Heading into a new NBA season, it’s time to rank the league’s 30 starting point guards for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign.
As positions become more and more obsolete, an NBA point guard remains as important as ever. Shooting guards, small forwards and even power forwards have all morphed into the category of “wings,” while 4s and 5s are expected to stretch the floor, defend on the perimeter and protect the rim all at once, but a point guard’s role is still largely the same.
They’ve gotten bigger, sure, and the ability to knock down 3-pointers is as vital as ever, but as one can see from a quick glance around the league, the point 1-spot is as deep and talented as ever.
The question is, how does each team’s current starting point guard compare to the rest of the league? Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, it’s time to answer that question by ranking all 30 starting point guards.
Though lineups are subject to change, especially as teams start to tan — I mean, “strategically rest,” we’re going to make a few executive decisions based on which players will likely spend most of the season — or at least begin the season — in the starting lineup.
For example, Isaiah Thomas would normally get the nod for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’ll be out until at least January with a hip injury, so because we don’t know when he’ll return or what he’ll look like once he’s back on the floor, we’ll roll with Derrick Rose in that spot.
These are projections for 2017-18, not rankings based on past accomplishments. They are also not based on fantasy, individual numbers, likability or any one specific stat; they’re a combination of a myriad of factors, including expected production/stats, potential team success, opportunity, health, experience, two-way impact, likelihood to retain their starting job and, to a minimal degree, potential playoff accomplishments.
Bearing all of this in mind, here are our rankings for the NBA’s top 30 point guards in 2017-18.
30. Kris Dunn, Chicago Bulls
Poor Kris Dunn. How quickly the outside world has given up on him and all those pre-draft “Poor Man’s Russell Westbrook” comparisons.
Dunn is out for 2-4 weeks with a broken finger, but unless Jerian Grant has secretly been hoarding Like Mike sneakers in his gym bag, the former Minnesota Timberwolves backup will be the Chicago Bulls‘ best option as the starting point guard once he’s back on the floor.
As a rookie, Dunn underwhelmed, averaging 3.8 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game on dismal .377/.288/.610 shooting splits. Entering his first season at the helm of an NBA team, he’ll have to show marked improvement — like this — to start climbing this list.
29. Ramon Sessions, New York Knicks
Fingers crossed we can fill Frank Ntilikina‘s name in this space in a couple of months, but between his nagging injuries over the summer, Ramon Sessions getting the start in Ntilikina’s only preseason appearance and the fact that the New York Knicks never do anything right, Sessions gets the nod.
So what can the Knicks expect from their starting point guard in 2017-18 until Ntilikina proves he’s ready to take up the mantle? Veteran presence!..and…poise!…and…you know what? We’re not doing this.
Not that Sessions is a bad guy to have on your team, it’s just he’s more fit to be a backup. Ntilikina could use a veteran mentor, sure, but does Ramon Sessions really scream “quality example to follow?” He is what he is: a decent, non-glamorous floor general who will be outmatched on an almost nightly basis. In a tanking season, I guess that’s kind of the point.
28. Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs
Don’t get me wrong, Dejounte Murray has the potential to be Kawhi Leonard‘s star sidekick in a few years. But for the time being, a second-year player taking over the helm of a Western contender like the San Antonio Spurs is a daunting proposition.
Tony Parker is reportedly ahead of schedule recovering from last year’s season-ending quadriceps injury, targeting a November, but until he’s back on the floor, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Until that day arrives, Murray takes over the wheel, allowing Gregg Popovich to keep Patty Mills in charge of the second year. Murray averaged 3.4 points and 1.3 assists in 8.5 minutes per game over 38 rookie appearances, so although he shot 39.4 percent from deep, he’ll only be the starter by name, with Mills taking the majority of the minutes and Parker taking over once he’s back.
27. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks fans aren’t going to like this one, but what can we say? Anyone expecting a rookie point guard to come in and help lead an NBA team to a significant turnaround is going to be sorely disappointing.
That’s not to say Dennis Smith Jr. is going to have a bad rookie year by any means, but the point guard position is stacked and the Mavs’ new floor general — electrifying as he may be — will take his lumps playing some elite competition on a nightly basis out West.
