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NBA Power Rankings: 30 Greatest Point Guards of All-Time

By Shane Young

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA legend Magic Johnson laughs during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Legends Brunch at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA legend Magic Johnson laughs during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Legends Brunch at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Norm Nixon, shown on a poster, was the first All-Star for the Clippers after they moved to Los Angeles.
Norm Nixon, shown on a poster, was the first All-Star for the Clippers after they moved to Los Angeles. /

24.  Norm Nixon

1977 – 1989

Franchises:  Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers

Career totals:  12,065 points, 6,386 assists, 1,991 rebounds, 1,187 steals, 2,368 turnovers

Career averages:  15.7 points, 8.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 3.1 turnovers

Shooting:  48.3 percent field goals, 29.4 percent 3-pointers, 77.2 percent free throws

Accolades:  2x NBA Champion, 2x NBA All-Star, NBA All-Rookie First Team

Starting his career in Los Angeles before Magic Johnson even arrived, Nixon was a special case the Lakers found themselves dealing with. He was every bit worthy of starting at point guard for an NBA team, it’s just that Hollywood wanted Magic to be their guy. For the first few seasons of Johnson’s era, he and Nixon would start in the backcourt together.

It worked out well for the most part, since Nixon and Johnson were able to win NBA titles in 1980 and 1982. Heck, Nixon’s 20.4 points per game in the 1982 postseason was the best of ANY Laker, and he was still able to throw 8.2 assists in their championship run.

You couldn’t be much more efficient than Nixon, who shot 48.3 percent on 14.1 attempts per game for his career, and then 47.8 percent in the playoffs.

Despite never having a season where his PER escalated over 20, Nixon was a point guard everyone could click with. Whether it was in the same backcourt with the greatest ever, or by himself, there were no worries.

Jerry West, manager of the Lakers at the time, elected to trade Nixon to the San Diego Clippers before the 1984 season even started. After getting swept by Philadelphia in the Finals the year before, the idea was to get a different piece that complemented Magic and Kareem. That piece would soon be Byron Scott.

Nonetheless, Nixon didn’t care where he landed. His first season with the Clippers resulted in a 914 assist year for the feisty guard, which stands as his career high for one season. He played in the shadows of legendary talents, but soon had a chance to prove why he’s just as valuable as anyone.

Next: The French Finisher