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Power ranking the NBA’s top 10 shooting guards for 2019-20

By Austin Carroll

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA - Portland Trail Blazers
NBA – Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 23.7 PTS, 4.5 AST. 57.4 TS%. player. Zach LaVine. 9. 24

Due to recurring injuries and a play style seemingly dependent on flash rather than substance, Zach LaVine flies under the radar of most NBA fans. Believe it or not, this kid is a lot better than anyone is giving him credit for.

Last season, LaVine averaged 23.7 points per game — the fifth highest mark of all shooting guards in the league. Despite being on a bad team, he wasn’t a stat sheet filler in the slightest. He posted an above average 57.4 true shooting percentage.

That doesn’t even tell the whole, true story though. After Lauri Markkanen returned to kick off December, LaVine was no longer being consistently double teamed and had breathing room to operate. From December on, he maintained his scoring clip of 23.1 points per game on a much more efficient 59.5 true shooting percentage.

He wasn’t done making improvements though, in the 17 games he played following the Otto Porter Jr. trade, LaVine averaged an 26 points while shooting an unreal 45.2 percent from deep on a substantial sample size of 5.2 attempts per game.

With a much improved roster around him this time around, LaVine will be able to showcase his full array of abilities and is a great pick for a sleeper All-Star selection. All the more fitting considered the game will be hosted in Chicago this time around.