The top 10 best point guards in the NBA is a subjective list. Usually, when we think of a Point Guard, they are usually in-charge of their team’s offense. Essentially, they are the extension of a coach and their plays on the court, which are vital for NBA picks.
That said, some NBA Point Guards go above and beyond their role, largely influencing the game state. From dishing dimes, picking pockets, and scoring in bunches, here are the best NBA Point Guards ever.
This list balances overall impact, individual accolades, and how these players shaped the point guard position and the game itself:
10. Russell Westbrook
Notable Achievements: 1× MVP, 9× All-Star, Averaged a Triple Double in 4 Seasons (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22)
*still active
Russell Westbrook is one of the best Point Guards in the NBA due to his unique combination of athleticism and versatility. He is known for his explosive speed, strength, and athleticism that he utilizes with his aggressive play style.
That said, Westbrook’s is a well-known stats stuffer. He won the 2017 MVP, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for an entire season. Beyond his MVP season, Westbrook has averaged a triple-double in multiple seasons and is the all-time leader in career triple-doubles. His ability to affect the game in virtually every category makes him one of the most complete point guards ever.
Westbrook is a dynamic scorer who has averaged 20+ points per game in nearly every season of his career. While he’s often criticized for his shooting efficiency, his scoring talent and ability to attack the basket are undeniable.
Most NBA betting lines caution bettors who would wager on Westbrook’s performance given his streaky spells. He’d have one highly efficient one game, then become a stat-line liability on the next. But since in most cases, Westbrook’s always flirting with a triple double, adventurous bettors can roll the dice on him.
Whenever he’s on the court, expect him to give it his 100% each possession. Westbrook’s leadership, fiery competitiveness, and drive to win have made him a force on every team he’s played for. His intensity and passion for the game are often regarded as key factors in his success.
9. Chris Paul
Notable Achievements: 12× All-Star, 11× All-NBA selections, 7× All-Defensive 1st Team selections, 6× All-NBA First Team selections
*still active
Chris Paul lands in ninth place in the top 10 NBA point guards of all time. His exceptional playmaking, leadership, and consistent high-level performance throughout his career.
Paul is widely regarded as one of the best pure point guards in NBA history. His vision, passing accuracy, and court awareness allow him to orchestrate offenses with ease. He is consistently ranked among the league leaders in assists, setting up teammates in the most efficient way.
Paul has maintained a high level of performance for nearly two decades. Even as he’s gotten older, he’s adapted his game to stay relevant, and his basketball IQ only continues to grow.
His assist-to-turnover ratio is one of the best in NBA history, reflecting his ability to control the ball. He rarely forces plays and always seeks the best option for his team, balancing scoring and facilitating with precision.
With multiple All-Star selections, and one Finals run, all that’s left for Paul to win is the NBA championship.
8. Steve Nash
Notable Achievements: 2× MVP, 8× All-Star, 7× All-NBA selections
Steve Nash is eighth on the top NBA point guards because of his exceptional playmaking, shooting, and high basketball IQ. Nash won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006, a rare achievement for a point guard.
His ability to lead one of the most potent offenses in NBA history with the Phoenix Suns. Nash’s lightning-quick passes and ability to read the defense solidified his place among the greatest point guards in the NBA. He was the engine behind the Suns’ fast-paced, high-scoring style of play, and also led to his 2 MVP nods.
Moreover, Nash’s assist-to-turnover ratio is one of the best in NBA history. This speaks volumes of his ability to control the game and make smart, efficient decisions with the basketball. His low turnover numbers demonstrated his skill in managing the tempo and flow of games and assisting teammates.
Apart from passing, Nash was also one of the most efficient shooters in NBA history. He sported career shooting percentages of 49% from the field and 90% from the free-throw line.
Nash also has a career 3-point shooting percentage of 42.8% that stands out, especially for a point guard. His ability to stretch defenses with his shooting made him even more dangerous as a floor general.
