The Top 10 Point Guards In The NBA
The NBA season is over, so it's time to firmly rank the best players at each position, starting with the point guards. The NBA is becoming more skilled as the years go by, which means it's becoming more difficult to identify what position certain players truly play. For example, Devin Booker played point guard this season, but we all know Booker as a traditional shooting guard, so he will be on the list with the shooting guards. Either way, fans can usually decide the positions of players even if they're switching positions every year. Before the list starts, here are some honorable mentions who are sitting outside of the top ten.
Honorable Mentions
Jamal Murray, DEN
James Harden, LAC
Cade Cunningham, DET
Jrue Holiday, BOS LaMelo Ball, CHA
Darius Garland, CLE
10: De'Aaron Fox, SAC, Age: 26
Fox is a speedy guard who can create any shot he wants, especially in the mid-range area where he utilizes floaters and pull-up jumpers. The Kings lost in the play-in tournament, but Fox still had an excellent individual year, and that main takeaway of the year was Fox's much-improved three-point shot. The Kings are looking to add more pieces around Fox and co-star Domantas Sabonis this offseason so they can finally make a playoff run next year.
Stats: 74 G, 26.6 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 5.6 Ast, 2.0 Stl, 46.5% FG, 36.9% 3PT, 73.8% FT
Playoffs: N/A
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x Stl Leader
9: Trae Young, ATL, Age: 25
Trae Young is one of the hardest players to rank because he is one of the most offensively gifted point guards in the NBA, but he's also one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Young is an excellent shooter and passer, but sometimes he tries to do too much and ends up forcing bad shots. Atlanta has the number one pick in the upcoming draft and their best bet is to select Alex Sarr or Zaccharie Risacher to help Young and company.
Stats: 54 G, 25.7 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 10.8 Ast, 43.0% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 85.5% FT
Playoffs: N/A
Accolades: 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA
8: Tyrese Maxey, PHI, Age: 23
Maxey is one of those players who is difficult to rank because he has switched between point guard and shooting guard early in his career. Maxey has transitioned easily into a point guard who can run an offense. He is a world-class scorer and has improved his playmaking exponentially from where it was two years ago. The Maxey and Joel Embiid-led 76ers hope to add a reliable third option to increase their chances of making the NBA Finals.
Stats: 70 G, 25.9 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 6.2 Ast, 45.0% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 86.8% FT
Playoffs: 6 G, 29.8 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 6.8 Ast, 47.8% FG, 40.0% 3PT, 89.3% FT
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 2023-24 Most Improved
7: Tyrese Haliburton, IND, Age: 24
Tyrese Haliburton has become one of the best passers in the NBA, and he is the leader of an excellent Pacers offense that led the NBA in points per game and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Haliburton is a great shooter but sometimes plays too passively and also needs to improve his defense. However, the Pacers are way ahead of schedule and will only get better as their young players gain more NBA experience.
Stats: 69 G, 20.1 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 10.9 Ast, 47.7% FG, 36.4% 3PT, 85.5% FT
Playoffs: 15 G, 18.7 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 8.2 Ast, 48.8% FG, 37.9% 3PT, 85.0% FT
Accolades: 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x Ast Leader
6: Damian Lillard, MIL, Age: 33
Damian Lillard is still a great player in the NBA, and it's unfortunate that the Bucks lost in the first round due to Giannis Antetokounmpo being injured. Lillard also dealt with an injury in the playoffs and tried his best to win the series but couldn't get the job done. Lillard was pretty inefficient this year and has to work on his shot selection for next year. It will be exciting to see what kind of playoff run the Bucks have next year with a full healthy team.
Stats: 73 G, 24.3 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 7.0 Ast, 42.4% FG, 35.4% 3PT, 92.0% FT
Playoffs: 4 G, 31.3 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 5.0 Ast, 42.0% FG, 41.7% 3PT, 97.4% FT
Accolades: 2012-13 ROTY, 8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
5: Ja Morant, MEM, Age: 24
Ja Morant is absolutely the hardest player on this list because he just dealt with a suspension and a season-ending injury. Despite the disappointing season, Morant has shown everyone he is a franchise player in past years and the Grizzlies should be right back in the playoff picture next season. He is an excellent scorer in the paint with explosiveness that no other NBA player has and is an exceptional playmaker.
Stats: 9 G, 25.1 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 8.1 Ast, 47.1% FG, 27.5% 3PT, 81.3% FT
Playoffs: N/A
Accolades: 2019-20 ROTY, 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 2021-22 Most Improved
4: Jalen Brunson, NYK, Age: 27
Jalen Brunson is simply one of the best scorers in the NBA and it's incredible to watch especially considering he's on the shorter side. Brunson can get any shot he wants but he mainly operates in the mid-range area because he has some of the best footwork in the NBA which helps him create open shots. The Knicks are going to be right back next year as contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Stats: 77 G, 28.7 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 6.7 Ast, 47.9% FG, 40.1% 3PT, 84.7% FT
Playoffs: 13 G, 32.4 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 7.5 Ast, 44.4% FG, 31.0% 3PT, 77.5% FT
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA
3: Stephen Curry, GSW, Age: 36
Stephen Curry may not be in his prime anymore, but he's still easily a top three point guard in the NBA. He's still the best shooter in the world and it seems like it will be that way until he decides to call it a career. Golden State missed the playoffs so they have some decisions to make regarding their future, but Curry has made it clear he has at least a few more years left in the tank, and that's enough for them to at least compete for a playoff spot.
Stats: 74 G, 26.4 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 5.1 Ast, 45.0% FG, 40.8% 3PT, 92.3% FT
Playoffs: N/A
Accolades: 2x MVP, 10x All-Star, 10x All-NBA, 2x Scoring Champ, 1x Stl Leader, 4x NBA Champ, 1x Finals MVP
2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC, Age: 25
Over the last two seasons, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has quickly established himself as one of the best players in the world. He is an incredibly efficient scorer and gets to the free-throw line as well as anyone else in the league. The Thunder are on the rise as one of the most talented young teams in the NBA, and Gilgeous-Alexander is the leader of the group. He is also a plus defender, which is a great attribute for a guard to have.
Stats: 75 G, 30.1 Pts, 5.5 Reb, 6.2 Ast, 2.0 Stl, 53.5% FG, 35.3% 3PT, 87.4% FT
Playoffs: 10 G, 30.2 Pts, 7.2 Reb, 6.4 Ast, 49.6% FG, 43.2% 3PT, 79.0% FT
Accolades: 2x All-Star, 2x All-NBA
1: Luka Dončić, DAL, Age: 25
Luka Dončić is already one of the most talented offensive players the NBA has ever seen, and that's why he takes the top point guard spot. He is arguably the best scorer in the league and the best playmaker in the league as well. The Mavericks just lost the NBA Finals but they will be right back in contention next year, it's also worth mentioning that Dončić had an excellent playoff run with multiple injuries. He does have one main flaw, his defense, which he needs to improve.
Stats: 70 G, 33.9 Pts, 9.2 Reb, 9.8 Ast, 48.7% FG, 38.2% 3PT, 78.6% FT
Playoffs: 22 G, 28.9 Pts, 9.5 Reb, 8.1 Ast, 44.6% FG, 32.2% 3PT, 76.5% FT
Accolades: 2018-19 ROTY, 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 1x Scoring Champ
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