Greatest Floor General in the History of Every NBA Team

Besides having a big man in the post who can play on both sides of the court, having a point guard who  can run the show is one of the most vital aspects to a successful team.

Take a look at teams with arguably the top five players in the league today (in no particular order): Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook.

Aside from Williams, who finished his season with a depleted New Jersey Nets team, each of these players led their teams to the postseason and played a large role in the overall improvement of the team.

Paul has turned the New Orleans Hornets into a relevant franchise once again and has led the team to 56 wins, Rondo has become an important part of the Boston Celtics' success over the past four years, Rose recently led the Chicago Bulls to 62 wins after going .500 the previous year and Westbrook recently helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first conference finals in 15 years.

Having a point guard who is capable of leading a team is a dangerous thing to have. They can take over a game in so many ways since they usually dictate the tempo and the flow of the offense, while also attempting to throw off the opposing team's offense by defending their point guard. It's a difficult position to defend, as they are usually the most agile and the most intelligent, basketball-wise.

This list is used to exhibit the best player to complete these feats in the history of each NBA team. They have made some sort of positive impact on each team's history and have usually brought about success as the NBA's elite.

Atlanta Hawks: Mookie Blaylock

Since leaving the friendly confines of St. Louis, the Hawks franchise hasn't seen much success aside from a number of semifinals losses.

Possibly their best stretch since moving the franchise to Atlanta was during the Mookie Blaylock and Dominique Wilkins years when the team had a number of 50-win seasons. Blaylock was with the Hawks from 1992-1999 and experienced some of the best years of his career with the team.

He led the league in steals per game for two consecutive seasons and was a solid point guard for a perennial playoff team. Blaylock averaged as much as 17 points and a little under 10 assists per game, both of those instances coming with Atlanta, as the team wouldn't miss one postseason during Blaylock's tenure.

Blaylock made one trip to the All-Star game as a member of the Hawks in 1994 when he averaged a then-career-high 18 points to go along with eight assists per game. Among other accolades, Blaylock was a standout defender at the point, making two All-Defensive first-teams and four All-Defensive second-teams.

Blaylock also finished in the top three in total three-pointers made for three consecutive seasons.

Boston Celtics: Bob Cousy

Not only did Bob Cousy help make the Boston Celtics of the 1960s a dynasty, he also revolutionized the point guard position with the way he led the team as an actual point guard with a controlled pace and actual offensive sets.

Cousy would help lead the Celtics to six championships between 1957-1963 and was one of the league's first legitimate point guards.

The fast-paced offense was still in effect at the time, but Cousy controlled the tempo and actually turned the game into a team effort rather than a free-for-all to see which player could score the most points.

Cousy made 13 consecutive All-Star games, and he made it every single year he played in the NBA (aside from a short stint with the Cincinnati Royals where he came out of retirement after seven seasons). He wasn't the best shooter, finishing his career with a 38 percent shooting percentage, but Cousy still managed to average 20 points per game or more for four seasons as one of the team's No. 1 scorers.

Cousy truly made his impact felt as a passer, though. He led the league in assists for eight consecutive seasons despite never eclipsing more than a 9.5-assists average. The point guard was also one of the first players to eclipse the 20-5-5 mark, as he did it on three occasions.

He also took home the 1956-1957 MVP award after averaging 21 points, eight assists and five boards per game while also helping lead the Celtics to another Finals victory.

Charlotte Bobcats: Raymond Felton

One of the league's most underrated point guards during his time with the Charlotte Bobcats, Raymond Felton produced at a consistent rate from his rookie year in 2005 before signing with the New York Knicks this past offseason.

Felton made the All-NBA Rookie second-team after averaging 12 points, six assists and three boards per game, and would continue to statistically improve as the years progressed. He averaged as many as seven assists per game in his second and third seasons, and averaged as many as 14 points per game before averaging 17 in his short time with the Knicks.

Felton was the Bobcats' first point guard, and led the team to their first—and only—postseason appearance in 2010 when they achieved their first winning record at 44-38.

Is it any coincidence that the team saw a 10-win drop from their win total the previous season without Felton leading the way?

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

The youngest MVP in the history of the game, 22-year-old Derrick Rose has done so much in so little time.

In only his third year playing at the professional level, Rose led the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the league at 62-20, and gave them the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 1998 when Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were leading the team. The University of Memphis product averaged career-highs in nearly every statistical category with 25 points, eight assists and four boards per game.

Rose established himself as one of the league's most athletic guards, as well as one of its best finishers around the rim. He also showcases a great deal of maturity with the way he attempts to improve other aspects of his game that could use some refining.

