X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

Point Gods: Ranking The 10 Greatest NBA Point Guards of All-Time

Stephen Curry

As the game of basketball evolves, that evolution has been especially true of the point guard position. Once known as facilitators that primarily distributed the basketball to teammates, point guards are now able to score.

Modern players like Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook are still great passers, but they shine the most for their ability to get a bucket, either via the three-point shot or by driving to the basket. Regardless of the differing play styles, the point guard position has been loaded with remarkable talent and unforgettable highlights.

In today’s list, I will be ranking the top 10 point guards of all time. When determining a player’s greatness, I’ve decided to put the greatest weight on his individual accolades and longevity, as they are the most indicative of his dominance during his era. Championships are certainly important as well and will be considered. However, winning a championship requires a lot of external factors such as the team roster, the matchup, and luck. Stats will also be considered with the same weight as championships due to stat inflation/ deflation from different eras. With that being said, let’s jump right into the list!

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!

 

10. Jason Kidd

Stats: 12.0 PTS, 8.7 AST, 6.3 REB

Accolades: ​​10x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Team (5x First Team, 1x Second Team), 9x All-NBA Defensive Team, 5x Assists Titles, 1x NBA Champion

Starting off the list at number 10 is one of the most well-rounded players on this list. Jason Kidd could do it all, whether it was making getting rebounds, knocking down a three, or playing lockdown defense. However, he was most well-known for his flashy passing. Almost like magic, he could make a sensational play out of nothing, winning the hearts of millions of fans.

His statistics and awards back up his skillset. He is top 15 all-time among point guards in points, rebounds, assists, and 3-pointers, placing first and second for rebounds and assists, respectively. In addition, he is tied for first among point guards for the number of All-NBA Defensive Teams with 9. With a resume like his, Kidd has earned the right to be in the top 10.

 

9. Russell Westbrook

Stats: 22.4 PTS, 8.4 AST, 7.3 REB

Accolades: 1x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA Team (2x First Team, 5x Second Team, 2x Third Team), 3x Assists Titles, 2x Scoring Titles

Explosive. There is no better word to describe his playing style that helped him average a triple-double for four straight seasons. He was able to blow by any defender, allowing him to fill up the stat sheet with ease. His mind-boggling numbers earned him 9 All-Star and 9 All-NBA Team selections as well as the MVP of the 2016-2017 season. 

While his peak is one of the highest among the players on this list, his longevity prevents him from moving higher. His recent level of play with the Lakers has certainly tarnished his reputation and caused many fans to question if he can return to his former self. However, it is clear that he can still play at a high level from his playoff performances with the Clippers. There are still a few years left in Westbrook’s career, and it will be interesting to see if he can bump himself up a couple of spots on this list.

 

8. Steve Nash

Stats: 14.3 PTS, 8.5 AST, 3.0 REB

Accolades: 2x MVP, 8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA Team (3x First Team, 2x Second Team, 2x Third Team), 5x Assists Titles

Steve Nash embodies the definition of a traditional point guard. Able to pass the ball with unlimited creativity, he was also a scoring threat, making his three-pointers and free throws at an insanely high rate. Nash is not typically seen as a dominant player, but in his prime, he won 2 MVPs and led the league in assists 5 times.

The true impact of Nash’s game cannot be seen just by viewing his individual awards, though. He was someone who made his teammates better, which is highlighted by the following stat: out of the 8 years that Nash played with the Phoenix Suns, his squad ranked first in offensive rating 5 times. Very few other point guards were able to lead and facilitate his team’s offense to this degree, earning Nash a spot in the top 8.

 

7. Chris Paul

Stats: 17.9 PTS, 9.5 AST, 4.5 REB

Accolades: 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Team (4x First Team, 5x Second Team, 2x All-NBA Third Team), 9x All-NBA Defensive Team (7x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team), 6x Steals Title, 5x Assists Title

Another point guard with great defensive abilities, Chris Paul was a star the moment he entered the league. In just his third season, he was already averaging a 21-11 double-double on the New Orleans Hornets.

