Whatever else you want to say about Brandon Knight, just dont say he never tries. His record and effect on the game, particularly offensively, are legendary, and its easy to see why. 1. Meanwhile, we are presenting the top 10 by position. The five best defensive centers of all time - Sportsnaut LeBron James, the best player in the NBA, is also the league's best point guard. In the history of the combine, only nine players have recorded better sprint and agility scores, and of those, only three had a better vertical than his 37.5 inches. That earned him the nickname Mr. When he does, he gets put off and his effort isnt there anymore. -- Pelton, So precise with his passes and timely with his shots. Widely known as one of the best, if not the best, point guards of all time, Chris Pauls offensive exploits are well-documented. This is to avoid confusion if you want to go to the original source.). And his athleticism gives him a leg up, which helps him dominate. Defensively, Stockton had 3,265 steals the most all time during his 19-year career, helping him get 64.9 DWS. If you just look at his measurables, Chris Paul is not impressive. The Glove is hands down the best defender a the point guard position. Mario Chalmers lacks the speed and athleticism of most point guards in the league, and as a result, he usually gets the best seat in the arena to see various point guards blowing by on the way to the rim. Triple Double was so far ahead of his time in terms of size, speed, strength and stats. When he needs to button down, he does, but he also tends to take off the middle of games, relying heavily on the help defense. Its why Williams gives up .92 points per play in isolation, one of the worst averages among point guards. Teams Over the last decade, the best point guards such as Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and others have dominated the position. The total numbers were then adjusted to arrive at a score ranging between 90 (best) and 110 (worst). Bing, despite having one of his eyes injured, was an attacking force to be reckoned with. He sometimes gets tangled up and left hopelessly out of the play. Hes 63 with a 68 wingspan and an 83 standing reach. For many of these metrics, sample size becomes crucial. Hinrich always had a high basketball IQ. James is well-known for his incredible skill and ability to score big points, which frequently help his team win crucial games. In recent years, the sport's shift from a fundamental style of play to a more athletic, scoring-oriented game resulted in the proliferation of so-called combo guards at the point guard position. For that reason, subjective analysis was also included. Even point guards who are not given this much freedom, however, are still extensions of their coach on the floor and must display good leadership skills. Even when in position, he wont jump to challenge a shot. 7-time All-Star, 6-time All-NBA selection, 7-time All-D selection, Hall of Fame, Career stats Steph's ball-handling abilities make him a lethal ball-handler, as he can shake a defender at any time. Its amazing he doesnt get punched sometimes. James Harden's age: stats, contract, family, dating, net worth in 2022 and more. Greg Monroe has talent on the offensive side of the ball but not a whole lot on the defensive side. Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena denies outrageous Egypt claims, Brooklyn Nets comeback from 28 down to stun Boston Celtics, Alex Iwobi: Nigerian star set for possible exit at English Premier League club Everton, Premier League player caught inhaling laughing gas after a night out, Real Madrid identify Premier League star as 'Plan B' if Bellingham deal fails, Top 15 most handsome football players in the world in 2023. Three-time MVP (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90), three-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, Hall of Fame, Championships Sometimes hell even rush to defend the wrong guy while his man is draining a wide-open three. Other defenders deficiencies are hidden by being put on weaker offensive players. Players Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Honors: 2x MVP, 8x All-Stars, 7x All-NBA Selection, Hall of Famer. On Wednesday, we will have the top 10 shooting guards of all time, followed by small forwards, power forwards and centers. READ ALSO: James Harden's age: stats, contract, family, dating, net worth in 2022 and more. It is really hard to say anything about Lowrys help defense. Aware of his predilections, theyll pass the ball out to the perimeter, and simultaneous to the ball-handler catching it, theyll set a pick on Westbrook. Having above-average size (height, muscle) is considered advantageous, although size is secondary to situational awareness, speed, quickness, and ball handling skills. The list of the best defensive NBA point guards for 2022-23 starts off with two of the elite perimeter defenders overall. NBA: Ranking top 10 point guards ever - ESPN.com He finished the game with the most career postseason points and the highest average in a playoff series. Bledsoe just doesnt bring much energy to the defensive side of the court, which is a shame, because if he did, hed be a ball hawk. That can create an illusion of great defense where there is none. Total Defensive Plays per 36 Minutes, or TDP/36 is simply the total number of defensive rebounds, steals and blocks a player accrues every 36 minutes. 5-on-5: Will Curry pass Magic as best PG ever? They work harder, and they get things eventually, but not quite as well. But one in 20 is egregiously bad.). He gambles too much, and that often gets him caught out of the play. While that is by design, he shouldnt get the same credit as players who bring their full attention the entire time theyre on the court. Players Stats: 17.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Honors: 3x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Selection, 1988-1989 Most Improved Player. He does all those little things that dont show up in box scores. Even when he has to go under the pick, which is most of the time, hes so fast that hes able to close the distance before the ball-handler has time to do something with it. Its more than that. From there, hes playing catch up. He doesnt play on the ball physically, utilizing that advantage. Mike Conley is exceptionally quick, virtually teleporting himself from one part of the court to another at times. Notably, several modern point guards have used a successful style of post play, a tactic usually practiced by much larger centers and forwards. Sometimes his teammates bailed him out; sometimes the shot just didnt go in. Ranking 50 Greatest Point Guards in NBA History The relative value between players was not affected; they were merely weighted so that the metrics could be combined without any one metric dominating the others. Get to know about the top 15 all time best point guards in the NBA in Nash's sideways speed and power will be non-existent at some age, allowing for constant dribble. Since elite