As the 2018-19 NBA season creeps closer, it’s time to rank all 30 projected starting point guards in the league based on the upcoming campaign.
The dog days of the NBA summer are in full effect, and since August is as good a time as any to argue about arbitrary rankings, it’s time to dive right into some pointless, unsolvable debates by ranking every projected starting point guard in the association.
With the 2018-19 NBA season slowly creeping closer, team depth charts aren’t even official yet. For example, there are a number of rookies who could start the year coming off the bench before losses start piling up and it makes more sense to let the youngsters learn on the fly while the team tanks the season away.
For our purposes, we’ll be taking a look at the 30 players who should wind up spending the majority of the upcoming season at the starting point guard position, assuming everyone stays healthy (which, of course, is unfortunately never the case). As the week progresses, we’ll take a look at every other position on the floor too.
So what factors go into these rankings? There is no advanced algorithm predicting stat lines or wins added or anything like that; just good old fashioned rankings based on the players’ stats from last year, impact on their teams, fit with their current teams, opportunity, team success, propensity for injury and a myriad of other factors.
This isn’t based on fantasy output or contract value or Value Over Replacement Player or anything like that; this is simply one writer’s projections for the overall on-court value of the 30 players expected to start most of the season at point guard for the upcoming 2018-19 campaign — ranked from worst to best — in an effort to generate discussion.
Let’s dive right in, preferably saving the hate mail for the very end.
NOTE: This piece has been updated to reflect the Phoenix Suns’ trade of Brandon Knight to the Houston Rockets, which changes the Suns’ projected starting point guard.
30. Elie Okobo, Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns had a pretty good offseason this summer, but the one position they’ve failed to address for 2018-19 was point guard — so far, at least. It appeared the incumbent Brandon Knight, who missed all of last season with an ACL tear, was going to have to step up as the team’s default option at the 1 … until he was promptly dealt to the Rockets.
In a deal sending Knight and Marquese Chriss to Houston, the Suns received rookie combo guard De’Anthony Melton, along with Ryan Anderson. Melton was terrific in NBA Summer League, averaging 16.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game. However, this trade does not make Melton the presumptive starter, even if on paper, his two-way potential fits like a dream alongside Devin Booker for the long-term.
After all, the Suns could’ve drafted Melton at No. 31 when they were on the board, but went with Elie Okobo, so until another (likely) move materializes, he gets the nod. Okobo also has long-term potential as a dynamic scoring guard and underrated playmaker, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old would likely struggle as a rookie floor general in a league of grown men. The Suns set themselves up well at point guard for the future, but until a starting-caliber 1 is brought in, this season will be a struggle for two second round rookies duking it out.
29. D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic
It’s fitting that the team with the second-worst point guard rotation in the league also has the second-worst starting point guard in the league. Maybe it was disrespectful to put D.J. Augustin dead last, behind rookies like Trae Young and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but at this stage of his career, he’s for sure the least exciting starting PG in the NBA. In any case, he’s all the way up to No. 29 following Phoenix’s trade of Brandon Knight, so that’s good!
In all seriousness, there’s a good chance Augustin doesn’t even keep this job through the whole season, since the Orlando Magic aren’t expected to be good and the younger Jerian Grant makes more sense once the losses start piling up. The 30-year-old Augustin is simply a placeholder for the time being.
He’s not a bad player or anything. Last year, he averaged 10.2 points in 23.5 minutes per game, and he even shot 41.9 percent from 3. But he’s thoroughly replaceable, his assist numbers are a little low (3.8 per game last year) and he plays for a bad team in the NBA’s worst guard rotation.
28. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young is an NBA rookie, and rookies always struggle when they’re thrust into the starting role from day one — no matter how good they were in college. Young also has the distinct honor of playing with the least amount of talent in the association, which will make his job even harder.
Throw in the designation of being a top-five pick that the Atlanta Hawks traded down for — when Luka Doncic was still on the board, no less — and there will be plenty of attention drawn to his every turnover, missed 3 and defensive lapse. NBA Summer League was just an appetizer on that front.
