American media ranks the top 20 shooting guards in NBA history: Jordan first, Kobe second, Harden fifth, and McGrady twelfth.

On July 26, Beijing time, the well-known American media HoopsHype began updating their historical top 20 rankings for various positions. Following the top 20 point guardsthey released the top 20 shooting guards list: Jordan is first, Kobe is second, Harden is fifth, and McGrady is twelfth.

The specific rankings are as follows—

Positions 1-5: 1. Jordan, 2. Kobe, 3. Wade, 4. Iverson, 5. Harden;

Positions 6-10: 6. Gervin, 7. Drexler, 8. Reggie Miller, 9. Ray Allen, 10. Carter;

Positions 11-15: 11. Earl Monroe, 12. McGrady, 13. Greer, 14. Klay Thompson, 15. Sam Jones;

Positions 16-20: 16. Ginobili, 17. Dennis Johnson, 18. Joe Dumars, 19. Bill Sharman, 20. Goodrich.

Here are brief analyses of some of the listed stars—

1. Jordan

Top honors: 6-time NBA champion, 6-time Finals MVP, 5-time regular-season MVP, 10-time All-NBA First Team, 14-time All-Star, 1-time Defensive Player of the Year, 9-time All-Defensive First Team, 2 Olympic gold medals.

Regular season ranking: 4th in steals, 5th in scoring, 52nd in assists, 126th in blocks, 141st in rebounds.

Playoff ranking: 2nd in scoring, 3rd in steals, 13th in assists, 34th in blocks, 40th in rebounds.

Michael Jordan may be the most iconic and recognized athlete in sports history, serving as the face of the NBA for a long time. His celebrity status beyond sports was once unbelievable, and it still is today.

Jordan's mid-range offense—face-up isolation, hesitation dribble, pull-up jumper, turnaround jumper, fadeaway jumper—was unparalleled. He was also a naturally gifted athlete, capable of finishing despite physical challenges. Furthermore, his ability to deliver in clutch moments was exceptional, often hitting game-winners under pressure. Oh, and he was also a top-notch defender.

2. Kobe

Top honors: 5-time NBA champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 1-time regular-season MVP, 11-time All-NBA First Team, 18-time All-Star, 9-time All-Defensive First Team, 2 Olympic gold medals.

Regular season ranking: 4th in scoring, 17th in steals, 36th in assists, 117th in rebounds, 212th in blocks.

Playoff ranking: 4th in scoring, 6th in steals, 12th in assists, 42nd in both blocks and rebounds.

Kobe Bryant's peak may not have reached the heights of other superstars, but his career is a continuous legend of excellence—stemming from his nearly unmatched work ethic and dedication to basketball skills, which helped him become a top scorer in mid-range and at the rim, as well as a highly impactful perimeter defender.

Initially, Kobe was a sidekick to Shaquille O'Neal but later became the core of the Lakers, winning 5 championships, including 2 Finals MVP awards. Notably, Kobe made the All-NBA First Team more times than Jordan (!). Aside from Michael (Jordan) and Magic (Johnson), few players have inspired as many people to love basketball as he did.

3. Wade

Top honors: 3-time NBA champion, 1-time Finals MVP, 8-time All-NBA Team member, 13-time All-Star, 3-time All-Defensive Second Team, 1 Olympic gold medal.

Regular season ranking: 32nd in steals, 34th in scoring, 48th in assists, 132nd in blocks, 292nd in rebounds.

Playoff ranking: 12th in scoring, 15th in steals, 25th in assists, 27th in blocks, 65th in rebounds.

Dwyane Wade is one of the greatest shooting guards of all time. He never won a regular-season MVP but came close in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Although Wade’s three-point shooting is not his strength, he remains a top scorer—able to navigate through defenders during pick-and-rolls with a rare gliding layup finishing ability and reliable mid-range shooting.

At the same time, he is an excellent playmaker and above-average defender, particularly impressive in shot-blocking, holding the record for the most blocks by a player 6 feet 4 inches (about 1.93 meters) and under in NBA history. Later in his career, to chase championships, Wade willingly took a backseat to LeBron James, showcasing great humility.

4. Iverson

Top honors: 1-time regular-season MVP, 7-time All-NBA Team member, 11-time All-Star.

Regular season ranking: 14th in steals, 30th in scoring, 53rd in assists.

Playoff ranking: 58th in steals, 60th in scoring, 82nd in assists, 404th in rebounds.

Allen Iverson was not only one of the best point guards of his era but also a cultural icon. Despite being officially listed at 6 feet (about 1.83 meters), he was undoubtedly one of the most explosive athletes in basketball history. Iverson's crossover is lethal (just ask Jordan), and his dynamic scoring style made his games during his peak incredibly entertaining. On and off the court, Iverson is one of the most influential players in history, and at his peak, he was among the most electrifying players to watch. With such an unconventional playing style, he still ranks among the top scorers, which is truly impressive.

5. Harden

Top honors: 1-time regular-season MVP, 6-time All-NBA First Team member, 11-time All-Star, 1-time Sixth Man of the Year, 1 Olympic gold medal, 1 World Cup gold medal.

Regular season ranking: 11th in scoring, 13th in assists, 26th in steals, 162nd in rebounds, 202nd in blocks.

Playoff ranking: 8th in assists, 12th in steals, 14th in scoring, 60th in rebounds, 84th in blocks.

With his remarkable scoring ability and playmaking talent, James Harden boasts a resume worthy of the Hall of Fame. His crossover and step-back jumpers make him hard to defend, and his strong shoulder contacts during drives are a weapon for attacking the rim. In the coming years, he still has opportunities to add to his legendary career, though winning a championship ring with the Los Angeles Clippers seems unlikely now.

Believe it or not, Harden currently ranks higher on the all-time assists list than on the scoring list, which proves that besides his historic scoring skills, he is also a highly gifted playmaker. However, his inability to achieve breakthrough success in the playoffs may leave a lasting mark on his career resume.

12. McGrady

Top honors: 7-time All-NBA Team member, 7-time All-Star, 1 Most Improved Player award.

Regular season ranking: 78th in scoring, 118th in assists, 123rd in steals, 153rd in blocks, 252nd in rebounds.

Playoff ranking: 216th in scoring, 186th in assists, 194th in blocks, 387th in rebounds, 300th in steals.

Tracy McGrady's playoff career could have been significantly better (he never advanced past the first round during his peak) and a longer career might have greatly changed his ranking. However, during his prime, McGrady was one of the most explosive and well-rounded wing players in basketball. If he played in the modern NBA, he would undoubtedly showcase his dominance.

14. Klay Thompson

Top honors: 4-time NBA champion, 2-time All-NBA Third Team member, 5-time All-Star, 1-time All-Defensive Second Team.

Regular season ranking: 111th in scoring, 475th in assists, 611th in rebounds, 329th in blocks, 366th in steals.

Playoff ranking: 29th in scoring, 54th in steals, 101st in blocks, 113th in assists, 136th in rebounds.

His historical data may be the main reason he was not included in the final list of the NBA's 75 greatest players, but it must be noted that Klay Thompson missed two entire seasons during his prime due to injury. Even so, he has still made 5 All-Star appearances, won 4 championships, and ranks among the top 6 in all-time three-pointers made.