Top 10 Greatest NBA Guards Associated With the City of Chicago

Known for places like the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Center and Wrigley Field and for delicious food like deep dish pizza and hot dogs, Chicago, Illinois is one of the most glamorous cities in the world.

Several talented NBA players have once called the city home, either growing up there or starring for the Chicago Bulls.

This slideshow consists of the 10 greatest guards in NBA history to ever be associated with the Windy City.

If you're looking for players like Jeff Hornacek, B.J. Armstrong and Ben Gordon, then you'll be disappointed. But you can make a case for each of those guys earning a spot on this list.

Well, without further ado, here is Chicago's best backcourt stars of all time. 

10. Derrick Rose

What, Derrick Rose at No. 10? Are you kidding me?

You might be asking yourself that question right now seeing that this past season, D-Rose was named the NBA's MVP and led the Chicago Bulls to the league's top record.

However, Rose has just three NBA seasons under his belt. With that said, it would be a bit unfair to place him higher on the list.

If he continues to be one of the game's best players for a few more seasons, he will surely move up several spots.

Rose grew up on Chicago's South Side and was later chosen by the Bulls No. 1 overall in the 2008 NBA draft. He's clearly representing "Da Chi."  

9. Reggie Theus

The Bulls made Theus the ninth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. The former UNLV star was an All-Star twice during his five-and-a-half seasons in Chicago.

In his final full season with the Bulls, 1982-83, Theus averaged a career-high 23.8 points per game.

He later played for the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets.

Theus coached the Sacramento Kings for 106 games.

8. Michael Finley

Finley played his high school ball at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.

After becoming the University of Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer (before Alando Tucker broke his record in 2007), Finley was drafted by the Phoenix Suns 21st overall in the 1995 NBA draft. 

Finley would play 15 seasons in the league. The best part of his career came during his time in Dallas as he formed an exciting trio with future NBA MVPs Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. 

A two-time All-Star, Finley averaged over 20 points per game five different seasons and won a title in 2007 with San Antonio. 

7. Norm Van Lier

Van Lier spent six full seasons running the point for the Bulls.

"Stormin' Norman" was selected to three All-Star teams during his time in Chicago and led the Bulls to the conference finals in both 1974 and 1975.

In addition, Van Lier was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1974 and was a member of the All-Defensive First Team three times and the All-Defensive Second Team five times. 

He's definitely one of the most popular Bulls stars of all time.

Van Lier passed away on Feb. 26, 2009, which was oddly the same day that former Bulls broadcaster Johnny "Redd" Kerr passed away.  

6. Jerry Sloan

During Sloan's head coaching career, his Utah Jazz reached the NBA Finals twice, falling to the Bulls both times.

Ironically, the Bulls are the team that Sloan played 10 of his 11 pro seasons with.

The two-time All-Star never won a title in Chicago but teamed with guys like Norm Van Lier and Bob Love to help the Bulls remain competitive for several years.  

Sloan was known as a tough perimeter defender back in the day as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times and the All-Defensive Second Team twice.

5. Maurice Cheeks

You have to feel sorry for Cheeks.

A few months ago, there were reports that he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year. However, those reports were inaccurate, and he'll have to wait at least another year to get in.  

Cheeks, who retired form the NBA in 1993, definitely deserves to be a Hall of Famer.

He never managed to put up Magic Johnson or Isiah Thomas-like number during his 15-year career, but he was a four-time All-Star and helped the Philadelphia 76ers win a title in 1983.

Cheeks was best-known for his defense as he selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times and the All-Defensive Second Team once. He retired as the league's all-time leader in steals and currently ranks fifth all-time.

Cheeks grew up in Chicago's now-demolished Robert Taylor Homes and attended DuSable High School. 

4. Tim Hardaway

Hardaway balled at Chicago's Carver High School before moving on to the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP).

He was then drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the the 14th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft. Hardaway, though, would eventually prove to the league that he should have been drafted much higher.

Known for his crossover dribble, referred to as the "UTEP Two-step," Hardaway became a five-time NBA All-Star and one of the top point guards of the '90s.

He averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game for his 14-year career in which he spent with Golden State, Miami, Dallas, Denver and Indiana. 

3. Dwyane Wade

Wade is perhaps one of the three best players in today's NBA.

"Flash" starred for Harold L. Richards High School in Oaklawn, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago.

After leading Marquette University to the NCAA Final Four, Wade entered the NBA in 2003 with the Miami Heat.

Several stars have failed to win a championship during their entire NBA careers, but Wade won one in just his third year in the league. He was named Finals MVP as his Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 Finals.    

Wade had the chance to sign with his hometown Bulls last summer but chose to stay down in South Beach. 

Just imagine if he had went to Chicago. He and Derrick Rose would've made a dangerous one-two punch.      

2. Isiah Thomas

Some fans in Chicago love Isiah and some simply hate his guts.

Fans love him because he was born and raised in the city, and is a Chi-Town high school legend. And fans hate him due to his involvement with the Detroit Pistons, the Bulls' biggest rival back in the late '80s and early '90s.      

Nevertheless, Thomas is considered one of the top five point guards in NBA history. He was clearly the leader of those memorable "Bad Boy" Pistons squads that won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.

Thomas averaged roughly 19 points and nine assists in Detroit, where he spent his entire 13-year pro career.  

1. Michael Jordan

Jordan wasn't born and raised in Chicago, but he's without question the greatest athlete in Chicago sports history. He's also the greatest player in NBA history.

Selected by the Bulls third overall in the 1984 NBA draft, Jordan went on to lead the team to six championships in the '90s and never lost a Finals series.

As a Bull, he won five NBA MVPs, six Finals MVPs and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 1988.

Many players have been compared to Jordan over the years such as Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter, but they just can't compare to MJ. Nobody can.