DSJ lit up NBA Summer League with 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game on 45.7 percent shooting, and he’s looked good in preseason play too. It’s just that expecting him to establish himself as a top-10 point guard in year one is unrealistic.
https://twitter.com/Mavs_FFL/status/917585229635817472
26. Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
A little low for the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft? Perhaps. But given some up-and-down preseason performances, a couple of minor injuries and the fact that he won’t even be functioning as a true point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, Markelle Fultz‘s stock takes a hit here.
With Ben Simmons filling the point forward role, Fultz will spend more time off the ball than orchestrating the offense. That’s perfectly fine given his scoring ability and 3-point accuracy, but he’s probably going to be the third or fourth option on offense — and that’s assuming the veteran Jerryd Bayless doesn’t prove to be a steadier option compared to the rookie.
Fultz has superstar potential, but his rookie season will face way less pressure with all the focus being on Simmons on Joel Embiid staying healthy first and foremost. Having the reputation of being a first overall pick with none of the pressure could easily mean his rookie year is not as memorable as it might have been otherwise.
25. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
Like Mavs fans with DSJ, Los Angeles Lakers supporters probably aren’t happy to see their rookie Lonzo Ball this low on the list, but again, first-year players rarely come into the league and immediately establish themselves as top-10 players at their position.
As such, Ball will struggle compared to the rest of the league’s starting point guards, especially when factoring his drastic need for improvement on the defensive end. He might show signs of becoming a triple-double machine, but anyone daydreaming about the reinvention of Showtime might need to wait longer than his rookie season for it to come to fruition.
However, Ball is also the highest rookie on this list, not only because he’s a favorite for the Rookie of the Year Award, but also because of his impressive work at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he earned MVP honors behind 16.3 points, 9.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game.
24. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Even with all the positive things we’re hearing about Emmanuel Mudiay‘s summer, Jamal Murray has the inside track to the Denver Nuggets‘ starting job considering his competition is a potential draft bust and 67-year-old Jameer Nelson.
Though he only posted 9.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 40.4 percent shooting in his rookie season, Murray flashed some pretty dazzling potential, eventually taking over the starting gig and upping his numbers to 13.0 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game on 42.1 percent shooting once he got there.
His 3-ball and defense still need work, and since he’s only 20 years old entering his second season, this is reasonably high for a player with his lack of experience. Don’t sleep on this kid moving forward, but for this season, 24th among starting point guards feels about right.
23. Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo handles most of the ball-handling duties for the Milwaukee Bucks as their point forward/do-it-all guy/devourer of worlds, but for our purposes, since Malcolm Brogdon is a point guard and the Greek Freak is a wing, the reigning Rookie of the Year gets the nod here.
Brogdon served admirably as a starter for a playoff team, putting up 12.5 points, 4.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game on .471/.395/.957 shooting splits in 28 starts. However, despite all his efficiency and poise, he still might go down as one of the most underwhelming ROY winners in NBA history.
That’s perfectly fine with the Bucks as long as he continues to build on a solid debut, but Brogdon also turns 25 in December, so expecting too much improvement might not be reasonable. Still, Brogdon fills his role well, spreading the floor, playing defense and serving as a secondary playmaker.
22. Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic
This is a make-or-break season for Elfrid Payton and The Weeknd-inspired haircut, because unlike The Weeknd, this Orlando Magic starter has yet to prove his talent in his respective field.
Sure, he’s had a couple of hits, like his annual surge in March and April where he became the team’s all-time franchise leader in triple-doubles, recording five of them in 24 games after the All-Star break.
But he still can’t shoot, he got replaced by freaking D.J. Augustin and even C.J. Watson as the starter for various stretches last year, and he’s not the elite defender many pegged him to be coming into the draft. With an extension unlikely to come, restricted free agency awaits next summer. It’s do or die time to prove he’s still a building block in Orlando.
21. Rajon Rondo, New Orleans Pelicans
Rajon Rondo is expected to miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season due to a sports hernia, but assuming he returns near the end of November as planned, he’ll technically be the New Orleans Pelicans‘ starting point guard, since the team plans to play Jrue Holiday off the ball rather than have Rondo come off the bench.
