The NBA's Best Quarterbacks: Ranking the Top 10 Point Guards in the NBA
Today's NBA has arguably the deepest talent pool at the point guard position of all time.
From Rajon Rondo playing the role of the classic, distributing assist man to Derrick Rose's unique scoring oriented play style, the wealth of talent at the position makes for great matchups on a nightly basis.
This list will help to compare and rank the top 10 point guards of today's NBA and, I'm sure, will spark a ton of debate on how they are ranked.
This list is not ranking of who has had the best career so far, just who has had the best season so far.
10. Raymond Felton 17 PPG, 9 APG, 4 RPG
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Felton exploded onto the scene in his first season as a Knick and seemed to be turning into the player some thought he would be coming out of college. Felton is putting up career numbers even after cooling off as the calender turned to 2011.
Felton, for a small guard, can get to the basket pretty well and, since playing with Amare Stoudemire, has become a more effective pick and roll player. He has decent range and is shooting 42 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc.
Since being shipped to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony deal, Felton has lost his starting job but only because of Denver's plans for Ty Lawson to be the point guard of the future.
Felton is a solid point guard who, this year, has been top 10 material.
9. Chauncey Billups 17 PPG, 5 APG 3 RPG
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Mr. Big Shot's career may have been reborn since being considered a "throw in" to the Carmelo Anthony trade to the Knicks.
In the sample size of games we've seen Billups partake in as a New York Knick, he seems to have an edge and a certain energy that has elevated his game.
Billups has excellent range and is shooting a career high from three at 44 percent and playing with Melo and Amare in the Mike D'Antoni offense will only help him get open shots and threes. Stoudemire will help Billups' game and will be the best big man with whom Chauncey has ever played.
While he may have lost a step of speed with age, he can still distribute the ball well and get teammates open shots. The leadership and experience the one time Finals MVP will bring to the Knicks may help out as much as his play does.
Side note: Amare has now played with two of the 10 and soon a third of the point guards on this list. Many thought that Amare leaving Steve Nash would slow him down but we are now seeing that that relationship was mutual.
8. Steph Curry 19 PPG 6 APG 4 RPG
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Probably the best pure shooting point guard in the league, Steph Curry shoots 42 percent from three and 92 percent from the free throw line.
His offensive numbers may be a bit skewed because of the high scoring fast tempo offense he plays in but the fact remains that he is one of the best shooters in the league.
His defensive skills are sometimes questioned and he has some trouble defending other point guards because he isn't the biggest, fastest or strongest guy but his offense makes up for it.
He can distribute the ball well and is an underrated passer.
7. Tony Parker 17 PPG 7 APG 3 RPG
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Parker is running the point for the best team in the league this season and quietly has had a good year statistically.
Parker is an okay defender, has solid range, can get to the basket, and even in a season filled with distractions has played very well.
Parker shines in the playoffs and has a finals MVP to show for it; watch for him to improve his play for San Antonio this spring.
6. Steve Nash 16 PPG 11 APG 3 RPG
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The veteran Nash is having another great season statistically and is keeping the Sun's in the playoff race.
The two time MVP is putting up great numbers again and playing on a team of role players. Nash is still one of the best passers in the league and can distribute as well as anyone. He has great range, especially from three and is shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc.
He is getting older and someday his age will catch up with his play but it appears that that won't happen for along time.
5. Rajon Rondo 11 PPG 12 APG 5 RPG
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Rondo is leading the league in assists and is arguably the best passer in the NBA. He creates shots for his teammates and can lead a fast break.
He plays solid defense and gets a lot of steals. His only flaw, and what keeps him from being higher on this list, is his shooting ability.
Rajon has no three point shot and does not shoot them, he shoots an awful 54 percent from the free throw line, and worst of all, he doesn't want the ball at the end of games.
Players defending him play five feet off him, just asking him to shoot and he can't do it. I'd like to see Rondo on a team without three other all stars to see if he could continue to put up the assist numbers he does, and to see if his scoring would increase.
If Rondo is the future of the Celtics, which he is, then he needs to improve his shooting from mid-range, from the free throw line, and from three.
4. Russel Westbrook 22 PPG 8 APG 5 RPG
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This is when things get tight.
These next four guys are all great point guards who are all capable of being the best in the league, depending on the night.
Russell Westbrook, along with Derrick Rose, is part of a new breed at point guard. He is an athletic specimen with an explosive offensive ability that is unmatched. He has decent range but can get to the basket as well as anyone. Westbrook is probably the best all around point guard in the league and does so much for his team.
He is a great defender and scorer and, along with Kevin Durant, is the future of the Thunder and the league.
3. Deron Williams 21 PPG 10 APG 4 RPG
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Williams has some of the best numbers of the point guards on this list. He is a 20-10 guy who plays defense and gets his teammates involved. He has great size and can power through smaller guards and get to the rim through contact.
Since being traded to the Nets many have wondered whether he will choose to stay in New Jersey or test the free agent market in 2012, leaving the Nets worse off then when he arrived.
The Nets are a better team with him now, and two years from now he can easily be the best player on a championship contender with the right pieces around him.
There were some rumors about Williams butting heads with former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and whether that was true or not Williams is in a new place, with a new coach, and will continue to play very well.
2. Chris Paul 16 PPG 10 APG 4 RPG
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While Paul's numbers are low this season he is still carrying his Hornets team to a playoff spot while recovering from a knee injury he had last season.
Paul is a great passer and good scorer with solid range and finds his teammates in their spots. Paul's Hornets team doesn't really have a second option and no team is going anywhere with David West as its second best player.
Pair Paul with a good number two guy and the Hornets could contend for a title.
1. Derrick Rose 25 PPG 8 APG 5 RPG
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Rose is the top candidate for the MVP and has his Bulls team contending for the one seed in the Eastern Conference, all of that after having lost Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah to injury for a lot of the season.
Rose is having the best season in his career so far and has taken his game to new heights by adding a good three point shot and improving his free throw percentage.
Rose is an underrated passer and is the best point guard when it comes to getting to the rim and getting fouled. Rose is a great leader on and off the floor and carries himself like an MVP should.
Some question his defense but with the help of new head coach Tom Thibodeau he has improved that aspect of his game as much as his offense.
Any of the top four guys on this list could be considered the best in the league, and the rankings could be changed on a nightly basis.
