NBA's 8 Greatest Point Guards from Chicago

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

But skyscrapers, ballparks and food aren't the only things the Windy City is famous for. It's also known for producing a slew of talented NBA players, especially at the point guard position.

Current point guards from "Da Chi" include the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose and the undrafted Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons.

And Mo Cheeks, Tim Hardaway and Rickey Green are a few names from the past.  

Well, without further ado, here's the top eight greatest Chicago point guards in NBA history. 

8. Quinn Buckner

Buckner knew what it took to win, no matter what level of basketball it was.

He led Thornridge High School in suburban Dolton, Illinois to back-to back titles, helped Indiana win a national championship his senior year and later picked up a ring with the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1984.

Buckner was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks seventh overall in the '76 draft. The defensive-minded point guard would go to earn a spot on the NBA All-Defensive second team four times during his decent 10-year career.

He currently serves as a color analyst for the Indiana Pacers.

7. Ricky Green

Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton wasn't a full-time starter for the Utah Jazz during his first three seasons in the league.

A Chicago born-and-raised player by the name of Ricky Green was the main reason for that.

An All-Star in 1984, Green was just too good to let Stockton take his job right off the bat.

Green was a first-round pick of the Golden State Warriors in 1977 and spent 14 seasons in the league, mostly in Utah.

He starred at Chicago's Hirsch Metropolitan before heading to the University of Michigan.

6. Glenn "Doc" Rivers

Rivers is known more for his head coaching skills than his playing career. The current head coach of the Boston Celtics won the NBA's Coach of the Year award with Orlando in 2000 and then guided the Celtics to a title in 2008.

Before his coaching career began, he played the role of a solid NBA point guard, spending time with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Rivers' best playing days came during his time in Atlanta, playing alongside Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins. He was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve in 1988.

He played his high school ball at Proviso East, located in suburban Maywood, Illinois.     

5. Kevin Porter

Kevin who? It's pretty sad that most fans have never heard of Kevin Porter. No, not Terry Porter, Kevin Porter.

It's also pretty sad that he never made an All-Star team during his 10-year NBA career. How in the world does a player who leads the league in assists four times not make an All-Star team?

The former DuSable High School star had an amazing season for the Detroit Pistons in 1978-79, putting up 15.4 points and a league-leading 13.4 assists per game.   

Porter's 29 assists in a single game was an NBA record until Scott Skiles dished out 30 in 1990.

4. Derrick Rose

What, Derrick Rose at No. 4? Are you kidding me?

You might be asking yourself that question right now knowing that last 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 seasons under his belt, meaning that it would be a bit unfair to place him higher on the list.

He does has the potential, though, to claim the No. 1 spot when it's all said and done.

Rose was raised on Chicago's South Side (Englewood) and starred at Simeon Career Academy. And following one season at the University of Memphis under coach John Calipari, he was chosen by his hometown Bulls No. 1 overall in the 2008 NBA draft.

Don't be surprised to see Rose power the Bulls to a title sometime in the near future.

3. Tim Hardaway

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

Hardaway was then drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the the 14th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft. A gifted scorer and playmaker, he 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.

2. Maurice Cheeks

Retiring from the NBA as a player in 1993, Cheeks is yet to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame—an honor that he deserves.

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 Julius Erving, Moses Malone and the Philadelphia 76ers win a title in 1983.

Cheeks was best known for his defense as he was 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.

1. Isiah Thomas

Thomas grew up on the West Side of Chicago but played his high school ball 90 minutes away at St. Joseph in Westchester, Illinois.

After playing for Bobby Knight at Indiana University, where he led the Hoosiers to a national championship, Thomas was drafted by the Detroit Pistons second overall in the 1981 draft.   

"Zeke" went on to be considered one of the top-five point guards in NBA history, steering the memorable "Bad Boy" Pistons squads to 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.