NBA's Top Point Guards

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 7, 2012

NBA's Top Point Guards

Chris Paul

There is no position deeper in the NBA right now than point guard. The league has a bevy of stars competing to be the best, but you'd have a tough time finding a more complete point guard than Chris Paul, a five-time All-Star who has led the league in assists twice and steals three times. In no particular order, here is a list of the NBA's top point guards right now.

Derrick Rose

Rose continues to dazzle with his athleticism and explosiveness. In 2010-11, his third season, Rose became the youngest MVP in history by averaging career highs in scoring (25 points per game), assists (7.7), rebounds (4.1) and three-point shooting (33.2 percent). In the process, Rose turned the Bulls into title contenders for the first time since the Michael Jordan era, a label they own again in 2011-12.

Deron Williams

The Nets' point guard, an Olympic gold medalist and three-time All-Star, recently set a franchise record with a 57-point performance. He's averaged at least 18.7 points and 10.3 assists in each of the last four seasons. Williams is set to be a highly coveted free agent in the summer of 2012.

Rajon Rondo

Rondo has gone from supporting-cast member to leading man after helping Boston's veteran Big Three win a title in 2008. He may not score much from the perimeter, but Rondo is a nightly triple-double threat who is also capable of shutting down his counterpart.

Steve Nash

The two-time MVP is showing no signs of age, as he still sets the pace in assists per game and continues to shoot an extraordinarly high percentage from the field for a guard.

Russell Westbrook

He's not just Kevin Durant's sidekick in Oklahoma City. In fact, Russell Westbrook's play was so impressive over his first two seasons that he represented Team USA at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. And during the 2010-11 season, his production sky-rocketed, with career highs of 21.9 points, 8.2 assists and 1.9 steals. The Thunder locked him into a five-year extension worth nearly $80 million in 2012.

Tony Parker

Tony Parker has proved himself on the biggest stages: He's a three-time NBA champion and one-time Finals MVP. One of the game's quicker players and more creative finishers in the paint, Parker has made four All-Star teams.

Stephen Curry

Though still young and relatively inexperienced, Stephen Curry has become known as one of the deadliest shooters in the game. The three-year veteran shoots better than 47 percent from the field, 44 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line.

Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry didn't become a full-time starter until 2010-11, his fifth NBA season, but he took full advantage of the opportunity. Lowry averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.4 steals while showing a much-improved three-point stroke. He struggles a bit with turnovers and is only a career 42 percent shooter, but Lowry has established himself as a strong two-way floor leader.

Tyreke Evans

Tyreke Evans isn't a traditional point guard, and Sacramento has begun experimenting with having him play as a small forward. But in his first season, Evans won Rookie of the Year after joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only rookies to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. His jump shot remains a question mark, but Evans is explosive as a driver and finisher.

Jason Kidd

Since 1995, Jason Kidd has finished in the top five in assists each and every season and led the league five times. As his career has gone on, Kidd has also developed into a legitimate three-point shooter, something that was lacking from his game during his early years. And in 2011, he finally got a championship ring.

John Wall

After being drafted No. 1 overall by the Wizards in 2010, Wall ran into injury troubles throughout his rookie season but still managed to put up 16.4 points and 8.3 assists per game. His production has yet to translate into much team success in Washington, and Wall still has work to do to cut down his turnovers and improve his jumper.

Ty Lawson

The speedy Ty Lawson is the perfect fit for Nuggets coach George Karl's fast-paced offense. Lawson, the 18th pick in the 2009 draft, is still establishing himself as a regular starter, but he's already proved to be a high-percentage shooter, solid playmaker and defensive pest.

Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings grabbed headlines after a 55-point explosion early in his rookie year, part of a 2009-2010 season in which he averaged 15.5 points and 5.7 assists and helped the Bucks reach the playoffs. He remains a sub-40-percent shooter, but Milwaukee is high on his potential.