However, he’s easily the most exciting piece to this young core, and because of the severe lack of established players around him, he’ll be given more of a pass for his shortcomings. Young wasn’t great in Las Vegas, shooting just 38.3 percent from the field, but his 17.0 points and 6.8 assists per game were enough for All-Summer League Second Team honors. Plus, what can we say? We don’t want to see a top-five pick ranked as the NBA’s worst starting point guard.
27. Elfrid Payton, New Orleans Pelicans
Elfrid Payton is the quintessential “decent raw numbers, horrendous impact” player. Coming into the 2014 NBA Draft, Payton was projected to be a defensive menace, facilitator and all-around star-caliber guard if he could just develop a respectable outside jumper.
Four years into his NBA career, that jumper hasn’t materialized, the court vision hasn’t progressed beyond above-average and his absent-minded defense might be the the worst aspect of his game. The record will show he shot 37.3 percent from 3 with the Orlando Magic last year, and that he averaged decent numbers with the Suns, but once again, his teams were better without him.
At some point, his youth and upside — he’s still only 24 years old — won’t be enough. That point might be coming with the New Orleans Pelicans, where the only thing saving him from being ranked lower than a healthy Brandon Knight is the abundance of talent around him that will make his job easier. On a one-year minimum contract, this may be Payton’s last chance to convince anyone he’s a starter in this league.
26. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Clippers
A healthy Patrick Beverley might be Doc Rivers‘ preference, allowing the Los Angeles Clippers to ease their new rookie into the action. However, given Beverley’s shaky health, age and the fact that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the floor general of the future, there’s a chance he gets the majority of the starts, especially if the losses start piling up in the tough Western Conference.
Aside from shooting up draft boards with a revelatory freshman year at Kansas, Gilgeous-Alexander looked the part of franchise pillar in NBA Summer League, posting 19.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Rookie point guards typically struggle, especially if they’re thrust into the role too soon, but SGA is the rare combination of rookie who looks ready while still having plenty of room to grow. Thanks to the quality talent and mentors around him, as he plays on a team that’s likely heading for the lottery, he should benefit from ample opportunities to grow in a competitive setting.
25. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
After George Hill was traded last season, the reins of the Sacramento Kings were officially handed over to De’Aaron Fox. With a year under his belt, Fox should have plenty of chances to build on his 11.6 points and 4.4 assists per game in year two.
Thanks to his lightning quick speed, athleticism and penchant for making big late-game plays, Fox has a promising future in this league. Now, the key will be developing the outside jumper that could hold him back in pick-and-rolls sets. As a rookie, Fox shot 30.7 percent from 3-point range.
For a player who wasn’t projected to have any range, that’s a solid foundation to build upon. Developing this area of his game will be instrumental in becoming more than just a turbo-charged version of 2017 Rajon Rondo, but what’s really holding him back from climbing higher in these rankings is the lack of established talent around him.
24. Kris Dunn, Chicago Bulls
This is a big year for Kris Dunn, especially since the Chicago Bulls are hoping he can take what he showed in 52 games last year and build on it in 2018-19, ideally proving himself as a trustworthy starting point guard.
Despite missing time due to injury in his sophomore season, Dunn enjoyed a massive turnaround after a disappointing rookie year, averaging 13.4 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He improved his 3-point percentage from 28.8 percent as a rookie to 32.1 percent, and there were flashes where he looked like the franchise’s answer at an extremely important position.
Now, with tons of young players around him like Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine, it’ll be up to Dunn to cement himself as an intrinsic part of the Bulls’ core moving forward.
23. Trey Burke, New York Knicks
Trey Burke only started in nine of his 36 appearances for the New York Knicks last year, and no matter which of those numbers you look at, his stats should be taken with a grain of salt because of the small sample size.
However, the Knicks might not have a better option at the point between Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay and Ron Baker, and Frank Ntilikina might be more of a 2-guard. If head coach David Fizdale agrees, the 25-year-old Burke makes the most sense as the team tries to find its bearings with Kristaps Porzingis still on the mend.
Burke has had an underwhelming career for the most part, but burst onto the scene last year in the Big Apple, averaging 12.8 points and 4.7 assists per game on .503/.362/.649 shooting splits. In those nine starts, his numbers shot up to 18.7 points and 7.7 assists per game, so he’s definitely worth a look despite his lack of size, defense and proven track record.
22. Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers
Fun fact: It wasn’t Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson that led the NBA in 3-point percentage last year; it was the unglamorous but ever-reliable Darren Collison at 46.8 percent.
