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It is very important when making any kind of ranking that you specify the criteria you're judging by.So what constitutes being a good point guard?It is the point guard's job to run the ...

Top 10 Point Guards in the NBA

by Jeremy Mason (Scribe)

37

7301 reads

Sports

February 07, 2008


It is very important when making any kind of ranking that you specify the criteria you're judging by.

So what constitutes being a good point guard?

It is the point guard's job to run the show—to distribute the ball to his teammates in a way that is most beneficial to scoring the basketball.

This distribution should be typically even, but should also allow for alteration due to the flow of the game. While it is important to get everyone involved, it is equally important to get the ball into the hands of whoever is hot.

Secondly, the best point guards have the ability to sense when their team is struggling and become a scorer. For this cause it is imperative for a good point guard to be able to find his rhythm quickly.

This list describes the point guards in the NBA who are the best at giving their teammates the ball in a good scoring position. The best are the most consistent and a few have that rare ability to turn it on and take over a game whenever they need to.

 

1. Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)

Wow! Where to start? Steve Nash is hands down the best in the league. He has averaged double digit assists the last four years and currently leads the league at 11.8 per game which paces the best offense in the league.

When he's not busy picking apart defenses with his deadly accurate passes, he scores almost at will. His deadly jumper is basically guaranteed if he's left alone (which is often the case because defenses overcompensate to defend his passing). He finishes in the paint with the best of them. His fadeaway 15-footer is unguardable. He shoots over 47 percent from three, 51 percent from the field, and 90 percent from the line.

Simply put, he is the most efficient offensive player in the league. The only beef anybody has with his game is his defense. His lateral quickness isn't exactly stellar. But this list is about offensive productivity, so Nash is without question my No. 1, despite the massive game of the next guard on my list.

 

2. Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets)

Jason Kidd's career has been unbelievable. He is second all time in triple-doubles. This speaks of longevity and consistent all-around play on his part. This year he is two boards a game away from averaging a triple-double!

His age doesn't seem to have slowed him down. His inspired play on the court shows great professionalism despite his vocal desire for a trade. His long consistent career propelled him slightly ahead of the next guard on my list.

 

3. Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)

Chris Paul is everything you could want in a point guard—smart, efficient, flashy, and skilled. He is an excellent passer, ball-handler, scorer, and is even one of the best rebounding point guards in the league (4.0 RPG), trailing only Baron Davis and Jason Kidd.

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37 comments Last one added 3 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Sean Stancill about 1 year ago

    Mo Williams is a better PG then Andre Miller, Iverson is better than Miller, Jason Terry is a better PG than Miller. Where's Jason Terry? Where's Mo Williams? Where's Sam Cassell? Come on now you have to admit their all better then Andre Miller and can take his spot on this list.

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    • Hugh Jass 11 months ago

      Um, Andre Miller averaged roughly 17 PPG and 7 APG while playing a major role on a playoff team.

      With that said, you would put Mo Williams, Sam Cassell, and Jason Terry ahead of him?

      Mo Williams was a point guard who averaged roughly 17 PPG and 6 APG while playing a major role on a 26-56 team in the Eastern Conference.

      Sam Cassell was a backup point guard who averaged roughly 8 PPG for the Celtics. He doesn't even start and you would put him in your top 10?

      Jason Terry isn't even a point guard. He is more of a shooting guard. He doesn't start either.

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  2. Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

    They're all good. In a top-ten list you always leave someone out. Jason Terry doesn't even start anymore. Sam Cassell is underrated, but doesn't mean as much to his team as Andre Miller.

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    • SAMMY BAMBINO about 1 year ago

      i dunno what u smoke or u r just retarded but how can u possibly say Coldren is not even the best point guard on his team. u must be very dumb. TJ ford sucks ASS he is the worst shooter on the TEAM, which is very sad for a point guard to have that status, and he cant even put in a lay up. so go watch some games and learn about basketball then come and make such stupid comments as to Coldren is not even the best point guard on the team.

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  3. Ling Ge about 1 year ago

    Where's Jose Calderon?

