Basketball has changed a lot! Just look at how the best point guards play today. They don’t just pass the ball anymore; they score, drive the court, and run the whole team. Whether pulling up for deep shots or making amazing passes, these top NBA PG players control the game.
Here is our ranking of the best PGs in NBA of all time!
Magic Johnson
When people talk about the best point guards in NBA history, Magic Johnson usually sits right at the top of the list. As the legendary leader of the Los Angeles Lakers, he brought pure excitement to the court.
Magic was not only an excellent player but a complete entertainer. He enjoyed playing the fast break and made flashy passes that left everyone in awe. However, Magic was not simply playing to put up a show. He was a true winner who delivered his best in crucial moments. All this, along with his enormous and friendly smile and charisma, made Magic an ideal superstar and one of the most entertaining players in history.
He won 5 NBA championships, 3 Finals MVPs, 3 season MVPs, made it to 12 All-Star teams, and won an Olympic gold medal. With a total point tally of 17,707 points at a rate of 19.5 ppg, Johnson is undoubtedly a top PG throughout the NBA’s venerable history.
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry completely changed how basketball is played. Before him, teams rarely focused so heavily on three-pointers. Today, almost every player on the court needs to shoot from deep just to keep up.
While everyone knows he is the single greatest shooter in basketball history, Steph is also an amazing playmaker and passer with elite dribbling skills. He keeps defences guessing every second he’s on the floor. He continues to play at an elite, All-Star level year after year. If he keeps this up, his case for being the single best point guard ever will only get stronger.
He won four NBA championships, one Finals MVP, and two NBA MVP awards. He was chosen as an All-Star 12 times and won an Olympic gold medal along wth 2 FIBA world championships.
Oscar Robertson
Before anyone else did it, Oscar “The Big O” Robertson was the very first player in NBA history to average a triple-double across an entire season. He could score at will, grab rebounds like a big man, and set up his teammates for easy baskets as one of the best point guards to ever play.
For many years, he did not win many games with the first team he played for, but once he teamed up with a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Milwaukee, he finally captured that well-deserved NBA championship. He’s easily one of the most complete, all-around point guards in basketball history.
He won an NBA championship, a season MVP award, 9 All-NBA First Team and 12 All-Star teams, and won an Olympic gold medal.
Jerry West
Jerry West is one of the most iconic figures in basketball history, so iconic that his silhouette is actually the NBA logo! As a player, he was an elite combo guard who could score at will, knock down jump shots from anywhere, and set up his teammates with ease.
West was an All-Star in every single season of his career, showing just why he belongs among the best point guards the game has ever seen. Though he famously suffered heartbreak in the Finals multiple times against the Boston Celtics, no one could ever blame him; he put up incredible, heroic numbers every time he stepped onto the floor.
He won 1 NBA championship, 1 Finals MVP, 10 All-NBA First Team, 14 All-Star teams, 4 All-Defensive First Teams, and won an Olympic gold medal.
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas was the ultimate combination of pure skill and fierce grit. Operating as the heart, soul, and leader of the famous “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons, he wasn’t afraid of anybody, famously beating Michael Jordan’s Bulls in three straight playoff matchups in the late 1980s.
Thomas could weave through defences to score off the dribble just as easily as he could set up his teammates with pinpoint passes. While a relatively short career kept his total stats from climbing even higher, his competitive drive and championship pedigree solidify his spot as one of the best point guards to ever step onto the floor.
He won 2 NBA championships, 1 Finals MVP, 3 All-NBA First Teams, and made 12 All-Star teams.
Who’s Your GOAT?
At the end of the day, who’s actually the best point guard to ever do it? Whether you’re all about Magic’s legendary flashy passes, Steph’s game-changing three-pointers, or the pure grit of icons like Isiah, Jerry, and Oscar, every era has given us total greatness.
Ask ten different fans, and you’ll probably get ten different answers, but there’s no denying it: these guys completely reshaped how the game is played. So, who’s taking the #1 spot on your personal list?
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