The NBA’s deepest and most efficient position is now the point guard position. The point guard position has changed significantly from what it was in the NBA of the past. In the past, point guards were able to running an offence, setting up their teammates for success, providing 10 assists, and scoring 15-20 points every contest.
The majority of point guards in the NBA today are combo guards who aim to score 25–30 points per game while also providing 6-7 assists. There are still some point guards that play the traditional position, but the best ones are frequently scorers and playmakers.
The NBA has a plethora of excellent point guards; last season, 22 of the 30 starting point guards averaged at least 15 points per contest. There are at least 15 point guards who are All-Stars or have a chance to be All-Stars.
Only five point guards will stand out from the competition because this is the NBA position with the most depth.
5. Damian Lillard-
Damian Lillard is arguably the best example of the new-generation point guards. In spite of missing 29 games in 2022 and 58 games in 2023 due to injury, Lillard is still regarded as one of the NBA’s top point guards.
Lillard enjoyed a career year last year, averaging 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting a career-high 91 percent from the free throw line and 46 percent from the field (including 37 percent from beyond the arc).
In the NBA, not many players compare to Damian Lillard. Lillard attempted 658 3-pointers last season, 582 of which were made from 25 feet or further and was a 37 percent success rate.
Lillard, who scored a game-high 71 points last season, is one of the NBA’s greatest scorers thanks to his amazing ability to make any shot with high efficiency. He is also an excellent playmaker who frequently engages his teammates.
When healthy, Lillard has led his team to the postseason every year except his rookie year and reached the 2019 Western Conference Finals. The Trail Blazers went 27-31 this season with him in the starting lineup, which translates to a 38-win season over 82 games.
Lillard wants to join the Miami Heat because he recognises that he requires greater help than the Blazers can offer. He won’t have the same stats as last season if he goes to Miami, but his impact will still be felt. As they pursued a championship, the Heat rose to the top of the Eastern Conference. He will once more be regarded as one of the NBA’s top point guards.
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was one of the NBA’s most underrated players because he put up All-Star calibre numbers in 2021 and 2022 despite playing on a terrible club and being injured. He made a breakthrough this past season and earned recognition as one of the league’s top performers.
Shai enjoyed his greatest season of his career last year, averaging 31.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1 block while shooting 51 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 90.5 percent from the line of free throws. He was chosen for the All-NBA first team and received his first All-Star selection.
He would contribute greatly to the Thunder’s successful season in addition to enjoying a breakout year. The Thunder finished with a record of 40-42 and qualified for the Western Conference Play-In despite being one of the NBA’s weakest teams according to predictions.
Shai’s ability to achieve almost everything makes him one of the top point guards in the NBA. He is an excellent scorer, passer, rebounder, and defender. He has a competitive advantage in every area of the game thanks to his 6-foot-6 height. Due to his height, he can shoot over most of his defenders and read defences. He has a defensive advantage due to his stature and agility.
Shai was one of four players in the previous season to average at least one steal and one block per game. Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Jaren Jackson Jr., the defensive player of the year, were the other three players, who were all big men.
Shai is one of the top point guards in the NBA thanks to his ability to stuff the stat sheet and guide a youthful team to many successes, and the Thunder may be prepared for a long playoff run.
3. Ja Morant-
One of the NBA’s most divisive players today is Ja Morant. He has dealt with a variety of off-court problems, such as several instances of negligently posting a picture of a gun on social media, for which he was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023–24 season. Even so, Morant will be ranked among the top 3 point guards for the upcoming season.
Ja Morant averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, a career-high 8.1 assists, and 1.1 steals last season while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from 3-point range, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line.
Although Morant’s 3-point shooting is not the finest, he excels at scoring in the paint, where he averaged 14.4 points per game last year while shooting 65 percent from close range. He also has a good mid-range shooting range, making 46.7 percent of his 3-point range from 16 feet away and 46.3 percent from 10 to 16 feet.
Morant will get more proficient at shooting the three, which will make him even more lethal. He is an excellent playmaker thanks to his superior athleticism and capacity for rim-rattling scoring. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are now threats to score on any play because to his ability to distribute the ball.
Whether Morant is a good leader or not may depend on his off-the-court problems. Given that within his first three seasons there, Morant turned the Grizzlies into a championship-caliber squad. In his rookie and sophomore seasons, he guided them to the Play-in, the playoffs, and the second-best record in the Western Conference, respectively.
The rise of Ja Morant and the success of the Memphis Grizzlies have been directly related. When he returns from his ban, he will continue to lead his team to victories. He will remind everyone of the reasons he was selected as a franchise player and why he belongs in the NBA’s top three point guards.
2. Stephen Curry-
Curry had another outstanding season last year, averaging 29.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 49.3 percent from the field, 42.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 91.5 percent from the free throw line.
One of the NBA’s most unique talents is Curry. He surpasses by anyone in NBA history in terms of his ability to move off the ball. As soon as he passes the ball, he moves around to create space and wear out his defender so he can get free for three-point shots. He can be an underestimated playmaker thanks to his ability to move off the ball and open up opportunities for his teammates to obtain better chances.
The fact that Curry is the best shooter in basketball history is the most significant component of his game. The way basketball is played has altered as a result of his ability to hit the 3-point shot with high volume, high efficiency, and from a great distance. Every player aspires to become a terrific 3-point shooter as everyone searches for the “Next Curry.”
Curry’s influence helped the Warriors win four NBA Championships and a 44-38 record last year. The Warriors were greatly disappointed by this as they had high expectations after winning the championship in 2022.
Curry’s impact won’t be as harmful as it once was as the Warriors get older and more experienced. Despite how terrific Curry was last year, nobody worried him because of how awful the Warriors were.
Curry plays the game in a timeless way. Curry, who scores a lot of points per game, shoots the ball well, and is still one of the league’s most well-liked players, will remain a top-10 player in the league. Curry’s talent may not lead to as many victories as it once did, and as a result he is likely to finish the upcoming season as the second-best point guard.
1. Luka Doncic-
It is difficult to predict whether a point guard will have a better 2023–2024 season than Steph Curry, but Luka Doncic is the only one who is capable of doing so. Luka will have an incredible season as a young sensation in the league.
On the offensive side of the ball, Luka Doncic is capable of doing everything. His shooting from beyond the arc can be inconsistent at times, which is the worst aspect of his offensive game. However, he is still among the NBA’s most effective and important players.
Luka liked his finest season ever last year, averaging 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting a career-best 49.6 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from 3-point range, and 74.2 percent from the charity strip. Despite Luka’s best efforts, the Dallas Mavericks concluded the season with a 38-44 record, which was disappointing considering they advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2022.
Luka wasn’t the only cause of the Mavericks’ difficulties; their defence wasn’t the only factor in their 24th-place finish. The Mavericks significantly improved that for this season after having the wrong team around Luka the previous one.
Luka would come in second if this rating were based solely on the previous season. Luka deserves to be one of the finest point guards for the upcoming season since this is more of a prediction. He is the ideal point guard for the modern NBA because he can do it all while involving everyone.
He will once more put up incredible numbers, giving him a decent opportunity to be named to the NBA’s first team for a fifth straight season. The Mavericks will once again be a terrific team this season and compete for a title in addition to his greatness.