It makes sense why he found so much success early on in his career. He had a perfect combination of speed, athleticism, and craftiness that allowed him to make a play in any situation. And while his body is slowing down due to age, he is still able to contribute offensively through his elite passing, three-point shooting, and jumpers off the pick-and-roll. Chris Paul’s longevity and elite playmaking place him at the number 7 spot.

 

6. Isiah Thomas

Stats: 19.2 PTS, 9.3 AST, 3.6 REB

Accolades: 12x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team (3x First Team, 2x Second Team), 1x AST Champion, 2x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP

Isiah Thomas was a point guard with a vast offensive skillset. His quick handles allowed him to penetrate gaps in the defense, and his creative finishing abilities made it difficult for even the best centers to block his shots. When he couldn’t get a bucket, he was able to find the open man, giving him a stellar career average of 9.3 AST and an assists title for one year.

Isiah Thomas was an amazing player for his entire career, making the All-Star Game for 12 out of his 13 seasons. With such consistency and longevity, it may be questioned why he wasn’t able to crack the top 5. Even though he often made the All-Star Game, he only made the All-NBA team 5 times, each award occurring before 1987. This fact shows that even though Thomas was a great player, he was never considered among the elite in the second half of his career.

Some may also bring up his winning record against legends like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, but Thomas did not defeat them by himself; his team played a role as well. So while Isiah Thomas will always be regarded as one of the most skilled and toughest point guards of all time, he remains at the number 6 spot.

 

5. Jerry West

Stats: 27.0 PTS, 6.7 AST, 5.8 REB

Accolades: 14x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team (10x First Team, 2x Second Team, 5x All-NBA Defensive Team, 1x Scoring Title, 1x NBA Championship, 1x NBA Finals MVP

It’s no surprise that Jerry West cracked the top 5. After all, he is the logo of the NBA. His stats are also very impressive, featuring a career average of 27.0 PTS. It is his awards, though, that showcase how dominant he was during his time. He is only one of 5 players to be an All-Star for his entire career. Out of his 14 years, he was on the All-NBA First Team 10 times and the All-NBA Second Team 2 times. Winning these accolades, which are only awarded to the best 20 or so players each year, with such consistency is truly a remarkable feat. 

Some might knock him down a couple of spots, their main reasoning being his poor 1-8 Finals record. This statistic is unfortunately very misleading. In all of his Finals games, he averaged a stellar 30.5 PTS, 5.6 AST, and 5.0 REB. He was simply pitted against an overwhelmingly talented Celtics team that featured the likes of Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Bob Cousy, among others. As I stated earlier, the number of titles a player wins is not entirely in his control and should not stain West’s legacy as a top 5 point guard.

 

4. John Stockton

Stats: 13.1 PTS, 10.5 AST, 2.7 REB

Accolades: 10x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Team (2x First Team, 5x Second Team, 4x Third Team), 9x Assists Titles, 5x All-Defensive Team, 2x Steals Titles

The NBA’s all-time total assists leader. Not much else needs to be said. As 1 of only 2 players in NBA history to average more than 10 assists for his entire career, Stockton remained as an elite facilitator for the 19 seasons he played in the league. 

Most fans consider his passing as his only valuable asset, but they are severely mistaken. Stockton was also a great defender, leading the NBA in all-time total steals as well. Furthermore, he was an extremely efficient scorer with a career FG% average of 51.5%. His contributions gave him 11 All-NBA Team selections, putting him among the top players for a good chunk of his career. 

Perhaps his most valuable trait, even with his passing and defense, was his durability. There were only 3 seasons in which he didn’t play all 82 games. Considering that he was able to play at an elite level with this workload, his strength should not be undervalued. For the reasons listed above, Stockton sits comfortably at the 4th spot.

 

3. Oscar Robertson

Stats: 25.7 PTS, 9.5 AST, 7.5 REB

Accolades: 1x MVP, 12x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Team (9x First Team, 2x Second Team), 6x Assists Titles, 1x NBA Championship

The original Mr. Triple Double. There was no other point guard better at filling up the stat sheet than Oscar Robertson. In only his second year in the league, he averaged a 30-point triple-double for the entire season, something that was never heard of at the time. For his first five seasons, he never averaged below 9 rebounds or assists. 

