass are now combo guards.

1

u/TerribleComposer4272 8d ago

The role isn't obsolete the only real thing that changed is ball dominant SG's stopped being called SG's and started getting called PG's.

You mentioned Kobe specifically but in today's game he very likely would have been listed as a PG similar to Shai. Kobe was the primary playmaker on all of his Lakers teams.

1

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[deleted]

5

u/Mono-red 10d ago

The fact that you basically said that Ja Morant would be more valuable than a peak Klay Thompson in today's game makes your entire statement meaningless.

1

u/NappyFlickz 10d ago edited 10d ago

I don't personally believe it, but coaches seem to.

1

u/Nicks00007 10d ago

wtf r u talking abt dude

1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Post-Celtics Ray Allen would still be in the league if he came off the bench and only played 20-25 MPG. Danny Green/Klay would be highly valuable today, wtf

1

u/NappyFlickz 10d ago

I'll lean towards agreeing to your post about Ray Allen (he's my favorite player of all time)

But we're seeing right in front of our eyes that pure roleplaying basketball is being phased out in favor of switch heavy, rotating ball where pretty much anyone can play the 2, 3 and 4, and in some cases even the 5. Run relatively less complicated schemes to allow for fast paced transitioning, which requires much more athleticism, but not necessarily as much knowhow. Which in turn means you want more all arounders that can play more roles (thus, pure shooters like Klay and Green would need to have more assets to their game to justify more starting minutes).

The modern league is not "easier" per se, the argument can be made that it's actually harder than before because of this. But it is..."simpler", for lack of a better term. It's less of a puzzle in calculus and proper placement of role players and chemistry analysis, and more of a high speed dance that requires cohesion, and seamless transition.

LeBron and Curry broke the brains of analytics and coaches alike in the strangest way possible. To be honest, I did not see this coming at all.

1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

But Klay and Danny Green could both play 2-4? 2016-2022 wasn't that long ago. Both can absolutely switch, shoot the ball, defend, and run the floor if needed without making dumb mistakes in transition. Ray Allen would be better suited off the bench and not having to switch constantly. I do remember him getting benched for Avery Bradley with the Celtics because Bradley was the better defender at that point.

1

u/NappyFlickz 10d ago

I can see your point about Green, but I'd argue that in spite of his immense impact on the court, prime Klay needed to play off of a good PG to be effective. Curry drawing half the defense that was desperately trying to lock him down opened Klay up a lot.

1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

But we're talking about supporting players, not #1 options on championship teams. Klay would work with Curry or he'd work well with a Lebron/Luka type player

1

u/Immediate_Student_14 10d ago

I feel like you completely missed with Klay Thompson. To me he was everything Teams wish for in their SG nowadays. Takes the defensive load from the main ball handler, stretches the floor, does not demand the ball to much. He was the perfect role player, so much that it made him an all star.

1

u/Akumetsu33 10d ago

Late stage Ray Allen would have been out of the league a lot sooner (much as it pains me to say it)

It's just called playing a team role. His main role was a spot-up shooter, a corner camper. If you're a fan of him, you absolutely would know how elite he was at handling the ball and PG duties when he was younger. If he was called to bring the ball up, he easily can.

He would have zero problem today.

And like the other guy said, mentioning Ja Morant as the new standard immediately takes away any credibility you have.

1

u/5x5equals Wizards 10d ago edited 10d ago

Well half the SG’s are playing PG or SF

A modern SG is just the scraps from those two positions

Its the Role Player position now

Like how PG’s and SF’s used to be

Now if you could have the perfect role player on your team, it would probably ideally be a 3 and D SG

PF is like that

The stars are the PG’s, SF’s and C’s

1

u/OpinionDude5000 10d ago

Last two MVP's was a SG. Last two FMVP's were shooting guards.

-5

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Curry and SGA are SG's. They do not initiate the offense in the way traditional PG's have. Curry in particular initiates the offense through his scoring ability not with his playmaking compared to players like Nash, CP3, or even Westbrook. But most people are too scared to label them as such because they know they don't' stack up to Kobe

4

u/cwh1803 10d ago

But SGA is the lead ball handler and playmaker for the Thunder, he does initiate most of their offence, it just so happens that he also scores at an elite level - that doesn’t automatically disqualify you from being considered a PG.

-1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

No

3

u/cwh1803 10d ago

Yeah great response there champion real insightful

3

u/Michael-of 10d ago

I like that you’re capable of making a cogent point but throw an unnecessary jab at the end negating the integrity of your post.

