NBA: Power Ranking The 10 Worst Starting Point Guards in the NBA
By Chris Lee
Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry sets up for a 3-point shot. (Matthew Addie-HeelSports/Flickr.com)
The point guard position is the deepest position in the NBA. However, despite the overall strength of the position, there are still good and bad starting point guards. Here are the 10 worst starting points guards in the NBA.
10. Steve Nash
In no way is Steve Nash a terrible point guard, but since being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Lakers, Nash has been underutilized playing next to Kobe Bryant. Head coach Mike D’Antoni is using an offensive system that makes Nash play off the ball, giving Bryant the role of being the primary ball handler for the Lakers. This season Nash is averaging 12.6 points and 6.7 assists per game.
Nash is outside of the top 10 in assists for the first time in 13 seasons. The last time Nash was outside of the top 1o, Nick Van Exel was No. 2 in the NBA in assists. Also, Nash continues to be one of the worst defensive players in the league. Nash continues to be a liability on that end of the floor, while his role offensively continues to diminish.
9. Darren Collison
Darren Collison remains one of the better defensive point guards in the NBA. However, Collison’s offensive game has struggled, resulting in his minutes going to veteran point guard Mike James down the stretch towards the playoffs. Collison is averaging 12.1 points, 5.4 assists per game and 2.2 turnovers per game. His minutes have been cut down from almost 30 minutes per game to 25 minutes per game. The 6’0″ point guard is one of the most inefficient point guards in the league with a 14 efficiency rating.
The fact that Collison’s minutes have gone to a 37-year-old point guard in James is the reason why Collison is one of the worst starting point guards in the NBA.
8. Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry‘s three-year stint in Houston saw Lowry improve every season. Starting in 2008-09, Lowry averaged nine points per game. However, at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, Lowry had improved his scoring average to 14.3 points per game. However, his first season in Toronto has seen a decrease in production for Lowry, who is now averaging 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. However, now that the Raptors have acquired a legitimate All-Star candidate in Rudy Gay, perhaps Lowry can wiggle his way out of being one of the worst starting point guards in the NBA.
7. Mario Chalmers
Mario Chalmers has hit a lot of big-time shots for the defending champion Miami Heat. However, Chalmers remains one of least productive night-in, night-out performers in the NBA. Chalmers is averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 assists per game and primarily plays the role of “give the ball to LeBron James and don’t make a mistake.” That kind of play is reason enough to put him on the 10 worst point guards in the NBA power rankings.
6. Avery Bradley
More of a shooting guard than a point guard. Avery Bradley has been forced into the starting point guard role due to a torn ACL in Rajon Rondo‘s right knee. Bradley provides great defensive tenacity, averaging 1.3 steals per game. Offensively Bradley has done an adequate job of getting the Celtics into its offensive set, but does not have the offensive skills to take over the game like Rondo could. Bradley is averaging 9.2 points and a putrid two assists per game. For example, Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson is averaging 2.1 assists per game, while his teammate Kevin Garnett is averaging 2.3 assists. Bradley’s poor assists numbers are the reason Bradley is among the worst starting point guards in the NBA.
5. Kirk Hinrich
Regular starting point guard Derrick Rose still has not played in a single game this season due to a left ACL tear he suffered during last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs. Thus, the starting point guard duties have fallen to veteran Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich is averaging 7.1 points and 5.3 assists for the Bulls and can still be a threat from 3-point range, as he is shooting 37.8 percent. Hinrich is a solid on-ball defender. The nine-year veteran makes a great backup point guard. However, the lack of offensive production is the reason that Hinrich is one of the worst starting floor generals in the NBA.
4. Luke Ridnour
The primary ball handling duties for the Minnesota Timberwolves fall to Ricky Rubio. With those duties on Rubio’s shoulders, Ridnour’s role has decreased as the team’s starting point guard. Ridnour is averaging 11.8 points per game and 3.8 assists per game, while providing very little support on the defensive end of the court. Over the last 10 games, Ridnour’s scoring has gone down to eight points per game. Ridnour’s decline in production is the reason Ridnour is one of the worst starting point guards in the NBA.
3. Mo Williams
Mo Williams was brought to the Utah Jazz with expectations that he would perimeter playmaker the Jazz lacked, due to the fact that the Jazz’s two best players are frontcourt mates Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. However, the offense provided by Williams has been merely solid, averaging 12.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. He is No. 4 on the team in scoring, behind Gordon Hayward. The expectations placed on Mo Williams after signing with the Jazz as a free agent is the reason why Williams is one of the worst starting point guards in the NBA.
2. Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas has the potential to be a very good point guard in the NBA. Thomas is averaging a solid 13.8 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. However, the point guard is the leader in the locker room and Thomas has yet to be a calming influence on center DeMarcus Cousins. Thomas’s inability to keep his talented but immature teammate in line is the reason that Thomas is one of the worst starting point guards in the NBA.
1. Cory Joseph
Cory Joseph has only started nine games this season for the San Antonio Spurs. He has replaced point guard Tony Parker throughout the season either due to ankle injuries or head coach Gregg Popovich’s decision to rest certain key players during the season. While Joseph has started nine games this season, he has only played an average of 12.2 minutes per game, this is regardless of whether he starts or not. Joseph is averaging 4.3 points and 1.6 assists per game. The fact that Joseph starts, but does not get a lot of minutes is the reason why Joseph is the worst starting point guard in the NBA.