D-Rose made great strides this past season in becoming a consistent threat from around the perimeter, hitting nearly two three-pointers per game, but only connecting on 33 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

The sky is the limit for Rose, as he already enters the conversation of being recognized as an elite player. At only 22 years old, Rose and the Bulls have plenty of success ahead of them if the point guard can continue to improve and possibly get some help from some role-players.

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James

One of the few players on this list who isn't a pure point guard, LeBron James was recognized as a small forward, but played as a point guard for the majority of his time spent with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James was listed as a small forward on depth charts and in the starting lineup, but don't let that fool you—he was the team's point guard with the way he dominated the ball.

The Cavaliers drafted the 18-year-old James out of high school, and he immediately became the face of the franchise after winning Rookie of the Year, and becoming only the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in his first year.

Despite being 6'8" and 250 lbs, James ran the point for the Cavaliers thanks to his court awareness, ability to find teammates for easy scores and his unbelievable ability to make players look like All-Stars even though they're not even near All-Star-caliber. James led the Cavaliers to their best seasons in franchise history, advancing them to their first NBA Finals in franchise history and leading the team to consecutive 60-plus-win seasons.

James won two MVPs with the Cavaliers and made it on to six All-Star teams while a member of the team. He made it on to five All-NBA first-teams, two All-NBA second-teams and three All-Defensive first-teams.

If there's any clear indication of how big James' influence over the team was, just compare the team's 61-21 record in his final season with the Cavs to the 19-63 record the team had in their first season without the King.

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd

Reunited, and it feels so good.

Jason Kidd recently joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2008 after being traded from the New Jersey Nets. The deal marked the second time Kidd would be on the Mavericks' roster after being traded to the Phoenix Suns for the likes of Sam Cassell, Michael Finley and A.C. Green.

Kidd was drafted by the Mavericks with the second overall pick in the the 1994 draft and would win Rookie of the Year after averaging 12 points, eight assists and five boards per game. He would average 17 points, a little less than 10 boards and seven assists per in his second season before getting traded away.

The move came as a surprise since Kidd appeared to be the future point guard for the Mavs, but this is what happens when pop stars allegedly get into the business of a basketball team.

Kidd is now a member of the Mavericks once again and is continuing where he left off after three solid seasons as the team's starting point guard. He doesn't perform at the usual rate he has become accustomed to, but Kidd can still lead an offense among the best of them, and it recently resulted in the first championship of his career.

This past season marked the first time in Kidd's career that he wound up finishing with less than five boards and five assists per game. He played a career-low 33 minutes and will be 38 at the start of next season.

Denver Nuggets: Fat Lever

An underrated point guard for his time on one of the most prolific offenses in NBA history, Fat Lever was a member of some of the most successful Denver Nugget teams.

From 1985-1990, the team made the postseason every year with two visits to the semifinals. The 54 games Lever helped the Nuggets win in the 1987-1988 season was a feat that wouldn't be matched until nearly 20 years later when Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups eventually began leading the way.

Lever saw the best years of his career come with Denver, as he averaged as much as 20 points and eight assists per game. He was one of the league's most well-rounded players, posting up near-LeBron James-numbers (he would actually come up a few rebounds and assists short of averaging a triple-double). The closest he came to achieving this feat was in the 1988-1989 campaign when he finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists per game.

Even with the unbelievable numbers, Lever never finished better than ninth in MVP voting and would only make it on to two All-Star teams. He also made it on to an All-NBA second-team and an All-Defensive second-team in consecutive seasons.

Lever was overshadowed by more successful point guards in Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson, but it shouldn't take away from some of the numbers he posted following a few consecutive seasons of coming the closest anyone has to averaging a triple-double since Oscar Robertson.

Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas

It's not every day you see a player who is completely loyal to their team for the duration of their careers.

Isiah Thomas was one of those exceptions, spending every season of his 13-year career with the Detroit Pistons. He was one of the league's most prolific point guards next to Magic Johnson during his generation, and brought the Pistons more success than they had ever previously seen with back-to-back championships in the late 1980s, as well as three consecutive trips to the Finals and five consecutive years with a conference finals appearance.

Thomas was easily one of the league's top players during the 1980s, as he led the Pistons to some of their most successful seasons in franchise history. He also exhibited a great deal of court awareness, using trickery to keep defenses on their toes without an idea of what type of move he would pull next.

