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NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Shooting Guards

By Shane Young

January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Power Rankings
Dec 11, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Utah Jazz point guard Alec Burks (10) drives in against Sacramento Kings shooting guard Marcus Thornton (23) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings 122-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

26.  Alec Burks — Utah Jazz

After not renewing the contract of head coach Tyrone Corbin, Utah switched gears to Quin Snyder, formerly an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.  Snyder’s had a variety of offenses during his days of coaching, you could say, with the Hawks bombarding you with 3-pointers and the Lakers having the same focal point for an eternity that wears No. 24.

Drafting Dante Exum from overseas in this year’s draft, Utah placed a shooting guard competition within their upcoming training camp and preseason.  Burks and Exum will fight for the spot, since the Australian sensation already went public by saying he enjoys having point guard Trey Burke on the floor with him.

While obviously Burks can’t be the most underrated player in the league because he’s yet to have a season similar to Goran Dragic‘s breakout year — which is still underrated to this day — he’s still an overlooked talent in my book.

Heck, I’m even underrating him with the No. 26 placement, aren’t I?

The production doesn’t manifest a star two-guard that’s going to get respect, but in terms of playing style, he’s obtained the perfect package in a player.

He’s proven that you can’t give him more than a foot of space from the outside, shooting a more than trustworthy 35 percent from deep throughout his short career.  When it comes time to put the ball on the floor, he’s even deadlier.

Playing alongside a scorer in Gordon Hayward that loves to shoot and attack, Burks has picked up on some of the same qualities as well.  Except, Burks is much flashier, better with his handles, and seemingly craftier around the rim.

Career highs in Usage Rating (23.9), PER (15.8), and Win Shares (3.2) can likely be attributed to the freedom he was given last season.  Think about it … in 2012-13, Utah was contending for a final playoff spot with the Lakers and Rockets.  They fell short, but they had to be super efficient in everything they did, and couldn’t play with a care-free mentality.

Being out of the Western Conference mix, Utah has given it’s young players room to grow by just playing their natural games, and Burks is often surprising at how well he does it.

He’s picked up on how to spin effectually in traffic without being out of control, and his “I don’t care” attitude toward taking contact at the rim is impressive.  Figuring out a way to get a drive to work to his advantage is what shines the brightest:

The ball-handling General Manager Dennis Lindsey put together with Burke, Burks, and Exum is frightening for the future, if he keeps them together without a trade.  Sometimes you have to love guys who have special touches while going at full speed:

Expect Burks to begin the year as the starter, because he’s already given Utah factual evidence in three seasons.  Exum’s broken jumpshot is the only thing holding him back from stealing the spotlight, however.