50 Greatest Point Guards In NBA History - msn.com -- Tom Haberstroh, NBA writer, No guard in NBA history pulled down more rebounds than Kidd, who finished with more career rebounds than Willis Reed and Alonzo Mourning, among others. When you combine that with his 40-inch vertical, you have a player that gets higher (139 inches) than any point guard in the leagueeven Russell Westbrook. An All-Star in every full season that he played for the Boston Celtics, six-time NBA champion Bob Cousy was an all-around player. Either way he chases the ball until he catches it. Thats the difference between what I call work intelligence and natural intelligence. Some people just have to work to pick things up. WAMS includes scouting. When it came to size, the main flaw in his game was that he was very fast and explosive with his handles. Mr. Thats because they can spend all their energy quickly, while starters have to pace themselves. He doesnt help much, but he doesnt get a lot of help either, so its a bit of a wash. To his credit, he has the best WAM score of any point guard without a great defensive center to back him up. Jed Jacobsohn/AP Images. He could be better than he is, but its hard to blame only him. His huge hands allowed him to pass as effectively with one hand as most could with two. Also, he was disliked for flopping feigning a foul to get the ball back, yet he proved to be a key ingredient to the Spurs championship-winning formula. Additionally, the 10-time All-Star and Hall of Famer was an impressive defensive player in his own right. He may get beaten occasionally, and he might get outmuscled more frequently, but he never gets outhustled. In order to answer that, we introduce Weighted Averaged Metrics (WAM) and WAM with Scouting (WAMS), a pair of advanced defensive metrics which combine other stats and metrics, weight them so that each represents an equal relative value, and then use them all to derive a final score. To say he gets pushed around would be generous. Despite the fact that hes just 35, he has a limited amount of time left. Hell frequent the area at the top of the key, just above the free-throw line, and when a shooter starts to shoot, hell close out quickly to challenge the shot, regardless of where it is coming from. It is a testament to Jarrett Jack that he makes this list. Curry has developed into much more than a 3-point specialist. However, the other side of the ball cant be overlooked because as the saying goes: defense wins championships.. Its amusing that some people say Rose doesnt apply himself on defense. James Harden's age: stats, contract, family, dating, net worth in 2022 and more. Even when he has to go under the pick, which is most of the time, hes so fast that hes able to close the distance before the ball-handler has time to do something with it. But hes just not very strong. Marcus Smart. He uses quickness to capably guard the perimeter, but thats in large part because hes not always defending the elite point guards. That being said, Joakim Noah was frequently required to bail him out of trouble. He has no All-Defensive team accolades, because those werent introduced until the 1968-1969 season. At 64, hes big enough to guard shooting guards, as well as point guards. Does he know when to go over the pick, and when to go under it? From that, each player was scored in five different areas on a scale of 18 (best) to 22 (worst). You can almost rate Chalmers improving basketball intelligence by how many times per game he gets yelled at by his superstar teammates. His helter-skelter wizziness has him flying around the court, and sometimes its good. Top 10 Point Guards of All Time - Point Guard Rankings - Observer Desk The list of the best defensive NBA point guards for 2022-23 starts off with two of the elite perimeter defenders overall. DWS are how many wins a player produces based on his defensive ability. For example, in the clutch, with the Rockets engaged in a playoff run, the team locked up in a tight battle with the San Antonio Spurs and the score close with less than five minutes remaining, Lin consistently showed the same 90 percent effort he always shows. Being big and strong doesnt mean players automatically got higher scores, though. Kevin Durant, surprisingly, also bails out his co-star a lot. He gets a higher score here than he technically deserves because he tries so hard. His on-court coaching and leadership is probably the biggest reason the Clippers had the eighth most-efficient defense in the NBA last year. What he offers goes beyond the court. Not only is Damian Lillard one of the most exciting players in the game today, he makes a strong case as one of the best point guards in NBA history. He had absolutely no help backing him up, and that inflates his objective numbers. They average the number of points a player gives up when he is the initial defender, and this is represented by defensive points per play. Watching specifically for this, I found only three instances in 50 plays where Garnett bailed out Rondo on isolation plays, a rate which