Devin:NBA's Top 5 Point Guards

Top 5 NBA point guards
Honorable Mention

Steve Nash
I know I’ll get beef for not putting him on my list, and maybe rightly so. At age 37 his assist numbers are as impressive as ever, but his point totals are slowly dropping. Even though he shot nearly 50% from the floor, it was his worst season shooting since 2003. The point guard position is evolving and he doesn’t have the legs to keep up with it.

John Wall
Speaking of the new breed of point guard, John Wall is it. Could possibly be the fastest straight line player in the NBA, he is quick and explosive, can get to the rim, and rebound well. In just his rookie year he averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He needs to work on his jump shot, but pretty soon he’ll be in conversation with my top 5.

Tony Parker
He has been a huge part of 3 NBA Championships for the Spurs, being named a Finals MVP in 2007. Parker is still very quick and possesses arguably the best floater in the NBA. Scores very proficiently in the paint and is sneaky around the rim. Parker has never been a huge assist guy though, only averaging 5.7 during his career. His knees are also starting to give him troubles.

#5
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook might be the most explosive player on my list, but not by much. He has crazy athleticism and uses his explosiveness very well. He was drafted 4th overall due to his defense, and he hasn’t’ disappointed in that aspect. He has the quicks to guard and point guards in the league, and the size to guard and shooting guards. Westbrook loves driving to the rim and has the ability to finish over anyone. He has improved his stats steadily each year, averaging 22 ppg and 8 ast in only his 3rd year. The sky is the limit for this kid. I think he has MVP type talent, and if he didn’t play with Durantula I think his numbers would be even better. The only aspect I could see Westbrook improving on is remembering he is a point guard. As fun as he was to watch at times, I think he sometimes forgets that he has the 2 time scoring champ on his team. He would try to take over games when he didn’t need too, which was evident in the playoffs. With his elite athleticism, defense, and constant improvement I could see Westbrook climbing his way up this list very soon.

#4
Rajon Rando
I thought about putting him at #5, but the mere fact that he had the heart to play with a dislocated elbow in last year’s playoffs, and still managed to play well, bumped him up on my ranking. The ‘Big Three’ can now be called the ‘Big Four’; Rajon Rondo has become a huge part of that team. Their success could even be defined by him now. He has come from being a weakness, to possibly the teams’ biggest strength. He sets up his teammates magnificently with his dribble penetration and passing. Coming into a team with 3 future Hall of Famers couldn’t possibly be easy, but Rando has done it perfectly. He plays the best defense of any point guard, and has even given bigger players like LeBron James trouble. He ranked 2nd among point guards in steals last year, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. I think Rondo could shut down any NBA wing player if he put his mind to it, he’s that good. His freakishly long arms allow him to steal balls, contest shots, and keep his opponent in front of him. His only weakness, no matter how obvious it is, is his shooting. Teams treat him like Shaq from outside of 10 feet and he shot a miserable 56.8% from the line last season. That’s terrible for any position. He won’t put up a lot of points, but he fills up the stat sheet like nobody’s business. In a game last season he had a triple double with 10pts, 10 reb, and a whopping 24 ast!! He sets the tone for his team like a point guard should with is tenacity. If you want to build your team around a point guard who can score in the paint (59.7%), dish the ball, and play stifling defense, then Rando is your guy.

#3
Chris Paul
This is where it gets though. Paul is an amazing player with no real weakness. He is always a league leader in steals and assists, averages almost 19 and 10 for his career, and can take over a game when needed; or even a playoff series, like he did against the Lakers. The main reason I have him here at #3 is because of his history with injuries. Chris Paul is a competitor who won’t back down from anyone, but injuries with this guy are evident. Paul’s injury last season affected all of his numbers, as they dropped off substantially from previous seasons. As we all know knees are nothing to take lightly and that kind of injury could likely shorten his career if he isn’t careful. He is smaller than the other top point guards but his strength still allows him to guard bigger guards, and his overall numbers are great for a point guard. He is a crafty, quick, and agile guard who shoots good percentages and routinely makes defenders look silly. When the game is on the line you want the ball in his hands, whether he is shooting or creating for his teammates. You can’t go wrong with Chris Paul on your team, but in the end he is 3rd on my list due to his injuries that caused his numbers to drop last season.

#2
Derrick Rose
The former number 1 pick and reigning MVP has certainly lived up to the hype. He turned a middle of the road 41-41 Bulls team into an NBA best 62-20, all while playing in the Eastern Conference that included the Heat, Celtics, and Magic. The best thing about him; he’s only 22! The improvements he has made since entering the league are nothing short of miraculous, which makes me wonder how good he can eventually become. Between his 2nd and 3rd seasons Rose took all of his numbers to a whole different level. He averaged nearly 5 more points, 2 more assists, more steals, blocks, rebounds, and a dramatically improved 3 point shot. Derrick Rose’s ability to get to the paint and finish at the rim is ridiculous! No 6’3 player should be able to do the things he does! He has also developed a short range floater and mid-range shot that is vital for any point guard in the league. His speed and explosiveness are only matched by Russell Westbrook, which is saying something. He is the youngest player to ever win the MVP and one of only three players in the last 30 years to record 2,000 points and 600 assists in a single season; joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James. No other player in the NBA had the impact for their team that Rose had on his Bulls team; hence the MVP award. There isn’t much he needs to do better besides continue to work on his outside shot, and maybe improve his defensive tenacity a bit. But with his work ethic I think we will all soon forget he ever even had those flaws.

#1
Deron Williams
This race was close until Chris Paul got injured and his numbers dropped this year. But even excluding that, Williams record vs. Paul is 14-5…Deron Williams owns Chris Paul. After a crazy season for Deron Williams that included Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan retiring and Williams being traded to the surprise of everyone, he ended up with the Nets. Even after all the commotion he put up fantastic numbers with 20.1 ppg and 10.3 ast. He is always among the league leaders in those important stats. Last year he was 3rd the league in assists and 3rd among point guards in points. When he got to New Jersey he averaged almost 13 assists, giving the Nets exactly wha they were looking for. Williams’ handles could possibly be the best in the NBA, his ‘killer crossover’ leaves defenders grasping at air, he is deceptively fast for a man that weighs 210 lbs, and he can take over games with the best of them! His defense is very solid, with his size he can guard multiple positions. His distributing and incredible court vision can’t be questioned either; if he can average over 10 assists on a team full of offensive no-names (C.J. Miles, Ronnie Price, Kyrylo Fesenko), then just imagine what he would do with some actual talent. When Deron Williams decides to score the basketball there is no stopping him. He can shoot from distance, pull up in the mid-range, and drive the ball. He will go through, around, or even over a defender when he wants to. Even with all this I feel like Williams has the potential boost his numbers and become the unquestioned best point guard in the league. He is a scorer, a passer, a defender, and a leader. Last year DWill was a more consistent scorer than Paul, and a better passer than Rose, making him the best all around point guard in the NBA right now.