Anthony Edwards (left) © Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports | Devin Booker (Middle) © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports | Donovan Mitchell (right) © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
As the ball was tipped, the shots whistled and the crowd roared, the second round of the NBA playoffs was underway.
Thanks for reading this article, don’t forget to subscribe!
Shining in the spotlight, league leaders like Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) guided their teams to the next stage of the playoffs. Superstars like LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) also showed up and showed off.
But when you look at a point guard’s right arm, the discussion of who the best shooters in the NBA are is a three-horse race this season.
Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks, Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat and Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies could all have a say in who stands out above the rest at the shooting guard position.
After analyzing the statistics and impact of Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) and Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), their personal performance and overall impact on their teams outweighs other arguments according to which someone else should be in the group. conversation.
Here’s a breakdown of each and what they did to be considered in elite company:
Devin Booker
April 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half in game 1 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Since being drafted in the first round (13th overall) by the Suns, Booker has become a household name and one of the faces of the NBA.
During his nine-year career, he went through the lowest of lows in Phoenix early in his career, but was recently at the forefront of making the playoffs and reaching the 2020-21 Finals .
In 598 games, the 27-year-old averaged 24.3 points, five assists and four rebounds. Last season, Booker finished with 27.1 points, 6.9 assists (a career high) and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Aside from the final three years ago, Phoenix hasn’t reached further than the second round. While Booker has been a constant, the Suns have gone from Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton at the time to Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Even with two superstars around him, Booker couldn’t help but propel the Suns to the semifinals as they were swept by the Timberwolves, 4-0. Booker scored 49 points in Game 4.
Questions arise when talking about how the Suns disappointed in the playoffs, but there’s no denying that his playmaking and shooting ability can be compared to some of the best in the NBA. What goes unnoticed is his defense as he is arguably one of the best defenders on the team as he was +316 when on the court this season.
After agreeing to a four-year, $224 million supermax contract extension in 2022, there will be many more years to see Booker’s brilliance in the Valley.
Anthony Edwards
April 9, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dunks in the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
When he was originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the first overall pick in 2020 out of Georgia, Edwards was expected to be good, but he wasn’t expected to become one of the best at his position four years later .
Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round the last two seasons and looked for answers after an early elimination to the Denver Nuggets, 4-1. The Timberwolves traded a massive sum to the Utah Jazz for Rudy Gobert and made other moves that didn’t seem to work at the time.
But after remembering and the team sticking to head coach Chris Finch’s defensive system this season, the Timberwolves finished third in the Western Conference with a 56-26 record. Edwards had career highs in points (25.4) and assists (5.1) in 79 games (78 starts).
His defensive tenacity and shot creation have been key attributes to his game, with the playoffs showcasing his skills. A game changer for the Wolves, Edwards is averaging 33.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists as Minnesota leads 1-0 over the Nuggets in the second round.
If he continues to make noise during these playoffs, he will further solidify his status and credibility as not only a rising star, but also a shining star.
Donovan Mitchell
April 12, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, United States; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Like Booker, Mitchell was the 13th overall pick in his draft, but was selected in 2017 by the Jazz.
In Utah, Mitchell and Gobert led the team to the playoffs every season they were there from 2017 to 2022. The Jazz would trade them both after the 2022 season as they were unable to advance past the second round and begin reconstruction.
Heading to the Cavaliers, Mitchell saw his numbers climb even further and established himself as the leader of his new team. So far in Cleveland, the New York native has averaged 27.5 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
As of this writing, the Cavaliers have just punched their ticket to the second round after winning Game 7 of the first round series against the Orlando Magic, 106-94. Mitchell scored 39 points, grabbing nine rebounds and five assists.
Relying on his speed and agility, Mitchell doesn’t hesitate to use his physicality in the paint or shoot threes. Although his defense was a weak point during his time in Utah, he improved significantly and added this skill set to his Cavalier arsenal.
Known as one of the most complete players in the NBA, the Louisville product will look to help Cleveland go deeper in the playoffs.
Who do you think is the best shooter in the NBA or is there someone else who should be considered?
Suns have best chance of getting James Harden if he leaves Clippers on betting site
*Get the BEST insider information on Phoenix sports, exclusive content and access to our seasonal magazines! REGISTER HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
