The best NBA point guards are about to take center stage in a 2015-16 season that will showcase the reigning MVP, elite attackers and some of the league’s top defenders.
Without a doubt, the position is the deepest and most talented in the NBA. Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul are fighting for the pinnacle spot, but who will be No. 1 this year?
7. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyle Lowry and Jeff Teague barely missed the list, and Kyrie Irving is one place lower in the rankings than he ordinarily would be. However, the Cavaliers star is currently sidelined while continuing his recovery from a knee injury that took him out of the NBA Finals.
While there’s no definitive timetable for his return,Irving has been running since early September. Assuming he’s healthy before December—and perhaps that doesn’t happen, but play along—the 23-year-old Irving is one of the most electrifying players in the league. Last season, he registered 21.7 points and 5.2 assists per game, shooting a career-best 41.5 percent from three.
6. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
Every year, it’s the same story. That’s because every year, the narrative doesn’t change: Mike Conley is an underrated point guard. Maybe it’s because the Grizzlies standout isn’t the prototypical star, but Conley deserves much more attention that he receives.
Now, Conley did have a down season compared to his previous standard, accumulating 15.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals last year. But he’s on the cusp of joining the position’s elite in almost every category—driving, defending, shooting—and 2015-16 should be the Conley bridges the gap between underrated and superstar.
5. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Anyone who doesn’t hate the Blazers probably feels horrible for the situation Damian Lillard is entering. Gone are five of Portland’s top six scorers—LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez and Nicolas Batum—leaving Lillard and his 21.0-point average as the lone returning double-digit scorer.
The biggest concern is a season of Lillard-first basketball could stunt his development as an all-around player, because the Blazers need the 25-year-old to shoulder the offensive load. Nevertheless, he’s probably going to put up 25 points and five assists per night. Portland won’t win often, but it won’t be Lillard’s fault.
4. John Wall, Washington Wizards
If there’s one skill that we could magically grant someone, it would be three-point shooting for John Wall. The Wizards guard would be flat-out unstoppable if he developed more consistent range. Wall is just 30.5 percent from beyond the arc during his five-year career.
But other than cutting down on turnovers and becoming a more physical rebounder, Wall can basically only enhance elite skills. He’s terrific in transition, picks apart defenses with outstanding passing and is a lockdown defender. Wall was one of 14 players to average a double-double and one of two dishing at least 10 assists per game in 2014-15. Expect him to be on that exclusive list once again this year.
3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more explosive player in the NBA. When Russell Westbrook takes flight, you get out of the way. Behind an arsenal of high-flying dunks and acrobatic finishes, the UCLA product poured in a career-best and league-leading 28.1 points as well as 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds.
Similar to Wall, the glaring weakness in Westbrook’s game is his shooting range. He connected on just 36.3 percent between 16 feet and the three-point line, then just 29.9 of his triples. Nevertheless, Westbrook is an excellent defender, nifty passer, arguably the best rebounder at his position and is a deadly off-ball mover. Kevin Durant’s return from injury will drop Westbrook’s numbers but allow him to contribute as a more efficient player.
2. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Put down the pitchforks, fellas. Stephen Curry deserved the Most Valuable Player Award last season, and he’s a top-five player in the league. Strictly speaking, though, he was only marginally better than the No. 1 player on the list in 2014-15. But that doesn’t mean the Warriors star is anything less than elite.
While Curry tallied 23.8 points and 7.7 assists last season, he buried a stunning 44.3 percent of his three-point attempts and 48.7 overall. The 27-year-old also snatched 4.3 rebounds and swiped 2.0 steals. However, Curry is an average defender who undoubtedly benefits from outstanding defensive-minded teammates. Yet, it’s not his responsibility to apologize for roster construction. Curry is not only blossoming where he’s planted, he’s excelling.
1. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
The top of your personal point guard ranking likely depends on how much weight you place on the importance of a the proverbial “two-way” player. If offense is more important, Curry has a terrific argument. If defense is your style, look no further than Chris Paul. The eight-time All-Star racked up 19.1 points, 10.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per outing.
Now, CP3 is one of the more annoying players in the NBA. He’s constantly complaining to officials and whining about calls, which occasionally makes him frustrating to watch. But Paul must be tremendously frustrating to play against, too, since he’s a superb on- and off-ball defender, tremendous passer, versatile scorer and solid rebounder. It’s easy to run out of superlatives for Paul, because he’s the best point guard in the NBA.