Ranking the top 30 point guards in the NBA
With the offseason underway, it’s time to re-evaluate the best NBA players at every position. We will start with point guard, where several of the league’s marquee names reside. From the next wave of All-Stars to legitimate first ballot Hall of Famers, the point guard spot has quite a bit of luster to it.
Given the uncertainty of the offseason ahead, and in the interest of conveying the true best players at the position, this ranking will encompass all point guards — not just starting point guards. Therefore, not every team is represented (my apologies to Sixers legend and Wizards starter Raul Neto). You can read our mid-season rankings here.
Let’s get the ball rolling…
player. 38. . PG. Orlando Magic. Cole Anthony. 30
Top 30 NBA point guards — 30. Cole Anthony, Magic
Cole Anthony gets buckets. He doesn’t do too much else right now — and frankly, he doesn’t get buckets very efficiently — but Anthony does have a natural talent for finding seams in the defense and attacking. If he can blend his absurd stretches of shot-making with more consistency and a greater focus on lifting up teammates, then Anthony will get very good, very fast. He oozes natural talent (thanks in no small part to his father’s NBA pedigree), but he hasn’t put all the pieces together yet.
Russell Westbrook. 29. player. 20. . PG. Los Angeles Lakers
Top 30 NBA point guards — 29. Russell Westbrook, Lakers
Russell Westbrook was hot garbage for the Lakers last season, largely due to two simple truths: the Lakers asked too much of him, and Westbrook refuses to adjust to the times. He still plays like LA’s third star and primary playmaker, when it fact he needs to embrace the little things — cutting, screening, connective passes, defense. If Westbrook can change his approach, he still has more than enough athleticism and talent to contribute to winning. If he goes out without checking his ego, however, the results will not be pretty.
169. . PG. Houston Rockets. Dennis Schroder. 28. player
Top 30 NBA point guards — 28. Dennis Schroder, Rockets
Dennis Schroder has settled into his role as one of the NBA’s best sixth men. He’s a slippery scorer with a quick first step and a special talent for knifing to the rim and finishing amongst the trees. He’s perfectly steady with the ball in hand. He can set up the offense, he can play fast or he can play slow, and he competes admirably on defense (even if his size ensures certain limitations).