Thomas led the league in assists per game on one occasion, and it came in his fourth season when he averaged a career-high 14 assists per game. He wouldn't average more than 11 following that, but Thomas would see most of the team's success come during the twilight of his career when he was no longer averaging more than 10 assists than 20 points a night.

Possibly the most impressive stat is the fact that Thomas saw most of his offensive production come from within the perimeter. He was the Tony Parker of his time when it came to scoring near the basket, averaging 45 percent shooting for his career and 19 points per game despite taking more than two three-pointers per game on only two occasions.

Golden State Warriors: Tim Hardaway

It might be hard to believe now, but the Golden State Warriors actually used to be recognized as a viable championship contender during the early 1990s.

The 55 games where they came up victorious in the 1991-1992 season remains the second-most they have won in franchise history.

Forming the notorious "Run TMC" with sharpshooters Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway added another shooting threat to the team as a prolific slasher who could find himself open for an easy layup thanks to his famed crossover. Hardaway is still recognized today as the player who revolutionized the crossover and utilized it as a move for easier scoring opportunities.

Hardaway only spent the first five and a half years of his career with the Warriors and saw the best statistical seasons of his career during his tenure out West. After averaging 15 points per game in his rookie season, Hardaway blew up and averaged 20 points per game the remainder of his time as a member of the Warriors (aside from the half season he played before getting traded).

Timmy wasn't too bad of a passer either considering he averaged his career-high in assists at 11 in only his fourth season, while also averaging nearly 22 points per game. Hardaway's quickness, explosiveness and ability to hit from deep were his key attributes that enabled the Warriors and the Miami Heat to emerge as some of the top teams in the league during Hardaway's time with them.

Hardaway made it on to three consecutive All-Star teams while with the Warriors, as well as a nomination for the All-NBA second and third-teams.

Houston Rockets: Kenny Smith

Kenny "The Jet" Smith only spent six seasons with the Houston Rockets, but it was a meaningful six seasons, as the Rockets saw some of their most successful seasons with Smith as the floor general.

Playing alongside Hakeem Olajuwon, Smith helped lead the Rockets to consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995, and was one of the team's most consistent shooters from inside the perimeter and beyond. He was a career 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc and shot more than 40 percent from the land of three for three consecutive seasons.

Smith shot as well as 44 percent from beyond the arc and even shot as well as 43 percent during the 1994-1995 season when he was attempting four three-pointers per game. He was an extremely reliable and consistent threat on those volatile Rocket teams, shooting 52 percent from the field overall on two different occasions, and averaging as many as 18 points and seven assists per game.

He never shot less than 36 percent from beyond the arc during his tenure with the Rockets.

Indiana Pacers: Jamaal Tinsley

You got a better choice? Let's hear it.

As far as I know, Jamaal Tinsley is somehow the top point guard in the history of the Indiana Pacers franchise despite playing in more than 70 games three out of the seven seasons he spent with the team.

Tinsley could score, pass and rebound, but he didn't do it at an efficient rate. He's only shot better than 40 percent in three seasons, is shooting less than 40 percent from the field for his career and is a career 30 percent shooter from deep, which somehow doesn't do enough justice as to how awful of a shot selection Tinsley has.

Imagine Allen Iverson without a shot or the success.

It's disappointing to see how Tinsley's career has completely fallen off, especially after a productive rookie year where he averaged nine points and eight assists per game. The next two seasons would be subpar before Tinsley went bonkers in his fourth year, averaging a career-high 15 points per game on 42 percent shooting. He also set a career-high in steals per game at two, to go along with a solid six assists and four rebounds.

Tinsely set a career-high in assists at a little more than eight per game in his final season with the Pacers and has nearly been AWOL since. He took the 2008-2009 season off and played in 31 games with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009-2010 season. Tinsely recently failed to be picked up by a team this most recent season.

Los Angeles Clippers: Sam Cassell

In a tossup between Sam Cassell and Norm Nixon, the final decision came down to where the Los Angeles Clippers saw most of their success.

Since Nixon was on three Clipper teams that failed to win more than 32 games compared to Cassell, who was actually a member of a postseason appearance, the choice became quite obvious.

Perhaps the Clippers' success stemmed from Cassell, who joined the team the same season they made their first postseason since 1997 and had their first winning season since the George H.W. Bush presidency.

At 36 years old, Cassell was an efficient and reliable piece on one of the best Clipper teams in franchise history. He averaged 17 points per game on 44 percent from the field, shot 37 percent from deep and dished out six assists per game, as well as grabbing four rebounds. Cassell was a quiet leader who utilized his strengths of posting up on offense and was an overall nuisance on defense.