Granted, he only took three 3-pointers a night, and his long range efficiency fell off a cliff in the playoffs when the Indiana Pacers needed it most, but for the most part, Collison is a steady two-way presence. Last year, he averaged a ho-hum 12.4 points and 5.3 assists per game.
Aaron Holiday may have been drafted to be his long-term replacement, but for a Pacers team coming off 48 wins and looking to capitalize on LeBron James‘ move to L.A., Collison will hold things down in the backcourt alongside Victor Oladipo.
21. George Hill, Cleveland Cavaliers
George Hill is hard to place on this list. He’s disappointed since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he can’t be as bad as he was last year. He was having a down year in Sacramento too, but he enjoyed a breakout season with the Utah Jazz the season before. Then again, he was also injured for a good chunk of that season. The list of contradictions goes on and on.
In any case, he should put up better numbers with LeBron James gone, even if the King’s absence takes away someone who made life easier for everyone. Still, it won’t be hard to improve on the 9.3 points and 2.8 assists per game he averaged in the Land last year, especially as the veteran on a team that needs him to step up.
Hill had shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range in his last two and a half seasons before joining the Cavs, so if he actually plays like he cares — which didn’t seem to be the case in 2017-18 — he’ll earn his spot on this list, even at 32 years old.
20. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Honestly, this might not be high enough for Dennis Smith Jr., who already showed flashes of being more than a high-octane dunker and microwave scorer as a rookie.
With an influx of talent in the form of an ideal pick-and-roll partner (DeAndre Jordan) and an ideal backcourt complement (Luka Doncic), DSJ will be put in positions to succeed under Rick Carlisle.
In his first NBA season, Smith posted 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. Though he only shot 39.5 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range, those numbers should improve with time for the 20-year-old. The Dallas Mavericks probably won’t be a playoff team, but they should be better than the bottom-feeder they were last year.
19. Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons
Reggie Jackson is a flawed and injury-prone point guard, but there’s no question he makes the Detroit Pistons better when he’s fully healthy and isn’t constantly trying to shake off rust. He could either climb higher up this list or fall back a few spots depending on his health in 2018-19.
Last year, Jackson averaged 14.6 points and 5.3 assists per game in his 45 appearances — numbers more or less consistent with his stat line from the season before, when he only played in 52 games.
However, his 3-point shooting dipped to 30.8 percent, and the last two seasons have been a far cry from the 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game he posted in his first and only healthy season with the team. Jackson is the missing element that could make or break the Pistons’ playoff hopes, but until he proves he can stay healthy, this is as far as he climbs.
18. Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs
On the surface, Dejounte Murray‘s 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on .443/.265/.709 shooting splits certainly don’t leap off the page. However, elite defense and the potential of a lengthy point guard entering his third season are enough to bump him this high up the rankings.
Though Murray is still raw on the offensive end and doesn’t have a 3-point jumper to speak of, his swarming defense on the other end earned him All-Defensive Second Team honors in just his second year.
He’ll be expected to become more of a two-way player for the San Antonio Spurs in 2018-19, but the third or fourth year is usually the breakout season for NBA point guards, so this ranking is based on potential and reliable defensive production. With Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and possibly Manu Ginobili gone, it’s time for Gregg Popovich’s latest success story to take flight.
17. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
This ranking may seem a bit modest for a player the Brooklyn Nets are hoping will establish himself as a franchise cornerstone, but even without the injuries that limited him to 48 games last season, D’Angelo Russell still has some serious flaws to address.
Aside from the missed time, Russell struggled with turnovers, creating separation off the dribble in the half-court and with his shot, posting pedestrian .414/.324/.740 shooting splits. Throw in lackluster defense and his general lack of athleticism and you’ve got a throughly underwhelming point guard.
However, D-Loading has only been in the league for three years, and his last two seasons’ progress was derailed by injury. If he can stay healthy in 2018-19, perhaps he’ll finally start to put it all together.
16. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
This is exceptionally generous for a second-year point guard who shot 36 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from 3-point range and 45.1 percent from the free throw line as a rookie, but playing alongside LeBron James will typically have this kind of effect.