is lower than most point guards receiving help. He tends to do the right thing, but then hell do something kind of stupid that makes you wonder what hes thinkingeven if what hes thinking is right. He was an unstoppable offensive force who could score from anywhere on the court and in any way he wanted. Isiah Thomas, born on April 30, 1961, and possibly the best player ever under 6-foot-1, combined talent with fierce competitiveness. Back in the 80s and 90s as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, Clyde The Glide Drexler and Michael Jordan constantly battled for the title of best shooting guard. In order to claim that title, both players had to play defense as well. The point guard was always capable of scoring the ball at the . There are some disadvantages to this style of play. It probably tells the accurate story here. 6 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963), Career stats This is not so common anymore, as most coaches are now solely specialized in coaching and are non-players. He gets a ton of help from his teammates and isnt asked to give a lot back. As a result, hes been a member of the All-Defensive First Team four times and a member of the All-Defensive Second Team five times. In the last entry, we focused on the five best defensive NBA point guards of all time. OPER is the Opponents Player Efficiency Rating and has been tracked by 82games.com since 2008. Because he is the one who touches the basketball first on every possession, the NBAs point guard has long been considered its most vital position. Perhaps the best word to describe his defense is lollygaggy.. Its safe to say that Kidd is one of the greatest guards to ever play on the basketball floor. As a rookie, Bill Russell relied on Cousy to lead the league in assists, and he won the MVP Award for his efforts. It seems to be down to less than once a game. Triple Double and for good reason: hes fourth all-time in triple-doubles with 107. Nixon played 6 seasons with the Lakers, making the All-Star Teams in 1982 and 1982 when he posted 17.6 PPG and 17.2 PPG respectively. He secures first place in the top 10 NBA point guards of all time. Players have a difficult time getting past him. Is he an effective flopper? Last season, when Rose was healthy early on, they gave up the thirdmost, 16.3 points. He would find a way to beat his opponents, mentally and physically, and without his defensive tenacity, he wouldnt be considered the greatest of all-time. Mike Conley is exceptionally quick, virtually teleporting himself from one part of the court to another at times. Over 90 percent of the time, the ball-handler gets by him. He also is tougher than most point guards to post up. When he tries, Lowry can be a solid defensive player, but that whole when he tries qualifier is pretty significant. For eight consecutive seasons, Cousy was the leagues top assist producer, and he was also one of the finest scorers in the league. So I saddled up my workhorse, Synergy, and watched an hour or two of each of the top 15 WAM scores playing defense. Whats remarkable is how quickly he gets to the shooter and gets a hand in his face, even if its all the way to the corner three and the shooter is setting when Rose takes off. But will he listen enough to a player he was just playing against to make that shift? Damian Lillard (2013-Present) AP Images. You cant say that Westbrook doesnt try on defense, but you can say he doesnt show consistent effort on defense. Alex Caruso. Players Stats: 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Simply put, defensive win shares (DWS) are defined by how many wins a player produces based on his defensive ability. For his time with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson is most known for his role alongside Charles Barkley. Many times, the point guard is referred to by announcers, as a "coach on the floor" or a "floor general". While he is frequently noted for his ability to see the court and make the right play on offense, he doesnt get the same recognition on the defensive end. Two NBA titles and a Finals MVP award make him one of the all-time great point guards because of his ability to score from mid-range and his propensity to attack and finish at the rim. Its not uncommon to see him challenge shots with both feet on the floor. While hes able to keep himself from getting pushed around when point guards, or even shooting guards, try and post up on him, hes not able to dig through picks the way the other three are. For many of these metrics, sample size becomes crucial. Have a look! New Orleans Hornets (2005-11), Los Angeles Clippers, (2011-present), Honors Injuries robbed Rose of the opportunity to become one of the games top five point guards. Hes always looking where hes supposed to go, and moving in that direction, but he just takes his time getting there. He does all those little things that dont show up in box scores. Point guards must be able to maintain possession of the ball in crowded spaces and in traffic and be able to advance the ball quickly. In his