Cassell would only spend one and a half more uneventful seasons with the Clippers before going ring-chasing in Boston and calling it quits the offseason after.

Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson

The best to ever play the point guard position, Magic Johnson was one of the smartest players to play the game at the NBA level, and it paid off in great dividends as far as team and individual success went for the Hall of Famer.

After a short down period in Los Angeles Lakers history in the mid-1970s, Johnson brought about a new era of basketball to the famed basketball town with something he deemed as "Showtime."

With Johnson leading the way, the Lakers weren't only just winning games, but making it look easy and making it entertaining in the process. The Lakers were a flashy team, and it was solely because of Johnson's performances on a nightly basis.

At 6'8", there wasn't a point guard who could truly defend Johnson. He lacked as far as shooting from the perimeter went, but it was his ability to see the court at such a height, while also containing the terrific court awareness, that enabled him to become the top point guard of all time. With his height, Johnson could see the court like no other point guard could before and was also smart enough to make decisions so quickly that the defense had little time to react.

Johnson was also a master of trickery and used fake-passes or any type of hesitation move to throw off a defense. Magic's key to being such a success was knowing what he was going to do the second he had the ball in his hands. He knew where he was going, who was getting it and how it was going to happen.

There hasn't been a point guard near Johnson's decade-long caliber with the Lakers. Magic led the league in assists on four different occasions and in steals twice. He won three MVP awards, made it on to 12 All-Star teams and won three Finals MVPs out of the five championship teams he was a part of.

Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Bibby

One of the few success stories to come out of the failed Vancouver endeavor, Mike Bibby began and established his career north of the border his first three years in the league.

Taken with the No. 2 pick in the 1998 draft, the Grizzlies immediately implemented Bibby as the team's starting point guard without hesitation. He played nearly 40 minutes per game in the time he spent there, as he attempted to make the team a noted franchise that would eventually bring success.

After six seasons with the team failing to win more than 23 games and an average attendance of 13,000 per night, the NBA decided that success wasn't going to come.

Bibby was quality in his first years at the NBA level; he made it on to the All-NBA Rookie first-team after averaging 13 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals per game. He progressively improved, and averaged 16 points, eight assists and four boards per game by the time he departed for greener pastures in Sacramento.

Bibby also developed his three-point stroke in Vancouver, going from attempting less than two three-pointers in his first season to nearly four in his third season and shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc.

Miami Heat: Tim Hardaway

Making his second appearance on this list, Tim Hardaway didn't match the stats he had as a member of the Golden State Warriors, but he saw much more success than he had ever seen while playing on the West Coast.

Hardaway joined a Miami Heat team that was looking to make a statement with Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley running the show and Alonzo Mourning establishing his presence in the paint. Hardaway complemented Mourning and the rest of the roster perfectly and with quick success, as the team won a franchise-high 61 wins in his first full season with the team. Hardaway also helped lead the team to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

Although he only averaged more than 20 points per game once and never averaged more than 10 assists per in his time with the Heat, the team success and the accolades he received were enough to label him as an elite point guard during the late 1990s. Coupled with the consistent success of his team, Hardaway made it on to his lone All-NBA first-team, along with two other All-NBA second-teams, and he even finished as high as fourth in MVP voting.

As well as being a terrific offensive facilitator when dishing out the assists, Hardaway was just as good at converting points on his own from anywhere on the court. His famed crossover is still considered one of the most lethal offensive weapons an individual has ever possessed, and it allowed Hardaway to get to the rim at any given moment.

His three-point shooting was a force to be reckoned with as well, considering he averaged two three-pointers per game in his tenure with the team and never shot below 34 percent from the perimeter.

Milwaukee Bucks: Oscar Robertson

If Oscar Robertson had the chance, do you think he would trade those mind-boggling stats he had early on his career with the Cincinnati Royals for one championship with the team?

Rather than doing something as silly as that, Robertson did the smart thing by leaving for the Milwaukee Bucks and winning a championship alongside the man formerly known as Lew Alcindor. Robertson didn't average anything near a triple-double (he failed to average more than 20 points per game in the four years he spent there), but he was one of the key reasons behind the Milwaukee Bucks' lone championship they won in 1971.

Robertson joined the team at the age of 32 near the twilight of his career as a means to obtain the championship he had been longing for. He was hardly getting any assistance in Cincinnati; he had only five winning seasons in the 10 years he spent there, so he pulled a LeBron and went to a franchise that was actually concerned about winning championships.

