Top 10 Point Guards of All-Time

1. Magic Johnson

Career Average: 19.5 Pts, 11.5 Asts, 7.3 Rebs

Championships: 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

MVP: 3 (1987, 1989, 1990)

Finals MVP: 3 (1980, 1982, 1987)

All-NBA 1st Team: 9 (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1 (1982)

Magic completely revolutionized the game of basketball with his one-of-a-kind passing skills and flashiness. He was also the first iconic player to demonstrate that someone in a forward’s body could handle guard duties. Magic Johnson is undoubtedly the best point guard of all time. If it weren’t for the rivalry between him and Larry Bird, the NBA may not be where it is today. Although he missed 4 seasons in the middle of his prime due to HIV, Magic is amongst the NBA’s All-Time leaders in numerous categories.

2. Oscar Robertson

Career Average: 25.7 Pts, 9.5 Asts, 7.5 Rebs

Championships: 1 (1971)

MVP: 1 (1964)

All-NBA 1st Team: 9 (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 2 (1970. 1971)

Oscar Robertson, aka “Big O” aka Mr. Triple Double, put up numbers throughout his NBA career that I can guarantee will never be matched. He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double, and his per game stats for the first 6 seasons of his NBA career average out to a triple-double (30.4 Pts, 10.0 Rebs, 10.7 Asts). Robertson may be the most versatile player the NBA has ever seen, which is why former Celtics Coach Red Auerbach said “[Oscar Robertson] is so great-he scares me.”

3. Isiah Thomas

Career Average: 19.2 Pts, 9.3 Asts, 3.6 Rebs

Championships: 2 (1989, 1990)

Finals MVP: 1 (1990)

All-NBA 1st Team: 4 (1984, 1985, 1986)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 2 (1983, 1987)

Hall of Famer, 2x NBA Champion, and leader of the “Bad Boy” Pistons, Isiah Thomas was one of the best. Once called the “baby-faced” assassin” because “he smiles at you, then cuts you down,” Isiah Thomas had the killer instinct that was shared with the likes of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. In 13 years with Detroit, he became the franchise’s all-time leader in points, assists, steals, and games played. Let’s take a minute and put Zeke’s immediate and consistent statistical contribution into perspective. Over the first 6 seasons of his NBA career, Isiah Thomas had 9,827 Pts, 964 Stls, 4,879 Asts, 1,771 Rebs, and 144 Blks. Through the first 6 seasons of Steph Curry’s NBA career, he has put up 8,714 Pts, 717 Stls, 2,866 Asts, 1,719 Rebs, and 89 Blks. As shown, Zeke outperformed in almost every major statistical category through 6 seasons.

We feel comfortable putting Isiah at the #3 spot over John Stockton as well, especially with Magic Johnson backing us up.

4. John Stockton

Career Average: 13.1 Pts, 10.5 Asts, 2.7 Rebs

Championships: None

All-NBA 1st Team: 2 (1994, 1995)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 6 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 3 (1991, 1997, 1999)

All-Defensive 2nd Team: 5 (1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997)

John Stockton is often criticized for never hoisting up the Larry O’Brien trophy, but that’s not something that should define his career. Year after year, John Stockton was the best point guard in the league, and led the NBA in assists for 9 STRAIGHT SEASONS! When you put him together with Karl Malone, they were a virtually unstoppable duo, and one of the best pick-n-roll combos ever. Unfortunately for Stockton, he played during the Michael Jordan era, which effectively crushed any hopes of winning a championship. At the end of the day, John Stockton is still a Hall-of-Famer who holds the record for most career assists, and is one of the best floor generals ever.

5. Jason Kidd

Career Average: 12.6 Pts, 8.7 Asts, 6.3 Rebs

Championships: 1 (2011)

All-NBA 1st Team: 5 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1 (2003)

All-Defensive 1st Team: 4 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2006)

All-Defensive 2nd Team: 5 (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007)

Don’t let Jason Kidd’s low career points per game average fool you. Kidd is everything you want out of a point guard. He was a great leader, had terrific vision, and is one of the best defenders the point guard position has ever seen. His underrated strength and 6 foot 4 frame played to his advantage, and landed him to an NBA All-Defensive team 9 consecutive seasons. For a player who was scrutinized at first for a lack of scoring ability, Jason Kidd recorded the 3rd most 3-point field goals in NBA history, and 71st in points scored (17,529). Due to consistency over his 20 year NBA season, Kidd also finished 2nd All-Time in Assists and Steals, 3rd All-Time in triple-doubles, and had the most rebounds ever for a player at the guard position (8,725).