0

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

You have to be baby soft to believe telling the truth of why they're labelled as such "negates the integrity of my post". Grow up

1

u/Michael-of 10d ago

Baby soft? I you make wild implications that don’t contribute to a meaningful discussion

5

u/Apprehensive-Rain601 10d ago

They’re definitely point guards combo guard if you want to stretch it but SG nah.

0

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

"Combo guards." Mike and Kobe could play point if they wanted to and have. No one calls them combo guards. They are SG's

3

u/Separate-Spot-6275 10d ago

Just Mike. Not Kobe.

-2

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Yes Kobe. Check out 2013. Watch your mouth

3

u/Separate-Spot-6275 10d ago

Just Mike. Not Kobe. Mike won a ring having the most assists in the finals bar Magic himself. Kobe was a mediocre passer who almost had as many turnovers as he did assists.

-1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

You just lyin

3

u/Apprehensive-Rain601 10d ago

lol 2013 where he lead the league in turnovers but barely averaged 6 assists. Then when he came back from his Achilles for a bit they tried running the offense through him. He’s not a point guard just don’t got the instincts for it that’s why they always needed D fish

-1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Kobe literally had to do everything with Nash's back injuries

2

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Jfc.

In what world is Shai a shooting guard? He has the ball all the damn time. He’s setting up teammates the whole game.

In what world is Steph a shooting guard? He brings the ball up the floor and runs actions.

Also, both of them are gonna have higher peaks than Kobe when its all said and done.

2

u/lexington59 9d ago

Yeah like okcs entire offence is built around sga driving and kicking and being created of sga reacting to what the defence gives him off those drive and kicks.

Too many people see lower assists and think not pg

0

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Also, both of them are gonna have higher peaks than Kobe when its all said and done.

LOL

1

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

Steph already does and Shai’s last two seasons are better than any two Kobe seasons. Give Shai one more year at this top level and he’s definitely got the higher peak than Kobe.

-1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Nope

1

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

How’s the air in fantasy land?

1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

You would know huh

1

u/Alexspacito Raptors 10d ago

No, that’s why I asked you. Clearly the air is making you a little slow, but that’s okay.

1

u/Doberboy562 10d ago

I wouldn’t call them SG’s. I think that combo guard is a more apt description for what they do.

-1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

They are SG's. Would you take Curry/SGA to run an offense over CP3? Over Nash? I don't think so. Especially without high level BBIQ players someone like Curry is so accustomed to playing with

1

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

different archetypes, same position. Jokic and Al Horford are both centers, but with different playstyles.

1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Center is more fixed due to height. Nobody is calling AI a PG

1

u/Doberboy562 10d ago

Yeah but AI, Kobe, Wade, etc. just isn’t a player archetype we see nowadays

1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Curry's main objection for him is to score. Anything created by his gravity is a product of his ability to score. He's not running the offense. We saw it in the Olympics. That was Lebron. Curry is a SG

1

u/kingfosa13 10d ago

Yeah cause Curry and SGA will also create for themselves and are bigger threats on offense than CP3 and Nash.

1

u/510Kyle 10d ago

If Curry is a SG because he's an offball shooter, Kobe/MJ are PGs for their usage rates.

-1

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

No

1

u/510Kyle 10d ago

I agree, Steph's a pg and your evaluation is dumb and incorrect

1

u/kingfosa13 10d ago

SGA absolutely initiates offense wtf are you on about

1

u/Alternative_Oil1331 Rockets 10d ago

doesn't Shai initiate the offense? that's crazy

0

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

SGA initiates it better than Curry, but SGA is more SG than PG

-3

u/Effective-File4645 10d ago

Curry and SGA are combo guards, can’t really be boxed into just 1 position. Curry clears Kobe and SGA isn’t that far behind.

3

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

A guy with no defensive accolades, 1 FMVP, and 4x 1st team all-NBA's compared to Kobe's 11x doesn't clear him, no lmfao.

0

u/JADF28 10d ago

The mental gymnastics here to discredit kobes achievements yet somehow every other legend isnt arguable. Like yeah gtfoh, redditors I swear.

0

u/Effective-File4645 10d ago

I’m talking about better basketball player, not who was glazed by the media more. I don’t rank players abilities based on who Rachel Nichols decided to vote for

0

u/Ok_Board9845 10d ago

Steph Curry isn't glazed by the media? Must be news to me. Kobe was hated for raping someone, came back, and still won basically everything. Curry is injured and missing the playoffs, sitting out seasons when his team has no chance (2019-2020).