The "Big O" still had quality seasons with Milwaukee, averaging at least 17 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in his first two seasons there. Robertson made it on to three All-Star teams in the short time he played with the Bucks and made it on to one All-NBA second-team.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrell Brandon

One of the few success stories out of Minnesota not named Kevin, Terrell Brandon was one of the few players in the Timberwolves' franchise that actually helped Garnett out in a positive light throughout their runs in the Western Conference playoffs.

Brandon joined the Timberwolves for the final three years of his career before succumbing to an injury that forced him into retirement at the age of 31. He was highly efficient in his short time with the team, averaging 17 points, nine assists and three boards per game in his first season with the Timberwolves. His production would decline from that point though, as he would fail to average the stats he had in his first season with Minnesota.

At 5'11", Brandon was an impressive scorer for someone of his stature, especially since he found the majority of his points coming from within the perimeter. He only averaged a three-pointer or more for two seasons and saw his points either come from mid-range or by using his agility to quickly put up shots around the rim.

The Wolves had two 50-win seasons in the three years Brandon spent there (a 47-win season being the other year).

New Jersey Nets: Jason Kidd

Like any great point guard, whatever Jason Kidd touched seemed to turn to gold.

After strengthening the Dallas Mavericks in the first three years of his career, then improving the Phoenix Suns' franchise in a four and a half year stint, Kidd saw his best individual and team success—up until these past Finals—come as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

After finishing the 2000-2001 season 26-56, the Nets acquired Kidd in a deal that sent Stephon Marbury to the Suns. The improvement that the team saw in only one season is mind-boggling, as they went from sixth in the Atlantic Division the previous season to 52 wins, an Atlantic Division title and their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976—when they weren't even an NBA team yet.

It wouldn't stop there, as Kidd led the Nets to another Finals appearance the next season after winning 49 games and another division title. Unfortunately, Kidd and the Nets couldn't seal the deal with a Finals victory, winning only two games in the series.

Kidd did everything on the floor with scoring, rebounding and, his main specialty—passing. He was a wizard with the ball and was extremely reminiscent of Magic Johnson when it came to the way Kidd ran an offense. He had the look of a confident point guard who knew what he was doing when he had the ball in his hands and often used trickery to get his teammates open.

Kidd led the league in assists five times, twice coming as a member of the Nets. He made it on to five All-Star teams while with New Jersey, as well as two All-NBA first-teams and two All-Defensive first-teams.

Patience finally paid off for Kidd when he recently won his first title as the starting point guard for the team that originally drafted him way back in 1994.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul

He's spent only six seasons in the league and hasn't even hit his prime, but Chris Paul has done more for the New Orleans Hornets' franchise than anyone else in the team's history.

In only his third season, Paul led the Hornets to their best year in franchise history with a 56-26 record and a division title. Keep in mind that of the four other playoff-caliber teams, Paul had to play against—four times apiece—the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies.

Unfortunately for the Hornets, they would only make it to the semifinals where they lost in seven games to the eventual NBA champion and division rival Spurs.

Paul hasn't made it past the first round since. It doesn't help that there is nothing near a legitimate scoring threat outside of David West, and the organization isn't putting in much of an effort to bring help to New Orleans.

While team success might have to wait, individual success has been plentiful for Chris Paul with two consecutive seasons of leading the league in assists, as well as leading the league for three years. He also established himself as one of the best defensive point guards in the league, possessing the quickness and awareness necessary to average at least two steals per game in all but one season since joining the league.

Paul is considered the best point guard in the league today for his influence on the Hornets' franchise and his ability to lead a team no matter how depleted it is.

Take this last post season, for example. The Hornets lost David West, and even with Carl Landry as the team's starting power forward, Paul managed to go six games against the defending back-to-back champion Los Angeles Lakers while nearly averaging a triple-double at 22 points, 12 assists and seven boards per game.

Paul has made it on to four All-Star teams, an All-NBA first-team, an All-NBA second-team, an All-NBA third-team, an All-NBA Defensive first-team and two All-NBA Defensive second-teams. He has also finished as high as second in MVP voting after leading the Hornets to 56 wins and averaging 21 points, 12 assists, four boards and two steals per game.

New York Knicks: Walt Frazier

It didn't occur to me until writing this slide that Walt Frazier actually spent the final three seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Rather than talking about a dark period during Frazier's career, let's speak of the great amount of success Frazier had as an individual and as a teammate.

He not only averaged 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game for six consecutive seasons, but Frazier also brought the Knicks success they haven't seen since 1973. In the span of four years, the combined efforts of Frazier and Willis Reed allowed the Knicks to win two championships with three Finals appearances, as well as a conference finals being the lone disappointing season in between the team's two championships.