first season, he specialized in defense and could stop almost every point guard in the league on a regular basis. His score would be much worse if it werent for help defense from Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Chris Andersen frequently coming to his aid. Conley is generously listed at 61 and 180 pounds. Its difficult to have a perfect rating system thats entirely objective, and even more difficult to have a realistic one that is purely subjective. Simply put, defensive win shares (DWS) are defined by how many wins a player produces based on his defensive ability. Defensive rebounds are generally undervalued, although its also true that all defensive rebounds arent the same. Each fails to realize that they are all right, and that the real answer is in the combination of what they all experienced. Even though he normally does, he shouldnt have to and wouldnt if he were playing smarter. Therefore, its a Theoretically Asked Questions, or TAQ. Rose is arguably the most athletic point guard in the league, though Russell Westbrook could present a challenge. He benefits tremendously from help defense as previously mentioned, but that doesnt mean he doesnt also provide help defense. His score represents the average of trying hard and not trying at all once the ball gets past him. -- Peterson, Teams Aside from the centre, having the best point guard is critical to improving your game because every play starts with him. People that just do their job dont usually pitch in and help their co-workers. Defense is one of the more oft-overlooked aspects of basketball because it isnt as pretty as what happens on the offensive end. Brandon Knight has work intelligence. When hes coming off screens, hes especially horrible, giving up 1.15 points per play. MVP (2014-15), two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, Career stats Bucks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Rockets vs. Spurs: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Hawks vs. Heat: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Pistons vs. Cavaliers: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Raptors vs. Wizards: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Russell Westbrook still wants Sixth Man of Year award from time with Lakers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Cleveland Cavaliers relied heavily on Kyrie Irving to take and hit huge shots, even when he was partnered with LeBron James. Chalmers is 62 and 190 pounds, which is about average size for a point guard. Rajon Rondo is probably the most athletic player in the league who plays most of his game below the rim. The perimeter player gets rewarded statistically for what the center did, even though he actually played shoddy defense. Damian Lillard's nuclear 71-point explosion Sunday night was jaw-dropping and somehow not all that surprising. That had the effect of distorting Pauls on/off numbers. Thats a pretty large difference, and it shows he is at his best when he can utilize his quickness, while at his worst when he has to use his strength. When going against point guards who have a respectable jump shot, that becomes problematic. An indication of this is the fact that hes had only nine dunks in his career, the last of which was over seven years ago. That said, here are the NBAs five best defensive shooting guards of all-time, based on their DWS. Between his height, lack of real effort on closing out and taking too long to figure out where hes supposed to be (if he ever figures it out all), he becomes the perfect storm for easy pickins. Top 50 Point Guards of All-Time: Magic, The Big O and Curry top the List Whether you like him or not (and I personally dont), you have to respect that he plays the game as hard as it can be played. However, when the game is on the line, he makes the right decision. He led the league in total steals this year and did so without playing a lot of gambling defense. And do they try and recover when they get beaten? Theres a running debate over the relative importance of stats versus watching. Stats tell you what happened, but you cant know why it happened unless you watch. He averaged 18.4 points, 7.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. One of the greatest rebounding guards of all time. Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena denies outrageous Egypt claims, Brooklyn Nets comeback from 28 down to stun Boston Celtics, Alex Iwobi: Nigerian star set for possible exit at English Premier League club Everton, Premier League player caught inhaling laughing gas after a night out, Real Madrid identify Premier League star as 'Plan B' if Bellingham deal fails, Top 15 most handsome football players in the world in 2023. For that reason, subjective analysis was also included. Meanwhile, we are presenting the top 10 by position. Congratulations, Brian Roberts! That deceptive length helps him nab 2.5 steals per 36 minutes and grab a ridiculous number of rebounds for a person his height. This year, without Rose, the Bulls were 23rd, at 21.0 points per game. By: HoopsHype. Gary Payton. -- Pelton, Today's children will ask, "Who was the Steph Curry before Steph Curry?" At 5ft 3in (1.60m) the shortest player in NBA history, Muggsy Bogues enjoyed 889 games in a 14-year career as a point guard. Pun intended. Point guards are expected to be vocal floor leaders. 