To that end, Lonzo Ball should be better in 2018-19, and he was already fairly good in his first NBA season aside from shooting. After all, he posted 10.2 points, 7.2 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game last year.
The ball won’t be in his hands as much, but he’ll still get to orchestrate the offense plenty as the Los Angeles Lakers look to ease LeBron’s all-encompassing burden on offense. If Ball can develop as an off-ball threat and keep up his surprisingly stout defense from his rookie season, he could very easily take a second year leap that wouldn’t have been expected otherwise.
15. Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks
Eric Bledsoe has all the talent, athleticism and strength to be one of the game’s elite two-way players, but whether it’s been his poor supporting casts or a general lack of focus and effort, he’s never put it all together. It’s fitting, then, that he comes in at exactly average on this list.
There will be some nights where Bledsoe looks like a terror on both ends of the floor, living up to his “mini-LeBron” nickname and his ceiling as a walking triple-double threat. Then there are the nights where he looks disinterested, constantly loses his man on defense and gets throughly outplayed by Terry Rozier in a playoff series.
The Milwaukee Bucks have their real point guard in point forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, which is good, because he’s a better playmaker than Bledsoe anyway. Unfortunately, for all his versatility and bullish strength, he’s not a reliable perimeter threat, defender or playmaker. He has all the talent in the world, but even on a better Bucks team, Bled just hasn’t put it to good use yet.
14. Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves
People keep trying to make the case that Jeff Teague is underrated, or that he’s secretly an above-average point guard. By the strictest definition, according to this list, he technically is. However, his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves left a lot to be desired — even if he was never going to be a go-to option alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins.
Last year, the 30-year-old vet put up 14.2 points, 7.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from 3. Those aren’t bad numbers by any means, but his presence as the Wolves’ starting point guard kind of puts a cap on this team’s ceiling.
Of course, KAT and Wiggins playing any semblance of defense would also help in that regard, but Teague isn’t exactly a lockdown defender either. Teague is a decent point guard, but he’s not going to rank any higher than this, especially for a team that’s trying to become a consistent playoff presence in the loaded West.
13. Ricky Rubio, Utah Jazz
Do you remember where you were when Ricky Rubio outplayed Russell Westbrook in not one, but two straight playoff games? Because even if you don’t, that’s a real thing that happened. Not bad for a point guard people once labeled as soft, a draft bust and a non-threat on offense.
Though he only shot 41.8 percent from the field, Rubio enjoyed a career year with the Utah Jazz, posting a career-high 13.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. He also shot a respectable 35.2 percent from 3-point range (another career high) and brought his trademark underrated defense.
Rubio only has one year left on his contract in Utah, but that means he could be even better in 2018-19. If he can be a little more efficient from 2-point range, keep his 3-point shooting level and continue to be a more well-rounded threat on offense, another year of familiarity with this young, promising core will do him well.
12. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Given the trajectory Jamal Murray is on this ranking could look foolish a few months from now. For now though, it’d be great to see Murray develop more of his playmaking to become a more well-rounded player, rather than a shoot-first guard in an offense that already has enough mouths to feed with Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris and Paul Millsap.
Murray doesn’t need to become a traditional point guard in one of the league’s best offenses, since Jokic already has most of the facilitating covered as a point center. However, last year’s 3.4 assists per game should still be a point of improvement for Murray moving forward.
Still, at only 21 years old, Murray’s potential as a dynamite scorer is undeniable. He already averaged 16.7 points per game in his second NBA season, shooting a tidy 45.1 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from 3-point range. Get your bow-and-arrow celebrations ready, Denver Nuggets fans.
11. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat
We’re okay with Goran Dragic earning his first All-Star appearance as approximately the 18th injury replacement in the East last year, since he was downright robbed of that honor in 2013-14. Still, All-Star or no All-Star, the Dragon remains one of the league’s most underrated players.
His time for being a star on the rise are behind himm but the 32-year-old’s game should continue to age well based on his craftiness around the basket and reliable 3-point touch. Last year, Gogi put up 17.3 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game on .450/.370/.801 shooting splits as the most consistent player on a playoff-bound Miami Heat squad.
The Heat usually go as Dragic goes, and though this band of misfits won’t be challenging anyone at the top of the conference standings, Miami’s starting floor general should continue to play like a fringe top-10 point guard — unbeknownst to the rest of the league.
10. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
When fully healthy, Mike Conley could easily move a few spots up this ladder. Unfortunately, that “fully healthy” part has been the exception, not the rule, over the last few seasons. In four seasons since 2014-15, Conley has missed 12, 26, 13 and 70 games, respectively.
For a guy who’s about to turn 31 years old in October, that’s not a great sign, especially since his co-star Marc Gasol is already 33 and has similarly struggled to stay healthy. The Memphis Grizzlies rely entirely on both of these aging stars staying out on the court together.
In 2016-17, when Conley suited up for 69 games, he nearly posted career highs across the board with 20.5 points, 6.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on .459/.407/.859 shooting splits. Unfortunately, we may have already seen the peak of this injury roller coaster, leaving us only with the sickening drop to the bottom.
9. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
Entering a contract year, Kemba Walker could very easily coast and count on at least the Charlotte Hornets paying up to keep him in free agency. However, that’s not the kind of player he’s ever been, and as he enters his eighth year in the league, it’s unlikely he’s going to stop pushing now.
Though Walker’s numbers have somewhat plateaued over the last three years, he’s unquestionably a top-10 point guard in the league. Last season, he posted 22.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range. This marked the third straight year Kemba has averaged more than 20 points and shot at least 37 percent from downtown.
Can you win a championship with Kemba Walker as your best player? Probably not, as this perennial 36-win team can attest. However, no matter the supporting cast Charlotte has (or hasn’t) put around him, he’ll continue to be one of the game’s most electrifying dribblers, playmakers and at-the-rim finishers.
8. John Wall, Washington Wizards
Even if we completely ignore the ridiculous contract extension that will pay him $47.3 million in 2022-23, John Wall finds himself uncharacteristically low on a list of this nature due to his recent injury woes, a failure to improve his weaknesses, his team’s constant underperformance and the fact that the Washington Wizards survived fairly well without him last year.
Though the Wizards barely snuck into the playoffs as the 8-seed with Wall missing half the season, there are some who believe this should be Bradley Beal‘s team now, especially with Wall’s penchant for dominating the ball and taking too many ill-advised, long 2-pointers.
Wall is a non-threat from 3-point range and can dribble the air out of the ball at times, but he’s still lightning quick with the rock in his hands, can facilitate with the best of them and is perhaps the NBA’s best lefty dunker. Here’s hoping he can stay healthy in 2018-19 and make this ranking look foolish a year from now.
7. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
On the one hand, Kyle Lowry‘s numbers took a decent drop last year in a new egalitarian offense, and at age 32, with Kawhi Leonard joining the party, it’s unlikely anything changes in 2018-19. However, even with the dip in individual production, Lowry’s importance to the Toronto Raptors may have gotten even larger after the team’s eventful summer.
Leonard will take a ton of pressure off Lowry to take over in the postseason, but his shaky health, plus a new head coach in Nick Nurse, means this team will rely on Lowry to feed Toronto’s scorers as much as ever. He’s the constant in a swirling offseason of activity, and he’s also the Raptors’ heartbeat with DeMar DeRozan gone.
He should still hover around the 16.2 points, 6.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game he averaged last year, and if he shoots around 39.9 percent from 3 again, the Raptors will be more than happy with that. Lowry’s career is certainly on the downturn at this point, but the arrival of 3-and-D wings like Kawhi and Danny Green should breathe new life into his game and the team’s title window.
6. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons wasn’t just the deserving Rookie of the Year in his first NBA season, he was one of the best players in the league, period. In his second year with the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s scary to think of how much he could improve on the 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game he averaged last season.
Simmons’ ascension to becoming a top-five player in the league hinges on his ability to develop a respectable outside jumper, which will take time. However, even if currently can’t shoot from much further than the painted area, he still posted the most triple-doubles from any rookie in NBA history other than Oscar Robertson.
It won’t be long before he joins the Big O and Russell Westbrook as the only players to average a triple-double for an entire season, but for now, he’ll settle for being one of the game’s prodigy playmakers, high-flying dunkers and stout two-way defenders. Given the way he exploded onto the scene last year, this ranking actually might wind up being too low.
5. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
If it weren’t for the way the Portland Trail Blazers‘ season ended, Damian Lillard might be even higher on the list. Unfortunately, when your team gets swept in the first round as the 3-seed, while your numbers drop to 18.5 points, 4.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game on .352/.300/.882 shooting splits, this is high as you go.
Still, a four-game sample size against an elite defender like Jrue Holiday shouldn’t determine Lillard’s entire season, which is why it was good to see him earn All-NBA First Team honors. His 26.9 points, 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game on .439/.361/.916 shooting deserved no less.
The cries for Rip City to split up its star backcourt are overdone, but there should be no question this is Dame’s team. The 2018-19 season is about redemption, which sounds odd for a First Team All-NBAer…but also has us excited thinking about what he might accomplish with that kind of vengeance on his mind.
4. Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Kyrie Irving might never be classified as a “good” defender, but he was much better in that regard in 2017-18 and he can certainly afford to be only passable on the league’s top-ranked defense. With his biggest flaw taken care of by a plethora of versatile defenders, the Boston Celtics can sit back and enjoy with Irving does best: get buckets.
For those wondering if Terry Rozier had proven himself ready to take over the starting job for an injured Kyrie, who will be a free agent next summer, the Eastern Conference Finals made it abundantly clear that the Celtics could’ve used a proven, go-to scorer when they needed a basket the most.
That’s where the return of Kyrie (and Gordon Hayward) figures to help Boston in the upcoming season. If he can stay healthy this time, Irving has a good chance to not only improve on the 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on .491/.408/.889 shooting splits he posted last year, but do so for the undisputed kings of the East as well.
3. Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
Chris Paul‘s new contract is ridiculous, and will pay him absurd amounts of money through his age-37 season, but the Houston Rockets had no choice if they wanted to keep their title window open. For our purposes, that’s all that really matters, since CP3 is still a top-three point guard in this league when healthy.
That last bit provides a bit of a caveat, since it was a hamstring injury that ended Paul’s season in the Western Conference Finals, along with his team’s. However, the Rockets had a 3-2 series lead when CP3 went down, and though they lost some wing depth and defense over the summer, this team still figures to be the Golden State Warriors’ greatest challenger.
Despite there only being one ball to go around, James Harden and Paul flourished in their first season together, with the former winning MVP honors and the latter putting up 18.6 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game on 38 percent shooting from deep. Staggering these two floor generals just works, and Paul’s game should age well as long as he can just stay healthy.
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Two years ago, Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double, earning MVP honors and unanimous acclaim from around the league. Last year, Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the second time … and no one really cared all that much.
The difference? Well, aside from the fact that he didn’t lead the league in scoring this time around, the Brodie’s 25.4 points, 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game couldn’t distract from the fact that he had more help in 2018-19, but his team only won one more regular season game and one more playoff game than the year before.
There’s no question he’s the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s MVP, and it’s true Carmelo Anthony‘s unwillingness to accept a lesser role made sure the ball stuck on offense. With Melo gone, an improved bench, an empowered Paul George and a healthy Andre Roberson back to help on defense, there are no excuses for Russ this year. More than likely though, there won’t be a need for any. Now if he could just improve that 3-point shot he insists on taking….
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
No surprises here. Stephen Curry is not only the NBA’s best current point guard, he’s also rapidly established himself as one of the best NBA point guards of all time. It’s hard to see a three-time champion, two-time MVP, five-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Star taking a step back in the middle of his prime.
Even with DeMarcus Cousins joining the party, and even with Chef Curry being 30 years old, there is no more devastating force in the association than him when he gets on a roll. Not LeBron James, not Kevin Durant…nobody.
Curry is perhaps the most singularly destructive offensive weapon in NBA history, not just because of his shooting ability off the catch or off the dribble, but because of the gravitational pull he has on defenders, which opens up the Golden State Warriors‘ otherworldly offense. It’s simply unfair to give KD, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green room to operate like that.
Curry can be used as a decoy off the ball or he can create something out of nothing with the ball in his hands. His abilities as an excellent playmaker and finisher at the rim — even with the turnovers — make him an unstoppable threat, and his defensive improvement is still underrated. When he’s only passable on that end, the Dubs still have more than enough defensive talent to cover for him. Simply put, Stephen Curry is — and will continue to be — the NBA’s best point guard in 2018-19.