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Making lists are a hard thing to do. It's always so hard to recognize all of the players and make sure they all go where they deserve...

4 Different Angles: The 10 Best Guards to Ever Play in the NBA

by TJ Zwarych (Senior Writer)

16

1,316 reads

Rankings/List

June 07, 2008


 Making lists are a hard thing to do. It's always so hard to recognize all of the players and make sure they all go where they deserve. So I figured, why try and make a list all by myself and miss some players that deserve to be on the list?

There have been many great guards that have played the great game of basketball. Here are the best in list form by 4 established writers on Bleacher Report. Me (TJ Zwarych), Michael Whittenberg, Joe Willett and Benjamin Weixlmann. Enjoy.

 Benjamin Weixlmann's List and Points:Reggie Miller

10.

Listen, I know I idolized Reggie growing up, but I think he deserves a spot on this list. He was quite possibly the finest outside shooter of our generation, and could pour in free throws with his eyes closed. Although he didn’t win an NBA championship, his legacy is cemented in the fact that he holds almost every NBA long-distance shooting record. In one of the most memorable sequences in NBA history, Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to complete a miraculous playoff victory.

 

9.

Allen Iverson

Iverson, although he was one of the most fearless players ever, will unfortunately be remembered for his mouth. AI had the best crossover the game has seen, and could do whatever he wanted with the ball. AI is a player that you can say with confidence, "He can score at will". He’s just that good. He has averaged a whopping 27.9 ppg during his career, but will always be remembered for what he did with the media, instead of his on-court play.

 

8.

 

Clyde Drexler"Clyde the Glide" was a sensational player. He was one of the most tremendous athletes of our time, and teamed with fellow Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon to do some great things. He was the complete package: scoring, rebounding, and passing. Clyde had career numbers of 20/5/6, warranting a spot on this list.

 

7.

 

George GervinThe "iceman" was as cool as the other side of the pillow. With a silky-smooth jumper, this 6’8" shooting guard could flat out score. Gervin was an offensive machine, pouring in 25.4 points per game throughout his career. If there is a knock on Gervin, it is because he never won a championship.

 

6.

Magic Johnson

A 6’8" point guard with insane court vision? That could only be Magic Johnson. He was a five-time NBA champ with the Lakers, and averaged a career double-double with points and assists. His no-look passes reminded many of Maravich in his prime. "Showtime" as he was known, turned the Lakers into a dynasty, and one of the finest teams in NBA history. His unfortunate retirement due to HIV ended his career early, but Johnson was still considered a Top 50 Player of All-Time awarded in 1996.

 

5.

Bob Cousy

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16 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Stove Pipe about 1 year ago

    Anyone leaving off the Big O can't be serious or never saw him play. Whittenberg's list is the closest to mine, we have the same guys in a different order. I have Gervin and Drexler at 9 and 10 and Isiah at 8. Then Maravich, Stockton, West go 7, 6 and 5. Top four are Magic, Big O, Kobe and Michael, all subject to change as conditions merit.

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  2. Marcel Mansour about 1 year ago

    You guys are all wrong. Michael Jordan was a legend, but he was not better than the Magical Man. Magic led his team to 9 finals appearances in 12 years during the greatest era in the history of the league by far (The 1980's). He won 5 titles, is by far and away the greatest point guard ever, is the only player that isn't a center that could dominate the game without scoring a point and saved the NBA along with Larry Bird. Jordan was amazing, but he couldn't win crap until every team in the 80's were finsihed such as Magic's Lakers, the Celtics, the Sixers and the Pistons. Jordan had no competiton in his prime. There wasn't another great shooting guard in the 90's that will be a first ballot hall of famer and there wasn't another great team besides his Bulls.

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    • Rod Hess about 1 year ago

      Jordan had plenty of competition: The 1990-92 Blazers, 1991-94 Phoenix Suns and the Spurs, among others. Jordan's titles should not be put to shame because of the competition. Magic had Kareem, Worthy, Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Byron Scott and a host of legendary reserves (McAdoo, Cooper, Mychal Thompson, etc.) that Jordan never had. I don't ever see Bill Cartright, Horace Grant or John Paxson ever reaching the Hall. Pippen was his only support. I say this and I'm a Blazers fan...

      Jordan was the best. Magic was not as quick and could not score at will like MJ.

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  3. Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago

    Good stuff, TJ. Thanks for asking me to be apart of this.

    I always love going vintage when it comes to the NBA.

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  4. Joe Willett about 1 year ago

    Nice job TJ, thanks for asking me to be in this.

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  5. Robert Kleeman about 1 year ago

    I love reading lists like this and engaging in the debate. There are good arguments for every player on every list. I decided to throw out my own but opted to list the players alphabetically.

