The Cleveland Cavaliers have had some great shooting guards to don the wine and gold. But who’s the best ever? Here’s a look at the best Cleveland Cavalier shooting guards of all-time.
Kyle Korver
Although he only played three seasons in Cleveland, and was primarily a role player, Kyle Korver was a fan favorite. As a Cavalier, he averaged 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. His specialty was shooting, averaging a 46.8 field goal percentage and a 45.4 three point percentage. He was also a member of the 2016 championship team.
Bingo Smith
Initially drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the 1969 NBA Draft, he moved to Cleveland for his sophomore year and spent the next 10 seasons as a Cavalier. Over these years he averaged 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Despite the low point average he scored 30 plus points nine times, and regularly scored in the high twenties.
J.R. Smith
Across his five seasons in a Cavaliers uniform, J.R. Smith averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game. Like Korver (his teammate) he was a three point specialist, averaging shooting percentages of 40.1% from the field and 38.1% from behind the arc. He also scored the most threes (7) when Cleveland beat Atlanta in the playoffs, setting a then-record for most three pointers made by a team in a single game. He was another pivotal player in Cleveland’s championship run, and made headlines for remaining shirtless the entire summer after securing his ring. After being rejected from clubs in the past, he knew once he played a role in ending the city’s championship drought that he would be welcome anywhere. He made appearances at restaurants, clubs and sporting events with no reservations or tickets and was not only welcome but celebrated, forever cementing himself in Cleveland’s sporting lore.
World B. Free
World. B Free (aside from having the coolest name on this list) produced a stat line of 23 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists across his four seasons in Cleveland. He averaged a field goal percentage of 45.4 percent, and scored over 40 points three times as a Cav. Along with finishing in the top ten for three point percentage in both the 84-85 and 85-86 season, he received MVP votes in two of his Cavalier seasons. Although seeing no major postseason success, Free is a Cavalier great.
Austin Carr
Austin “Mr. Cavalier” Carr is the best shooting guard the Cavaliers have ever had. The first pick in the 1971 NBA Draft, Carr quickly showed his promise by making the All-Rookie first team. Over his nine seasons in Cleveland Carr averaged 16.2 points, three rebounds and just under three assists a game while shooting 45.1 percent from the field (exceptionally high for the time). Carr was also a scoring machine. Although he was only able to cross the 40 point mark twice, he scored over 30 points 33 times. It wasn’t in a Cavaliers uniform, but Carr also still holds the records for both most points scored in an NCAA game (61) and for highest average of NCAA postseason points per game (50). Despite only representing the Cavs as an all-star once, Carr stands atop the list of the best Cleveland Cavalier shooting guards of all-time.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/sports/the-best-cleveland-cavalier-shooting-guards-of-all-time/2023/08/05/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-best-cleveland-cavalier-shooting-guards-of-all-time
