Part 4 of Top 10. Today we are on the Top 10 Shooting Guards in the NSL. This list is based on a combination of 2k23 rating, Projected positional fit in the NSL, and my own flawless impeccable opinion. Don�t hate, appreciate.

1. Luka Doncic - If LBJ is Morpheus, then Luka is clearly Neo. Doncic is a gifted youngster that literally sees the game in slow motion. A scoring machine that is also an elite playmaker. Luka is the rare volume scorer who also makes his teammates better in the process. His willingness to give up the ball often leads to the pass that leads to the assist. His only real issue is his excessive usage rate which can leave him winded and unable to apply that same brilliant basketball IQ to the defensive end of the ball. He makes up for the drop in defensive effort with top-rate rebounding that further inflates his usage. 

2. Devin Booker - Devin is another volume scorer with a deep bag of tricks for scoring buckets. He is more like a silent assassin though. Booker can light up the scoreboard. But in a sleepy kind of way. In the 1st qtr, he could have 2 points and by the time the game ends he could have 30+ creeping up the scoreboard with insane efficiency. He is also a capable playmaker that can drive the offense with timely passing and heady decision-making. He still has some work to do on defense but his elite offensive ability makes him a championship-caliber player.

3. James Harden - The man who put stepbacks on the map. The Beard may look like your uncle Joe from your local rec league. With pot belly and all. Harden has an entire array of grabs, holds, chicken wings and nudges to either get free for a jumper or bate defenders into fouls. James has an enviable old-man game and has long been known as having the craziest stepback jumper in the game. Harden has an under-appreciated basketball IQ that allows him to utilize minimal space and angles to get his shot and make plays for his teammates. Being capable of huge scoring runs. He is the kind of player that always gives you a chance to win.

4. Donovan Mitchell - Mitchell is a pure scorer. Despite a lack of great size at only 6�1�, his elite athleticism allows him to play much bigger. He has lightning speed and can stop and change direction on a dime. Somewhere between Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade Mitchell is a beast with the ball in his hands. There is no guaranteed way to stop him. He will blow by taller defenders and shoot over anyone his own size and in transition, he can pretty much leave everyone in the dust. He can explode for crowd-pleasing dunks and make the extra pass when needed. Donovan could be the core piece to any championship contender.

5. Jaylen Brown - Jaylen squeezes into a very congested top 5. He has elite 2-way ability as he is a multilevel scorer that is not so crafty but can get it done on offense with a fundamentally sound offensive game that makes few mistakes and doesn�t force the action. Able to let the game come to him he can consistently chip in 20+ points a game and still have plenty in the tank to play high-level defense.

6. Zach LaVine - LaVine is a highlight real waiting to happen. Your favorite player's favorite dunker. Zach over the years has turned his dunkcentric game into a well-rounded offensive showcase. Still primarily a slasher. But he can now punish defenses for playing off him and knock down jumpers in both the midrange and from deep if need be. This gives him a diverse perimeter game that can be used to drive any team's offensive engine. Not the best defender by any means. He is above average in that area and won�t hurt his team as a defender. A 1B type player any team would give their shirt to have a player like LaVine on their team.

7. Bradley Beal - Bradley is not quite a pure scorer but he definitely has a diverse offensive game that lets him give defenses fits. A capable jump shooter, Beal uses his shooting ability to open up driving lanes where he can get to the rim and finish with contact. Capable of creating his own shot. Beal is most effective when able to operate in space alongside another top player where he can roam a little bit and take advantage of lapses in defensive coverage. He has better-than-average shot selection and doesn�t force the action even when his team is behind. Steady good shots are always better than forced bad ones. A truly coachable player that will always bring it every game 

8. C.J. McCullum - CJ is very much like a shorter Rip Hamilton but without the lockdown defense. CJ is great at coming off screens making him a deadly catch-and-shoot player that can knock down threes at a high percentage. His a moderate playmaker and is willing to make the extra pass. Plays within his skillset as well as sticks to the game plan. Not a great defender per se but makes a solid effort and follows the system. McCullum is the kind of player that can thrive in any system.

9. Tyler Herro - Tyler has an appropriate last night as he can be prone to fits of �Herro� ball. A fearless shooter that never met a shot he didn�t like. Tyler has a little bit of Reggie Miller in him as he plays with a constant chip on his shoulder and chopping it up against competitors is something that can fuel him into a big game here and there. Not exceptionally athletic However he is pretty crafty at using screens, euro steps and step-backs to create space and shooting angles. He leaves a lot to be desired defensively but his confidence and shooting skill makes him a quality scorer with a very high ceiling for future development.

10. Anthony Edwards - Athletically, Edwards is everything you want in a pro basketball player. With near stupendous speed, can hop out of the gym and has the strength to finish through contact. Anthony can use to slash his way to the basket with ease giving him the ability to get any shot he wants. His jumper isn�t quite as consistent that you would like. But due to his insane athleticism, you have to honor his jump shot and hope he has a cold spell. With tremendous upside, he is likely a season or two away from mary all the elements of his game into a smooth scoring machine. He hasn�t quite accepted the challenge yet defensively but the tools are there and it only requires more effort at this juncture for him to become next level in that area of his game. With more all-around consistency, he will be a future Super Star level player