While we here at TSS enjoy covering the Philadelphia 76ers, that comes with an understanding of the league as a whole.
The Philadelphia 76ers seemed primed for a playoff push for the first time since Jrue Holiday wore the team’s red, white and blue. They’ll also be introducing a pair of No. 1 picks into the fold, with Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz both making their debuts on Oct. 18.
One of the more interesting conversations surrounding this team, though, is where their new rotation stacks up league-wide. That comes with understanding where each individual piece stacks up, then making a collective decision based on that.
With the NBA season starting TONIGHT (!!!!), we’ll begin diving into each position individually, ranking every starter from every team at their respective positions — whether they be rookies or 10-year vets.
We’ll start with point guards, where Fultz will hold down the fort for Philadelphia since he’ll be tasked with covering opposing point guards on the defensive end. We’ll also use projected long-term starters, not short-term stopgaps — which will have relevance for teams like Cleveland and San Antonio. Working our way down from No. 30 to No. 1, let’s get started:
30. Frank Ntilikina, New York Knicks
While there’s a good chance the Knicks send out Ramon Sessions as the team’s starting point guard on opening night, it feels almost inevitable that Ntilikina will end up taking on that role sooner rather than later. Although he was a strange Phil Jackson pick at the end of the Phil Jackson era, his defensive upside is something Jeff Hornacek should starting building on as soon aspossible.
New York won’t be a good team next year. Kristaps Porzingis, Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. isn’t the worst trio possible, but it’s slim pickings for a team that won’t put much else around them. They’ll also struggle mightily on the defensive end, where Ntilikina’s game is at it’s best.
Of all the lottery guards in this year’s class, Ntilikina is probably the most raw. He has a lot to figure out offensively, with limited isolation skills and a sloppy handle hurting him at times. He’s a hard worker, though, and has the physical tools needed to develop into a solid two-way piece down the line.
29. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Ranking rookies is tough, and rookie point guards typically struggle their first year. I’m as strong a Dennis Smith supporter as you’ll find, but it might take him a while to find his groove with an interesting offensive setup in Dallas.
As a ball-dominant playmaker at N.C. State, sharing the court with an isolation specialist like Harrison Barnes will be an adjustment for Smith. He’s also an iffy defender who struggled with decision making offensively, something Rick Carlisle will need to work through under the guise of a rebuilding season.
Nonetheless, he’s an insane athlete who’s more than capable of scoring in droves when his shot is falling. Combine that with his potential in the pick-and-roll, and Smith should round into one of the better talents from this year’s class in time.
28. Kris Dunn, Chicago Bulls
There’s still hope for Kris Dunn. Last season was ugly, but that’s almost always the case for rookies. If he’s able to find consistency with his shot next season, his explosiveness off the bounce and craftiness as a playmaker could find a surprisingly comfortable home as the bell cow point guard for Chicago.
This Bulls team is bad, which means they don’t have much else to build around. Lauri Markkanen will likely end up grabbing starting minutes at some point, and Zach LaVine — alongside Dunn — will be the featured offensive weapon for a team that figures to finish towards the bottom of the East.
Dunn struggled with inconsistency and turnovers at Providence, and that’s what killed him last season. With another offseason under his belt and more confidence in his offensive game entering next season, we could see him take the next step that so many were expecting in 2016.
27. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
As special as Lonzo is, there’s still a ton of work left to do. He’s an average athlete who will get shredded on the defensive end, while his ability to control the pace of games didn’t translate as well in preseason play as it did in Summer League.
Once tasked with facing real NBA athletes, it’ll take some time for Ball to adjust to the faster pace and more physical nature of the game. He’ll still drop dimes in transition and add an extra kick to the Lakers’ offense, but they aren’t surrounding him with enough talent to make that leap anything extraordinary in year one.
Ball won’t score much either, with wonky shooting mechanics and not much to speak of in isolation. Los Angeles is committed to putting the ball in his hands and letting him go to work, though, so the bulk of their offensive possessions will come down to whether or not Lonzo is capable of making the plays that got him drafted No. 2.
26. Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
A weird summer has brought Fultz’s expectations back down the earth, which might end up being a good thing. He needs to figure out his shot and get more comfortable off the ball alongside Ben Simmons, but his basketball I.Q. and general scoring polish is more than enough to make him productive in some capacity next season.
He’ll struggle with turnovers and efficiency won’t be his strong suit, but those are the issues that come with being a rookie point guard. Especially with his shoulder pain, this season will be about making adjustments that Fultz didn’t have to make as the go-to man at Washington.
Spending some time with the second unit, like Fultz will to start the season, could be a long term positive. He’s still at his best when attacking in the pick-and-roll and using his shiftiness to get into the teeth of the defense, and being given that freedom could help him regain some confidence that might have been lost earlier this summer.
25. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Murray is finally primed to take over Denver’s starting point guard duties. After a rookie season in which he flashed some serious potential, his combination of shooting and off-ball skills should allow him to flourish in a consistent role alongside Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap.
Even with defensive flaws, Murray showed All-Star potential last season. His scoring could develop into a legitimate go-to weapon for this Nuggets team in the coming years, while his playmaking skills have gone vastly underrated in systems that haven’t always embraced them.
Murray will function as a legitimate primary creator who can thrive as an off-ball weapon — versatility that meshes well with today’s trends. He and Gary Harris compliment each other nicely in the backcourt as well, giving the team enough offensive firepower to counteract their defensive shortcomings.
24. Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks
Brogdon shouldn’t have won Rookie of the Year, but he did prove himself as a legit NBA player for the foreseeable future. Now entering his second year as one of the most polished sophomores in the association, Brogdon should continue to find success as Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s safety valve on the perimeter.
Giannis will be the Bucks primary creator next season, but that makes Brogdon’s 3-point shooting all the more valuable. When you combine that with his long arms and stellar defense, there’s a reason he found such impressive stability in his first year as a pro.
People tend to shy away from older rookies, but Brogdon — who starts his second season at 24 years of age — is an excellent example of the benefits that come with collegiate experience. He won’t be a star, but he’ll be a steadfast contributor on a competitive team for the next 10 years.
23. Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers
Collison flew well under the radar in Sacramento last season, putting up 13.2 points and 4.6 assists per game while shooting a career-high 41.7 percent from deep. The speedster still has it offensively, and he could quickly emerge as one of the Pacers’ more reliable offensive pieces.
In an offense that lacks some degree of spacing with Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner, Collison’s ability to shoot at a high clip alongside Bojaon Bogdanovic will be important. He’ll also be tasked with splitting up ball handling duties with Oladipo, something that may give him more opportunities to work off the ball.
This is a weird Pacers team in general, so projecting Collison’s production is tough. He’s someone who has always produced well above the level of recognition he gets, though, and he should continue to do that in a potentially-expanded role next season.
22. Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons
Jackson has the ability to be an above-average NBA point guard. He showed flashes as Russell Westbrook‘s backup in OKC before showing out in his first season in Detroit, but fell off considerably last year — with injuries playing a part in that.
There were times where Jackson was legitimately outplayed by Ish Smith, which leaves some serious concerns entering next season. If he isn’t able to regain his form, both as a shooter and a finisher, there’s a chance that his tenure in Detroit comes to an end sooner rather than later.
With an excellent floater game and all the tools needed to be a reliable second or third option scorer, it comes down to whether or not Jackson can piece things together this year. He needs to stay healthy, but also improve his decision making and find a better understanding of what his role is in Stan Van Gundy’s offense.
21. Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic
Payton is still a non-shooter, which means he can only go so high in these rankings, but his improvements last season were impressive nonetheless. He’s an excellent defender who should continue to grow on that side of the ball, and had an odd knack for going on random triple-double spurts midway through the season.
Even without shooting, Payton can still score the ball. He’s quick off the bounce with a lot of creativity around the basket, which coincides nicely with his vision as a passer. He’s putting up 12.8 points and 6.5 assists per game at 23 years of age. That’s a nice starting point for a Magic team that’s still in the midst of a lengthy and somewhat mishandled rebuild.
