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Ranking the NBA's point guards

6th January, 2014
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Derrick Rose
Roar Guru
6th January, 2014
22
3496 Reads

Many an argument and debate takes place over the quality of the NBA point guards, with opinions divided on what makes a quality floor general and how this is best measured.

Do the young, flashy players who seek the limelight demand a higher ranking than those that are efficient, understated and just do a job?

Is there anyone even close to legends like John Stockton, Oscar Robertson or Magic Johnson? And how do the injured players fit into the conversation?

These rankings takes into account a number of factors – longevity, consistency, potential, statistical prowess, team records, efficiency (assists to turnovers) and playoff performances.

These rankings list the top 10 point guards in the game today as well as those in the next group.

1. Chris Paul
This is an easy choice. Paul is an elite floor general, has the best assist-to-turnovers ranking among eligible players, is consistent and durable (for those Clippers fans out there, this blog did not put a curse on CP3 following his recent shoulder injury!), plays at a high level at both ends of the floor and is universally respected and recognised as a team leader.

If there is a flaw, it is Paul’s playoff record as his teams have never made it past second round.

Career stats – 36.4 minutes per game, 18.6 points per game, 0.473 field goal percentage, 9.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals, 0.1 blocks, 2.4 turnovers.
Playoff stats – 39.6 MPG, 20.9 PPG, 0.482 FG%, 9.5 APG, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 3.0 TO

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2. Tony Parker
Quite simply Parker is the best offensive point guard in the game and his team wins. His teardrop floater is aesthetically pleasing and so effective and like his team, he goes about his business with a minimum of fuss.

While not one to fill a stats sheet, this is not a fault of him but more due to the San Antonio method and game plan.

One could argue that last season’s NBA Finals swung when Parker injured his hamstring; had the Spurs won the title, he might well have been the Finals MVP.

Career stats – 32.8 MPG, 17.1 PPG, 0.494 FG%, 6.0 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 2.5 TO
Playoff stats – 36.3 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 0.460 FG%, 5.3 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 2.8 TO

3. Rajon Rondo
Rondo is the best two-way point guard in the game, as well as being arguably the best pure facilitator and the best defensive point guard.

Critics point towards his lack of offensive scoring punch and inconsistent jump shot but Rondo has upped his averages in almost every statistical category in the playoffs.

The standout game was his 44 point explosion in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Miami in 2011-12, and he leads todays point guards in both regular season (15) and playoff (10, tied for third all-time) triple doubles.

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The NBA world is eagerly awaiting his return from injury and seeing how quickly he can resume his standing as an absolute top-notch point guard.

Career stats – 32.9 MPG, 11.1 PPG, 0.481 FG%, 8.3 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 2.8 TO
Playoff stats – 38.5 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 0.445 FG%, 9.2 APG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.8 TO

4. Stephen Curry
This ranking may seem a little high, but Curry’s strengths are overwhelming. His is clearly the best shooting point guard in the league (some would say one of the best shooters in NBA history, and the numbers back that up) and an improving distributor who is averaging over nine assists per game this season.

He is not a great defender and turns it over far too much as he adjusts to the role of becoming a true point guard. Overall Curry has the most upside of any guard on this list and proved in the playoffs last season that he wanted to take, and often make the big shot.

Career stats – 35.5 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 0.465 FG%, 6.1 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.1 TO
Playoff stats – 41.4 MPG, 23.4 PPG, 0.434 FG%, 8.1 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.3 TO

5. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is the most explosive point guard in today’s game, covering the court at a speed others can only dream of. He is one of the best rebounding point guards and would be the #1 option on any other team but plays Robin to mega-star Kevin Durant’s Batman.

Westbrook’s shot selection and ball handling are questionable but his numerous strengths outweigh his weaknesses.

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In Game 4 of the 2011-12 NBA Finals Westbrook played perhaps his greatest game, pouring in 43 points in a valiant but ultimately fruitless effort against LeBron.

Oklahoma City must have Westbrook back at close to 100% this season if they hope to contend for the title.

Career stats – 34.2 MPG, 19.9 PPG, 0.432 FG%, 6.9 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 3.5 TO
Playoff stats – 37.4 MPG, 23.0 PPG, 0.422 FG%, 6.1 APG, 5.5 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 3.2 TO

6. Damian Lillard
It may shock to see Lillard so high on this list but in a little more than 100 games he has proven himself to be the best young offensive point guard in the game.

