Atlanta Hawks: Could Jeff Teague Be The Next Great NBA Point Guard?

Photo Credit: Mark Runyan, Basketball Schedule

Becoming an elite point guard in the NBA is never an easy task. In fact, it’s damn near impossible to do. It takes a special talent to be known as one of the best at the most important position in basketball.

An elite point guard must be able to score at will, dish to teammates when the opportunity presents itself and lead your team to victory at all costs. They are the leaders of their teams on and off the court. They are the ones the team calls upon when a clutch situation arises. They are the ones expected to lead their team into battle each and every game and be not just an elite point guard, but an elite player.

When thinking about elite point guards, the names Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams are the first ones that come to mind. There’s no denying that they have set the standard of elite point guard play in the NBA. Few come close to their level of skill and overall talents on the court.

However, the Atlanta Hawks may have themselves an elite point guard in the making in Jeff Teague.

Teague is not a name that usually comes to mind when great NBA point guards are discussed, but it soon will be. Jeff Teague will be a name few will be able to ignore and sooner rather than later he very well could join that exclusive list of elite point guards.

One of the main reasons Teague has been more of an afterthought is because he has been playing second, third and fourth fiddle for the Hawks during his career. Playing alongside Joe Johnson (for his first two years), Josh Smith and Al Horford, Teague hasn’t been a key factor in the offense for Atlanta. He wasn’t even a regular starter until his third year in the league. During his first two years, Teague averaged 10.1 and 13.8 minutes played per game, respectively.

Once Teague was inserted as a full-time starting point guard for the Hawks, his production skyrocketed. Between his second and third seasons in the NBA, Teague’s minutes per game jumped a full 20 minutes and he added seven points per game while also increasing his field goal percentage.

Last season, Teague averaged 32.9 minutes per game, shot 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc, increased his free throw percentage from 75 percent to 88 percent, dished out more than seven assists per game and dropped 14.6 points per game. He just keeps getting better with the more opportunity he gains with the Hawks.

To put things into a point guard perspective, Teague tied for 12th in scoring with Memphis’ Mike Conley among point guards, 11th in assists, 12th in field goal percentage and fourth in free throw percentage.

All of these statistics shout “middle of the pack” for Teague, but one must consider his role with the Hawks as well as his age. As stated earlier, Teague hasn’t been asked to be a star for Atlanta yet, but he just keeps getting better. Also, he’s only 25 years old, still relatively young. Teague has stepped up his game at every turn for Atlanta and he’s ready to take over the Hawks as a whole.

As long as Teague continues to improve as an overall player, by season’s end, his name will and should be in discussions for elite NBA point guards. He has all the tools to get it done and with Josh Smith now in Detroit, it will be Teague’s offense to run in Atlanta.

If Jeff Teague wants to prove he deserves that four-year, $32 million extension, he needs to become the go-to guy for the Hawks. He will need to improve his already-improved game and show everybody in the NBA that he is next in line for the elite status update.

Now is the time for Teague to step his game up to new heights. He’s proved that he’s capable of great things and now is the time to prove he can become the next great point guard. Teague is ready, brother. He’s poised for a great year and a great career.

Now you know: Jeff Teague is the next great NBA point guard.