Kyle Lowry: Why the Houston Rockets Point Guard Is One of the Best in the NBA

The best point guard in the league last year was a five-name conversation. Make room for a sixth. Kyle Lowry is shouldering his way into the elite company. 

While most people right now would agree with the assessment that the best two are Derrick Rose and Chris Paul, depending on what your preferences are, Lowry can be argued to be as good as anyone not named Rose or Paul this year. 

So far this season, Lowry is leading the NBA in assists per game with 11.0, and is fifth in PER with, as well as the league leader among point guards. In fact, if you look at his numbers, 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 11.0 assists, it's hard to not argue he hasn't moved his way into the conversation with Paul and Rose. 

What's more impressive is that Lowry hasn't been putting up his sensational numbers against the riffraff of the league either. His opponents so far have been Orlando, San Antonio, Memphis, Atlanta and the Lakers, all of them playoff teams last year, and all but one second round opponents. 

Lowry needs to sustain things for more than six games, but those numbers are pretty remarkable. 

This ascension isn't entirely out of nowhere. Lowry averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds after the All-Star Game last year. 

The likes of Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams have much more established résumés, that's true, but don't let that take anything away from what Lowry is doing. It's not impossible for him to break into the conversation if he sustains this level of play. 

Their called "breakout years" for a reason. Lowry appears to be having one.