Ranking the Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Star Ben Simmons among other point guards in the NBA.
Before the start of this season, head coach Doc Rivers didn’t call Ben Simmons the Philadelphia 76ers starting point guard, but for all intents and purposes, Simmons is, per Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice. While I personally want to see him shift to the power forward position, it hasn’t officially happened yet.
With that in mind, it feels like a good time to see where Ben Simmons ranks among the other starting point guards in the NBA this season. Besides where ranks stats wise among all point guards, this article will also be making rankings from 30-1 of the starting point guards in the NBA. If a player isn’t playing due to a long term injury, their backup will be ranked in his place.
Simmons ranks in terms of stats
*All stat ranking comes from ESPN and only includes qualified players’ stats on January 22, 2021.
Simmons’ 12.2 points per game are ranked 23rd among playmakers. He’s fourth in field goal
“These rankings are based on overall skill and who exactly fits the mold of a modern-day point guard.”
percentage (49.6), only behind Collin Sexton (who is really a shooting guard), Monte Morris, and Kyrie Irving. He’s not even in the top-35 of point guards in terms of 3-point percentage as he’s only made 20.0 percent of those shots. Simmons is 29th in free throw percentage at 64.2 percent.
Defensively, Simmons is one of the best point guards. He’s second in rebounds at 9.2 with only Luka Doncic averaging more. His 1.5 steals per game has him tied for the sixth highest average in the league. He’s tied for first in blocks per game with Patrick Beverley with 0.9 per game.
Averaging 8.0 assists per game has Simmons ranked fourth in the NBA only behind Doncic, Trae Young, and Chris Paul. Sadly, Simmons is tied with Young with the second highest turnovers per game average at 4.1 per game in the NBA. Simmons is third in double-doubles among point guards and second in triple-doubles.
While these stats are important and insightful, it doesn’t necessarily paint a good picture of exact ranks among starting point guard in the NBA. These rankings are based on overall skill and who exactly fits the mold of a modern-day point guard.
30. Delon Wright
After the injury to Killian Hayes, it’s surprising that Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey went to Delon Wright versus veteran Derrick Rose. Wright is a solid defender at the point guard position but does provide much in terms of playmaking or scoring.
29. Cole Anthony
If Markelle Fultz hadn’t torn his ACL, the Orlando Magic probably would have had a point guard higher in these rankings. However, don’t discount Cole Anthony. The rookie point guard has shown flashes of being a legit shot-creator in this league. The rest of his game just needs to develop moving forward.
28. Elfrid Payton
It can be argued that Elfrid Payton isn’t even the best point guard on the New York Knicks with Immanuel Quickley showing flashes as a rookie. Still, Payton is a solid playmaker, rebounder, finisher, and defender for his position. He also provides a playoff starving Knicks teams a veteran leader.
27. Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverly is still one of the best defenders at the point guard position. He’s also a pretty good 3-point shooter in the NBA, but that’s about all he provides at the point guard position. He’s the type of point guard that it be good to have another elite playmaker on the floor with him to run the offense, but the Los Angeles Clippers still choose to start him.
26. Tyler Herro
Tyler Herro is probably better as a player overall than a few players ahead of him in these rankings. However, these are point guard rankings and the Miami Heat are trying to morph the sharpshooter into a point guard. It hasn’t gone over well for the second year player thus far so that is why he’s 26th in these rankings.
25. Dennis Schroder
If Dennis Schroder wasn’t playing with two dynamic playmakers in LeBron James and Marc Gasol, he’d probably have better stats than he does to start the season. He’s also having a down shooting year. However, he’s a point guard on a contending team in the Los Angeles Lakers and he’s bound to improve his shooting as the season progresses.
24. Lonzo Ball
I feel bad for Lonzo Ball. He’s been stuck sharing the primary playmaking duties in two of his four seasons. On top of that, the New Orleans Pelicans don’t have great spacing this year with the addition of Eric Bledsoe. When given space and more control over the offense, Ball is a top-20 point guard.
23. Devonte’ Graham
After having a breakout season last year, Devonte Graham has had a rough season shooting the ball. It may have to do with the fact he’s having to share the ball with Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball this year. Still, he’s a solid player to run a team’s offense and it’s likely his shooting percentages will improve over time. In the long haul, he might be better coming off the bench for the Charlotte Hornets.
22. Dejounte Murray
Despite having a rough start shooting the ball from downtown, Dejounte Murray looks to be the point guard of the future for the San Antonio Spurs. He’s a great defender, rebounder, and solid playmaker at the point guard position. If he can improve his 3-point shot, he could become a top-15 point guard.
21. Russell Westbrook
It’s sad to see the beginning of the end for Russell as truly one of the great point guards. He can still average around a triple-double, but his offensive game and athleticism are starting to deteriorate rather quickly. Still, it’s hard to deny how he impacts the game with his rebounding and playmaking, but whether or not he can be a winning player at this stage of his career is yet to be seen.
20. Kemba Walker
There’s no doubt in my mind as the season progresses Kemba Walker will become a top-12 point guard in the NBA. He’s just missed almost all of the beginning of the year due to injury. Assuming he gets healthy, there’s no reason to believe the Boston’s Celtics’ All-Star point guard won’t return to form.