His awards also prove his superiority to other point guards at the time. Out of his 14 seasons, he was an All-Star 12 times and on the All-NBA team 11 times, 9 of them being on the First Team. He also won the 1964 MVP award over the statistically dominant Wilt Chamberlain. Pair these accolades with the sheer production of Oscar Robertson and you have yourself a top 3 point guard of all time.

 

2. Stephen Curry

Stats: 24.6 PTS, 6.5 AST, 4.7 REB

Accolades: 2x MVP, 9x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Team (4x First Team, 3x Second Team, 1x Third Team), 2x Scoring Champion, 4x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP

Undisputedly the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry belongs nowhere below the top 2 point guards of all time. There’s also a valid argument to put him as the greatest point guard of all time. He outshines Magic significantly in the scoring department, amazing the crowd with his quick-release threes and tough finishes near the basket. His playstyle has sparked the three-point revolution, completely changing the way the game is played. It is not an understatement to say that Stephen Curry is a pioneer in the game of basketball.

Not only is Curry an amazing individual talent, but he is also a leader and a winner with four rings to his name. He has always been the centerpiece of the Warriors dynasty, contrary to what his 1 Finals MVP might suggest. No other point guard below him on this list has had as much individual dominance, winningness, and impact in his career as Curry, making him the second-best point guard on our list.

 

1. Magic Johnson

Stats: 19.5 PTS, 11.2 AST, 7.2 REB

Accolades: 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team (9x First Team, 1x Second Team), 4x AST Champion, 2x STL Champion, 5x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP

There is no better nickname for the greatest point guard of all time than “Magic”. Similar to Curry, Magic Johnson had a generational impact on the game of basketball. He garnered millions of fans with his unmatched showmanship and diverse skillset. In addition, there was the famous “Magic vs Bird” rivalry, drawing national attention to this sport. When you hear the word “basketball”, Magic is one of the first names you think of.

What separates Magic from Stephen Curry was his undisputed superiority to other point guards during his era, which is proven by his accolades. He was a superstar for his entire career. Out of the 13 years he played, he was an All-Star for 12 of them; the one year he wasn’t an All-Star, he only played 37 games. He was also on the All-NBA First Team 9 times and won 3 MVP awards. When comparing these awards to Curry’s 9 All-Star selections, 4 All-NBA First Team selections, and 2 MVPs, it is apparent that Magic has the edge.

 

So there you have it: the 10 greatest point guards to ever play the game as of 2023. Once again, they were ranked based on their individual dominance relative to the era they played in. However, there are many other ways to measure greatness, which can cause some ranks to move around or even some new names to join the list. If you disagree or have a different list, we’d love to hear your thoughts!



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Filip Chytil31 mins ago

Day-To-Day With Upper-Body Injury
Artemi Panarin36 mins ago

Day-To-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Logan Couture44 mins ago

Unlikely To Play Opening Night
Easton Cowan53 mins ago

Impresses In Preseason Debut
NJ1 hour ago

Cory Schneider Announces Retirement From Hockey
Ilya Mikheyev1 hour ago

Leaves Practice Early Tuesday
Christian Watson3 hours ago

Plans To Play Against Lions
David Montgomery3 hours ago

Lions Optimistic About David Montgomery's Week 4 Status
Luis Robert Jr.5 hours ago

Season Could Be Over
Max Scherzer5 hours ago

Takes Another Step Forward
Rasmus Dahlin9 hours ago

Pleased To Link Up With Connor Clifton
Kailer Yamamoto9 hours ago

Posts Pair Of Power-Play Goals
Jakob Chychrun10 hours ago

Nets Two Goals In Win Over Toronto
Sean Couturier10 hours ago

Plays His First Game Since 2021
Jordan Eberle10 hours ago

Hopes To Remain In Seattle
Jakob Pelletier10 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury
Kyren Williams13 hours ago

