Who are the best point guards in the entire NBA?
While positions continue to adjust and combine, someone needs to handle the ball and set up teammates to thrive. That player may also be a dominant scorer in the modern NBA, or perhaps even a 6'8" forward with point guard abilities. The league these days is new, but also repeating the beauties of the past.
Which point guards are the very best in the league right now? Such a list must take into account scoring, playmaking, track record and playoff success, among other things. We also made specific calls on players whose position may be unclear; as such, Luka Doncic is ranked among the point guards
No. 5: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson has become an offensive powerhouse despite his small frame, hitting contested jumpers from anywhere on the court and absorbing contact like a much larger player. He has become almost underrated as a playmaker and off-ball player due to his on-ball prowess. He was the best player on last year's championship team.
Brunson is not much of a defender, and he doesn't elevate the entire offense to the same level as the players ahead of him. He is an undeniable Top-5 point guard in the NBA, but he needs the exact right situation to win at the highest levels -- it just so happens that the Knicks built just that situation.
No. 4: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham battled injury and inefficiency in his first few seasons in the league, but he has absolutely exploded since then. He was a first-team All-NBA player this past season as the offensive engine for a 60-win Detroit Pistons team. He can score inside, he can pull up from deep, and his size at 6'6" only helps his passing vision and pinpoint playmaking.
That size also helps Cunningham compete on defense, a significant part of his impact. The Pistons are able to field an elite defense in large part because their point guard is a strength and not a weakness on that end. If his 3-point shot went from serviceable to consistently accurate, he would be challenging for MVP awards.
No. 3: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
At some point Stephen Curry will stop outrunning defenders as he races around the court, brushing by screens and changing his direction on a dime. At some point he will stop knocking down 40-plus percent of his high volume of 3-pointers. At some point he will stop transforming the Golden State Warriors' offense due to his immense gravity.
That point has not yet come, however, and the 38-year-old point guard is still one of the best players in the league. He is more likely to get injured now, and that matters, but when he is on the court he is as impactful as any offensive player in the league. Shooting remains such a uniquely valuable skill that Curry retains such a high ranking.
No. 2: Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic is a heliocentric offensive superstar, handling the ball on every single possession and ensuring the best player is in position to take the best shot. His combination of scoring and passing is unparralleled in the league and perhaps in NBA history.
He is also a defensive liability, a relatively poor 3-point shooter, is rarely at peak conditioning and spends more time complaining to referees than he does getting back on defense. There are real reasons not to love Doncic as a Top-5 player in the NBA, but it's also difficult to drop him any further than No. 2 in the point guard rankings.
No. 1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The two-time defending MVP, Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into a dominant force for the Oklahoma City Thunder. "SGA" can get anywhere he wants on the court, either extending for a crafty finish at the rim or pulling up for a money jumper. His handle and movements are silky smooth, making him a joy to watch and a terror to defend.
What only further elevates Gilgeous-Alexander is that he is an above-average defender on the perimeter, holding his own defensively and using fast hands to generate steals and resets. His length also helps him collect nearly a block per game, a rarity for an offensive superstar guard. His placement on this list was obvious from the jump.
Honorable Mentions 6-10 (in alphabetical order): LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets; Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers;
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