    I learned something watching vintage Bill Russell footage. The young adults of our generation put Michael Jordan at the top of every 'best of' list because he is the best we have seen in our lifetime. His mere presence embodied that of a winner and his aura was undeniable. Jordan. Air Jordan. Sir Michael.

    I think all of us, regardless of which team we support, can still hear Ray Clay doing the starting introductions at the United Center. "And at guard, from Noorth Caaaroliiina...Michael Jordan."

    But, to watch Russell is to appreciate the ultimate winner from another generation. It is one thing to know that he won eight straight championships with the NBA's proudest franchise. It is another to see Red Auerbach light that cigar and do so because of Russell's dominance. Bob Cousy belongs in the ultimate winner discussion, too, for his stay on that Celtic dynasty.

    What we saw in the 90s was a player that everyone knew and wanted so badly to beat. Few players did, and many, like Charles Barkley can blame him (and a failed tour with the Houston Rockets) for the lack of a championship ring.

    Russell was the same way with his opponents. The best players in the game were disappointed if they did not get to play his team. He was so great and his team was so dominant that beating them in a championship series seemed greater than winning it. For eight straight years, nobody could beat the Russell-Cousy Celtics.

    As for guards, my list:

    Bob Cousy
    Isiah Thomas
    Jerry West
    John Stockton
    Kobe Bryant
    Magic Johnson
    Michael Jordan
    Oscar Robertson
    Pete Maravich
    Reggie Miller

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  6. Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago

    Wow, Marcel. I think the most obvious choice on this list has to be Jordan at #1. Magic is good, but Jordan-good? No way.

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  7. Chef from Chicago about 1 year ago

    What the hell is Weixlmann smoking? And, can i partake?
    10. Stockton
    9.. The Glove (truly underrated. The best D of the bunch and a 20 pt scorer and nice distributer)
    8. Cousy
    7. CP3
    6. Kobe
    5. Logo
    4. Big O
    3. Isaiah
    2. Magic
    1. Mike

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  8. Chef from Chicago about 1 year ago

    i know, but i gotta pub my man up. And he will be (elipses :)

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  9. JOHN LANOUE about 1 year ago

    KOBE IS STUCK ON HIMSELF, ARROGANT....CAN NOT MAKE PLAYERS AROUND HIM BETTER. I WOULD NOT EVEN PUT HIM IN THE TOP 7.
    1...JORDAN
    2...MAJIC
    3...COUSY
    4...ISAIAH
    5...WEST
    6...STOCKTON
    7...BIG-O
    8...GERVIN
    9...KOBE
    10...IVERSON
    I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENTS...I THINK MY LIST IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, LOGICAL AND ACCURATE LIST POSTED........NOW HOW ABOUT THE 10 GREATEST PLAYERS EVER???

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  10. Raider D Richardson about 1 year ago

    Joe, did mix-up your #2 & #3's?
    MAGIC IS BETTER THAN KOBE!!!EASILY!!!ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!!!

    Joe W:
    3. Magic Johnson - 12 time All-Star, 3 time MVP, 3 time Finals MVP, could dominate anywhere on the court, one of the best at any position

    2. Kobe Bryant - 10 time All-Star, 2007-08 MVP, fastest to 20,000 points, already one of the greatest and he is still playing

    David:
    Wait, you were joking, right?

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    • Joe Willett about 1 year ago

      I didn't mix up my 2's and 3's, I think Kobe is better than Magic and the fact that he is still playing is making him even better.

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    • tone lowque about 1 year ago

      Actually I'd say the fact that Kobe is still playing -- witness Game Six -- is actually making him worse. When would Jordan, to say nothing of Magic, West let a team go down like that, lead a team to the Finals and then not keep them in line as things got rough? Just because he's still playing doesn't mean he's going to be doing his legacy any favors. Think about Jordan with the Wiz.

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  11. Rod Hess about 1 year ago

    T.J. has the best list by far. Anyone who puts Magic behind Cousy is on dope. Look at old video of Cousy dribbling out the clock in the 1962 finals. He can't even dribble with his left hand! has never seen both players play. Yes, Cousy was good for his time but would have zero championships without Bill Russell. My list:
    1. Michael Jordan
    2. Oscar Robertson
    3. Magic Johnson
    4. Jerry West
    5. Kobe Bryant
    6. Thomas (could dribble circles around Cousy)
    7. Pete Maravich
    8. Clyde Drexler
    9. John Stockton
    10. Bob Cousy

    Don't even think Reggie Miller could crack this list. George Gervin was a better offensive performer than Miller and both never played defense. Iverson is a ball hog and a loser in the form of Dominique Wilkins: plenty of points and highlights but not team players like Magic, Big O, Jordan and Robertson.

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