Ranking 10 Best Point Guards in NBA History

The most crucial factors for NBA player rankings consist of championship wins along with individual honors such as MVP and Defensive Player of the Year with Statistics like scoring and assists. Shooting efficiency forms a separate category from advanced analytic metrics and their overall impact both on and off the court. Still, championships typically hold the greatest weight in establishing a player’s legacy.

According to HoopSocial point guards in the National Basketball Association display multifaceted skills beyond merely being pass-oriented players. Before the modern era, the supreme point guards Bob Cousy along with Magic Johnson relied primarily on setting up attacks. During the 1990s Allen Iverson brought scoring abilities to pair with his playmaking abilities.

10 Greatest Point Guards of All Time

A list of the NBA’s top 10 point guards features famous athletes who effectively led their teams to victory. By redefining the point guard position both Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson permanently engraved their names into NBA history. Here we have ranked the 10 best point guards in NBA history.

10. Bob Cousy

The National Basketball Association acknowledges Bob Cousy as its initial legendary point guard. He spent his career from 1950 to 1963 with the Boston Celtics followed by one season with the Cincinnati Royals in 1969-70. Throughout his NBA career between 1950 to 1963 he secured 6 championship wins (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) along with the MVP title in 1957. Cousy transformed the point guard role by averaging 18.4 PPG alongside 5.2 RPG and 7.5 APG thus building a new blueprint for this position.

This guard uniquely holds the title of consecutive First-Team All-NBA selections for ten straight seasons. During a time when big men dominated the sport, Cousy acted as an expert in leading quick offensive transitions to direct the Celtics. Cousy served as an And-1 mix tape in black-and-white by leading the Celtics dynasty while establishing new standards for the point guard role. He ranked 44 in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

9.  Walt Frazier

Walt Frazier dedicated his professional basketball career to the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1977 before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1977 to 1980 as a point guard with his distinctive all-around abilities. During his NBA career, Frazier delivered 2 title wins (1970, and 1973) while achieving selection to the All-Star seven times.

All aspects of his statistical career demonstrate his ability to provide total support to his team through 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 6.1 APG. During the 1970s Frazier represented the flexible backcourt approach that characterized that era. It became evident that Frazier led the Knicks in the offensive ball movement because of his leadership. Frazier cemented his reputation as a fearless close-game player by delivering a Game 7 performance with 36 points and 19 assists along with 7 rebounds during the historic 1970 NBA Finals. Walt Fraizer ranked 41 in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

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8. Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd spent his NBA career in the point guard position for the Dallas Mavericks (1994-96 and 2008-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-2001), New Jersey Nets (2001-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). He claimed one NBA championship in 2011 and received honors of 10 All-Star selections 6 All-NBA honors and 9 All-Defensive Team awards. The NBA deemed Kidd as one of the top two noteworthy rookies in the 1994-95 season. His versatility included 12.6 PPG scoring combined with 6.3 RPG rebounding 8.7 APG passing and 1.9 SPG defensive plays which resulted in career averages.

Kevin Pelton proclaimed that Kidd possesses the greatest versatility among point guards in NBA history while passing received more media attention than his defensive skills. The development of Kidd into a shooter beyond the 3-point line has established him as one of the top players in NBA history based on the number of successful 3-pointers made. Jason ranked 43 in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

7. Steve Nash

During his basketball career with Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), and Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15), Steve Nash became the two-time MVP winner of 2005 and 2006 and acquired eight All-Star selections and seven All-NBA honors although he never secured an NBA championship. His NBA career included seven All-NBA honors.

During his professional career, Steve Nash established himself as one of the best players in the league through his 14.3-point scoring average,3.0 rebound, and 8.5 assist statistics. Adams stated that the exceptional combination of Nash’s shooting cuts of 50-40-90 with his 10 assists per game was unheard of in NBA history. The NBA’s best offensive rating belonged to Nash’s teams throughout nine straight seasons. In NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking Nash is ranked at 37.

6. Chris Paul

As an eight-time All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection, Chris Paul has spent years (2005-11) with the New Orleans Hornets and the last eleven years (2011-2017) with the Los Angeles Clippers. The basketball world commends Paul for his expert passing abilities through which he has maintained an average of 18.7 PPG while recording 4.4 RPG and 9.9 APG along with 2.3 SPG in his entire professional career.

