Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE
When discussing the top shooting guards in NBA history comes up there’s normally two players who are at the top of the list are Michael Jordan at no.1 and Kobe Bryant at no.2 and then there could be an argument for the next eight spots. Yet, today Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson added another name to the list in Reggie Miller.
He said “When you take Michael Jordan and you take Kobe Bryant out of the discussion, he’s as good as any two-guard that has ever played the game.†It’s also important to note that the two were teammates on the Indiana Pacers and as the point guard and a former teammate it’s not surprising that statement gets made.
Reggie Miller no doubt had an amazing career and is the greatest shooter in NBA history and with the ability to take over games in the playoffs like he did against the New York Knicks several times. None are more famous than the one when he scored eight points in nine seconds in the 1995 playoffs.
The issue with putting him with the top 10 shooting guards of all-time is because he was one-dimensional all he did was score. For his 18 year career he averaged 18.2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.1 steals, on 47.1 percent shooting, 39.5 percent from beyond the arc and 88.8 percent from the free throw line.
There were five All-Star game appearances for him and three Third-Team All-NBA selections.
His final rankings of second in three pointer made and attempted, seventh in games played, eighth in minutes played and ninth in free throw percentage are impressive. It’s no question that he was a great player for the Pacers and his accomplishments shouldn’t be overstated. He’s not a top 10 shooting guard in NBA history; he is in the top 15.
As for the top 10 of course it starts with Jordan, Bryant, then in no particular order would be Jerry West, Mitch Richmond, Allen Iverson, George Gervin, Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars, Hal Greer and Ray Allen.
Allen is a great shooter as well and for the most part was one-dimensional like Miller, yet when he arrived with the Boston Celtics improved on the defensive end of the floor.
While Jackson can be applauded for his loyalty to his former teammate reality is he’s overstating what Miller was as a shooting guard a very good player who could score, yet didn’t provide much else.
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