24. Mario Chalmers lacks the speed and athleticism of most point guards in the league, and as a result, he usually gets the best seat in the arena to see various point guards blowing by on the way to the rim. Its hard to notice his effort, though, because of the consistency with which he gets destroyed. One of the best -- and quickest -- lob passers the game has ever seen. He averaged 3.9 win shares per season, totaling 75.1 DWS at the end of his 19-year career - good for 11th all-time. Players like Deron Williams, Kyrie Irving and John Wall blew by him fairly consistently. These were calculated using the raw stats available on any site carrying basic stats. He led the NBA in scoring in only his second season, 1967-68, with 27.1 points per game. There arent many point guards in the league who can match Roses pure size and strength. It would be beneficial for Westbrook to even things out and play at a consistent level throughout the game. One conundrum has always been how to account for who is guarding the best player on the other team. That said, hes 61st all-time in steals with 1392 and he had six seasons in the top-20 in steals. Kirk Hinrich wasnt the fastest player in the NBA when he came out of college. I doubt its much beyond his height. Best Defensive Rating Point Guards In NBA History | StatMuse (As an aside, in the slides, you will only see the original metric value, not the weighted number to determine the WAM. Rondo likes to do this chest bump thing where he meets the opponent past the half-court line and just bumps his chest into him repeatedly. His net defensive rating of 4.2 is an indication of both a lack of his helping and asking for help. The Big O's best statistical season came in 1961-62, when he averaged a triple-double for the entire season, a feat that has never been duplicated. All you have to do is watch him on offense to know he has all kinds of speed. NBA: Ranking top 10 point guards ever - ESPN.com That concludes the WAP portion of our programming schedule. They work harder, and they get things eventually, but not quite as well. Ranking 50 Greatest Point Guards in NBA History Photo Gallery | NBA.com Teams G League WNBA BAL NBA 2K NBA Store NBA League Pass Tickets Schedule Team News Gameday Youth Basketball Shop. I gave Paul the highest possible score here to offset the total ineptness of the coaching staff, and the frontcourt help he got last season, but he would have a high score regardless. Teams During the 1960-1961 season, the then-32-year-old Cousy racked up 6.3 DWS, the most in his career. Let me remind everyone, young and old, I played against @iamisiahthomas when he was hurt & hobbling on one leg and @iamisiahthomas still scored 25 points in one quarter in the NBA Finals! When Gibson played with the starters, the Bulls gave up 10 fewer points per 100 possessions. -- J.A. Although Wilkens is best known as a head coach, he was once an outstanding athlete. Does he make stupid fouls or smart fouls? His 48.8 DWS is 48th all-time and the fourth most by a point guard. 43 views, 0 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from BabyYo: NRG VS KOI Highlights. READ ALSO: James Harden's age: stats, contract, family, dating, net worth in 2022 and more. If hes on the court, hes moving at full speed. It is one thing to be able to recognize the player that is in a tactically advantageous position, but it is another thing entirely to be able to deliver the ball to that player. Additionally, Stockton was a fantastic shooter and defender, almost possessing no weaknesses on the floor at all. Defense is one of the more oft-overlooked aspects of basketball because it isnt as pretty as what happens on the offensive end. Players Stats: 15.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, Honors: 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Selection, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 5x All-Defensive Selection, Hall of Famer. Still, a first-rate point guard should also have a reasonably effective jump shot. Emailed daily. This implies that the point guard serves as an extension of their coach on the court, and he or she is accountable for making the right plays every night. 50 Greatest NBA Point Guards of All Time - Bleacher Report Whenever anyone imagines a point guard, chances are theyre thinking of Utah Jazz legend John Stockton. Did they get pushed around easily? If he didnt retire at 34, its interesting to see where Cousy could have landed all-time as he averaged 3.8 DWS per season. Ranking the best point guards of all time and selecting the top 10 point guards of all time are two of the most difficult things to do. Some will just hang around waiting for the play to end, but Jack keeps track of his man and also helps if its needed.