' Production Capped By Poor Play-Calling
Tutu Atwell14 hours ago

Makes The Most Of Week 3 Defeat
Brandon Crawford17 hours ago

Expects To Play In Season Finale Sunday
Ja'Marr Chase17 hours ago

Wrecks Rams, Closes Buy-Low Window
Patrick Sandoval17 hours ago

Exits Early Monday With Right Oblique Tightness
Jon Gray17 hours ago

Exits Early Monday With Right-Wrist Tightness
Joe Burrow17 hours ago

Guts Out Calf Issue In Close Victory
A.J. Brown19 hours ago

Explodes For 131 Yards Against Tampa Bay
D'Andre Swift19 hours ago

Gashes Buccaneers For 138 Total Yards
Mike Evans19 hours ago

Snags Touchdown In Loss
Minnesota Timberwolves19 hours ago

Trevor Keels Signs With Timberwolves
Golden State Warriors19 hours ago

Rodney McGruder Joins Warriors
Atlanta Hawks20 hours ago

Chris Silva Joins Hawks On Exhibit-10 Deal
Julius Randle20 hours ago

Should Be Ready For Training Camp
Joe Burrow22 hours ago

Officially Active On Monday Night
Puka Nacua22 hours ago

Active Against Bengals
Alvin Kamara23 hours ago

Reinstated From Suspension
Brandon Aiyuk23 hours ago

Seen At Monday's Practice
Deebo Samuel23 hours ago

Held Out Of Monday's Practice
David Montgomery23 hours ago

Listed As Limited
Christian Watson23 hours ago

Listed As DNP Monday
Jaylen Waddle23 hours ago

Still In Concussion Protocol
Joe Burrow23 hours ago

Optimism Surrounding Joe Burrow's Monday Night Status
Garrett Mitchell1 day ago

Could Return Tuesday
Aaron Jones1 day ago

Could Play On Thursday Night In Week 4
Derek Carr1 day ago

Deemed Week-To-Week With Shoulder Injury
Andy Dalton1 day ago

Throws For 361 Yards In Loss
Rafael Fiziev1 day ago

Suffers Knee Injury To Cut Main Event Short
Rafael Fiziev1 day ago

Mateusz Gamrot Victorious After Rafael Fiziev Suffers Knee Injury
Michelle Waterson-Gomez1 day ago

Dominated In TKO Loss
AJ Fletcher1 day ago

Drops To 1-3 In The UFC
AJ Fletcher1 day ago

Bryan Battle Submits AJ Fletcher For Second Straight Finishing Win
Ryan Blaney1 day ago

