Point guard is probably the strongest positional group in the NBA right now. It seems as though almost every team has a solid starter, and even a capable backup (except Charlotte, they have nothing.) I had entertained the thought of even making this list somewhere from 16-18 deep, but I felt like at that point players were getting jumbled together. For example, there is no real difference between Darren Collison and Jeff Teague, or Mike Conley Jr. and Jrue Holiday. Anyways, without further ado, have at it.
Overall
- Chris Paul – His shooting is off the charts (50% FG, 47% 3P, and 83% FT for 18.4 PPG) along with his assist to turnover ratio (4.41, top in the league) and 2.4 steals per game (second among point guards.) Paul actually has a 1.2 steals to turnovers ratio! The next guy on this list is Brandon Jennings with a .7 ratio. But his impact on the game transcends the statistics. He imposes his will on his opponent every time I see him play and is simply incapable of being rattled. The only critique I can see is at times he is a bit too passive but that is simply nitpicking.
- Derrick Rose – The reigning MVP surely has an argument for No. 1. His ability to get into the lane and finish is simply unbelievable. He has a wide array of shots when he gets there whether it be his floater or his uncanny body control on layups. It’s tough to judge his distribution skills because his team needs him to be the number one scoring option at all times and don’t reeeaally have another scorer. That said, I believe he needs to limit his three point attempts better because, with his ability to penetrate, he really shouldn’t be shooting more than 4 three’s per game, especially at just over 30 percent.
- Russell Westbrook – Russell Westbrook is silencing the critics right now. I want people who ask him to pass more and be more of a point guard to really watch the Thunder play and tell me who he should pass to. Outside of Kevin Durant and James Harden their next scoring option is either Serge Ibaka or Daequon Cook neither of which can consistently create his own shot. The fact is that they need Russell to score and score in bunches. This year he is finishing better than I’ve ever seen around the rim, his pull up jumper from about 18 feet is money in the bank and he has come through with big shots time and time again this year. He has also cranked up the intensity on defense, he always got credit for being a great defender, but I’d always thought he was pretty lazy at times, he is starting to earn that title. However, he obviously, along with the rest of the Thunder, needs to take care of the ball better as he leads all point guards in turnovers.
- Tony Parker – With Manu Ginobili having been out for most of the season and Tim Duncan, well, not being Tim Duncan anymore, the load has fallen almost solely on Tony Parker. Averaging over 28 PPG and 7 assists in February he has the Spurs unbeaten in that stretch and leading their division at 19-9 on the season.
- Jeremy Lin – Just kidding… Deron Williams – I am very hard on Deron Williams, but that’s what you get when everybody wants to crown you as the best point guard in the NBA and then you average more than 4 turnovers per game and shoot just over 40% on the year. I know he is on a woefully bad Nets team, but this has been a season he would like to forget.
- Steve Nash – Steve Nash is 38. Just let that sink in for a second……… and he is leading the league in assists at 10 per game, shooting a ridiculous 57% from the field. It’s too bad he plays for the Suns.
- Rajon Rondo – He is about as good as possible given his limitations on offense, but left something more to be desired this year. It seems as though he is trying to make the perfect pass more-so than the good one, and it has resulted in a career high 3.8 turnovers per game. It doesn’t seem like his defense has been as good as usual this year either, and he misses a remarkable amount of layups. And he did this.
- Kyrie Irving – The rookie has been spectacular this year combining with (I hate to say this but) Anderson Varejao to help the Cavs into playoff contention. Irving leads all rookies in scoring and is second in FG percentage and assists.
- Stephen Curry – First the negatives: He can’t play defense, he’s not the greatest passer and he is very limited athletically. Now, he scores effortlessly. Whether it is his shooting, his crossover to floater, or any other part of his unorthodox game he is a joy to watch.
- Brandon Jennings – Jennings is one of the quickest players in the league and has a very diverse offensive game. Unfortunately, he knows that too, which makes him think it’s OK to take 6.4 three’s per game while shooting 34% and just 41.6% from the field. He does, however, take care of the ball very well (2.2 turnovers per game) and play very solid defense.
