The point guard position is one of the most important and versatile roles in basketball. A point guard is responsible for running the offense, setting up plays, distributing the ball, and creating scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates. A point guard also needs to be a good defender, leader, and communicator on the court.

Top 10 Basketball Point Guards of All Time

There have been many great point guards in NBA history, but who are the best of the best? How do we rank them based on their skills, achievements, and impact on the game? This is not an easy question to answer, as different criteria and preferences may lead to different opinions. However, based on some objective and subjective factors, such as statistics, awards, championships, longevity, and influence, here are our picks for the top 10 point guards of all time.

10. Steve Nash

Steve Nash was one of the most efficient and creative point guards ever. He led the league in assists five times and in free throw percentage three times. He was a two-time MVP, an eight-time All-Star, and a seven-time All-NBA selection. He was the leader of the “Seven Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns, who revolutionized the game with their fast-paced and high-scoring offense. He also played for the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he continued to showcase his passing and shooting skills. He ranks third in NBA history in assists (10,335) and first in career free throw percentage (90.4%).

9. Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd was a triple-double machine and a master of the fast break. He was a 10-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA selection, a nine-time All-Defensive selection, and a co-Rookie of the Year. He won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, where he played a key role as a veteran leader and a clutch shooter. He also led the New Jersey Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. He ranks second in NBA history in assists (12,091) and steals (2,684), and third in triple-doubles (107).

8. John Stockton

John Stockton was the ultimate floor general and one of the best pure passers of all time. He led the league in assists nine times and in steals twice. He was a 10-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, and a five-time All-Defensive selection. He formed one of the most iconic duos in NBA history with Karl Malone, leading the Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998. He holds the NBA records for career assists (15,806) and steals (3,265), which are unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

7. Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas was the leader of the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons, who won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. He was a 12-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA selection, an NBA Finals MVP, and an All-Star Game MVP. He was one of the most skilled and fearless point guards ever, combining speed, agility, ball-handling, passing, shooting, and scoring abilities. He also had a fierce competitive spirit and a knack for performing well in big moments. He ranks seventh in NBA history in assists (9,061) and fifth in points per game among point guards (19.2).

6. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is widely regarded as the greatest shooter of all time and one of the most influential players in modern basketball. He has revolutionized the game with his range, accuracy, and creativity from beyond the arc. He is a three-time NBA champion, a two-time MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and a six-time All-NBA selection. He is also a member of the exclusive 50-40-90 club (shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line in a single season). He holds the NBA records for most three-pointers made in a season (402) and in a game (13). He ranks second in NBA history in career three-point percentage (43.3%) and third in career three-pointers made (2,832).

5. Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson was one of the first players to excel at all aspects of the game. He was a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, an MVP, and an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971. He averaged a triple-double for an entire season in 1961-62 (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game), a feat that was not matched until Russell Westbrook did it in 2016-17. He also holds the NBA record for most triple-doubles in a career (181). He ranks sixth in NBA history in points (26,710) and sixth in assists (9,887).

4. Chris Paul

Chris Paul is one of the most complete and intelligent point guards ever. He is a 12-time All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA selection, a nine-time All-Defensive selection, an All-Star Game MVP, and a Rookie of the Year. He has led the league in assists four times and in steals six times. He is the only player in NBA history to have at least 20,000 points, 10,000 assists, 4,000 rebounds, and 2,000 steals in his career. He is also the only player to average at least 18 points and nine assists per game for his career. He ranks fifth in NBA history in assists (10,275) and seventh in steals (2,310).

3. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson was the face of the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers, who won five NBA championships in the 1980s. He was a three-time MVP, a three-time Finals MVP, a 12-time All-Star, and a 10-time All-NBA selection. He was one of the most versatile and charismatic players ever, playing all five positions on the court and entertaining fans with his dazzling passes and smiles. He is widely considered as the best passer of all time, as well as one of the best leaders and winners. He ranks first in NBA history in assists per game (11.2) and fourth in career assists (10,141).

2. Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy was the pioneer of modern point guard play and one of the first stars of the NBA. He was a six-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, an MVP, a 13-time All-Star, and a 12-time All-NBA selection. He led the league in assists eight times and was known for his flashy and creative style of play. He was also a clutch performer and a fierce competitor, earning the nickname “The Houdini of the Hardwood”. He ranks 19th in NBA history in assists (6,955) and fourth in assists per game among point guards (7.5).

1. John Stockton

John Stockton is our pick for the best point guard of all time. He was not only a great passer and defender, but also a great scorer and shooter. He had all the skills and attributes that a point guard should have: vision, accuracy, timing, decision-making, leadership, toughness, durability, consistency, and efficiency. He played his entire 19-year career with the Utah Jazz, forming a legendary partnership with Karl Malone. He never won an NBA championship or an MVP award, but he was always among the best players in the league and one of the most respected by his peers. He holds the NBA records for career assists (15,806) and steals (3,265), which are unlikely to be broken anytime soon. He also ranks first in NBA history in assist percentage (50.2%), which measures the percentage of teammate field goals that a player assisted while on the floor.

Conclusion

However, based on some objective and subjective factors, such as statistics, awards, championships, longevity, and influence, we have picked our top 10 point guards of all time:

John Stockton
Bob Cousy
Magic Johnson

Chris Paul
Oscar Robertson
Stephen Curry

Isiah Thomas
John Stockton
Jason Kidd

Steve Nash

These are our picks for the top 10 point guards of all time. Do you agree or disagree with our list? Who would you include or exclude from your own list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q: Who is the best point guard of all time? A: This is a subjective question that may have different answers depending on different criteria and preferences. However, based on our analysis of statistics, awards, championships, longevity, and influence, we have picked John Stockton as our choice for the best point guard of all time.

Q: Who is the best passer of all time?

A: This is another subjective question that may have different answers depending on different criteria and preferences. However, based on our analysis of statistics, awards, championships, longevity, and influence, we have picked Magic Johnson as our choice for the best passer of all time. He ranks first in NBA history in assists per game (11.2) and fourth in career assists (10,141). He was known for his dazzling and creative passes that entertained fans and bewildered opponents. He was also a great leader and winner, leading the Lakers to five NBA titles in the 1980s.

Q: Who is the best shooter of all time? A: This is a more objective question that can be measured by statistics such as field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and points per game. Based on these metrics, we have picked Stephen Curry as our choice for the best shooter of all time. He is widely regarded as the greatest shooter of all time and one of the most influential players in modern basketball. He has revolutionized the game with his range, accuracy, and creativity from beyond the arc. He holds the NBA records for most three-pointers made in a season (402) and in a game (13). He ranks second in NBA history in career three-point percentage (43.3%) and third in career three-pointers made (2,832). He is also a member of the exclusive 50-40-90 club (shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line in a single season).

Q: Who is the best defender of all time? A: This is another subjective question that may have different answers depending on different criteria and preferences. However, based on our analysis of statistics, awards, championships, longevity, and influence, we have picked Chris Paul as our choice for the best defender of all time among point guards. He is one of the most complete and intelligent point guards ever. He is a nine-time All-Defensive selection, which is the most among point guards in NBA history. He has led the league in steals six times, which is also the most among point guards in NBA history. He ranks seventh in NBA history in steals (2,310) and first in steal percentage (3.0%), which measures the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by a player while on the floor.

Q: Who is the best scorer of all time? A: This is another objective question that can be measured by statistics such as points per game, field goals made, free throws made, and three-pointers made. Based on these metrics, we have picked Oscar Robertson as our choice for the best scorer of all time among point guards. He was one of the first players to excel at all aspects of the game. He averaged a triple-double for an entire season in 1961-62 (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game), a feat that was not matched until Russell Westbrook did it in 2016-17. He ranks sixth in NBA history in points (26,710) and fifth in points per game among point guards (25.7).

Q: Who is the most clutch point guard of all time? A: This is another subjective question that may have different answers depending on different criteria and preferences. However, based on our analysis of statistics, awards, championships, longevity, and influence, we have picked Isiah Thomas as our choice for the most clutch point guard of all time. He was one of the most skilled and fearless point guards ever, combining speed, agility, ball-handling, passing, shooting

Top 10 Point Guards of All Time?