Ranking the Top 10 NBA Point Guards of Last Decade

This list is ranking the top point guards from the 2003-04 season through 2012-13 based on their body of work during the last decade specifically.

At the beginning of this decade, for example, Chauncey Billups led his Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The following year, Steve Nash went on to win his first of two MVP awards as a member of the Phoenix Suns. 

Nash would be joined in the First Team All-NBA backcourt that year by fellow point guard Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers.

In measuring the top point guards of the last 10 years, Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving missed the cut based on only playing for two seasons within this particular timeframe.

Baron Davis and Sam Cassell were also among the best at their position during the '03-04 campaign, for example, but were not included because they didn't remain as such for as long as the other point guards highlighted. 

Gilbert Arenas, despite being more of a combo-guard, was strongly considered for this list as well but just missed making the cut.

No. 10: Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets

In the wake of Avery Johnson's firing, Deron Williams and his slow start shooting the basketball for the Brooklyn Nets this season came under immense scrutiny.

He would improve his game during the second half of the 2012-13 campaign under interim coach P.J. Carlisemo, however, posting averages of 18.9 points and 7.7 assists while shooting 44 percent from the field overall on the year. 

In the process, Williams continued to reinforce his spot among the NBA's best point guards. 

Since breaking into the league in 2005, Williams has averaged 17.8 points, nine assists and 3.2 rebounds in 584 games. 

Though his critics have suggested it seems he has the ability to do more at times, those are consistently effective numbers that Williams is hanging on the board from the point guard position.

He hasn't shot over 40 percent from three-point range since his rookie season, however, and that is an area of Williams' game he could stand to improve as he approaches his 30th birthday.

No. 9: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

Prior to Rajon Rondo's season-ending ACL injury, he had averaged 11.3 assists over his last 159 games for the Boston Celtics.

He was leading the NBA in assists at 11.1 per game in 2012-13, after finishing first in assists at 11.7 in 2011-12.

Despite shooting 24.1 percent from three-point range for his career—enticing defenders to allow the jump shot while overplaying for the drive—Rondo has managed to get into the paint and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates throughout his career. 

Though he's never averaged more than the 13.7 points he scored both this year and in '09-10, Rondo is the most important offensive player on the court for his team when healthy. 

Since 2008, he's never averaged less than 8.2 assists on the season.

He's scored 11.1 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting for his career to go along with 8.3 assists in 475 games since breaking into the Association in 2006. 

Rondo also helped the Celtics win an NBA championship in 2008 and has been named to four All-Star teams in the last 10 years.

No. 8: Jason Kidd, New York Knicks

Before slowing down enough this season with the New York Knicks to look like a 40-year-old point guard competing against the best athletes in the world, Jason Kidd was setting a new standard for excellence at his position. 

Kidd made four All-Star appearances this decade while also earning All-NBA First Team honors in 2004. 

He led the league in assists in '04 as a member of the New Jersey Nets with 9.2 dimes per game to go along with scoring 15.5 points. 

Kidd also averaged 8.2 assists or more every season from 2004-11 as a member of the Nets and Dallas Mavericks.

Six times in this decade Kidd averaged double-figure points to go along with his playmaking production as well, while scoring at least nine points in two other seasons. 

Though the prime of his career may have taken place just prior to this decade—when he led his Nets to two straight conference championships—Kidd did manage to help Dallas break through and win an NBA title in 2011 as a key contributor.

No. 7: Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers

When this last decade began, Chauncey Billups was leading his Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship.

Billups proved worthy of his "Mr. Bigshot" moniker during that series against the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 21 points on 50.9 percent shooting to earn NBA Finals MVP honors.

From there, Billups would go on to make five All-Star appearances from 2006-10. He was also named All-NBA second team in 2006.

Starting with that title run in '03-04, Billups also averaged at least 16.5 points and five assists every season through 2010-11. 

As much as any point guard in his era, Billups truly embraced the leadership role associated with the point guard position, showing up in the clutch consistently when his team needed him most.

No. 6: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

If Russell Westbrook had not suffered the season-ending knee injury that he did, his Oklahoma City Thunder could have very well played to defend their Western Conference title in 2013. 

Instead, it was the Memphis Grizzlies who eliminated the Thunder before being eliminated themselves by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

With Westbrook on the sidelines, the Thunder desperately missed their point guard who has averaged 19.9 points, 6.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds since breaking into the league in 2008.

