Listing the top five point guards in the NBA can be very tough considering all the elite talent at the position. Making my top five list was difficult considering all the factors and variables I put into creating this list. The factors I considered were how well they performed in the regular season/post season and how I think they will do during next season. So, lets begin.
The reigning MVP was certainly deserving of the number one spot on my list. Curry averaged 23.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 8.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, and shot 49% from the floor, 44% from 3, and a league best 91% from the charity stripe. In the post season, Curry averaged his career high 28.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, on 46% FG, 42% 3P, and 85% FT. He led the Golden State Warriors to a franchise best 67 wins and a NBA Championship. Steph Curry deserves to be ranked as the best point guard in the NBA.
Russell Westbrook had his best season in the NBA and one of the best statistical seasons ever for a point guard. Westbrook led the league in scoring with 28.1 and grabbed 7.3 rebounds, and dished out 8.6 assists while playing solid defense. Russ had an insane streak of triple doubles this year. Westbrook became the first player since Michael Jordan to have 4 consecutive triple doubles. Westbrook in March averaged 31.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 10.3 assist which hasn’t been accomplished since Oscar Robertson. Westbrook’s historic play earned him the 2nd spot and he will look to back up his career season next year.
3. Chris Paul
CP3 is as consistent as any player in the NBA. CP3 runs the point guard position as well as anyone and had a great season last year. Paul averaged 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and led the league in assists with 10.1 while shooting 49% from the field, 40% from 3, and 90% from the free throw line. Everyone believed the Clippers and CP3 would finish off the Rockets and Paul would enjoy his first ever Conference Finals. But, the Clippers choked away a 3-1 lead and lost in 7 games. CP3 wasn’t to blame though, being as he missed the first 2 games and averaged 22 – 4 – 10 in the last 5 games. Chris Paul will have another great season next year and is my 3rd best point guard in the NBA.
4. John Wall
Wall had a fantastic year last season. One of his biggest improvements was his shooting. Wall hasn’t been a great jump shooter since he’s been in the league. This season he improved by shooting 40% from 3-10 feet and 42% from 10-16 feet. Wall averaged 17.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 10.0 APG and played great defense while shooting 45% from the floor. In the playoffs he raised his game as he dished out a career high 11.9 assist per game. He led the Wizards to the Conference Semi-finals but injured his wrist severely and was only able to play 3 games. Hawks defeated the Wizards in 6 games but Wall played well in the 3 games that he played. Expect Wall to improve his shooting even more next season and continue to drop dimes and led the Wizards back to the playoffs.
5. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie was excellent during the regular season and post season. In the regular season he dropped his career high 57 points on the defending champions, Spurs, and torched Damian Lillard and the Blazers for 55. Everyone was nervous to see how Kyrie would play during the playoffs. He didn’t disappoint as he averaged 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, and shot a red-hot 45% from downtown. Kyrie was injured during the first game of the NBA Finals and was ruled out the rest of the series. In the 1 game he did play in, he produced a good stat line scoring 23 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 6 assist, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. Kyrie did it all that game and it was a shame to see him go down. The 22-year-old will only get better from here and expect him to make some noise during next season.
The Heat Check Magazine 