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    • Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

      Jose Calderon does have great numbers this season, but he isn't even the best point guard on his team. You should be more worried that I left out TJ Ford. If it weren't for his injury, I probably would have slipped him in at the 9-spot for Andre Miller. Nothing against Calderon, but he isn't top 10 worthy yet.

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    • Ling Ge about 1 year ago

      You make a good point that Calderon would not have the starting job if it TJ Ford was not injured. However, injuries are part of the game, and when they occur the players get the opportunity to raise their game to another level. Since Calderon has taken the starting spot, his offensive numbers have been much better than Ford's starting numbers in virtually every key category, and based on your criteria on offensive PG's Calderon has done a lot for his Raptors.

      I can't really argue against anyone in your top 10, other than possibly Iverson, who is more of a shooting guard, and Andre Miller, but only because his team is really bad. But Calderon does deserve considerable merit despite Ford's injury.

      It's similar to Chauncey Billups. He never really was given a chance in his first 5 teams and 6 seasons, but when he got his chance in Detroit, he became an elite PG. And in the NFL, my example would be Tom Brady.

      But overall, very good and enjoyable article.

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  4. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Well your probably gonna do a double take on what your about to read but let me explain myself real quick. A point guard in my opinion has to be able to do a few things 1) PLAY DEFENSE 2) manage the game and his offense 3) be a leader 4) Make the players on his team better 5) Play your ass off on every play. With that being said I won't give Nash the #1 spot for the lack of the #1 thing he needs to do PLAY DEFENSE. Therefore i give the number one spot to 1) jason Kidd 2) Chris PAul 3) Steve Nash 4) Williams 5) Davis 6)Billups 7) Tony Parker 8)Kirk Hinrich 9) Gilbert Arenas 10) Terry Look at who Nash had to pass to Marion was an absolute stud, Amare is an absolute beast and his role players are solid. Those guys can can anywhere and be an All-Star. Who's Chris Paul passing to? Chandler only looks good because of Paul, Peja is great shooter but way out of his prime. And jason Kidd is just the man probably the best since Magic. Kenyon martin looked like an all-star didn't he? He actually sucks Kidd made him who he is. And I know I left Allen Iverson off the list but I think he's a shooting guard and they have him playing out of positon. If i must rank him i'd probably put him 6 or 7.

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    • Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

      I said in the article that I was ranking them based on their offense. All around, nobody is even close to Jason Kidd, because he can score, pass, and rebound. I was skeptical of putting Iverson on the list too, and for the same reasons. TJ Ford should have been on the list. Arenas and Terry are similar to Iverson. They are more scorers, than distributers. That's why I left them off the list.

      As far as your views of the Suns go, you can see just how good Stoudemire and Marion really are by watching them when Nash goes to the bench. The offense becomes stagnant, and only capitalizes on fast breaks.

      While we don't see eye-to-eye on everything I appreciate the comment and respect your opinion. Thanks.

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  5. Dave Finocchio about 1 year ago

    Here's the real question for you, Jeremy:

    How is Jason Kidd ahead of Chris Paul?

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    • Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

      I answered that question in Kidd's description. Kidd is ahead of Paul, in my opinion, because he has done it for so long. In the next few years Chris Paul will easily claim the number 1 spot.

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  6. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Rajon Rando over Iverson and Miller?Are you kidding me?Rando is not a top 10 PG. And like it or not, Billups is better than Braon Davis.

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    • Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

      Rondo is an up-and-comer. Iverson is a shooting guard. Miller may be ahead of Rondo, but they're close.

      If Baron Davis was surrounded by the talent Billups has he'd have a few championships on his resume.

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  7. Bradley Jenkins about 1 year ago

    1. Nash 6. Parker
    2. Paul 7. D. Williams
    3. Davis 8. Calderon
    4. Billups 9. M. Williams
    5. Kidd 10. Miller

    Kidd is past his prime, he has great averages this year until you look at his high turnover numbers and the fact that he just can not shoot the ball anymore at all. Deron Williams is improving but his comparisons to Paul make him just a little overrated and guys like Jason Terry and Allen Iverson see too much time at the 2 guard to be considered a true point guard anymore

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  8. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    If you don't wanna give it to kidd then give it to paul with kidd at number 2. Look at the surrounding talent with the nets and Hornets compared to the suns. I'd take Kidd and Paul over Nash any day of the week , but then I'd say Nash at #3.

