Ranking NBA starting point guards — 9. LaMelo Ball, Hornets
LaMelo Ball’s sophomore surge has come as a surprise to absolutely no one. Of course he looks great, and of course he’s the future of Charlotte’s franchise. With the pieces around him beginning to take shape, the Hornets have a lot to look forward to — with a star guard whose best trait is his ability to elevate teammates.
With a 6-foot-7 frame, confidence cultivated since childhood, and preternatural playmaking instincts, Ball is pretty much the complete package. He’s averaging 19.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists. The defense will come around too. He’s too smart and too rangy.
Ranking NBA starting point guards — 8. Jrue Holiday, Bucks
Jrue Holiday arrived in Milwaukee and promptly won a championship. There are several factors beyond that in Milwaukee’s title run, but there’s no doubt Holiday was helpful. He’s one of the most singularly impactful defenders in the NBA, with multi-positional versatility and unmatched veracity at the point of attack.
He’s not half bad on offense either. Holiday isn’t the flashiest player, but he’s averaging 18.4 points and 6.7 assists on .499/.382/.709 splits. That efficiency, especially from deep, has been a pleasant surprise. He’s one of the NBA’s best passers, and when he’s on (which has been most of this season), he’s pretty damn deadly getting to his spots.
Ranking NBA starting point guards — 7. Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Ja Morant has made the leap — from good to great, from not All-Star to All-Star, from leader of a play-in team to leader of a potential championship team. The Grizzlies are one of the NBA’s hottest teams, and while the entire roster deserves credit, it is Morant’s sudden ascent that has put Memphis on the map.
He’s averaging 24.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on .489/.379/.767 splits. Morant has always been able to attack the rim at will. Now, he has mixed his blinding speed and advanced playmaking instincts with a consistent 3-point shot and a more varied in-between game. He’s special, and the Grizzlies are here to stay in the Western Conference playoff picture.