Holiday will man the lead guard spot until Rondo is back, but once he returns, pairing them in backcourt is an intriguing (and potentially disastrous) proposition, especially when Holiday has the ball and defenses sag in because Rondo can’t shoot.
Sure, he knocked down 37.6 percent of his 1.6 triples per game last year, but his career numbers in every shooting column suggest that was more of a one-year fluke than anything else. At 31 years old, Rondo had better hope his connection with DeMarcus Cousins leads the Pellies back to the promised land, because even on such a meager contract, NOLA is all-in this season.
20. Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers
Darren Collison returning to the Indiana Pacers was one of the offseason’s most pitch-perfect moves, mostly because Collison’s place among starting NBA point guards and the Pacers’ place among Eastern Conference teams are basically the same: They’ll be decent, steady and possibly overlooked, but ultimately nowhere near the top half.
Last season for the Sacramento Kings, Collison averaged a ho-hum 13.2 points and 4.6 assists per game, posting an efficient field goal percentage of 47.6 and 3-point percentage of 41.7. He’s not elite on either end of the floor, but he’s serviceable enough for a rebuilding team.
With the Pacers not interested in tanking outright (as they probably should be), Collison is going to put up decent, efficient numbers for a lottery team yet again in 2017-18.
19. Derrick Rose, Cleveland Cavaliers
Let’s get this out of the way now: It’s 2017. Derrick Rose is not an above-average point guard anymore.
But he averaged 18.0 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds last year and he shot 47.1 percent from the field and stayed healthy enough to play in 64 games! Yeah, we know. That still doesn’t cover for his atrocious defense, complete lack of a 3-point shot, inability to stop himself from saying dumbfounding things in almost every interview or the fact that another knee injury ended his season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers need a penetrator while Isaiah Thomas is sidelined until around January, and D-Rose can be that. But he’s not the kind of perimeter defender they need at the point, the Cavs are not a championship team with him starting, and even LeBron James can only do so much to elevate his new teammate on this list.
18. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
With D’Angelo Russell filling the point guard spot and Jeremy Lin mostly playing the 2 so far in preseason, the Brooklyn Nets‘ high-profile acquisition gets the nod here. Playing with a chip on his shoulder and in Kenny Atkinson’s rapid-paced offense, DAR has a great chance of a breakout season in 2017-18.
Last year, Russell put up a respectable 15.6 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on .405/.352/.782 shooting splits. Considering he now has the extra motivation of the Lakers dumping him just to get rid of Timofey Mozgov‘s contract, D-Loading should have more ice in his veins than ever.
However, unless the Nets completely surprise us, he can only climb so high with great individual numbers on a losing team. Russell is poised for a breakout third season, but those shouting it from the mountaintops can only make so much noise if Brooklyn’s season feels more like an empty cave.
17. Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks
Individually, Dennis Schroder is going to put up a bit stat line in 2017-18 as quite possibly the only offensive threat the Atlanta Hawks have. However, since this isn’t a fantasy forecast, they’ll feel more like empty numbers for the star of one of the worst teams in the league.
Mike Budenholzer is a brilliant coach, but there’s only so much he can do with such a talent-starved roster. The same goes for the team’s floor general, even as he prepares for another career year after posting 17.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game last season.
Schroder has real areas to work on his game, such as his 3-point shot, finishing around the rim and taking better care of the ball. The odds of him doing so will certainly be stacked against Schroder considering the lack of help he’ll have around him.
16. Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons
Not many players in this league need a bounce-back season as badly as Reggie Jackson does, and that with his contract — paid through 2019-20 — taken into account. Simply put, there was a reason the Detroit Pistons actively explored trades for him last year.
Injury-related rust can be blamed for his disappointing 2016-17 campaign, but if the Pistons flounder again this year, Stan Van Gundy could be gone, Jackson could be gone, Avery Bradley could leave in free agency and even Andre Drummond could be dealt in a full-scale reconstruction.
More than likely, this doomsday scenario won’t come to pass. But suffice it to say that Jackson’s 14.5 points and 5.2 assists per game on .420/.359/.868 shooting splits won’t fly again in 2018-19. It’s time to get back to the basics with the Jackson-Drummond pick-and-roll, and more than likely, that’s exactly what’ll happen to resuscitate this point guard’s value.
15. Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Clippers
Full disclosure: We wanted to write about Milos Teodosic here sooooo badly. But with the Los Angeles Clippers rolling with Patrick Beverley at the 1 and either bringing Teodosic off the bench or playing him alongside Bev at the 2, last year’s All Defensive First-Teamer gets this spot on the list.
Beverley isn’t much of an offensive weapon, nor is he an elite playmaker after taking a backseat to James Harden in this area for years. But even if something similar happens with Teodosic in the same backcourt, this is Beverley’s best chance to prove he’s one of the most underrated point guards in the league.
Everyone knows about his stout defense, but he’s also an effective spot-up 3-point shooter, has increased his assists numbers every season of his career and should be good for 10-12 points a night in L.A. If the Clippers surprise some people out West and comfortably make the playoffs, there’s a good chance Beverley will have played a big part in it.
14. Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves
Jeff Teague should be a good fit for a Minnesota Timberwolves team that already ranked 10th in offensive efficiency. He’ll help push the tempo and get the ball where it needs to go, especially since he’s not one of the NBA’s typical score-first point guards.
However, he’s not exactly an elite playmaker, nor does he address the team’s biggest need — defense — heading into the new season. Remember, the Wolves ranked 26th in defensive rating last year, and downgrading from Ricky Rubio to Jeff Teague hardly helps in this regard.
Teague may stand to climb this list if he proves to be the perfect fit to the puzzle for a Timberwolves team that could challenge for a top-four seed, but more than likely, he’ll play fourth fiddle to Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins at the same level of play he’s usually enjoyed: very good, but not quite great.
13. George Hill, Sacramento Kings
George Hill and the next guy on our list are perhaps the kings of underrated point guards, but Hill’s value is hurt by both the Sacramento Kings‘ standing and the fact that his minutes could directly conflict with the playing time of the next potential face of the franchise, De’Aaron Fox.
So far, Dave Joerger is favoring the veteran, who is coming off a career year of 16.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game on .477/.403/.801 shooting splits with the Utah Jazz. But as the losses pile up in Sacramento, Hills’ starting job could be in jeopardy with Fox, Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic needing backcourt minutes.
More than likely, Hill will retain his starting gig for long enough to warrant this spot over Fox, especially as a two-way veteran who spreads the floor, runs the offense smoothly and is coming off a career year. Just don’t be surprised if the team starts to veer further into the youth movement by 2018.
12. Ricky Rubio, Utah Jazz
This might seem a bit high for those who haven’t followed him closely over the years, but A) Ricky Rubio has long been one of the league’s most unfairly scrutinized point guards and B) LOOK AT THOSE LUCIOUS, FLOWING LOCKS. In just one summer, Rubio became a walking “you vs. the guy she told you not to worry about” meme.
Hairstyles aside, Rubio is an elite passer and playmaker who will breathe life into the Utah Jazz‘s snail-paced offense. On the defensive end of the floor, he’ll fit right in as a bloodhound sniffing out passing lanes within a team defense that can cover his gambles.
The lack of a perimeter shot is still a glaring problem, but Rubio should have enough shooters around him — not to mention a perfect pick-and-roll partner in Rudy Gobert — to cover for this flaw in his game. Perhaps on a roster more tailored to his skill-set, Rubio will finally earn the praise he’s deserved for years.
11. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns
Individually, Eric Bledsoe is quite clearly a top-10 point guard. He (usually) plays both ends of the floor, he bullies opposing guards with strength, speed and athleticism, and he put up 21.1 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game last season. There’s a reason he’s the highest ranked point guard on this list among teams likely to finish in the lottery.
However, aside from concerns about his career alternating between healthy seasons and seasons derailed by meniscus injuries, Bledsoe can only climb so high while playing for a Phoenix Suns team that’s never made the playoffs under his watch. Youth movement or not, Bledsoe has never led a team to the postseason, making it hard to consider him among the game’s elite floor generals.
Injuries, roster turnover and now an inexperienced supporting cast have contributed to that unfortunate factoid, but even as Bledsoe continues to toil away with career numbers on losing Suns teams, it’s hard to put him any higher than this.
10. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat
Last season was the first time Goran Dragic was trusted with running an NBA team’s offense since 2013-14, when he posted career numbers with the Suns en route to All-NBA Third Team honors and the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
It’s no wonder the Dragon emerged once more with Dwyane Wade gone, averaging 20.3 points, 5.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on stellar .475/.405/.790 shooting splits. With continuity on the Miami Heat‘s side, this team could ride its 30-11 finish to last season into the 2017-18 campaign.
With so many weapons around him, there’s a chance Dragic’s numbers take a slight hit, but the offense starts and ends with him. He could be a candidate for his first All-Star selection in the weakened East, and if the Heat surprise some people in the standings, Gogi will more than earn his place in the top 10.
9. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker‘s numbers wavered at various points in 2016-17 as the toll of carrying the Charlotte Hornets‘ offense began to wear on him, but he still finished the season averaging a career-high 23.2 points, 5.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game on .444/.399/.847 shooting splits.
As the Hornets look for redemption following a disappointing season, Walker will be as important as ever, especially with Nicolas Batum sidelined for 6-12 weeks. After years of being an inefficient gunner, his newfound accuracy from 3-point range cannot disappear.
There’d be every reason for Walker to slide a few rungs down this ladder if his efficiency doesn’t carry over into 2017-18, but for now, he gets the benefit of the doubt in a weaker Eastern Conference.
8. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
Finally, we arrive at the truly elite candidates. Everyone knows Mike Conley as the point guard who’s never earned an All-Star spot, but that’s not really a fair reputation — both because it’s hard to pick a year he should’ve made it over the West’s slew of superstar point guards, and because he deserves to be known for so much more than the annoying title of “most underrated point guard.”
Simply put, the Memphis Grizzlies will be riding Conley and Marc Gasol as far as they’re capable of carrying them in 2017-18. That might not be as far as the playoffs with such a lackluster supporting crew, but if both stay healthy, perhaps David Fizdale can work some magic in 2017-18.
Last year, Conley put up a career-high 20.2 points, 6.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on 40.7 percent shooting from deep. His defense has begun to slip from its previously smothering levels, but he’s still one of the game’s best 1s on that end. Even as he enters his age-30 season, Conley remains one of the NBA’s most impressive floor generals.
7. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
If Damian Lillard could just play defense, he’d be in the top five. Alas, playing only one end of the floor for a team that often serves as first round fodder out West for that very reason limits him to No. 7 on the list.
That’s not to downplay Dame’s explosive offense or 3-point shooting though. Last year, he put up a career-high 27.0 points, 5.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game on .444/.370/.895 shooting splits, marking the fourth straight year he improved his scoring average from the season before.
The Portland Trail Blazers were a different team when Jusuf Nurkic joined, so hopefully that continues in 2017-18 to elevate Dame D.O.L.L.A. to a new stratosphere we have yet to see. At age 27, we could very well be in store for some eye-popping prime years coming up.
6. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry would probably be higher on this list if not for the fact that A) He’ll be 31 years old for most of the upcoming season and B) If we’re giving extra weight to point guards on playoff teams, Lowry’s annual disappearing act in the postseason has to count against him.
Some may believe KLOE finally exorcised those playoff demons over the last two years, but those demons sure aren’t doing jumping jacks at his command (forgive the punny wordplay). As long as the Toronto Raptors continue to struggle in the postseason, Lowry’s legacy will have two different chapters to consider.
That’s unlikely to change in 2017-18, but it’s worth noting that Lowry is an absolute beast in the regular season, and just put up a whopping 22.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game on .464/.412/.819 shooting splits at age 30. Perhaps he’s still got a few prime years left in him?
5. Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
This is as high up the list as we’re comfortable putting a one-sided player like Kyrie Irving, who has proven to be passable on the defensive end when he puts in the effort, but fails to do so far too often. Still, all that offensive talent is going to be exemplary with his new team.
After requesting a trade so he was no longer in LeBron James’ shadow, Irving is on a mission to prove himself as “the man” for a Boston Celtics team with short-term and long-term title aspirations. That road begins with Kyrie trying harder on the defensive end, but whether he does or not, his pure firepower might be enough to warrant a place in the top five.
Last year, Irving put up a career-high 25.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game on .473/.401/.905 shooting splits. As the alpha male in Beantown, this 25-year-old with one NBA championship already under his belt could be ready to burst onto the scene like never before.
4. John Wall, Washington Wizards
It’s a testament to the depth and talent at the point guard position in the modern NBA that a once-in-a-lifetime talent like John Wall only comes up fourth on the list. Few players in league history have possessed this combination of breakneck speed, ball-handling, athleticism, court vision and passing ability.
The Washington Wizards had to wait a few years, but Wall definitively answered the question of whether they had selected the right player to lead the franchise back in 2010. Last year, Wall put up a career-high 23.1 points, a career-high 10.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and a career-high 2.0 steals per game.
His 3-point shot remains shaky, but Wall is the floor conductor who makes Washington’s offense hum, and when he’s locked in on defense, he’s a truly intimidating two-way force. In 2017-18, it’s time for him, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. to take another collective step forward toward Eastern Conference contention.
3. Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
James Harden will still be handling some point guard duty in 2017-18, but since his traditional position is shooting guard, we’ll keep things simple for our intents and purposes and stick with Chris Paul as the Houston Rockets‘ point guard.
To continue keeping things simple, CP3 is one of the purest point guards to ever play in the NBA, controlling the tempo and dictating the flow of the game like few point guards ever have. He knows when to take over, is an elite defender at his position and has worked hard to continue improving his 3-point shot as the league careens into a perimeter-based attack.
Last year, Paul put up 18.1 points, 9.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game at age 31, all while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and a career-high 41.1 percent from deep. Now 32, Paul’s union with a loaded Rockets team is only going to allow his two-way talents shine — hopefully with his first career appearance in the Western Conference Finals.
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
There’s a case for CP3 to be here ahead of the reigning MVP, just as there’s probably a case for Russell Westbrook to be in the No. 1 spot. I mean, the dude just averaged a triple-double last year, and even with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony joining the party this season, there’s a chance he could do it again in 2017-18.
However, it’s hard to ignore Russ’ porous defense and lackadaisical effort on that end of the floor. It’s understandable given all the Oklahoma City Thunder have asked him to do since Kevin Durant left, but with PG-13 and Melo onboard, OKC will be hoping to see an improved defensive focus from Westbrook to truly contend out West.
Last year, Russ led the Thunder in scoring, rebounds and assists with his unforgettable 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. With more shooters flanking him, those driving lanes will open up like never before. But until he starts taking better care of the ball, putting in more defensive effort and improving that inefficient 3-point stroke of his, it’s hard to place him ahead of the best point guard in the league.
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry isn’t thought of as a two-way player, but there’s a reason more NBA general managers — like, WAY more — picked the two-time MVP as the league’s best point guard over Russell Westbrook.
Not only is Curry underrated on the defensive end, where he actually puts in considerable effort and averaged 1.8 steals per game last year, but the floor-spacing he provides remains one of the most underrated impacts of his game.
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Don’t misunderstand: It’s not just his 3-point shooting ability we’re talking about. His ball-handling and passing in the pick-and-roll is what provides the Golden State Warriors with so many easy looks on offense out of 4-on-3 situations, even if he’s not the one directly throwing the assist.
If defenses leave him open for a split second, he’s creating space and launching as a career 43.8 percent shooter from long range and hands down the greatest 3-point shooter the NBA has ever seen, especially off the dribble. If they double-team, he’s finding the roll man or an open shooter on the wing to exploit a mismatch or a gap in defensive coverage.
And that’s without even mentioning the gravity he creates off the ball. Defenders trip over themselves trying to chase him around screens, and leaving him for even a second to provide help defense results in a backbreaking triple almost every time.
Some might argue the Dubs are Kevin Durant’s team now, but they’d still be world-beaters with any capable, two-way wing in his place. That’s not true with Curry, who is the key to Golden State’s unstoppable offense and a central part of their culture.
Next: 30 reasons to be excited for the 2017-18 NBA season
Even after watching his numbers “drop” to 25.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game on .468/.411/.898 shooting splits last season, the 29-year-old Stephen Curry is still in his prime and is easily the best the NBA has to offer at the point guard position.