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NBA: Top 5 Point Guards So Far This Season

By Colby Giacubeno

January 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

The point guard position in the NBA includes some of the most exciting players in the league. Who rounds out the top 5 thus far this season?

The game of basketball has undergone serious changes in terms of positions and what players’ expectations are. Before the days of the scoring point guard came along, there were players such as John Stockton, Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson, whose first priority was facilitating the offense and distributing the ball to their teammates in scoring position.

In today’s game, point guards carry much more of a responsibility to score. That’s not to say that each player at the position has to average 20+ points per game, but they need to be a threat offensively from all three levels of the floor (close-range, midrange, and three-point).

Another facet of point guards that has changed drastically is athleticism. Today, it isn’t surprising to see a 6’3″ point guard slash down the lane and throw down a thunderous dunk on an opposing big man.

Last season displayed some of the most exciting point guard play NBA fans have ever seen. Stephen Curry continues to transcend the game with his three-point shooting ability. Russell Westbrook defined stuffing a stat sheet by compiling 11 triple-doubles.

Others such as Chris Paul, John Wall and Kyrie Irving supplied us with what seemed to be never-ending highlights that included ankle-breaking crossovers, posterizing lobs to big men, and acrobatic finishes amongst big men.

But who are the top five point guards this season? These rankings were broken down using this statistical breakdown from the games so far in 2015-16:

Total PG rating: Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals – Turnovers

Next: No. 5