7. John Stockton
Notable Achievements: 11× All-NBA selections, 10× All-Star, 5× All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, NBA All-Time Leader in Assists (15,806) and Steals (3,265)
John Stockton lands in seventh place on the top 10 NBA point guards of all time. He is lauded for his unparalleled passing ability, defensive prowess, consistency, and leadership.
Stockton is a pass-first Point Guard who holds the NBA records for both career assists (15,806) and steals (3,265). His ability to create opportunities for his teammates and disrupt opponents make a case for top 10 NBA PGs. No one else has come close to breaking these records, underlining his dominance in these two critical areas of basketball.
Amid his offensive and defensive prowess, Stockton is also somewhat of an ironman. Stockton’s longevity and conditioning made him one of the most reliable players during his heyday.
The only knock on him was that he didn’t win an NBA championship during his illustrious career.
6. Jerry West
Notable Achievements: 1× NBA Champion, 1× Finals MVP, 12× All-NBA 1st Team selections, 14× All-Star, 5× All-Defensive 1st Team selections
“The Logo” holds the sixth spot on the best Point Guards in the NBA all-time list. He played much of his career as a point guard, even though he traditionally plays as a shooting guard. West handled the ball and orchestrated the offense for the Los Angeles Lakers.
In terms of offense, Jerry West was one of the most prolific and efficient scorers of his era. His jump shot was silky smooth, allowing him to average over 27 points per game for his career. West had a deadly mid-range game on top of his ability to score in clutch situations.
That said, West was more than capable of traditional Point Guard duties. His playmaking ability was exceptional, averaging nearly 7 assists per game during his career. West also had the skills to control the tempo of the game, especially in key moments.
5. Oscar Robertson
Notable Achievements: 1× NBA Champion, 1× MVP, 9× All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12× All-Star, first player to average a triple-double for an entire season
Oscar Robertson is famous for averaging a triple-double over an entire season. This feat was incredibly rare and has only been matched (and surpassed) by Russell Westbrook decades later.
During the 1961-62 season, he averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. His ability to contribute across all statistical categories made him an all-around player and showcased his immense basketball IQ.
Robertson was a very versatile player. As a point guard, he was an elite scorer, playmaker, and rebounder. Standing at 6’5, he could do things most point guards of his era couldn’t. His skill set was more similar to modern combo guards, which made him a unique player for his time.
He was a prolific scorer, capable of putting up big numbers, but he was also an excellent passer. Robertson was adept at creating opportunities for his teammates and could dominate the offense both as a scorer and facilitator. His all-around offensive ability set him apart from many of his contemporaries.
Robertson’s legacy was further solidified when he won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971, alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This championship was a significant moment in his career and helped solidify his place in NBA history.
4. Isiah Thomas
Notable Achievements: 2× NBA Champion, 1× Finals MVP, 3× All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12× All-Star
Isiah “Zeke” Thomas is widely regarded as one of the best Point Guards in the NBA. As the leader of the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons in the late 80s, they brought intensity and intimidation to games. This, combined with Thomas’ excellent playmaking and scoring, led the Pistons to two NBA championships.
Thomas is a vaunted floor general who showcased his stellar leadership skills in every game. He is the Pistons’ heart and soul, and his leadership on and off the court was integral to the team’s success. Thomas was also the emotional leader who elevated the play of his teammates and inspired them to match his intensity.
Isiah was an excellent scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game over his career. He had the ability to score in multiple ways, including finishing at the rim with craftiness, hitting mid-range jump shots, and even knocking down clutch 3-pointers. His ability to take over games offensively, especially in crucial playoff moments, is well-documented.
As a point guard, Thomas was an exceptional passer. He averaged 9.3 assists per game in his career and had remarkable court vision. His ability to run an offense, set up teammates, and create scoring opportunities was crucial to Detroit’s success during their championship runs.
3. Bob Cousy
Notable Achievements: 6× NBA Champion, 1× MVP, 10× All-NBA 1st Team selections, 13× All-Star
Also known as “The Houdini of the Hardwood”, Bob Cousy was the best Point Guard during the NBA’s early days. Cousy played for the Boston Celtics during the 1950-51 season, where he stayed for 14 years. He is widely regarded as one of the players who revolutionized the point guard position as we know it today.
Conventional Point Guards held the ball-handling and passing duties. While Cousy did these, the way he executed them on the court made him stand out. His flashy ball-handling, no-look passes, and ability to control the tempo of the game were groundbreaking at the time.
Cousy had exceptional court vision and passing ability. He averaged 7.5 assists per game over his career, and during the 1959-60 season, he averaged 8.6 assists per game, which was a remarkable stat for that era.
He was the leader of the Boston Celtics during one of the most dominant eras in NBA history. Cousy led the Celtics to six NBA championships (1957, 1959-1963), establishing them as a dynasty. As captain of the team for multiple years, his leadership on and off-court was essential for the Celtics’ success.
His ability to elevate the play of legendary teammates like Bill Russell, John Havlicek. This helped the Celtics establish a winning culture that dominated the 1950s and 1960s.
2. Stephen Curry
Notable Achievements: 4× NBA Champion, 2× MVP, 1× Finals MVP, 1× Conference Finals MVP, 4 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 10× All-Star
*still active
Steph Curry lands second on the list of the 10 best Point Guards in the NBA. He is hands-down the best pure shooter the league has ever seen, and is especially lethal beyond the arc.
He recently recorded 4,000 made three pointers, the most any NBA player has done. His elite shooting resulted in 4 championships for the Golden State Warriors, 2 regular MVP awards, and 1 Finals MVP.
Steph Curry transformed what three pointers mean for NBA teams. Before Curry, the three-point shot was considered an auxiliary part of the offense. However, Curry made it central to the Golden State Warriors’ success and to modern basketball as a whole.
He has made shooting from 30+ feet commonplace, forcing teams to rethink defensive strategies and how they build their rosters. Because of this, Curry commands such gravity for the defense that most teams guard him as soon as he crosses the half court.
However, Curry is known to be one of the most active players on the court. He would often run around screens to get a free shot which would sink at an astonishingly efficient clip.
Apart from his spectacular three-point shooting, Curry is also a top-tier passer and ball-handler. He has averaged over 6 assists per game throughout his career.
His vision, decision-making, and ability to draw defenders with his shooting range open up opportunities for teammates. That said, Curry isn’t afraid to slash into the defense and finish at the rim if needed.
Curry is always a surefire NBA odds on favorite to make an impact and efficiently contribute for the Warriors.
1. Magic Johnson
Notable Achievements: 5× NBA Champion, 3× MVP, 3× Finals MVP, 9× All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12× All-Star
Erving “Magic” Johnson holds the top spot of the best Point Guards in the NBA. He revolutionized the Point Guard position with his unique combination of size, skill, and impact on the game.
At 6’9″, Magic was an enormous point guard, which was unprecedented at the time. His size allowed him to see over defenders and make passes that other smaller point guards simply couldn’t.
Magic could pass in a way that combined the traditional playmaking role of a point guard with the vision of a forward. He set a new standard for playmaking and skill at the position.
Magic led the league in assists four times during his career and averaged 11.2 assists per game for his career, which ranks among the all-time leaders. His ability to set up teammates and run an offense effectively made him the ultimate floor general.
His no-look passes and behind-the-back assists became signature moves. These passes were not just flashy – they were effective and often led to easy baskets. Such skill helped him dominate as a playmaker.
Over his career, Magic averaged 19.5 points per game and could score in a variety of ways. His height and skills allowed him to get to the basket, and he was also a capable mid-range shooter. Moreover, his ability to score when necessary meant he could take over games when his team needed it.
Lastly, Magic was a vocal leader on and off the court. His charisma, confidence, and ability to inspire his teammates were central to the Lakers’ success. He was often the catalyst for the team’s “Showtime” era, an up-tempo style of play that became synonymous with the Lakers.
Many NBA betting sites give Magic the nod as the Point Guard to beat. Given the excellence he showcased throughout his illustrious career, we can see why that’s the case.