19. Darius Garland
Despite having a rough rookie season shooting the ball, Darius Garland is starting to show why he was worthy of being selected as a lottery pick. The Cleveland Cavaliers have a dangerous backcourt with him and Sexton. Health, defense, and turnovers are the only question marks he needs to answer, but the future is bright for Garland.
18. Coby White
Coby White is showing flashes of legit scoring talent in his second year. However, there are still areas of improvement for him. Primarily as a playmaker, in terms of his efficiency, and as a defender. However, he’s young, and like with Garland, he has a pretty high ceiling moving forward.
17. John Wall
Veteran John Wall is currently injured. However, when he did play, the point guard looked mostly like himself, with the exception of his assists average not being quite as high as it usually is. Health and 3-point shooting are the areas Wall has always struggled in and appears to be the same issues moving forward.
16. D’Angelo Russell
The former All-Star is putting up impressive numbers and outside of defense, doesn’t have many holes in his game. Still, he’s on one of the two worst teams in the NBA, and the fact he isn’t helping the Minnesota Timberwolves win games is a big knock against the point guard.
15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Besides having the longest name among starting point guard in the NBA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is showing legit flashes of being an All-Star this year. If the Oklahoma City Thunder had a better team build around him, he’d probably be in the conversation for an All-Star selection this year.
14. Mike Conley
After a rough transition year to a new team in the Utah Jazz last season, Mike Conley is looking like the savvy point guard that everyone has known for years. He’s not going to be the flashiest with his stats, but he’s efficient and can win games, which is very important.
13. Jamal Murray
When dialed in, Jamal Murray can be a top-7 point guard in the NBA, however, he’s not quite there yet. He’s averaging a career high in points, but he’s never been a primary playmaker and probably never would be. On most other team’s he’d probably be a shooting guard. Still can’t deny he can be special scoring the ball.
12. De’Aaron Fox
It’s a legit argument to be made that De’Aaron Fox is one of the quickest point guards in the NBA. He’s a solid playmaker, strong finisher, and defender. However, he hasn’t had a consistent outside shot, which has held him and the Sacramento Kings back from taking the next step.
11. Ja Morant
Ja Morant is one of the more athletic point guards in the league now with the decline of Russell Westbrook. He makes winning players on both sides of the ball. If he can get his 3-point shot to fall he’s easily a top-5 point guard in the future.
10. Jrue Holiday
A former member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jrue Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Jrue Holiday can play on and off the ball at a high level, run an offense, and can be clutch on both sides of the ball at the end of games. He will be key if the Milwaukee Bucks will win a championship this year
9. Trae Young
It’s fair to say that Trae Young has the potential to be one of the best offensive players within the next few seasons. Yet he’s started the season off cold from the floor and is a liability defensive. Assuming he gets out of his shooting slump, an argument can be made he’s a top-5 point guard.
8. Kyle Lowry
Despite being 34 years old, Kyle Lowry is still one of the best point guards in the NBA. Outside of his veteran leadership and championship swagger, Lowry is still one of the best two-way point guards. He can still everything a point guard needs to do at a high level. The only thing that can stop Lowry now is time as he’s at the end of his prime. Hopefully, the Sixers can scoop him up before his prime is spent with the Toronto Raptors.
7. Ben Simmons
Having Simmons as seventh in the point guard rankings seems appropriate. He’s regressed as a scoring threat this year and his decision making hasn’t been as good as can been seen by the career-high in his turnovers per game. However, there’s no denying that outside of shooting the ball, Simmons can virtually do everything else on the court at an elite level for the 76ers.
6. Malcolm Brogdon
The Indiana Pacers have a legit All-Star candidate in Malcolm Brogdon. He’s having a career year scoring and isn’t sacrificing any of his efficiency. There’s little left to want when it comes to Brogdon’s game, outside of elite athleticism.
5. Kyrie Irving
Point guard Kyrie Irving isn’t a phenomenal playmaker, but he’s an elite shot maker and has the best ball-handling skills in the league. He’s probably going to have a play third fiddle to Kevin Durant and James Harden if the Brooklyn Nets are going to win a championship.
4. Chris Paul
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Chris Paul, AKA “point god” is going to go down as one of the best point guards in NBA history. Paul is past his prime, he’s still elite and is helping the Phoenix Suns team make a playoff push with the core of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Despite being 35 years old, he’s making a strong case for an 11th All-Star appearance
3. Luka Doncic
Like, Simmons, Luka Doncic is an oversized point guard. Yet, he’s one of the best. He’s averaging a near triple-double like Westbrook and Simmons, the only difference is he can shoot the lights out. No, he’s not a great defender, but he’s making a strong case for league MVP this year.
2. Stephen Curry
The Golden State Warriors struck gold when they drafted Stephen Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft. He’s been the best shooter in NBA history and a future Hall of Famer. Curry is still in his prime and despite not having Klay Thompson this season as running mate, he’s still one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA.
1. Damian Lillard
That leaves the Portland Trail Blazers with the best point guard in basketball with Damian Lilliard. Lilliard is nearly as dangerous as a shooter as Curry, but a better playmaker and a slightly better defender. It’s close between the two, but I give Lillard the nod as he’s a better overall playmaker than Curry, and creating for others is the main job of a point guard.
The Philadelphia 76ers are probably playing Simmons out of position as a point guard still, he’s a top-10 player at the position despite his deficiencies.