Speeding Penalty Costs Him Big At Texas
Francisco Alvarez1 day ago

Dealing With Finger Contusion
Ketel Marte1 day ago

Absent From Lineup On Monday
Mike Trout1 day ago

Season Is Over
William Byron1 day ago

Earns Sixth Win Of Season At Texas
Denny Hamlin1 day ago

Secures Third Straight Top-Five Finish At Texas
Tyler Reddick1 day ago

Late Wreck Ruins Tyler Reddick's Race At Texas
Chase Briscoe1 day ago

Delivers Big Value At Texas
Kyle Busch1 day ago

Championship Hopes Take Big Hit After Texas Wreck
Ross Chastain1 day ago

Overcomes Throttle Issue To Finish Second At Texas
NASCAR1 day ago

Bubba Wallace "Gave it Away" At Texas, Finishes Third
Chris Buescher1 day ago

Has Another Strong Points Day At Texas
Kyle Larson1 day ago

On Playoff Hot Seat After Wrecking At Texas
Adam Fantilli1 day ago

Registers Two Assists In Preseason Debut
Trevor Van Riemsdyk1 day ago

Trevor van Riemsdyk Sustains Apparent Hand Injury
Travis Konecny1 day ago

"Banged Up"
Andrei Vasilevskiy1 day ago

Battling Minor Injuries
Mika Zibanejad1 day ago

Suffers An Upper-Body Injury
Kyle Palmieri1 day ago

Set For Re-Evaluation This Week
Deandre Ayton2 days ago

To Portland A Possibility?
Damian Lillard2 days ago

Bulls, Raptors Expressing Interest In Damian Lillard
Tim Hardaway2 days ago

Pacers Reportedly Not Interested In Tim Hardaway Jr.
Buddy Hield2 days ago

To Dallas?
Francisco Alvarez2 days ago

Removed Early On Sunday
Luis Robert Jr.2 days ago

Replaced During Sunday's Game
Yandy Díaz2 days ago

Yandy Diaz Leaves Early Sunday
Ricardo Ramos2 days ago

Submitted Early At UFC Vegas 79
Charles Jourdain2 days ago

Extends Win Streak To Two
Marina Rodriguez2 days ago

Scores One-Sided TKO Win At UFC Vegas 79
Dan Ige2 days ago

Falls Short Against Another Top-10 Opponent
Bryce Mitchell2 days ago

Returns To Win Column At UFC Vegas 79
Brad Keselowski2 days ago

Feels Good About His Car at Texas
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

a Very Strong Option at Texas
Denny Hamlin2 days ago

Pegged as Favorite to Win at Texas
Carson Hocevar3 days ago

Looks Impressive Again at Texas
Zane Smith3 days ago

Slow In Practice and Qualifying at Texas
Todd Gilliland3 days ago

in Downgraded Equipment for Texas
Luis Arraez3 days ago

Suffers Injury On Saturday
Ryan Preece3 days ago

Will Start 25th At Texas
Chase Briscoe3 days ago

The Top Value Play On Sunday At Texas
Ricky Stenhouse Jr3 days ago

.'s Struggles At Texas To Continue This Weekend
Joey Logano3 days ago

Makes For A Nice Bounce Back Play At Texas
NASCAR3 days ago

Bubba Wallace Wins Pole At Texas Motor Speedway
Kenley Jansen3 days ago

Returns From COVID List
Mike Trout3 days ago

Hits Off Tee
Yordan Alvarez3 days ago

Doubles In A Run, Managing Elbow Issue
MLB3 days ago

Diamondbacks-Yankees Postponed Saturday Due To Rain
MLB3 days ago

Braves-Nationals Postponed On Saturday
Nolan Arenado3 days ago

Cardinals Place Nolan Arenado On Injured List
Sandy Alcantara3 days ago

Suffers Setback After Rehab Start
Clayton Keller3 days ago

Ready To Become 100-Point Player
Nicklas Backstrom3 days ago

Feeling At 100 Percent
Oliver Ekman-Larsson3 days ago

Set To Get Look On Top Power-Play Unit
3 days ago

Chauncey Billups Backs Scoot Henderson To Become A "Star"
Josh Green3 days ago

Aims To Become A Bigger Defensive Presence
Josh Hart3 days ago

Set To See Minutes As Power Forward
Cade Cunningham3 days ago

Jaden Ivey Believes Cade Cunningham Will "Shock" People
DeMar DeRozan3 days ago

Ready To Shoot More Threes
Marcus Morris3 days ago

Sr. Set To Remain A Starter In New Season
Brandon Lowe4 days ago

Finished For 2023 With Knee Fracture
Jaden McDaniels4 days ago

Timberwolves Desire To Extend Jaden McDaniels
Boston Celtics4 days ago

Celtics Signing Lamar Stevens As Bench Piece
Frank Ntilikina4 days ago

Could Be Limited At Training Camp
Jayson Tatum4 days ago

To Play More Point Guard In 2023-24?
Damian Lillard4 days ago

Suns Considered Dark Horse To Facilitate Damian Lillard Deal
Donovan Mitchell4 days ago

Not Expected To Sign An Extension Next Summer
4 days ago

Amen Thompson Is Ready To Go For Training Camp
Mateusz Gamrot4 days ago

Seeking Victory In Seventh UFC Appearance
Rafael Fiziev4 days ago

Looks To Get Back In Win Column
Michelle Waterson-Gomez4 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
AJ Fletcher4 days ago

Set To Showcase On Main Card
Bryan Battle4 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 79
Ricardo Ramos5 days ago

Set For First Fight In Over A Year
Charles Jourdain5 days ago

Hoping To Bring UFC Record Above .500
Marina Rodriguez5 days ago

Gets A Rematch At UFC Vegas 79
Dan Ige5 days ago

Enters UFC Vegas 79 On Two-Fight Win Streak
Bryce Mitchell5 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back After First Career Loss

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP