Top 10 Best Point Guards Of All Time

Last Updated on: 4th October 2023, 07:51 pm

Basketball fans have long debated who the most significant point guards in history are. Many players have left their mark on the game, from the flashy playmaking of Magic Johnson to the sharpshooting of Stephen Curry.

We will explore the top point guards of all time, as determined by various experts and metrics. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this list will spark lively discussion about the best of the best.

Here are our top picks for best point guards of all time.

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Magic Johnson

Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. He was born on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. In high school, he earned his nickname “Magic” for his creative and entertaining ballhandling.

Here are some ways he revolutionized the position:

Versatility: Magic’s size and skillset made him a versatile player who could play multiple positions on the court. This made him an ideal role model for big men who thought they could handle the ball.
Scoring: As a youth, Magic was a scorer. However, he was asked to play point guard in high school. Angry school parents spurred Magic to change the point guard position forever by becoming a pass-first player.
Passing: Magic was known for his incredible passing ability. He had a unique ability to see the entire court and make pinpoint passes to his teammates.
Leadership: Magic was a natural leader on the court. He had a way of inspiring his teammates and improving everyone around him.
Championships: Magic won five NBA championships during his career, a testament to his skill and leadership.
Pioneer: Magic was a pioneer in his position and basketball. He played on a team that pushed the game’s pace with fast breaks and quick passes, which changed how the game was played.
Scoring ability: During the 1986-87 season, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sidelined briefly with an eye infection, Magic did something most pro scouts had said he couldn’t do: score. He pumped in 38 points.

Magic Johnson was a dynamic player who revolutionized the point guard position with his size, versatility, passing ability, and leadership. He was a pioneer who changed how the game was played and inspired generations of basketball players.

Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Here are some ways he has revolutionized the position:

Shooting: Curry is the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history. He has made more 3-pointers than any other player in NBA history and has nine of the top 10 seasons for most 3-pointers made.
Scoring: Curry is an incredible scorer. He has won two NBA scoring titles and averaged over 20 points per game in the last eight seasons.
Leadership: Curry is a natural leader on the court. He has a way of inspiring his teammates and improving everyone around him.
Ball handling: Curry is known for his incredible ballhandling skills. He can dribble the ball with both hands and create space for himself and his teammates.
Playmaking: Curry is an excellent playmaker. He has averaged over six assists per game in the last eight seasons and has led the league in assists per game once.
Versatility: Curry is a versatile player who can play multiple positions on the court. He can play both point guard and shooting guard, which makes him a valuable asset to any team.
Postseason performance: Curry is one of the best postseason performers at his position. He increases his scoring output and shooting efficiency in the playoffs, a testament to his skill and leadership.

Stephen Curry has revolutionized the point guard position with his incredible shooting, scoring, leadership, ball handling, playmaking, versatility, and postseason performance. He is regarded as one of the best point guards in NBA history. He has already made an argument as the best point guard in NBA history after only ten years into his career.

Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson is a former American professional basketball player considered one of the top players in the game’s history. He was born on November 24, 1938, in Charlotte, Tennessee.

Here are some ways he revolutionized the position:

Triple-double: Robertson was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game in the 1961-62 season.
He also set a then-NBA record for the most triple-doubles during the regular season with 41.
Robertson’s total career averages fell short of a Triple-Double due to less usage in the latter part of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Versatility: Robertson was a versatile player who could play multiple positions on the court. He was a big man with the moves of a tremendous little man and had the skills of a guard.
Scoring: Robertson was an incredible scorer. He averaged over 30 points per game in six different seasons and led the league in scoring three times.
Playmaking: Robertson was an excellent playmaker. He led the league in assists per game seven times and set the NBA record for most assists in a career with 9,887.
Rebounding: Robertson was an excellent rebounder for a guard. He averaged over seven rebounds per game for his career and led his team in rebounding once, a rare feat for a guard.
Leadership: Robertson was a natural leader on the court. He had a way of inspiring his teammates and improving everyone around him.

Oscar Robertson was a versatile player who revolutionized the point guard position with his incredible scoring, playmaking, rebounding, and leadership abilities. He was the first player to average a triple-double for an entire season and set the NBA record for most assists in a career. As one of the most significant point guards in NBA history, Robertson’s legacy is secure.

John Stockton

John Stockton is a former American professional basketball player regarded as one of the most significant point guards, players, and passers ever.

He spent his entire NBA career (1984-2003) with the Utah Jazz, and the team made the playoffs in his 19 seasons. Stockton is the NBA’s all-time leader in both assists and steals.

