Shooting guards are plenty in the NBA. This has long been known as the position full of superstar names. The position that all the really popular guys play. They playmakers. The shooters. The scorers. The defenders. The guys that get to take the game winning shot. The guys that enter the slam dunk contest. Either way you look at it, this position has a long list of superior players and the top ten was quite difficult to pick. With that said, here it is:

1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers – 2008 Stats: 28.3 PPG, 5.4 APG – The 2007-2008 season MVP took his team from turmoil to the NBA Finals. Of course, most of this turmoil was caused by Bryant himself, but very few can say that his unhappiness for the Lakers lack of player movement was unjustified. With all the noise that surrounded this team last season, this season’s outlook is completely different. The new drama, how will all these big time players coincide and share playing time. Kobe Bryant is one of the older players on this young team and will have to prove his maturity in being able to help the coaching staff make things click on the court. Another place to improve would be to reduce the turnover numbers.

2. Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets – 2008 Stats: 26.4 PPG, 7.1 APG – Allen Iverson spent the entire season in Denver alongside big name players such as Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, JR Smith, and Kenyon Martin. This team has plenty of depth and plenty of size. AI was picked to come onto this team in order to lead them over the hump and take them deep into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Nuggets were swept in the first round of the playoffs last season by the Lakers and were left searching for answers. The Nuggets answer: reduce salary and hope things work out on their own. AI is a monster and has the ability to be the best player in the NBA. I truly feel that he will break out once again this season, the last year of his current contract, and prove his worth yet once again, whether in Denver or elsewhere.

3. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat – 2008 Stats: 24.6 PPG, 6.9 APG – Wade is a great player. Three years ago when the Miami Heat won the title, he was the key to guiding the team to the promised land, not Shaq. Last season, Miami was the worst team in the NBA, while having a solid roster, and had the opportunity to improve the supporting cast yet once again this Summer. After a great draft, Dwyane Wade truly has no excuse to not guide this team into the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference. Wade had an incredible run at the Olympics and proved what he is truly capable of. He is an incredible player with incredible potential. Let’s hope that he breaks out this season and shows what the future has in store.

4. Tracy McGrady – Houston Rockets – 2008 Stats: 21.6 PPG, 5.9 APG – Good scoring numbers, solid assist numbers, low turnover ratios, and solid shooting percentages have caused me to put the often fragile TMac at #4. McGrady has been known for many issues, constant back problems, knee problems, and various other injuries, on top of his inability to lead his team out of the first round of the playoffs. This is his final chance to prove the critics wrong. After the Rockets have swung a great deal for Ron Artest this Summer, the starting lineup is superior and the bench is quite deep. TMac is bound to have a solid year and help guide Houston to the promised land, or at least out of the 1st round.

5. Manu Ginobli – San Antonio Spurs – 2008 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 4.5 APG – Ginobli is an Argentian monster that is capable of dominating any game at any time. He has a magical ability to turn on the jets and run past the other team as if they were never even there. The real astonishing part, he does this off the bench. Manu has been moved to a sixth man position on this Spurs team and is still dominating the league. His numbers are quite high in all categories and he plays just over 31 minutes, more than 5-8 minutes less than most other shooting guards on this list.

6. Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets – 2008 Stats: 21.3 PPG,  5.1 APG – Wow is pretty much all I can say. Vince Carter seems like a name thats been around for just about forever. He has been a superstar in this league for years already. The man that made the windmill and the between the legs dunk popular. He shared a team with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. They were a great three man squad that led the Nets to the NBA Finals in the beginning of this decade. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to make much noise since and Carter is all thats left. He has vowed to step it up and lead this young team to the promised land. Together with young point guard Devin Harris I have no doubt this team will succeed.

7. Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks – 2008 Stats: 21.7 PPG, 5.8 APG – Not the household name. He has performed at his highest level in Atlanta so far and has taken them to the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. The Phoenix Suns traded him so that they can have the money available to sign Steve Nash years back and that has proven to work out for them. The Hawks are happy they have JJ because he is a very versatile player. I think that within the next two or three years, Johnson will continue to grow and reach a much higher level in the league. It’s only a matter of time before he really becomes a beast. I would like to see him work on his defense a bit but this is the season for him to step up and lead a team.

8. Brandon Roy – Portland Trailblazers – 2008 Stats: 19.1 PPG, 5.8 APG – In addition to his points and assists averages, Roy also averages just under five rebounds per game. From his first year in the league to his 2nd year, his stats improved across the board. Points jumped about three per game and the real positive is his assist numbers going up almost two per game. Roy is one of the brightest spots, of many, on the current Blazers roster. His ability to mesh with Lamarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden will be key. Also, the way he plays in the back court with Rudy Fernandez will be key to how this team finished the season.

9. Michael Redd – Milwuakee Bucks – 2008 Stats: 22.7 PPG, 3.4 APG – For a guard, his assist numbers are slightly low, but he makes up for it with incredibly good shooting. Averging over 20 points per game for his entire career, he has been shooting the ball consistently and the only reason he isn’t as popular as the other guys is because his franchise has failed to find quality role players to surround him with as well as it being a small market team. The Bucks have recently pulled the trigger on acquiring Richard Jefferson and the deal may pay dividends for Redd. Finally the offense will be more scattered and he won’t have to create all his own plays.

10. Richard Hamilton – Detroit Pistons – 2008 Stats: 17.3 PPG, 4.2 APG – RIP has proven hismelf year after year to be a determined competitor. He has challenged every great player and has risen to the occasion. He is a superb defender and an even better teammate. His presence in the locker room is very influential and he proved it when the Pistons won the title in 2004. It seems like so long ago that he was a champ, but he has been a key asset to his team for years now in creating plays for Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and even himself. He is the perfect complement to Billups in the back court.