Despite winning the Rookie of the Year Award (2005-06) Paul has not achieved the trophy for an NBA championship. Paul stands as the ideal point guard since he manages offenses while maintaining his status as one of the standout players who can throw perfect lobs throughout history.

Paul is recognized as the best two-choice player who delivered outstanding outcomes in the pick-and-roll. Even though Paul’s team continued to face challenges getting past deep playoff competitions thus minimizing his remarkable abilities. Chris Paul ranked at 29 in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

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5. Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas delivered NBA titles with Detroit Pistons during his 1981-1994 career where he also received the Finals MVP award in 1990. After a twelve-time selection as an All-Star along with five All-NBA honors, he earned his spot in the Hall of Fame.

Thomas maintained consistent averages of 19.2 points per game 3.6 rebounds and 9.3 assists with 1.9 steals in his professional career. He is the shortest player in NBA history to earn Finals MVP and remained 6-foot-1 because of his exceptional dominance at the point guard position.

The public recognized Thomas for being tough while scoring and leading the team, especially through his work as the Bad Boys Pistons’ heartbeat. The playoffs were motivated by Detroit’s title successes because Thomas willingly let other players take center stage. At the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking he is positioned at 27.

4. Stephen Curry

Since joining the Golden State Warriors in 2009 Stephen Curry has established himself as the greatest competitor in history to release three-pointers. During his career, he received MVP in 2015 and made it to multiple All-NBA teams as well as playing in two All-Star games.

Curry brought the Warriors their 2015 NBA championship by averaging 21.6 PPG with 6.9 APG and 4.2 RPG alongside a most notable .441 3P%. Curry possesses shooting ability above any player who has ever existed through his unbelievable precision and unrestricted shooting abilities across the floor.

The exceptional playmaking skills of Curry positioned him as one of the best point guards in NBA history. Haberstroh highlights Curry as a rare player who is deemed better for the game since he has transformed basketball with his innovative approach. Stephen Curry ranked at number 16 in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

3. John Stockton

John Stockton who spent his entire career at the Utah Jazz (1984-2003) stands as one of the most unacknowledged great NBA players in history. During his entire basketball career, Stockton received recognition as a 10-time All-Star while earning a total of 11 All-NBA selections and five All-Defensive selections before being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Stockton consistently reached averages of 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, and a .384 percentage for 3P% until his retirement.

Stockton made accurate passes and shot with clarity because of his large hands. Stockton delivered the most assists to teammates during each of the nine NBA seasons from 1987 to 1996. The combination of his defensive skill and pace management capabilities made Stockton a valuable player who controlled both offense and defense. John Stockton ranked at 24 in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

2. Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson earned Hall of Fame membership after spending his playing career at the Cincinnati Royals (1960-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-74) while becoming a 12-time All-Star and an 11-time All-NBA selection and winning MVP in 1964 and Rookie of the Year in 1961. Robertson became the MVP in 1964 while receiving the Rookie of the Year honor in 1961. Including his averages from his NBA years, he proved his ability as an all-around player through his 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, and .485 FG% statistics. His leadership guided the Bucks to obtain one championship trophy in 1971.

Robertson is identified as the “Mr. Triple Double” because he existed in a league that had not yet seen such advanced athletes. Robertson served as a preview for future basketball greats such as Magic Johnson and LeBron James while both stars showed deep admiration for him. Robertson might have benefited from the quick play in 1961-62 yet many viewers have failed to recognize his fundamental role in the Bucks championship in the early 1970s. In the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking he is positioned at 9.

1. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson earned recognition as the NBA history’s top point guard during his period with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 1996. As a superior performer, Magic received the MVP award three times (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90), claimed three Finals MVP titles, and participated in 12 All-Star games throughout his career. He helped the Lakers win five championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). His court stats as an NBA player include 19.5 points and 7.2 rebounds with 11.2 assists and a .520 field goal percentage.

Magic possessed such advanced vision that he could throw passes before team members knew they were open. In Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, he displayed his historic performance from center position as a first-year NBA player which sealed his place in basketball history. Magic goes beyond normal abilities through his skillful transition of basketball contrary to other players. His career achievements would have been more remarkable if his life had not ended because of HIV. He is ranked at 4 position in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary player ranking.

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