One of the reasons the quality of NBA basketball has kicked up the last few years is due to the dramatic increase in the quality of the point guard position. As we see with All-Star games every season, PG?s are frequently what makes basketball more fan-friendly and engaging.
There have been a few important factors that have helped create this situation:
First, many of the now-older PG?s have games that do not rely heavily on athleticism (like Nash and Kidd), so their games are aging better than expected.
Secondly, the last five years have seen a massive influx of talent to the position.
Finally, we have seen a few players blossom and improve their standing in the PG ranks, further deepening the position. In the very near future, the NBA should be in position to have enough players who are at least solid starter material at PG, which should have a major impact on the game.
Here is how I see the league?s PG crop at the moment (note that all of the guys on rookie deals are at the bottom instead of being in the tiers):
Tier One: All-Star Caliber PG?s
Chris Paul: Best in the game today, though his defense is a little overrated at the moment.
Deron Williams: Continually underrated and underappreciated.
Steve Nash: Offensive creativity and leadership override horrific defense.
Rajon Rondo: Very different from the previous generation?s PG archetype, Rajon is a catalyst on both offense and defense and is still growing into his offensive role. I?m hoping to see him get the chance to run a little more since he was a very good up-tempo lead guard when he was younger.
Chauncey Billups: I?m not sure he will age quite as well as Kidd and Nash, but Billups is still an excellent player who has a great track record and continues to play at an All-Star level.
Jason Kidd- It is hard to overstate the impact he has had on Dallas? season this year, even though his D is getting more problematic by the season.
That?s six Tier One PG?s- one for every division, though all but one is in the Western Conference.
Tier Two: Very good starters
Tony Parker: There are points when it seems like he should be in Tier One, but they?re not consistent enough to warrant inclusion there. Plus, he?s a rough defensive player without being the offensive engine that Steve Nash is.
Jameer Nelson: One of the few players this high up that still seems to be looking for his long-term niche. Doing very well on the reigning Eastern Conference champs though, even if he missed most of their last playoff run.
Baron Davis: Like Parker, he is in this group despite some Tier One talent because of consistency issues and his tendency to overly dominate the ball. Still physically gifted and productive, though there are worries about how his game will age since he hits 31 this April.
Gilbert Arenas: The least lead guard-y of this group, but he is so talented that he belongs here. I shudder to think at how nasty he would be with another guard who could initiate the offense. Will he be the same player when he gets back? Hopefully. His talent is still sufficient to put him here.
Tier Three: Solid starters
Andre Miller: Miller is a particularly good PG for big men over the course of his career- look at the proportion of his assists that come on dunks and layups.
Raymond Felton: I?d say he was underrated, but that would require him being rated. Felton marks the transition from guys who are no doubt about it lead guard starters to guys who are a little shakier. That said, I?m fascinated to see what happens to him this summer, especially considering the depth on this list.
Jose Calderon: It?s fair to raise the question of why he is on this list considering he doesn?t even possess the starting job on his own team at the moment, but his talent and history make him deserving of this tier.
Devin Harris: I?ve really fallen out of love with Devin over the past year, as he keeps on moving into Foye-land (an off-guard in a PG?s body) with his poor decision-making. Still has the tools and youth to up his game.
Mo Williams: In a great situation as a pseudo-PG next to King James. It remains to be seen how Mo would do if he had to take over the initiator role, but he did a solid enough job of it in Milwaukee to be here.
Mike Bibby: Clearly on the downward slide of his career, Mike still stands as the lead guard on a team that should host a playoff series.
Kirk Hinrich: Plays the lead guard/off-guard dance a little too much, though much of that is by necessity considering the Bulls? personnel. Hinrich is an excellent defensive player who is more than capable of running an offense when given the chance. Heck, even as a combo guard he?s 15th in A/T ratio in the league this season..
Ramon Sessions: It?s a shame we probably will have to wait a while to see him as the lead PG on a team with a shot to make the playoffs. Sessions has tons of talent and good instincts, especially for his age.
Beno Udrih: A guy who languished last season and was much maligned as having one of the worst contracts in the NBA last year has benefited immensely from having Tyreke Evans as his backcourt mate. Seems relatively settled in on the fringe of starting and backup PG?s, with a ball-dominating SG helping to bridge that gap.
TJ Ford: Hard to figure out what to make of Ford given his tumultuous season with Indiana. It seems strange to see a guy who was lauded for his leadership in both his collegiate and early pro career being marginalized like he has been recently.