Here are some reasons why John Stockton is considered one of the most significant point guards of all time:

Passing Ability: Stockton is known for his incredible passing ability. He led the league in assists per game for nine consecutive seasons and holds the NBA record for most career assists. He is also the only player in NBA history to have recorded 1,000 assists in a season more than once.
Stealing Ability: Stockton is also known for his defensive prowess, particularly his ability to steal the ball. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in steals.
Shooting Ability: Stockton was an excellent shooter, particularly from beyond the arc. He ranks in the top 50 all-time in three-point field goal percentage.
Consistency: Stockton’s career is notable for its consistency and longevity. He remained a starting NBA player until his retirement at age 41. He also holds the record for most consecutive games played with one team (1,504).
Team Player: Stockton was known for his unselfishness and team-first mentality. He avoided most endorsements and stayed loyal to Utah despite being offered more money by other teams. He also helped lead the Utah Jazz to the playoffs in his 19 seasons with the team.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul is an American professional basketball player who plays as a point guard for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.

He was born to Charles Edward Paul and Robin Jones on May 6, 1985, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

He is considered one of the best point guards in the NBA due to his skill, quickness, court vision, and great defense.

Here are some of the skills that make Chris Paul a great point guard:

Dribbling: Chris Paul is a skilled dribbler who can quickly keep the ball close to his body and change direction.

Passing: Chris Paul has great court vision and is an excellent passer. He can make accurate passes to his teammates even in tight spaces.
Shooting: Chris Paul is a good shooter from both mid-range and beyond the arc. He has a quick release and can shoot off the dribble or catch-and-shoot.
Defense: Chris Paul is known for his outstanding defense. He is quick and agile, which allows him to stay in front of his opponents and disrupt their shots.
Leadership: Chris Paul is a natural leader on the court. He is vocal and communicates well with his teammates, which helps to keep them organized and focused.
Basketball IQ: Chris Paul has a high basketball IQ, which allows him to read the game and make intelligent decisions. He knows when to pass, shoot, or drive to the basket.

Chris Paul’s skills, leadership, and basketball IQ make him one of the best point guards in the NBA.

Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas is a former professional basketball player and coach who played for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and the 75 Greatest Players.

Here are some of the reasons why Isiah Thomas is considered one of the best point guards of all time:

Offensive skillset: Isiah Thomas was a point guard with a vast offensive skillset. His quick handles allowed him to penetrate gaps in the defense, and his ability to create at an elite level made him a threat to score from anywhere on the court.
Competitiveness: Isiah Thomas combined talent with fierce competitiveness. He was the face of the Bad Boys Pistons, who beat Jordan’s Bulls three straight times in the playoffs in the late 80s and early 90s. His calm, collected demeanor masked an intense desire to win, and winning became his calling card.
Leadership: Isiah Thomas was a natural leader on the court. He led the Pistons to consecutive championships in 1989 and 1990 and was named MVP of the Finals in 1990. He was also a 12-time NBA All-Star and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and the 75 Greatest Players.

Size: Isiah Thomas was only 6-foot-1, which made him one of the best small guards in basketball history. He was the best player ever under 6-foot-1.
Versatility: Isiah Thomas was a well-rounded offensive guard. He could create at an elite level but also score out of the midrange off the dribble. He was also a great defender, ranking 9th in assists and 17th in steals.

Isiah Thomas was a complete player who excelled in all aspects of the game. His talent, competitiveness, leadership, and versatility make him one of the most significant point guards in NBA history.

Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd is a former professional basketball player and current head coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born in San Francisco, California, on March 23, 1973.

Kidd was drafted second overall in 1994 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he displayed his versatile game and defensive prowess earning Co-Rookie of the Year honors.

He played for several teams, including the Phoenix Suns and the New Jersey Nets. Kidd is considered one of the most significant point guards and passers of all time, and he was a 10-time NBA All-Star.

Here are some ways he revolutionized the position:

Passing: Kidd was known for his vision and creativity with his passing. He is second all-time in career assists with 12,091, trailing only John Stockton. Kidd’s career averages are 9.3 assists per game.
Defense: Kidd was a tenacious defender and earned nine selections to the All-Defensive Team. His nine All-Defense selections are tops among point guards and Gary Payton.
Rebounding: Kidd was an excellent rebounder for a guard. He averaged 6.0 rebounds per game for his career and led his team in rebounding five times.
Leadership: Kidd was a natural leader on the court. He had a way of inspiring his teammates and improving everyone around him.
Longevity: Kidd played in the NBA for 19 seasons and was an All-Star 10 times. He was able to contribute for nearly two full decades and retired with remarkable counting stats.
Shooting: The only thing Kidd wasn’t good at was shooting. He made only 40% of his field goal attempts and 34.9% of his three-point attempts throughout his career.