With a knack for scoring at a high percentage, rebounding at a high rate and being the team's leading passer, Walt did everything on the floor. He averaged as many as 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds per game in different seasons, and went on to average 19 points, six rebounds and six assists per game for his career.

Frazier made it to seven All-Star games, four All-NBA first-teams, two All-NBA second-teams and an impressive seven All-NBA Defensive first-teams.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Gary Payton

One of only five non-centers or power forwards to win a Defensive Player of the Year award, Gary Payton prided himself on his lock-down defense and hitting shots when it counted most.

Above all though, Payton is considered one of the NBA's top defensive guards in the history of the game. He averaged two steals per game for his career and led the league in steals per game in the 1995-1996 season when he led the Seattle Supersonics to their first title game since 1979. Payton could have won his first title earlier had they not run into a buzz saw known as Michael Jordan.

Payton spent the first 13 and a half seasons of his career with the Sonics and formed one of the more volatile duos in the league between himself and high-flying power forward Shawn Kemp. The duo would help the Sonics achieve 60-plus-wins three times during the 1990s with the crowning achievement being their lone Finals appearance of the decade.

"The Glove" was a terrific all-around player who could do it all; defense, rebounding, assisting and scoring were all parts of Payton's repertoire. He was one of the league's most valued players at the time and would have been a huge asset to any team that wished to have had him during his prime.

Payton experienced career-highs in all statistical categories during the 1999-2000 season, averaging 24 points, nine assists and nearly seven boards per game. Among his accolades is an extremely lengthy list of All-Defensive first-team nominations—nine to be exact—to go along with two All-NBA first-team appearances and seven All-Star games as a member of the Sonics.

Payton finally saw success in 2006 when he won a championship coming off the bench for the Miami Heat.

Orlando Magic: Penny Hardaway

The same way Grant Hill's promising career was deterred by recurring injuries, the same could be said for the multi-dimensional Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway.

At 6'7", Hardaway could play small forward and shooting guard, but he mainly played at the point where he was much more well-situated. Penny wasn't exactly Magic Johnson when it came to taller point guards, but he got the job done, and that was enough for the Magic to make it to the Finals in only their second postseason appearance.

Hardaway assisted the Magic in their Finals run only six years after the franchise was created. It was his rookie season, and he had a solid campaign, averaging 16 points, seven assists and five boards per game with an even more impressive 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game average in their postseason run.

He had a solid first three years, playing in at least 77 games before beginning to succumb to nagging injuries. Hardaway played in 59 games the next season and only 19 the next before playing the full 50 during the lockout season. He would only play in 70 or more games two more times over the next eight seasons before seeing his career come to a disappointing halt.

Prior to then though, Hardaway appeared ready for a breakthrough after posting up 22 points and seven assists per game before beginning to experience ailments.

Penny made it on to four All-Star teams (all coming with the Magic) and even made it on to consecutive All-NBA first-teams, as well as one All-NBA third-team nomination. He also finished third in MVP voting in the 1995-1996 season when he posted up career-highs.

Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson

One of the most prolific scorers of all time, Allen Iverson may be too good for the United States these days, but he's still only five seasons removed from averaging 33 points per game.

He's still got it in him, and NBA teams are looking for a legitimate starting point guard. It's time to give him a chance.

Iverson started out his career with a bang, winning Rookie of the Year after averaging 24 points and eight assists per game as a 21-year-old. The young phenom would then go on to lead the league in scoring two seasons later, averaging 27 points per game while also playing in a league-high 42 minutes a night. Iverson didn't stop there either, as he then won consecutive scoring titles in 2000 and 2001 (31 points per game average).

During this time, Iverson was also busy leading the league in steals for three consecutive seasons.

He would win one more scoring title and would then average a career-high 33 points per game the next season. A scoring title would have been won if not for Kobe Bryant going berserk, scoring 81 points and averaging 35 points per game. Iverson's career would begin to hit its downside from there, as he would give two quality seasons to the Denver Nuggets before fizzling out with Detroit Pistons and one more awkward stint with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Iverson went through more pain and heartache since his individual success hardly ever translated into team success. He made it to the 2001 NBA Finals before losing in five games to a dominant Los Angeles Lakers team that only had one loss during their entire postseason run. Iverson would never come close again and would only have two more postseason appearances as a member of the Sixers.

He had a storied NBA career, winning the MVP in the 2000-2001 season, and making it on to 11 consecutive All-Star teams, three All-NBA first-teams, three All-NBA second-teams and one All-NBA third-team.