The Kids: Guys on rookie deals (or younger) that are either worthy of these lists now or will be soon
[and yes, this is how I rank them in terms of where they?ll be at their respective peaks]
John Wall: One of the hardest high-level prospects to compare to any current or past NBA player. For now, I?ll say he?s Derrick Rose with better court vision and passing ability. The first true athletic freak who can also run an NBA offense from the PG position.
Ricky Rubio: The closest thing to a young Jason Kidd that we have in the youth ranks. Rubio is the most creative passer under the age of 30 and should be able to lead teams and offenses for the next decade. His lateral quickness is a little worrisome, but he?s crafty and instinctive enough to make do.
Stephen Curry: There is a good deal of Santa Clara-era Steve Nash in Mr. Curry. He has phenomenal instincts and a very strong toolbox for a guy who will absolutely play PG in the NBA. Once he gets more settled in a leadership role on a team with chemistry on and off the court, he will make an even larger impact than his great rookie season.
Russell Westbrook: Another physically gifted guy who is getting a sense for the position. Westbrook benefits (like many PG?s young and old) from being in a system where he doesn?t have to run the offense all the time and is already a major disruptive force on offense and defense. As he matures and grows into a larger role in the offense, the sky is the limit.
Brandon Jennings: While his recent struggles offensively are disconcerting, Jennings is benefiting greatly from having a coach who can teach defense in Scotty Skiles. A guy with Brandon?s physical gifts who can play defense and play within himself in crunch time could rocket up the list in short time.
Derrick Rose: Obviously it will be jarring to most that he is this low in the Kids rankings, but that is more a credit to the others above him than a slight to Rose. Derrick is a physical talent with few parallels and can already be the best player on a playoff team. For him to take the next step, he needs to be able to run an offense and play better D.
Mike Conley: His development has taken a backseat in Memphis to a series of Grizzlies who dominate the ball, yet Conley can absolutely become a true lead guard if given the opportunity. As another bonus, he currently stands 10th in three point shooting at 43%- very solid.
Ty Lawson: Still not clear whether he?ll be a starter or spark plug in the long term, but the kid can play and make a major impact either way. Lawson has solid instincts and elite quickness, making him a major asset in whatever role he?s needed to play.
Aaron Brooks: Speaking of three-point gunners, Brooks has a major adjustment considering the injuries and personnel changes his Rockets have gone through in the past year. Playing with the uber-efficient Kevin Martin could help his assist numbers in a meaningful way.
Jonny Flynn: Jonny is a guy who got an undue bump in the draft because of how awesome a person he is, but he still has the talent to be a starting PG for a long time. Flynn needs to focus on what he excels on and work on his defense as well.
Darren Collison: The breakout star of this class during the month of February, DC has been the beneficiary of CP3?s unfortunate injury due to an absolute ton of playing time. His long-term role is probably closer to Ty Lawson?s than the stud PG we have seen over the last month, but Collison?s defensive ability and explosiveness will make him a desirable player on almost any team.
Jrue Holiday: The only kid who makes this list because of his defense over his offense. Jrue has the physical gifts to be a rare stopper at point guard with the skill to run the offense and make teams pay for giving him too much leeway.
Eric Maynor: While he likely will not get a chance to make his name known for a little while thanks to the scary-good guard depth Oklahoma City carries, Maynor will be a starting point guard in the NBA someday. He is a leader on and off the court and has the physical ability and the moxie to stand toe-to-toe with just about anyone this league has to offer at the position as he develops.
Mario Chalmers: Despite his current turmoil, Super Nintendo Chalmers stands as a guy who should be a lead guard in the NBA in the right system. Another potential defensive powerhouse, Chalmers may be better off with a ball-dominating SG like he has in D-Wade, at least for the time being.
That?s 34 players, more than one for every NBA team. Only the Knicks, Pistons and Lakers do not have one of the aforementioned point guards.
Furthermore, I decided not to include guys like Tyreke Evans, Rodney Stuckey, George Hill, and Lou Williams who are more off-guards/SG?s than lead guards/PG?s (though the distinctions get awfully blurry at points, especially with Tyreke). Add them to the list and it gets even more impressive.
And this list does not even include guys like LeBron, D-Wade, and Brandon Roy, each of whom can be primary ballhandlers despite not playing PG.