Who Is The Best Point Guard In The NBA?

Best Point Guard In The NBA: CP3

The point guard is the most important position in the game of basketball.  Without a great leader on the court, a team’s chances of success are diminished.  This notion may help to explain why NBA teams are willing to spend huge amounts of money in hopes of finding the next great point guard.  Although no team with a “great” point guard has won a NBA championship since the 1980’s when Isaiah Thomas did so with the Pistons, the position is nonetheless important.  Today the NBA has a slew of great point guards and one could argue that today’s crop of point guards is the deepest ever to play in the NBA at one time.   Some of the league’s stars at the position include: (1) Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets; (2) Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets; (3) Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls ; (4) Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics; and (5) Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  I will briefly discuss each player and hope to ultimately convince you that Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league.

Russell Westbrook had a phenomenal 2010-11 campaign.  He became an NBA all star for the first time and he amassed stellar individual statistics.  He helped his team reach the playoffs, only to lose to the eventual NBA champions, the Dallas Mavericks.  He is probably the most athletic of the top point guards, but he lacks a skill that is crucial, which is court vision.  I think the fact that he played shooting guard in college and is now adjusting to the position may be a factor in this area of his game.  He is also turnover prone, and his inability to make effective late game decisions was displayed during the 2010-11 playoffs.  At times, he seems to compete with his teammate, Kevin Durant, for the alpha dog role on the team.  Clearly, Kevin Durant is the best player of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2010-11 Stats: 21.9 ppg 1.9 stl 8.2 apg 84% FT% 33% 3p% 44% FG%

Rajon Rondo is a really good point guard.  He has played for the same team, the Boston Celtics, since he joined the professional ranks.  He is an incredible passer and has great court vision, which are important components of a great point guard.  Rondo is an accomplished defensive player and an underrated rebounder for his position.  He has been fortunate to play on a team full of future Hall of Famers and his coach seems to trust him to control the team on the court.  However, his weaknesses cannot be overlooked and keep him from being ranked higher on this list.  His biggest weakness is his inability to be an efficient and effective shooter.  He is also a liability at the free throw line.  At the end of games, teams often either foul Rondo or leave him open and double team other players on his team.  If he improves his shooting ability, he could possibly move up on this list.    

2010-11 Stats: 10.6 ppg 2.2 stl 11.2 apg 56% FT% 22% 3p% 47% FG%

Derrick Rose is the reigning 2010-11 NBA MVP.  He enjoyed a breakout year in 2010 and his leadership and skills helped lead the Chicago Bulls back to prominence in the NBA.  Derrick Rose has a rare combination of size, athleticism, skill and incredible speed.  He has been forced to become a high volume shooter because he does not have much help on the offensive end of the court.  His improved shooting touch helped him become a more complete player.  Although Rose is a top tier player, his ability to create for other players is not on par with Deron Williams and Chris Paul; therefore, I rate him as the third best point guard in the NBA.

2010-11 Stats: 25 ppg  1.0 stl 7.7 apg 86% FT% 33% 3p% 44% FG%

Deron Williams is a phenomenal point guard.  When I discuss the topic of top point guards in the NBA, his name is mentioned just as much as Chris Paul’s name.  Some of my friends believe Deron and CP3 are essentially even in terms of skill.  Williams does not have any glaring weaknesses in his game and therefore, I cannot make a strong argument as to why Williams should not be ranked as the best point guard in the league.  He combines the size of a shooting guard, which makes him a nightmare for most point guards in the league to guard.  He is an outstanding mid range and long ranger shooter.  His court vision is unmatched by any player not named Chris Paul.  Each year he manages to post great individual statistics and he even made Carlos Boozer look like an all star caliber player while he played in Utah.

2010-11 Stats: 20.1 ppg 1.2 stl 10.3 apg 85% FT% 33% 3p% 43% FG%

Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA and he has been so for a number of years.  Chris has a combination of skills unparalleled in today’s NBA.  He has been compared to the great Isaiah Thomas and for good reason.  Chris is the most efficient point guard in the league and frequently finishes in the top five in the league in PER rating. He is a very effective shooter and he understands how and when he needs to take the game over offensively. He is a phenomenal passer and he is a throwback player because he truly enjoys making plays for his teammates.  He is a great defensive player and each year he is always ranked in the top three in steals.  One character trait that cannot be underestimated is his desire and determination to win.  If you look at the success he has enjoyed with the New Orleans Hornets, it is easy to see his worth.  He made David West look like an all star caliber player and he keeps his team in the playoff hunt each year.  Last year, he was recovering from offseason knee surgery and did not seem to have his speed and explosiveness until the latter part of the season.  When healthy, there is no other player that can run a team with the precision that Paul can.  If you do not believe me, ask the Lakers who the best point guard in the NBA is.  He obliterated them in the 2010-11 playoffs, and now that he is healthy, you can expect more of the same next year.

2010-11 Stats: 15.8 ppg 2.4 stl 9.8 apg 88% FT% 39% 3p% 46% FG%

Peace