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

Consider Steve Nash the one who got away for the Dallas Mavericks.

Nash spent six seasons with the Mavs honing his craft and refining his game before signing with the Phoenix Suns and experiencing the best years of his career.

Despite joining the Suns at the ripe age of 30, Nash has had two MVP seasons and has brought success to the Suns' franchise they haven't experienced since the Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson era. The success Nash brought to the team was immediate, as he transformed the Suns from a mediocre, middle-of-the-pack team to a top-tier championship contender.

Phoenix won 29 games in the 2003-2004 season. Steve Nash joined the team in 2004-2005, and they ended up winning 62 games, the Pacific Division and took a trip to the conference finals where they ultimately lost to the rival San Antonio Spurs. From 2004-2009, the Suns would only miss the postseason once and would win 50-plus games in six out of the next seven seasons.

The big three between Nash, Shawn Marion and Amar'e Stoudemire became a force to be reckoned with, as Marion and Stoudemire constantly found themselves scoring on passes from Nash. The South African had an unbelievable knack for finding teammates for the easiest scoring opportunities; his trickery and court awareness gave Nash plenty of individual success to go along with team success that never reached its peak.

If Nash knew how to play defense—or if the entire Suns did, for that matter—then one of the top point guards could actually have a championship.

Nash made it on to five All-Star teams with Phoenix, two All-NBA first-teams and two All-NBA second-teams, while also leading the league in assists five times and in free-throw percentage twice.

Portland Trail Blazers: Terry Porter

One of the more underrated point guards of his time, Terry Porter was a solid piece on a number of Portland Trail Blazer squads that emerged as contenders.

Playing alongside banger Kevin Duckworth and prolific scorer Clyde Drexler, Porter played a key role on Blazer teams that advanced to three consecutive conference finals, coupled with two Finals appearances. Portland won more than 57 games for those three seasons and eased their way into the championship series with only one series going the full seven games.

The Blazers couldn't seal the deal, however, as they ran into a defensive juggernaut Detroit Pistons team and a Chicago Bulls team that was fresh off its first championship.

Porter played quality ball between his rookie year in 1985 until his final year with the Blazers in the 1994-1995 season when he played in only 35 games and began coming off the bench.

In his prime though, Porter was one of the top floor generals in the league who consistently averaged 18 points and eight assists per game. He was a consistent producer on the offensive end of the floor, shooting more than 50 percent on two occasions and shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc twice in his time with the Blazers. He was nearly hitting two three-pointers per game at the top of his game when it came to shooting from beyond the perimeter.

Porter made it on to two All-Star teams.

Sacramento Kings: Oscar Robertson

The only player in league history to legitimately average a triple-double—and coming a few percentage points from doing it four other times—Oscar Robertson was the greatest point guard in the NBA for his time.

As far as statistics go, there was no better player in the NBA at abusing the system than Robertson, who nearly averaged a triple-double his first five years in the league. He averaged the triple-double in only his second season when he averaged 31 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists per game. He came up 0.3 assists short in his rookie season, 0.5 assists in his third season, 0.1 rebounds in his fourth season and one rebound shy of completing the feat again.

Robertson led the league in assists on seven different occasions and in scoring once.

He could do everything and anything he wanted on the floor, and is still considered one of the greatest all-around players to play at the professional level, considering he was a 6'5" point guard who was averaging as many as 12 boards per contest.

Much like Magic Johnson, Robertson also used his height to his advantage. His height gave him the ability to see the court at a level most point guards couldn't see, while still containing the speed of a point guard so he could still drive against the smaller guards at will.

Robertson averaged more than 40 minutes of playing time a night the first 10 years of his career, all spent with the former Cincinnati Royals.

San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker

And we thought the Miami Heat having LeBron James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade was unfair—try playing a prime corps consisting of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, and get back to me.

That corps has three championships with a grand total of zero losses. On a team laden with chemistry and cohesion, Parker led the forefront at the point with some of the best inside work from a player of his size the league hasn't seen since Isiah Thomas.

For a lengthy period of time during the 2005-2006 season, Parker was actually leading the league in points in the paint ahead of the likes of teammate Tim Duncan, Shawn Marion, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. Parker didn't end up leading the league once the season reached its end, but it's an impressive feat nonetheless for a player who stands at 6'2" to lead in points in the paint as late as late-January.

