Top 30 NBA point guards — 6. Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Ja Morant made the superstar turn and helped Memphis to the No. 2 seed in the process. He’s the NBA’s greatest show, a nightly highlight reel who commissioned several of the league’s best posters last season. He can jump out of the gym, run past anyone, and he’s steadily improving as a shot-maker. The next step is getting to a better place defensively, but right now, there aren’t many offensive engines who can generate the electricity Ja can.
Top 30 NBA point guards — 5. Trae Young, Hawks
Trae Young’s ghastly first round performance against Miami is destined to get overblown, but here’s the simple fact: Young led the NBA in total points and total assists while keeping Atlanta’s head above water despite several key injuries across the roster. He’s a special offensive engine — a player who can single-handedly win games as a shot-maker or a facilitator. The defense is not good, but man oh man, the offense sure is.
Top 30 NBA point guards — 4. Damian Lillard, Blazers
The concerning nature of Damian Lillard’s core injury casts some doubt over his placement on this list. That said, he has earned the benefit of the doubt. When healthy, there aren’t many players who guarantee contention like Lillard. His generational self-confidence is evident in his play each night, and his skill set more than backs it up. He’s the best pull-up shooter the NBA has ever seen next to Stephen Curry, and he’s a much better playmaker than he gets credit for.