As Orlando continues to search for it’s primary option on offense, Payton should act as it’s main catalyst for the foreseeable future. He causes some spacing issues, but knows how to make things happen, whether that be in transition, driving the lane or as a passer. He’s also becoming one of the better defensive point guards league-wide, which in and of itself has tremendous value.
20. Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Clippers
Beverley was one of several beneficiaries in the Houston Rockets’ offense last season, spotting up for countless threes as James Harden‘s sidekick in the backcourt. While he played as more of a two-guard last season, a change of scenery in Los Angeles could give Beverley his biggest role to date.
A 38.2 percent shooter from deep and constant pest on the defensive end, Beverley’s presence should find a nice home in this Clippers rotation. He’ll be complimented by an elite defensive big in DeAndre Jordan, while his shooting can still be maximized by players like Blake Griffin, Milos Teodosic and Austin Rivers — all of whom he’ll be sharing the court with at times.
The Clippers lost a star this offseason, but they replaced him with an impressive bit of depth in the backcourt. Beverley will be one of the offense’s bigger focal points aside from Griffin, and that’s an exicting progression for somebody who has been more of a niche-based player for most of his career.
19. Rajon Rondo, New Orleans Pelicans
The general disdain for Rondo is irritating. He had one bad run in Dallas, and that has managed to overshadow all the good he’s done elsewhere in the league. He garnered consistent praise from his younger teammates in Chicago last season, and Alvin Gentry is already lauding him as one of the smartest individuals he’s ever coached.
Rondo will miss the first four-to-six weeks of next season with a sports hernia, which means Jrue Holiday will take on the role of primary creator until then. Once Rondo’s back, though, the two are expected to share the backcourt, which is an odd mix considering the team’s need for spacing alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis.
With that said, Rondo’s instincts as a passer allow him to impact the game without scoring or spacing the floor at an advanced rate. He’ll be able to manipulate plays and set up Boogie and Davis in ways Holiday hasn’t, all while providing a valuable voice to a locker room that could be in desperate need of some guidance if things start to go south.
18. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Parker is reportedly ahead of schedule with his quad rehab, meaning the Spurs could have him back on the court as soon as next month. Even though he’s clearly on the back end of his career, Parker’s quick twitch playmaking is still a valuable cog on a perennial playoff team in the ever-challenging Western Conference.
On a more concerning note, Parker has seen his scoring drop in four consecutive seasons. He also bottomed out at 33.3 percent from deep last year, a sharp decline from the 41.5 percent clip he had during the 2015-16 season. That isn’t a great trend for someone who’s now 35 years old, which could mean Parker takes a dip in these rankings by the end of next season.
Part of this ranking is out of respect, though, and he’s still capable of producing with the occasional scoring burst and plenty of smarts as a playmaker. Being reliable for a potential top-four team is enough to hold onto No. 18.
17. Ricky Rubio, Utah Jazz
Rubio’s lack of a jumper is all that’s holding him back here. He’s an elite playmaker who has proven himself to be one of the better defensive point guards in the league, something that could jibe well with Quin Snyder’s system.
The Jazz’s offense will be in an interesting postion moving forward. The loss of Gordon Hayward leaves them without a traditional No. 1 option, meaning Rudy Gobert pick-and-rolls and a lot more Rodney Hood could be on the docket next season. Rubio’s ability to create open looks for less-than-ideal offensive talent will be imperative if Utah wants to make a run at the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
Rubio’s limitations as a scorer allow defenses to game plan around his deficiency, but the rest of his game is too good to fall any further than this. After an odd few years in Minnesota, perhaps a move to Utah can unlock the his next level of productivity.
16. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
Of all the players who changed teams this summer, D’Angelo Russell might’ve needed it the most. After being publicly ostracized by Magic Johnson and heavily srutinized under the spotlight that comes with playing for the Lakers, a fresh start in Brooklyn could be what unlocks the star potential we all know he has.
For all the slack Russell has taken, he averaged 15.6 points per game while maintaining his efficiency after increased usage last season. That was only his second season in the league, all while playing on a subpar team that didn’t surround him with much in terms of reliable talent.