As well as running the show for the ever-improving Portland Trailblazers, Lillard has hit four game winning shots in the last 10 seconds of games, including back-to-back buzzer beaters against Detroit and Cleveland late in 2013.

He will surely improve as a two-way player, improve his shooting percentage and minimise his turnovers as he develops but the 2012-13 rookie of the year but injury aside will get a chance to test himself in this year’s post-season.

On what we have seen so far Damian Lillard will not be out of place.

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Career stats – 37.9 MPG, 19.7 PPG, 0.427 FG%, 6.3 APG, 3.3 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2.8 TO
Playoff stats – N/A

7. Mike Conley
So many of today’s NBA ‘stars’ and some teams are all about commercials, flashiness and ESPN highlight reels rather than playing fundamental basketball. The Memphis Grizzlies are definitely not flashy, and Conley epitomises everything the Grizz represent.

Don’t let that detract from the fact that the guy is a seriously good point guard. His numbers are underwhelming, but his efficiency and consistency on a perennial playoff contender place him high on this list.

The San Antonio Spurs focused on shutting him down in last season’s Western Conference finals, and the fact they did so went a long way towards them completing a sweep of the Grizz. Memphis is a franchise in limbo, but one thing they know is that their point guard will continue to produce consistently.

Career stats – 32.7 MPG, 12.7 PPG, 0.441 FG%, 5.6 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.0 TO
Playoff stats – 38.8 MPG, 15.7 PPG, 0.392 FG%, 6.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.3 TO

8. Derrick Rose
Rose is the former league MVP who seemingly had the NBA world at his mercy. A dynamic high volume scorer who thrived in the Chicago system, he overcame a high turnover rate and below-par defence to controversially win the NBA MVP award at just 22 years of age.

Rose is the poster child for the new era of NBA stars, signing a lucrative deal with Adidas and polarising opinions in the 2012-13 season when he whipped up a media storm when choosing to sit out longer than the initial diagnosis had forecast.

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Rose may never return to his best due to injury, and that would be so disappointing for NBA fans. Let’s just hope he gets the chance to prove the MVP was no fluke.

Career stats – 36.6 MPG, 20.8 PPG, 0.460 FG%, 6.8 APG, 3.8 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.9 TO
Playoff stats – 41.8 MPG, 25.4 PPG, 0.425 FG%, 7.3 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 3.9 TO

9. John Wall
Wall is the most statistically impressive across all categories of the best young point guards in the game despite turning it over far too often. He will push further up this list as he plays more and more basketball, with durability being his biggest concern.

A lighting fast player with incredible athleticism, Wall is leading the promising young Washington squad and will get a chance to put his skills to the test in the post-season in the putrid Eastern Conference this season.

Career stats – 36.0 MPG, 17.3 PPG, 0.423 FG%, 8.1 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 3.4 TO
Playoff stats – N/A

10. Kyrie Irving
An offensive juggernaut, Irving has the highest per minute scoring rate of all point guards considered for this list. While still inconsistent, Irving brings a solid all-round game with a style that is more shooting guard than point guard.

While he turns the ball over far too often and has the worst assists to-turnover ratio of eligible point guards, he ranks this highly because of his offensive brilliance.

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Stats aside, Irving will be judged on whether he can shine a bright light through the permanently dark clouds over the Ohio sporting landscape and take the Cavs to the playoffs.

Career stats – 33.0 MPG, 21.1 PPG, 0.451 FG%, 5.8 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 3.1 TO
Playoffs stats – N/A

Honourable mentions
Ty Lawson – his points and assists per game averages have improved every one of his five years.

Jeff Teague – as Lawson he gets better every year in the key statistical areas for a point guard but his playoff statistics are poor.

Deron Williams – has a massive reputation and contract to match, but his durability and efficiency are questionable.

Ricky Rubio – his steal and assist numbers are elite but he turns the ball over far too often and his shooting percentage is historically bad.

Jrue Holiday – a solid NBA point guard who has never reached any great heights but has played efficiently in his playoff career.

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Goran Dragic – his career has seen a significant offensive spike over the last three seasons, but his efficiency is poor.

Eric Bledsoe – once seemingly a career backup who has drastically improved across the statistical board at the start of this season, however the sample size makes one wary when ranking him.

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