Sixers: Ranking Tyrese Maxey and every starting point guard in the NBA
Darius Garland. 18. player. 156. . PG. Cleveland Cavaliers
Ranking NBA starting point guards — 18. Darius Garland, Cavaliers
In the wake of Collin Sexton’s season-ending knee injury, Darius Garland has made the All-Star leap. He’s elevating a top-5 seed to new heights offensively, with a dynamic 3-point shot, impeccable feel operating out of the pick-and-roll, and confidence that seems to increase every game. He’s supplying 19.4 points and 7.3 assists on .469/.380/.905 splits. Hard to beat for a 21-year-old.
By this time next year, Garland will probably sit a few spots higher. In fact, he could sit higher by season’s end. His growth has been exponential, and he’s carrying a massive load for a good team with unmistakable poise. It’s impressive to behold.
Malcolm Brogdon. 17. player. 100. . PG. Indiana Pacers
Ranking NBA starting point guards — 17. Malcolm Brogdon, Pacers
The Pacers continue to flounder, which is unfortunate. Malcolm Brogdon has been buried beneath a potpourri of more interesting storylines in Indy over the past couple seasons, but he remains a steady, night-in, night-out star who should one day again — hopefully sooner than later — lend his services to a winning team.
For the season, Brogdon is averaging 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on .446/.311/.855 splits. His sudden downward spike in 3-point shooting is a short-term concern, but not cause for long-term panic. Brogdon has been an elite shooter for his entire career. Expect regression to the mean.
20. . PG. Los Angeles Lakers. Russell Westbrook. 16. player
Ranking NBA starting point guards — 16. Russell Westbrook, Lakers
Oh, Russell Westbrook. Who can accurately access Westbrook’s value at this point? The discourse around him has become toxic and the Lakers spotlight has never been favorable to declining superstars. That said, the former MVP is still quite good, and the Lakers’ problems extend far beyond him.
Something of a square peg in a round hole offensively, Westbrook is still giving the Lakers 19.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists on 44.4 percent shooting. He has all the classical trappings of Russell Westbrook, and some nights are worse than others, but he’s having a good year. A solid, run-of-the-mill, star-level season. He’s not getting triple-doubles at the same rate, but Westbrook still fills the stat sheet as the No. 3 option on a burgeoning contender.