He has the physical tools and scoring prowess of somebody who could become a reliable go-to option in time, and Brooklyn’s system will work wonders in terms of finding him open looks and getting him into his comfort zone offensively. The Nets will also look to run teams out of the gym, putting Russell and his playmaking in transition — where he’ll likely be at his best.
15. Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks
Schroder returns to the states after a strong EuroBasket run and will now take the helm for a Hawks team that has stripped down their roster entirely. Kent Bazemore might be the team’s second-leading score, which means the talent surrounding Schroder is less than ideal.
The coaching staff in Atlanta has stressed pace this offseason, and that’s the only weapon the Hawks can rely on next season. They don’t have the shooting or the raw firepower needed outscore teams in the halfcourt setting, which means their best bet offensively is to get into the open court and run in transition as much as possible.
Turnovers and decision making issues are still a problem for Dennis, but he has improved his game consistently over the past few seasons. He’s excellent at slithering his way through traffic and drawing contact around the basket, while both his playmaking ans shooting have taken massive steps forward. The next step is to eclipse that league average mark from deep, something he was close to doing with 34 percent last year.
14. George Hill, Sacramento Kings
As one of the more underrated starting point guards in the NBA, Hill made the surprise decision to sign with Sacramento this offseason. The Kings, despite their rebuilding phase, actually managed to add a handful of veterans to the roster, and should deploy Hill as their primary ball handler come opening night.
Given the current make up of Sacramento’s roster, there’s a real chance that Hill takes on the role of No. 1 option when it comes to scoring. He tallied a career-high 16.9 points per contest as Utah’s second-fiddle last season, and will be the lone veteran presence in an otherwise young and inexperienced backcourt.
Hill’s shooting is also a plus. He totaled 40.3 percent from deep last season, and will join a pair of capable young shooters in Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic in Dave Joerger’s (projected) starting group. Add his defensive resume to that, and it’s tough to argue against a high ranking for the 31-year-old.
13. Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves
Teague is coming off a quiet-yet-productive season in Indiana, putting up 15.3 points and 7.8 assists per game in his lone season alongside Paul George. Now joining up with Minnesota’s new power trio, Teague could prove to be a surprisingly valuable addition once the season gets underway.
He’s no longer the Jeff Teague that got him an All-Star spot during Atlanta’s historic 2014-15 season, but many of those same attributes are still present. He’s a smart, heady playmaker who makes smart decisions en route to the basket and shows off some craft when finishing at the rim.
Aside from being one of the league’s more underrated distributors, Teague is also a capable spot-up shooter — something that could be useful when working off of players like Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Tonws. He’ll be the fourth fiddle on a deep roster, but Teague should be a solid contributor all season long.
12. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns
Bledsoe got the short end of the stick last season, being ruled out as a healthy scratch towards the end of the year in favor of player development. As somebody who, as long as he’s in Phoenix, will be relied on as one of the team’s go-to offensive options, expect him to bounce back at the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
When Bledsoe was on the floor last season, he was one of only a few positives for this Suns team. He totaled 21.1 points per game, while also dishing out 6.3 assists — both of which are career highs. His unique combination of strength and explosiveness make him a difficult cover almost regardless of who’s matched up with him, even with a below-average 3-point shot.
The man dubbed mini-LeBron should continue to chug along as one of the league’s most wasted and under-appreciated talents. This is a Suns team that doesn’t need Bledsoe long term, and hasn’t necessarily utilized him in the best of ways over the last couple of years. He’s the casualty of a backcourt logjam that turned into a prolonged issue for Phoenix’s front office.
11. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat
Dragic, accompanied by a draft-bound Luka Doncic, led the Slovenian National Team to an unexpected EuroBasket win this summer, potentially capping off a long and successful international career for the Miami point guard. He now returns to the States as one of the East’s more reliable presences on the perimeter, giving Miami both a leading scorer and an elite playmaker.
What Dragic lacks in raw athleticism, he makes up for with basketball I.Q. He knows how to find his spots on the floor, working his way into open pockets from mid-range while boasting excellent court vision in pick-and-roll scenarios. He put up 20.3 points per game last season, and did so while averaging 40.5 percent from deep — his highest clip since the 2013-14 season in Phoenix.
