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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 – Demar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

21.2 PTS, 6.2 AST. 8. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 29. 54.2 TS%. Demar derozan

You could make the argument DeMar DeRozan had a more successful season than a few players ahead of him on this list, and I’d probably agree with you. However, they’ll be trending upwards while DeRozan struggles to hold onto the last bit of his prime.

With Dejounte Murray returning, DeRozan will only have less offensive opportunities in San Antonio’s overcrowded guard rotation. Derrick White, Lonnie Walker and Bryn Forbes will all have to eat too.

The Spurs somehow always seem to find a way to figure things out though, so I wouldn’t be too concerned — if not for DeRozan’s already apparent statistical decline. His points per game and PER have been in steady decline since 2016-17.

Last season also held host to the lowest Win Shares, Box Plus/Minus and true shooting percentage DeRozan has posted over the last four seasons. He’s clearly no longer the offensive threat he used to be.

This is not to say he’s no longer a good player. A guy who can put up 21 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds per game is someone any championship team would want, especially one with a level head like DeRozan. Playing in San Antonio has also led to career highs in assist and rebound percentage, indicating a willingness to play team-oriented ball. For that reason, he’s still one of the league’s premiere perimeter players.