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  9. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    if his teammates would make shots then Dwayne Wade would be on the list, right? because if his team mates made shots then they would win more games and wouldn't be the worst team in the NBA.

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  10. Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

    Interesting point. Its tough to judge Wade. He's a scorer like Iverson, but if he had more talent around him, maybe he would play more like a classic point guard. He's young and his team has gone from best to worst in just a three season span. Let's see how he does with Marion, and maybe in a year or two he'll be top ten worthy too.

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  11. Bryce Ebels about 1 year ago

    No way Rajon Rondo, and AI is not a PG.

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  12. Tocari Davis about 1 year ago

    1.)S.Nash
    2.)B.Davis
    3.)D.Williams
    4.)C.Paul
    5.)J.Kidd
    6.)C.Billups
    7.)G.Arenas
    8.)A.Iverson
    9.)T.Parker
    10.)A.Miller / K.Hinrich

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  13. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    1.)S.Nash
    2.)B.Davis
    3.)D.Williams
    4.)C.Paul
    5.)J.Kidd
    6.)C.Billups
    7.)G.Arenas
    8.)A.Iverson
    9.)T.Parker
    10.)A.Miller / K.Hinrich

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  14. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    ok....terrible, how the hell do u not have t.j. ford and calderon on that list??? im saying that and im not even a raptors fan!!! rajon rondo shouldn't be on that list, he has average numbers running a team w/3 stars. don't get caught up in the boston hype!!! he's a quick, good defending point guard with solid vision, ballhandling ability and a below average shot. watch the games!!

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    • Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

      I already said that TJ Ford should've been on the list. Sebastian Telfair is not better than Rondo. Miller probably should be ahead of Rondo but other than that he's right where he should be. Hinrick doesn't make his teammates any better.

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  15. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    p.s. also forgot to mention rondo should be around 13-17 w/the potential to move up into the top 10 in the next couple of years.....and yes, even though kirk hinrich is not a pure point guard, he's still better then rondo and iverson whos not a point guard is still a better pg then him. and come on, andre miller is much better then rondo. and how can u not take defense as a factor. OoOo and sebastian telfair, YES SEBASTIAN TELFAIR!!! is better then rondo. i hate how all these guys who dont watch the game say that he's better

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  1. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    In My Opinion There's NO WAY Steve Nash Sould Be Number 1 I mean come on a pg is supposed to have some type of defense Don't get it twisted I'm not hating cause I love Steve Nash But Ihis D ain't cuttin It This Is Ma List
    1)Jason Kidd
    2)Allen Iverson
    3)Chauncey Billups (He's Great In ALL Aspects of the game and he holds the pistons together.)
    4)Chris Paul
    5)Deron Williams
    6)Ray Allen
    7)Gilbert Arenas
    8)Jason Terry
    9)Baron Davis
    10)Tony Parker

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    • Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago

      Jason Terry and Ray Allen are definitely shooting guards. AI and Arenas should be shooting guards, and if you say Billups is better than Chris Paul, then you have never seen him play.

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  2. SAMMY BAMBINO about 1 year ago

    for all you TJ FORD lovers, watch how he is gonna get his ugly ass traded this summer. Colangelo is too smart of a GM to keep an idiot like TJ FORD in TORONTO. the best way to describe TJ ford is ANNOYING, USELESS piece of BOLONI.

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  3. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Steve Nash has an unteachable quality that is rare---Moxey. His court awareness is incredible and he knows exactly where he is at all times on the court and everyone else.