offensive players tend to have a higher usage rate, players that guard elite offensive players should also have more defensive plays. One of the great conundrums in rating defense is that teammates factor into it. Thomas was ultra-quick with the ball and, at any moment, could pull up for a deadly jump shot. Conley is generously listed at 61 and 180 pounds. If he tends to be the helped, he gets a worse score. One of the greatest point guards ever, Jason Kidd could make the flashy pass or the simple play with the best of them while also loving to hightail it in transition to wear opponents down in. His Synergy numbers compared to some of his team numbers validate that. He is so athletic and so strong for his size that hes been able to get away without learning lessons he should have. Many remember Ginobili for his offense, but he was also a capable defender. J.A. Lillard, on the other hand, is generally able to get things going from the perimeter anytime he wants. Im cheating a little here. The greatest point guard in NBA history. Simply put, defensive win shares (DWS) are defined by how many wins a player produces based on his defensive ability. Later in his career, he even improved as an outside shooter, which contributed significantly to his longevity. The other metrics help alleviate the extremes because they also indicate what a players personal defense does. Nowadays, the point guard is expected to do more than simply run plays; he or she must also be the teams offensive leader by putting up big numbers every night! When Gibson played with the starters, the Bulls gave up 10 fewer points per 100 possessions. However, the other side of the ball cant be overlooked because as the saying goes: defense wins championships.. Players Stats: 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, Honors: 1978-1979 Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 9x All-Defense Selection, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, Hall of Famer. Point guards are expected to be vocal floor leaders. John Stockton 6. For example, in the clutch, with the Rockets engaged in a playoff run, the team locked up in a tight battle with the San Antonio Spurs and the score close with less than five minutes remaining, Lin consistently showed the same 90 percent effort he always shows. Hed also be more willing to provide it. -- Adams, He could hurt defenses in so many ways: Controlling tempo was one, and he was a hell of a defender, too. He seemed to keep ahead of the play, moving to the next rotation a fraction of a second before the play even developed in that direction. Even players like Derek Fisher will hang him up and then hit him with the step-back. This year, without Rose, the Bulls were 23rd, at 21.0 points per game. Having said that, when hes playing off the ball, he knows where hes supposed to be, and hes usually there. -- Peterson, He's one of only a few players in history who has been deemed too good for the sport's own good. Normally this would be a list of FAQs, but no one has ever asked any questions (since no one has ever seen it). The ripple effect of that was that every single Bull had a worse defensive rating with Boozer than when playing with Gibson. Of course having book smarts doesnt preclude you from knowing what youre doing on the court either. The strength of this is that it shows what the other player does offensively. While his pick-and-roll stats, according to Synergy, are excellent, at .68 points per play, half the time he seems to get bailed out by his frontcourt. One of the most famous point guards of all time, Jason Kidd, could make a dazzling pass or a simple play with the finest in the game while also adoring to hightail it in transition to wear opponents down. He doesnt put a lot of effort into chasing his man through screens. Defensive Points per Play Synergy tracks every play of every game of the season and, when possible (as it is not always possible), they assign an. Russ is already on the verge of breaking into the top five of all time, but its going to be a challenge. Ben Wallace 12. (Note: Players chosen only if they have played as a shooting guard for most, if not all, of their career.). Hell get to the corners to challenge threes; hell pick off passes; hell get rebounds; hell get some chase-down blocks. In the past, this was particularly true, as several point guards such as Lenny Wilkens served their teams as player coaches. -- Adams, Combined savvy with underrated strength. Although Drexler never made an All-Defensive Team in his career, he did average two steals per game for his 15-year career. Many consider Bob Cousy to be a passionate athlete who was the first All-Star and dominating player for the Boston Celtics squad that included legends like Bill Russell and Kevin Collier. The Top 100 will begin to roll out next week. His wingspan isnt much better at just 64. Dame is better than ever, but the Blazers are stuck in quicksand His MVP season, he had the second-best block total by a point guard in history (although John Wall exceeded that total last year.). His career averages of 27 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 7.0 APG were arguably the best ever put up by a point guard when he retired in 1974. Other individual metrics and team metrics thin out the impact of those factors. He was second among point guards in defensive rebounds per 36 minutes. For this reason, a small penalty was exacted for every minute under 30 minutes, and a small bonus was provided over 30 minutes. If he's not on the slide and he played 1,200 minutes, he should be on this list somewhere. Wilt Chamberlain 14. As a result, the picks work extremely well. Hes able to use that size advantage by being physical, playing close and aggressive, often forcing shooters into shots they arent comfortable taking. Speed is important; a speedy point guard is better able to create separation and space off the dribble, giving themselves room to work. Point guard from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America 3 Jason Kidd Point guard from California, United States of America 4 Walt Frazier Point guard from Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America 5 Dennis Johnson 6 Fat Lever Point guard and Shooting guard from Pine Bluff, Arkansas load more Lillard has been one of the NBA's most dangerous scorers, capable of striking shots from anywhere on the floor. Thats rarely going to be because of a mental error, though. Hall of Famer was an impressive defensive player in his own right. Its like someone took a normal-sized person and stretched out the arms and hands to make him. One of basketballs most dynamic and versatile point guards in the modern era. For a position that was highly valued at the time, he brought a lot of sparkle, style, scoring, and domination to the court. He appears to communicate the wisdom hes accrued to his teammates. On the one hand, he doesnt seem cogent enough of his surroundings most of the time to really offer any. And, there are also times when he does the bailing out. