Who is the best point guard in the NBA?

The youngest pick of the bunch, Cunningham is learning hard lessons about resilience in Detroit this season. There is much blame for the Piston’s horrific losing, but Cunnnginham is not responsible. The former 2021 number one pick is averaging career-highs in points (22.6) and assists (7.5). Over the Pistons’ last 25 games he’s averaged a staggering 23 PPG, 7.4 APG on 49%/39%/83%. And since the All-Star break, nobody in the league has shot better from three than Cunningham. What else can a young buck do to get his team back on track? Thankfully, it can’t get worse, making the future for at least Cunningham, brighter than the present.

Yes, the Bucks have missed Jrue Holiday. Yes, Lillard has not propelled them to the heights many assumed he would. But do not forget what “Dame Time” means even in 2024. The All-Star Game reminded the doubters and fools who have written Lillard off as washed. He won the three-point shoot-out and All-Star MVP, showing his love of big moments and clutch opportunities. Lillard has his best chance to win an elusive championship this season and will need to be the primary decision-maker on the floor to make up for head coach Doc Rivers’s unreliability as a play-caller.

Irving has lost a step, which is expected at 31. But the best barometer to gauge someone’s understanding of the NBA and the strength of their eye test is how they feel about Irving. To call him not one of the 10 best guards, even as the second fiddle to Dončić in Dallas, is dumb. As the starting point guard for Dallas, Irving is one of the most skilled players ever to grace an NBA floor and possesses, arguably, the best handle of all time. It’s just been about getting Irving and Dončić healthy simultaneously. Irving has been superb in his secondary role, posting a line of 25.5 PPG, 5 RPG and 5 APG

Last year’s winner of the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year, he currently sits sixth in clutch points (3.8 ppg) while notching career highs in points (27), steals (1.9), rebounds (4.3) and 3PT percentage (37%). Similar to the Denver duo, Fox and teammate Domantas Sabonis represent the modern evolution of the big/little duo, with Sabonis initiating dribble-hand-offs and playmaking, while Fox is the primary scorer. Fox is itching to get out of the first round for the first time in his career and it will take him continuing his rapid ascension as a three-level scorer to lead the way.

Partnering with Nikola Jokić to form the best big/little in the NBA and winning the NBA championship last season was enough to solidify Murray’s return to greatness after multiple seasons out with various injuries. Murray handles most of the off-ball scoring for the Nuggets, as Jokic is Denver’s natural playmaker and facilitator. But as a scoring threat, Murray is aiming to defend the Nuggets crown with his second-best scoring average (21.1 PG), career-high assists (6.5 PG), field goal shooting (48.1%) and from three (42.2%). As with his entire career, he will need to stay healthy for the Nuggets to have a chance at repeating. His recent ankle sprain will be the team’s biggest test at maintaining continuity and durability.

In just his fourth season, and playing in one of the league’s smallest markets, Haliburton has established himself as a household name. This is much in part to his league best 11.3 APG for the NBA’s best offense. While controversial at the time, the Pacers trade for him in 2022 has revitalized their offense under head coach Rick Carlise and signaled Indiana is finally serious about contention. Since joining the league in 1976, the Pacers have had just three faces of the franchise (Reggie Miller, Jermaine O’Neal and Paul George) and Haliburton’s charisma and limitless ceiling has them on track for national recognition as they continue their rise.

Don’t let his gun controversy and fake gangster pathos fool you. Morant is the most athletic point guard in the NBA and an all-out dog when he’s eligible to play. Morant’s obsession with guns and acting tough has obscured his worth to the league and his team, as the Grizzlies are primed to miss the Play-In this season after he served a 25 game suspension before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Which is a damn shame, as tMorant was balling before he got hurt, averaging 25 PPG and 8 APG in the nine games between suspension and injury. Morant is not only the most athletic guard in the NBA, but the most athletic player, period. His rim-rattling dunks and devastating first step will have him climbing this list for years to come — as long as he straightens out his act off the court.

Only the great Magic Johnson can be placed before Curry as the greatest point guard of all time. Curry is Magic’s successor as the charismatic face of the position as well, capable of selling just about anything with his million-dollar smile and family man persona. On the court, Curry has solidified himself as history’s preeminent shooter, with two MVPs, four championships and a Finals MVP on his resume. At this point, only age and a declining Warriors roster has him out of first place. The window for Golden State’s title hopes might be closed, but there is plenty of time for Curry to add to his statistical achievements before it’s all said and done. At the end of the day, he has nothing to prove.

Nobody gets to the rim better than Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s damn near unstoppable going downhill. His 31.1 PPG is second-best in the NBA and good enough to pull the OKC Thunder out of a rebuild and into contention. He recently posted his 44th 30-point game, the most through the first 60 games of a season since Michael Jordan’s legendary run in 1987-88. That’s some elite company, but no surprise for last year’s First Team ALl-NBA and this season’s MVP candidate.

Brunson is starting to look like the second coming of Chris Paul, just without the lousy attitude. He is making his teammates better at a clip even his former teammate Dončić can’t claim, elevating the Knicks’ deep roster with a next-man-up mentality after numerous injuries. He can seemingly play with anyone, as the team has traded all of their young core for veterans without missing a beat. What makes Brunson great is his footwork in the paint, increasingly lethal three-point shot (40.3%), and unrelenting desire to get better. This season, his career high in points, 27.1 PG, is good for seventh best in the NBA, and his 6.5 APG is tied for 13th. Brunson has been the best signing in Knicks franchise history and has the team back to championship contention for the first time in 3o years.