Parker is fearless, and that's what makes him one of the NBA's top-tier point guards. He shows no fear when driving in amongst players who can sometimes be a foot taller than him, as he uses high-arching floaters and quick lay-ins before the slower, taller defenders can react. Parker has the awareness and the timing necessary to complete difficult tasks like this, and it has worked out well to the tune of three championships and a Finals MVP when the Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007.

Parker's not a statistical monster—he would rather consistently take the best shot possible than attempt to force the issue with jumpers that are out of his range. He has averaged more than 50 percent shooting four times over a 10-career (his high is 55 percent) and is a career 49 percent shooter. Parker's game is limited from within the perimeter, but it doesn't matter too much if you score at a higher rate than the majority of the post players in the game today.

Parker has three All-Star game appearances and only one All-NBA third-team nomination.

Toronto Raptors: Jose Calderon

Sad, but true—Jose Calderon is seriously the most consistent point guard in Toronto Raptors history.

But it's not all bad for the Raptors; Calderon is a conservative shooter who only takes high-percentage shots and is also one of the best point guards when it comes to taking care of the ball. He has averaged between eight and nine assists per game on three different occasions, yet he has averaged two turnovers per game only twice.

At a rate of four assists to every turnover, Calderon certainly isn't hurting the Raptors' franchise with his offensive production. His defense could use some serious work though, as it seems Calderon gets broken at the slightest jab step.

Calderon isn't the type of point guard who's going to save a franchise, but rather support it and not do anything to impede the team's progress. He recently had a down period averaging under 10 points per game after averaging more than 10 for three consecutive seasons, but Calderon still managed to help the team's cause out by tying his career-high in assists with nearly nine per game.

The Spaniard has also averaged as many as 13 points and nine assists per game, as well as eclipsing the mark of free-throw percentage in a single season. Calderon only missed two free throws the entire 2008-2009 season, and he finished the season shooting .9805 from the foul line.

I'd still rather he play defense.

Utah Jazz: John Stockton

The most efficient sidekick and passer to play the game, John Stockton built an entire career on solid defense, making Karl Malone look like Superman and being an overall outstanding teammate.

Stockton was also one of the NBA's top ironmen. He didn't miss a single game the first five years of his career, had 17 seasons where he played in every single game and even went through another stretch where he played in every game for seven consecutive seasons.

When it came to being quite possibly the best teammate in NBA history, Stockton made it look easy. He was an efficient passer who led the league in assists per for nine consecutive seasons, averaged nearly 15 assists per game at his highest and currently holds on to the assists lead in NBA history by more than 4,000 dimes.

The next closest player? Jason Kidd, who would probably have to play until he's 50 while maintaining good health the whole way just to catch up.

Stockton finished his career averaging nearly 11 assists per game, but he also made quite the living when it came to shooting at a high rate as well.

Stockton is a career 52 percent shooter—38 percent from beyond the arc—and has averaged as many as 17 points per game on a few occasions. His offense was mostly spent dishing out assists to Malone and the plethora of other teammates he made look like All-Stars, but Stockton was also very quick and could get to the rim easily, as well as possessing a solid mid-range game.

He made it on to 10 All-Star teams, surprisingly only two All-NBA first-teams, six All-NBA second-teams, three All-NBA third-teams and two All-Defensive second-teams.

The only thing missing is the ring, a feat that couldn't be accomplished thanks to the gauntlet of challenges in the West, and Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the East.

Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas

He's not the most soft-spoken player and he can sometimes do more harm than good, but when Gilbert Arenas was playing at his best, there honestly weren't many players better than him—especially when it came to performing in the clutch.

Arenas was never fearful of pressure situations and embraced the chance to be a hero, even celebrating before the game-winner even fell.

From the 2004-2005 season and the 2006-2007 season, Arenas was not only one of the league's most efficient scorers, but players as well. He fell near the top in scoring per game, averaging as many as 29 points per game on 45 percent shooting, then following that up with another solid 28 points per game on 42 percent from the field. Arenas was also making nearly three three-pointers per game during this lucrative stretch.

It was also during this time that the Washington Wizards would make it to the postseason for the first time since the 1996-1997 campaign, also winning their first series since the 1981-1982 season. The 45 wins they reached in the 2004-2005 campaign was also the most the team had won since the 1978-1979 season when they reached the NBA Finals for the last time in franchise history.

Coupled with Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, Arenas had quite the field day for a brief period of time with the Wizards. Before succumbing to a number of injuries and legal troubles, Arenas was an All-Star and was turning a down-and-out Wizards franchise into an actual perennial playoff contender.

Arenas made it on to three All-Star teams and is currently attempting to revive his career with the Orlando Magic.