Jason Kidd was a versatile player who revolutionized the point guard position with his incredible passing, defense, rebounding, leadership, and longevity. He was among the best point guards in NBA history and among the top three in assists, steals, and threes.

Steve Nash

Steve Nash is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and coach. He was born on February 7, 1974, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Nash played as a point guard for several teams throughout his career, including the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.

He is widely regarded as one of the most significant point guards ever. He has every individual accolade an NBA player could dream of, including two NBA MVP awards and eight NBA All-Star selections. Nash was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Here are some ways he revolutionized the position:

Passing: Nash was an innovative player who pushed the game’s pace with his ability to see the floor. He was a prolific passer and led the league in assists five times. Nash’s ability to run the pick-and-roll was particularly effective, especially with Amar’e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion under head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Shooting: Nash was an excellent shooter. He was a career 49% shooter from the field and 42.8% shooter from three-point range. Nash’s ability to shoot accurately and pass confidently made him a dangerous offensive threat.
Offense: Nash was the point guard on the NBA’s most potent offense for six straight years, beginning in Dallas in 2001-02 and for eight out of the next nine years. He led the Suns to records of 62-20, 54-28, 61-21, and 55-27 in four seasons directing D’Antoni’s free-flowing, small-ball offense.
Leadership: Nash was a natural leader on the court. He had a way of inspiring his teammates and improving everyone around him.

Awards: Nash won the NBA MVP award twice in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team three times and the All-NBA Second Team twice.

Steve Nash was a versatile player who revolutionized the point guard position with his incredible passing, shooting, offense, leadership, and awards. He was one of the best point guards in NBA history and went from nobody interested in him to one of the best point guards ever.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player. He was born in Long Beach, California, on November 12, 1988.

Westbrook played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and earned third-team all-conference honors in the Pac-10. He was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who then relocated to Oklahoma City that same week.

Here are some ways he has excelled in his position:

Scoring: Westbrook is known for his scoring ability. He has averaged over 20 points per game in his career and has scored 50 points or more in a game five times.

Assists: Westbrook is also an excellent playmaker. He has averaged over seven assists per game in his career and has led the league in assists per game twice.
Rebounding: Westbrook is a strong rebounder for a point guard. He has averaged over seven rebounds per game in his career and has led the league in rebounds for a guard four times.
Triple-doubles: Westbrook is known for his ability to record triple-doubles when a player records double-digit numbers in three statistical categories (usually points, rebounds, and assists). He has recorded 184 triple-doubles in his career, which is the most in NBA history.

Leadership: Westbrook is a natural leader on the court. He has a way of inspiring his teammates and improving everyone around him.
Evolution: Westbrook has evolved into a true point guard throughout his career. He entered the league as a wild-eyed guard trying to play in a round positional hole. Still, he has since become one of the most dynamic point guards in the league.

Russell Westbrook is a highly skilled point guard who excels in scoring, playmaking, rebounding, and leadership. He has also evolved into a true point guard throughout his career.

Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy is a former professional basketball player who played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969-70 season.

He was nicknamed the “Houdini of the Hardwood” by sportswriters for his razzle-dazzle, ballhandling abilities.

Here are some ways he revolutionized the position:

Ball handling: Cousy was a tremendous ball-handler known for his slick skills. He introduced an array of visually attractive street basketball moves, described by the NBA as a mix of ambidextrous, behind-the-back dribbling and “no-look passes, behind-the-back feeds or half-court fastbreak launches.”
Passing: Cousy was an excellent passer known for his passing wizardry. He led the league in assists for eight consecutive seasons and consistently ranked near the top in assists per game.
Scoring: Cousy was also a prolific scorer. He averaged over 18 points per game and was a seven-time All-NBA First-Team selection.

Leadership: Cousy was the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics team of the 1950s and 1960s. He played in 13 straight NBA All-Star Games and earned six NBA championship rings. He was the ultimate point guard, the engine that propelled the team.
Playing style: Cousy’s playing style was revolutionary for his time. He was flashy and had a razzle-dazzle style ahead of time. He was flashy before flashy was cool.

Bob Cousy was a versatile player who revolutionized the point guard position with his incredible ball handling, passing, scoring, leadership, and playing style. He was one of the best point guards in NBA history and paved the way for future generations of point guards.