Ranking 76ers’ James Harden and the top 30 NBA point guards
24. . PG. Chicago Bulls. Lonzo Ball. 24. player
We may still be months away from Lonzo Ball’s return to NBA action. While his recovery from a knee injury has taken much longer than expected, the Bulls — and NBA evaluators at large — should still bank on Lonzo’s unique blend of size, I.Q., and deep-range shooting. He’s a game-changing defender at 100 percent and one of the NBA’s great connective-tissue guys.
41. . PG. Golden State Warriors. Jordan Poole. 23. player
Jordan Poole oozes talent in the scoring department. He’s a blur handling the ball, possessing quick-twitch athleticism and elite stop-start ability. Few players can create space and generate points from scratch as effectively as Poole. He has also learned quite a lot from Stephen Curry over the years, becoming quite good at moving with the ball. That said, he’s still prone to bouts of infuriating tunnel vision and maddeningly undisciplined decision-making.
86. . PG. Minnesota Timberwolves. Mike Conley. 22. player
Still rock-solid at the controls, Mike Conley has held doubters at bay with another strong season for the plucky Jazz. He’s no longer the All-Star two-way force who exerted a massive influence over games in Memphis, but Conley consistently elevates teammates and still profiles as one of the best set-up men in basketball.