Sixers: Ranking Tyrese Maxey and every starting point guard in the NBA

Ranking NBA starting point guards — 12. Kyle Lowry, Heat

Kyle Lowry’s arrival has bolstered Miami’s standing as a legitimate title contender. The seamlessness of his contributions come as no surprise. Lowry has long been able to blend styles and adopt his role depending on the teammates around him. With deep 3-point range, boundless cleverness, and utility both on and off the ball, Lowry is the perfect No. 3 for a Heat team that can beat you any number of ways.

For the season, Lowry is averaging 13.7 points and 8.4 assists (a number he has only reached once before in his career). The efficiency hasn’t been what we’ve accustomed to, but as he gets more comfortable in Miami and the Heat get healthier, Lowry should see his shooting numbers balance out.

Ranking NBA starting point guards — 11. Jamal Murray, Nuggets

We have not seen Jamal Murray in a while, and there’s no telling how exactly he will look post-ACL tear. That said, before the injury was Murray’s breakout. He was close to joining the ranks of the NBA’s best guards, with a stellar run in the Bubble serving to elevate his legend league-wide. He’s clutch, and he can trade isolation buckets with just about anyone.

Murray averaged 21.2 points and 4.8 assists in 48 games last season, and were it not for his injury, Denver might have had a real chance to make noise in the playoffs. He’s somewhat unique for the “point guard” position — Nikola Jokic is, for all intents and purposes, Denver’s point guard — but even so, Murray has his moments as a playmaker.

Ranking NBA starting point guards — 10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

OKC is intentionally bad, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a bight beacon of hope for the future. After a successful stretch as Chris Paul’s No. 2, Gilgeous-Alexander has now acquiesced brilliantly to the role of pack leader. He can get his own shot from anywhere on the court, using odd, arrhythmic handles and a wiry 6-foot-6 frame to evade defenders.

Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the truly slick lead ball-handlers in the NBA. He’s hard to stay in front of, even if he lacks the explosive first step of more traditional lead guards. For the season, he’s averaging 22.6 points and 5.2 assists on .415/.279/.825 splits. The efficiency is a minor concern, but one has to factor his role (and the quality of his teammates) into the equation.