NBA
5 Greatest NBA Point Guards Ever + Fan Rankings
Create your own all-time rankings of the top 5 greatest Point Guards in NBA history from Magic Johnson to Steph Curry to Oscar Robertson
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Los Angeles Lakers PG Magic Johnson publicly announced his HIV-positive diagnosis and immediately retired from the NBA on November 7, 1991, marking what was the end of one of the best NBA careers ever so it’s a great time to look at the 5 greatest Point Guards of all time with him topping the list.
When determining the most potentially skilled and admired position in the NBA, look no further than the Point Guard. Despite typically being the smallest player on the court at any given time, PGs are given the largest responsibility. They are a coach on the floor and leaders of men. The intangibles they bring can create championship qualities and help define their team’s play style. Despite these intangibles tending to headline the importance of the position, many other attributes of Point Guards allow players to thrive as the head man on the floor.
There are elite facilitators, who create easy opportunities for others by creating space for teammates to act as primary scorers. Alternately, score-first PGs look for their own shot as the initiator of an offense. There are defensive stoppers who may lack the offensive skillset that others have, but leave their imprint on the game by locking up the opposing team’s best shot-creator. Then of course, even the hyper-athletic guards who have redefined the position through their use of size, speed, and leaping ability to act as a versatile threat on both ends of the floor.
The Point Guard position has as many different evolutions of what can be considered “elite” or “generational” as any other position in basketball. Those who reach that pinnacle of talent are the players that most franchises start with and build around on the road to building a perennial championship contender. Honorable mention includes: Isiah Thomas, CP3, Steve Nash, and Bob Cousy. It’s possible Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, or Kyrie Irving will at least warrant an honorable mention when their HOF careers conclude.
Here are the top 5 greatest NBA Point Guards of all time. Do you agree? Create your own rankings below!
– 5x NBA Champ | 3x Finals MVP | Youngest (20) Finals MVP
– 9x All-NBA 1st Team | 2x ASG MVP | 4x NBA AST leader
– Most Career APG (11.2) | 12x All-Star | 10x All-NBA
As the face of the Showtime era, Magic Johnson brought a newfound flare to the Point Guard position with his flashy passes, up-tempo play style, and electric personality as he helped the Lakers win five championships.
Magic Johnson's NBA records:
– Career APG (11.2)
– Seasons (9) of 10+ Triple-Doubles
– Consecutive GP (46) of 10+ AST
– Youngest to 5K/6K/7K/8K/9K AST
– AST in 1 GP (22) & Half (13) in NBA ASGhttps://t.co/CcYU4yHedp— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) November 21, 2022
– 2x MVP | Only unanimous MVP | 2022 FMVP | 8x All-Star
– 4x NBA Champ | 4x All-NBA 1st Team | 2022 ASG MVP
– 2x NBA Scoring Champ | Most 3PM (3,248) in NBA history
As easily the greatest shooter in NBA history, Steph Curry has become a near-unstoppable offensive force by weaponizing the three-point line in ways that have revolutionized modern basketball and redefined the Point Guard position.
Steph Curry's NBA records:
– Unanimous NBA MVP
– Career (3,117), Season, (402), & Playoff (499) 3PM
– 3PM in 1 NBA Finals (32) & career Finals (121)
– Career FT% (90.8%)
– PTS (17) in 1 Playoff OT
– Consecutive season (157) & Playoffs GP (120) of 1+ 3PMpic.twitter.com/MPNHjhw0s6— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) May 10, 2022
– 12x All-Star | 1971 NBA Champ | 1964 NBA MVP
– 9x All-NBA 1st Team | 3x ASG MVP | 6x NBA AST leader
– 1st to lead NBA in PPG & APG during 1 season | 1961 ROY
As the original Mr. Triple-Double, Oscar Robertson was one of the original stat-sheet stuffers at the Point Guard position despite playing in an era dominated by big men.
Oscar Robertson's NBA records:
– 12+ RPG & 10+ APG in 1 season
– Seasons (5) of 2,000+ PTS/600+ REB/600+ AST
– Consecutive seasons (6) of 25+ PPG/7+ RPG/7+ APG
– Rookie FTM (653)
– 1st to lead NBA in PPG & APG during 1 season
– 1st with 10+ APG in 1 seasonpic.twitter.com/PQgVlmoIbA— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) September 5, 2022
– 10x All-Star | 11x All-NBA | 9x NBA AST & 2x STL leader
– Most career AST (15,806) & STL (3,465) in NBA history
– Career AST (15,806) & AST Titles (9) | 5x All-Defense
Although he was not considered an elite scorer, John Stockton developed a legacy for himself by becoming one of the greatest facilitators and pickpockets in NBA history as he led the Utah Jazz to perennial success.
John Stockton's NBA AST records:
– Career AST (15,806)
– Career AST Titles (9)
– GP of 1+ to 27+ AST
– Seasons of 7+ to 14+ APG or 400+ to 1,100+ AST
– Top4 season AST (1,164)
– Top2 season APG (14.5)
– Top5 season GP (77) of 10+ ASTpic.twitter.com/4U7NZmxHax— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 21, 2022
– 1969 Finals MVP (Only player while losing) | 14x All-Star
– 1972 AST Leader & NBA Champ | 10x All-NBA 1st Team
– Most career NBA Finals PTS (1,679) | 5x All-Defense
The legend of Jerry West is quite literally etched in league history as his silhouette remains the logo of the NBA. West’s scoring, passing, and explosive play was a glimpse of what was to come for the sport.
Jerry West's NBA records:
– Season FTM (840)
– Playoff GP (2) of 35+ PTS & 15+ AST
– Consecutive Playoff GP (6) of 40+ PTS
– Finals PTS (1,679) & GP (55)
– 10+ AST with 45+ (x2) or 50+ PTS in 1 Finals GP
– Finals GP of 10+/20+/30+/40+/50+ PTSpic.twitter.com/Waj4cQ13Q7— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) September 21, 2022
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