- John Wall – As much as I want to praise John Wall, he is the point guard of the league’s third worst team. However he is a breathtaking athlete and he does have to deal with players who doesn’t know whether to play defense or offense.
- Ty Lawson – Ty Lawson has been sneaky good the past two seasons. Right now he is averaging just under 16 PPG on the surprisingly good Nuggets.
Here are some more in depth rankings of the point guard position:
Just Missed the Cut
- Tyreke Evans
- Jrue Holiday
- Ricky Rubio
- Mike Conley Jr.
- Lou Williams (seems like more of a SG to me)
- Kyle Lowry
- Jeff Teague
Distributors
- Chris Paul
- Steve Nash
- Ricky Rubio
- Rajon Rondo
- Jose Caulderon
- Deron Williams
- Mike Conley Jr.
- Tony Parker
- Kyle Lowry
- Derrick Rose
Scorers
- Derrick Rose
- Russell Westbrook
- Chris Paul
- Tony Parker
- Brandon Jennings
- Deron Williams
- Stephen Curry
- Tyreke Evans
- Kyrie Irving
- John Wall
Defenders
- Chris Paul
- Kyle Lowry
- Rajon Rondo
- Mike Conley Jr.
- Jrue Holiday
Athletes
Agree with the rankings? Disagree? Whatever you’re opinion, we like to hear it. Continue the analysis and leave a comment below.
Stay tuned for the exciting Shooting Guard rankings next.
quimdigital.com 
despite russell westbrooks tendency to shoot to much he is making a serious case for being the best point guard. also how is rajon rondo not the number 1 defender???
Posted by Dale | February 22, 2012, 3:33 PMI had Rondo there last year, but for the same reason as to why he isn’t higher on the overall list, something has been missing. His steals are way down (2.3 last year to 1.6 this, second in the league to 16.) As for Westbrook, you don’t have to convince me. I have been his biggest fan since he entered the league, he is the original reason why the Thunder are my favorite team. Almost all of the criticism he receives is from people who don’t understand that he NEEDS to shoot a lot, the Thunder only have three scorers. People like Skip Bayless saying Russell having 40 on 29 shots when KD scored 51 on 26 and a couple nights ago when they both scored 31 but Russell took one more shot, are in a word, retarded.
Posted by Kevin Fullenkamp | February 22, 2012, 4:04 PMwell said fullenkamp
Posted by Dale | February 23, 2012, 6:18 PMI really enjoy this site, but fullenkamp you are one of the worst analysts i’ve ever seen. How do you put Derrick Rose #2 when he is the reigning MVP? Derron Williams at number 5? C’mon son that shit is not even close. Rondo and Williams are the best two defenders.
Posted by Marcus | February 27, 2012, 8:45 PMWe appreciate the feedback Marcus, but you can’t just come in the comments just bashing the list without any facts backing it up. What makes Rose better than CP3? The only advantage over CP3 is Rose’s scoring. As far as Westbrook, Parker, and Williams go they flip in and out of order according to who’s playing the best that week. Westbrook is putting up massive numbers along with KD. Parker is leading the Spurs to a surprising good record. And Williams is on an abysmal team putting up numbers because he has to. Like the list said, his efficiency and turnovers are both big stains on his performance sheet this season. Rondo is a great defender traditionally, but his effectiveness on that end is definitely down from last year. And call it ignorance if I’m mistaken, but I’ve never heard Williams mentioned as a top defender.
Posted by Elikem "Quim" Moten | February 27, 2012, 9:56 PMThanks dude I appreciate the comments, means a lot, MVP does not = Best player, it = most valuable player as in if you took him off his squad, how awful would his team be. If it was the other way around, MJ would have 11 MVP’s would he not? What has Deron Williams done this year to impress you? He is averaging 1 assist less, 1 more turnover and shooting 4% worse at 41% than his career averages. None of that, which are the major stats for point guards impress me. Tell me what validates him as the second best defender in the league? He has never been mentioned like that. And please come at me with some knowledge as opposed to insults.
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