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  4. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Who was the greatest left handed point guard in history?
    Rusty

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  5. Ralph isaac about 1 year ago

    Steve Nash?? he plays no Defense
    here is the list:
    1.Chris Paul
    2.Deron Williams
    3.Jason Kidd
    4.Steve Nash
    5.Chauncey Billups
    6.Jose Calderon
    7.Baron Davis
    8.TJ Ford
    9.Tony Parker
    10. Andre Miller

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  6. Brian Sullivan about 1 year ago

    1. Chris Paul
    2. Deron Williams
    3. Steve Nash
    4. Jason Kidd
    5. Baron Davis
    6. Tony Parker
    7. Chauncey Billups
    8. Allen Iverson
    9. Gibert Arenas
    10. Rajon Rondo

    In case nobody else noticed, Rondo's averaging 10.6 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.2 rpg, and 1.68 spg. Plus, he's one of the best defensive point guards around, and the most athletic.
    CP3 is the best, hands down, the Hornets would be nothing without him.
    Calderon #6? Yea right

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  7. yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago

    Jeremy,

    for you to even have Nash, in the top7, let alone #1...is a total embarassment to your basketball knowledge. When it comes to gauging Caucasoid players, you have to face it; you must learn to let your 'psyche' and "emotions", intertwine.

    How many years of NBA playoff basketball do you all have to watch, to be SLAPPED INTO realization of how important d-e-f-e-n-s-e is, if you plan on winning that *meaningless lil' item* called The Lawrence A. O'Brien trophy?

    Point guards have to play D-E-F-E-N-S-E, and...Steve Nash? Isn't even aware that that facet of the game exists. His defense, is likely, the sole reason the Suns have exited early from the playoffs the past two-years...go ask Tony Parker if you non-believe.

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  8. Steve Watkins 11 months ago

    You have some good "points" but I am not as high on some of them. My top 5 are:
    1. Chris Paul - He is close to being as good as Steve Nash offensively but he is better on defense (I disagree that defense should not be considered) and - you said it - he gets more rebounds. I believe he also gets more deflections and hunts down more loose balls. All of these factors create more opportunities for his team and inspires his teammates more.
    2. Steve Nash - the man is simply a wizard on the offensive end. I am glad you mentioned his shooting because most people talk about his playmaking ability, which of course is incredible, but his scoring ability sets a lot of that up. Nash's shooting percentage is even more incredible when you consider that there is a natural tradeoff between shooting percentage and assists - a player with that many assists is not getting as many shot attempts so he generally doesn't benefit from an established shooting rhythm. I think Nash is actually the best shooter in the game of basketball.
    3. Tony Parker - has done a great job leading the best team in basketball over the past several years.
    4. Deron Williams - Utah would be nowhere without him
    5. Chauncey Billups - also has done a great job leading the Pistons - the second best team over the past several years.

    Rondo is good but needs to improve his scoring and playmaking.
    Andre Miller is good but you may have him a couple notches too high.
    Allen Iverson of course is good but his stint with Denver has been disappointing - he hasn't inspired his team and if I were a Denver fan I would be aggravated.
    Jason Kidd is still tough but he is over the hill. The top 5 can run circles around him.

    Baron Davis is a selfish player - his teams will never win a championship but he will always have good numbers. I am sure many disagree but I wouldn't put him in the top 10.

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  9. Tom Brewster 11 months ago

    rajon rondo, is definitely worthy of being on the top-10 list. how many of those PG's can say they won a ring????

    chris paul should probably be #1 because he is likely going to be the MVP next year. nash is on the downslope of his career.

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  10. mike fuller 5 months ago

    billups is in the top 5 point guards in the nba today its just a shame that they messed the pistons up with that iverson trade

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  11. Syrymflash 3 months ago

    In my mind, u have to put Allen either as a shootong guard or number 1 point guard cuz whatever happens he is one of the greatest players of all time .
    Thus, 1.Allen Iverson is the greatest lil man who ever played this game
    2.Chris Paul we can call him today's A.I.
    3.Nash best assists in the league
    4.Rajon Rondo his team is the champion
    5.Fisher because Lakers is the best team in the last 10 years , and who has been all of these years Lakers' guard ????

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