As someone who combines subtle flash with excellent instincts on the offensive end, you can’t help but appreciate Dragic’s work. His defense is an uninspiring afterthought at times, but that’s not enough to dock him further than No. 11.
10. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
Last year was a career year for Walker, averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game while shooting 39.9 percent from deep. As a high-volume scorer, that kind of boost in efficiency is something Walker will look to sustain next season. With Nic Batum now sidelined, he’ll be looking to do so with less established pieces on the perimeter as well.
The Hornets will have the benefit on a weak Eastern Conference, where Walker alone could be enough to launch them into the playoff conversation. He projects once again as a dynamic three-level scorer, while his partnership with Dwight Howard could yield some promising results if the latter is willing to accept a more defined role than he has in the past.
Walker isn’t a great defender, but his ability to shoulder such a significant load on offense slides him into the top 10 entering next season. He’s more well-rounded that he has been in years past, and looks primed to make yet another push for the All-Star game.
9. Mike Conley Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Conley remains one of the better defensive stoppers at his position, which provides the basis for his placement at No. 9. He doesn’t have the same size and length that teams and scouts preach nowadays, but he has excellent instincts and quick hands that allow him to force steals while grilling folks in isolation.
He combines that defensive presence with an increasingly productive offensive repertoire as well, averaging 20.5 points per game while shooting 40.8 percent from deep last season. He doesn’t do anything overly flashy, but works smoothly in the pick-and-roll with Marc Gasol and adds to his scoring with a handful of impressive dimes each night.
With the Grizzlies’ core starting fall apart, Conley will be leaned on as heavily as ever next season. The talent around him is lacking, which means the playoffs are likely out of the picture, but we’ll get a sense for how his efficiency holds up with a greater workload.
8. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
As one of the East’s more prominant offensive weapons over the past few seasons, Lowry seems primed for yet another strong campaign. He reached career highs in both scoring and efficiency last year, and also tallied seven assists per game, operating as the primary source of ball movement for an offense that relies heavily on isolation play.
With DeMar DeRozan sucking up a lot of Toronto’s possessions in isolation, Lowry’s importance can’t be understated. He brings much needed balance to an offense that continues to thrive in the regular season, which goes a long way in establishing him as one of the league’s most impactful players at this position.
The only knocks on Lowry come defensively — where he’s average — and in the postseason, where his production drops off on a near-annual basis. Neither him nor the Raptors as a whole have found the success they wanted after the regular season over the past few seasons, and that’s likely something Lowry is committed to changing in 2018.
7. Isaiah Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers
Lost is the hysteria surrounding the Celtics/Cavaliers point guard swap is the fact that Isaiah Thomas finished fifth in MVP voting last season. The 5-foot-9 dynamo put up 28.9 points per game while propelling the Celtics to the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Acting like the Cavs made any significant downgrades in the short term is foolish.
While Thomas is a revolving door on defense, his offense is more than enough to counteract that. He’s an elite 3-point shooter with a quick first step and ample craftiness when inside the arc. He has a way of getting off shots from angles somebody his size shouldn’t be able to find, and it makes for thorough entertainment whenever he’s in a groove.
There’s a good chance we don’t see Thomas until January, which means the adjustment period could be long and arduous. Once he’s comfortable playing alongside LeBron James, though, he should remind critics (and the Celtics) just how special his talent is.
6. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Aside from being the league’s most talented rapper, Lillard has also established himself among the point guard elite. He’s still a mediocre defender, but has shown some legit growth in that respect along with his continued success on the offensive end.
Last season marked a career-high in scoring for Lillard, as he put up 27 points per game en route to a surprise playoff push late in the season. While the West has gotten substantially better since then, he provides plenty of firepower alongside C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic to make that a possibility once more.
As someone who has made himself a leader in the locker room ever since his rookie season, Lillard should continue his run as one of the West’s most explosive offensive threats. His hype has died down a bit in recently, but his game still warrants a high placement on this lest.
5. Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Now serving as the alpha male in Boston, Irving will look to elevate his game to the next level under the guidance of Brad Stevens’ wizardry. It may take some time for this new-look Celtics squad to gel, but Irving has already made it known that he’s an absolute killer in isolation — whether it be pulling up from deep or breaking down defenders off the dribble.
Irving is a defensive liability, and that’s arguably the only thing holding him back from moving even higher on this list. His flashy ball skills and impressive combination of both volume and efficiency have always impressed as LeBron’s dance partner, but could take another step forward with the offense now centered around him.
This Thomas/Lillard/Irving group, in many ways, highlights the importance of defense. All three could find themselves ranking higher up if their defense wasn’t a constant concern. Irving especially, as he represents one of the most diversely talented scorers in this game
4. Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
CP3 now enters an offense that, in many ways, is tailored to his skill set. We’ll see how he and James Harden coexist early on, but Mike D’Antoni‘s emphasis on shooting should leave plenty of room for Paul to carve up defenses from the inside.
Even as an undersized, aging point guard, there’s almost no argument against putting CP3 in the top four. He put up 18.1 points and 9.2 assists per game, all while continuing his run as one of the league’s better defensive point guards. He makes up for that size difference with quick hands and stellar instincts, as well as one of the more locked-in approaches in the NBA.
With four shooters (and James freaking Harden) alongside him, Paul could see his numbers jump up even further next season — especially in the assist category. He’s entering his 13th season at age 32, but he hasn’t shown any signs of dropping off yet.
3. John Wall, Washington Wizards
Even has a 32.7 percent shooter from deep, Wall claimed the title of best point guard in the Eastern Conference last season. His defense continues to be an underrated asset, while 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game in more than enough to earn him a top three spot.
Wall makes up for his iffy shooting with speed, gunning through holes in halfcourt defenses and breaking things open in a way no other point guard can when operating in transition. He’s virtually impossible to match stride-for-stride at full speed, and that gives him a unique advantage as a playmaker — where he can exploit angles slower guards can’t.
The Wizards seem to be treading in the same place in the Eastern Conference standings, and the long-term extension of Otto Porter, in a way, should continue that. They’ll have trouble making the jump to Cleveland or Boston’s level, but they’re at least in the third or fourth seed discussion as long as Wall is at the helm.
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
There’s certainly an argument for slotting Westbrook first, but the reigning MVP’s lack of defensive hustle and occasional efficiency issues will keep him in the No. 2 spot. He did average a triple-double, though, which in and of itself makes him one of the more historically productive players we’ll see in this generation.
Even with the league’s highest usage rate and an offense that almost always boiled down to Russ making a play, it’s tough to fathom any point guard averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. That’s without mentioning a career-high 34.3 percent clip from deep.
Westbrook’s athleticism lays the groundwork for just about everything he does. He bullies his way through contact around the rim, while his explosiveness allows him to get by defenders in almost any scenario. He’s able to leverage that explosiveness to his advantage as a playmaker as well, drawing in defenders before making a dish on the move.
Paul George and Carmelo Anthony may knock his statistical output down a bit, but another historic — and perhaps MVP-caliber — season seems likely for the OKC bell cow.
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
No point guard affects an offense like Steph Curry does. His shooting presence is something no defense knows how to contain, which opens up driving lanes aplenty for a Warriors team that lives off of ball and player movement.
Even in a so-called down year as Kevin Durant‘s accompaniment, Curry put up 25.3 points and 6.6 assists per game on 41.1 percent shooting from deep. He bends defenses to their breaking point, and has the creativity off the bounce needed to balance out that deep threat.
Another facet of Curry’s game that often gets overlooked is defense. He’s not great in isolation scenarios, but his instincts off the ball make him more than serviceable on that end — something players like Westbrook, Irving and Lillard haven’t been in recent years.
Next: Top 30 players in Sixers franchise history
The former two-time MVP is legitimately among the best point guards we’ve ever seen, and his prolonged stint of dominance should continue for at least a few more years. He’s somebody who, in many ways, sparked the league’s current shift towards perimeter-oriented play, and anybody who changed the landscape of NBA basketball deserves a spot atop this list.