6. Steve Nash

Career Average: 14.3 Pts, 8.5 Asts, 3.0 Rebs

MVP: 2 (2005, 2006)

Championships: None

All-NBA 1st Team: 3 (2005, 2006, 2007)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 2 (2008, 2010)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 2 (2002, 2003)

Other than Magic Johnson, Steve Nash is the only point guard on this list with multiple NBA MVP selections (so far). In an era that consisted of Kobe Bryant’s prime, 2 MVP awards is truly impressive. Nash is one of the most creative court generals to step on the basketball court. In Mike D’Antoni’s system, Nash was the ultimate pick-n-roll point guard who was able to push the ball up the floor and distribute. From 2004 to 2012, Nash averaged 16.1 Pts and 10.9 Asts Per Game. He also consistently shot over 40% from 3-Point range, and shot better than 90% from the FT Line 9 different seasons. Of any player in history, Steve Nash finished with the best Free-Throw Percentage of All-Time.

7. Chris Paul

Career Average: 18.7 Pts, 9.9 Asts, 3.7 Rebs

Championships: None

All-NBA 1st Team: 4 (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 2 (2009, 2015)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 1 (2011)

All-Defensive 1st Team: 5 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

All-Defensive 2nd Team: 2 (2008, 2011)

Since he was drafted in 2005, Chris Paul has been one of the best point guards in the league every year. He spent the beginning of his career in New Orleans on a team that simply did not have enough around him to make it far enough. But, CP3 found a way to show off his unbelievable skill anyway. When you think of a traditional point guard, you think of Chris Paul — a pass first floor general that sets up the offense. But, CP3 is much more than that, he has also been a consistently incredible shooter with a mid-range game that can’t be matched. He’s never made it to the Conference Finals, but his career is not even close to over. We’ll see if Paul can silence the haters, and prove them all wrong.

8. Walt Frazier

Career Average: 18.9 Pts, 6.1 Asts, 2.3 Rebs

Championships: 2 (1970, 1973)

All-NBA 1st Team: 4 (1970, 1972, 1974, 1975)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 2 (1971, 1973)

All-Defensive 1st Team: 7 (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)

It’s been an extremely long time since the Knicks were competing for a title, but the last time they won Walt “Clyde” Frazier was leading the way for them. Nowadays, Clyde is known for his ridiculous sense of fashion, and suit selection, but back in the day he was much more than that. Willis Reed won the MVP in both of the Knicks’ championship runs, but Frazier was the one that really made the team work so well. His passing abilities were outstanding, and his role as a lockdown defender took the Knicks to the next level. Frazier will be most remembered for his performance in game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals where he helped secure the victory with 36 points, 19 assists, and 7 rebounds. Frazier could do it all and that’s why he’s a Hall-of-Famer.

9. Bob Cousy

Career Average: 18.4 Pts, 7.5 Asts, 5.2 Rebs

Championships: 6 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)

MVP: 1 (1957)

All-NBA 1st Team: 10 (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 2 (1962, 1963)

Bob Cousy played the game of basketball far ahead of his time. He brought excitement to the NBA with his flashy style of play. Cousy is one of a few select players in NBA History that can say they were the best at their position for an entire decade — Cousy was named to the All-NBA 1st Team for 10 straight years. He was the first star point guard in the NBA, and really paved the road for the rest of the point guards on this list.

10. Steph Curry

Career Average: 21.7 Pts, 6.9 Asts, 4.2 Rebs

MVP: 1 (2015)

Championships: 1 (2015)

All-NBA 1st Team: 1 (2015)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1 (2014)

At the age of 27, Stephen Curry has absolutely taken the league by storm. Coming off his first NBA Finals victory, Curry has led the Warriors to an incredible start on a historic pace. But, what’s more impressive than the winning is how Curry has changed the game of basketball. There’s really no one in history who can do what Curry does. He is by far the best shooter off the dribble the league has ever seen, and likely the best shooter in NBA History. When it’s all said and done, Curry will likely be much higher up on this list. But for now, he is still young and is just entering the prime of his career. I think I speak for all of us when I say I’m excited to see what else he has in store for us.

Honorable Mention: Gary Payton

Career Average: 16.3 Pts, 6.7 Asts, 3.9 Rebs

Championships: 1 (2006)

Defensive Player of the Year: 1 (1996)

All-NBA 1st Team: 2 (1998, 2000)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 5 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 2 (1994, 2001)

All-Defensive 1st Team: 9 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)