In each of the last three seasons, specifically, Westbrook has scored at least 21 points while dishing out 7.4, 5.5 and 8.2 assists. 

He is the most overwhelming athlete at the point guard position in the game today, possessing the unique ability to not only explode to the basket at any moment but also finish with emphasis over any defender. 

The combination of power, speed and athleticism that Westbrook plays with makes everyone around him that much more dangerous, including his superstar teammate Kevin Durant.

No. 5: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers

From 2004-06, Allen Iverson averaged 31.9 points for the Philadelphia 76ers while listed at the point guard position. 

The 6'0" guard played six seasons during this decade—the last six of a 14-year career—before retiring from the NBA in 2010. 

Though he spent time at the shooting guard spot to capitalize on his explosive ability to score the basketball, Iverson was an underrated playmaker who averaged 6.8, 7.9 and 7.4 assists respectively from '04-06.

Despite winning MVP honors in 2001, just outside of this decade, Iverson did win his second of two scoring championships in 2005 while averaging 30.7 points per game. 

He made six All-Star appearances in the last 10 years as well, while also being named All-NBA First Team (2005) and All-NBA Third Team (2006) one time each.

The only thing holding Iverson back on this list specifically is that his MVP season came outside of this past decade and that he did spend time at shooting guard as well.

No. 4: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose is one of only two point guards who have earned league MVP honors in the last 10 years. 

On the strength of 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds, he secured that title during the 2010-11 campaign as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

Rose accomplished as much only two seasons removed from being named Rookie of the Year in 2009.

Despite not playing this past season due to an ACL injury suffered in the opening-round of the 2012 playoffs, Rose has already made three trips to the NBA All-Star game in his short career. 

While playing a total of 279 regular-season games, he's averaged 21 points, 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds.

When he does return in '13-14, the 24-year-old point guard will do so with an opportunity to earn First Team All-NBA honors again, just like he did as a third-year pro from Memphis in 2011.

No. 3: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Heading into the 2013 NBA Finals, Tony Parker has already collected three championship rings. 

Two of those rings, in 2005 and 2007, have come during the last decade specifically.

On his way to winning the 2007 title, Parker was not only the best player on his team but also the best player in the series. 

The '07 Finals MVP could be on his way to repeating that same type of performance later this month. At age 31, Parker has pieced together one of the best seasons of his career to date. 

During the 2012-13 regular season, Parker averaged 20.3 points and 7.6 assists on 52.2 percent shooting from the field. In the postseason, he's averaged 23 points and 7.2 assists while leading the San Antonio Spurs to a Western Conference championship. 

Over the last 10 years, Parker's averaged 18.2 points and 6.3 assists combined.

He changes the dynamic of games with his penetration and has added a potent jump shot to his arsenal over the last few seasons that has helped make Parker an impossible cover defensively.

The more efficient he becomes with his jumper the longer he will be able to play at an elite level into his 30s.

No. 2: Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers

Dating back to the 2003-04 season, there have only been two players who have won multiple MVP awards. 

LeBron James is one and Steve Nash is the other. 

As a member of the Phoenix Suns, Nash went back-to-back as the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2005 and 2006.

Since winning his first MVP, Nash has averaged a double-double in seven of his last nine seasons. He has also shot over 50 percent from the field during the regular season in eight of his last 10.

Nash has been named to the All-Star team six times during this decade while being named First Team All-NBA three times.

At 39 years old this past season, he finished with 12.7 points and 6.7 assists on 49.7 percent shooting in 50 games for the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The only piece missing on Nash's illustrious mantle of NBA awards and trophies is that illusive championship he had joined the Lakers in hopes to secure. 

No. 1: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul broke into the NBA during the 2005-06 campaign as a point guard for the New Orleans Hornets. 

He was promptly named Rookie of the Year before making six straight trips to the All-Star game from 2008-13. Paul was also named to the All-NBA First team three times in an addition to being named to the second team in 2009 and the third team in 2011. 

Over 555 regular-season games this decade, CP3 has averaged 9.8 assists while leading the league in that category twice. As evidence of the impact he makes at both ends of the floor, Paul has also led the league in steals five times. 

The only knock on his game to date, compared to the other elite point guards of the last decade, is that Paul hasn't won an NBA championship yet.

In defense of that argument, however, he's also never played on a team that's been expected to do so from an overall talent standpoint. 

Depending on where he signs as a free agent this summer, maybe that will change.

For now, Paul has still done enough on both sides of the ball to remain the standard by which all point guards are measured.