Ranking the Top 5 Point Guards of All Time
The point guard position has evolved from traditional floor generals like Magic Johnson and John Stockton who orchestrated offenses through passing to modern revolutionaries like Stephen Curry who've transformed the role into a scoring-first weapon.
The point guard role has seen some of the most revolutionary players in basketball. No-look passes to game defining three pointers.
These floor generals have defined eras and influenced the way the game is played. The following is our top five all-time point runners.
5. Oscar Robertson
The Big O was doing triple-doubles when they were not common. Robertson averaged a triple-double during one season in 1961-62 and demonstrated that a point guard could take over all aspects of the game.
His multi-skilled nature was unmatched in his time, he was able to score, rebound, and facilitate at the highest levels at the same time.
Although he won an NBA Championship only once, his overall superiority transformed the expectations of the role
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4. John Stockton
The figures say it all: Stockton is the NBA all-time leader in assists with 15,806, which appears to be unbreakable.
His pick-and-roll partnership with Karl Malone was the template of two-man games, and his defensive tenacity was frequently ignored.
He was incredibly consistent, having played 19 seasons without missing any major time despite his physical style.
His longevity and records make him a top-five player, the only asterisk on his resume is the absence of a championship.
3. Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas was the heart of the Bad Boys of Detroit, he showed that size does not make greatness.
He took the Pistons to two consecutive championships in 1989 and 1990, passing through Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan.
His gutsiest moment in basketball was his Game 6 of the 1988 Finals performance, when he scored 25 points on a severely sprained ankle in a quarter.
Thomas was a complete player who took his game to the next level when it mattered.
John Stockton
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2. Stephen Curry
The revolutionary shooter who transformed basketball. The four championships, two MVPs (including the only unanimous MVP in history), and the fact that Curry is the greatest shooter of all time make his case hard to deny.
He is the all-time NBA leader in three-point shots and demonstrated that shooting 30 feet is not careless, it is effective. The 37 year old continues to play at an elite level.
Although the traditionalists argue on whether he is a 'true' point guard, Curry has changed the way the position might be in the contemporary NBA.
1. Magic Johnson
At 6'9, Magic was the most unique point guard in basketball. His five championships, three Finals MVPs, and three regular season MVPs are just a part of the story.
Johnson scored 19.5 points, 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds on average and made the Showtime Lakers the most entertaining offense in basketball. In 12 seasons, he took LA Lakers to nine Finals, an incredible 75 percent success.
The size, vision, leadership and winning mentality made Magic stand out among the rest. The argument with Curry will only escalate, yet the number of championships and overall dominance of Magic makes him stay on the top.
Magic Johnson
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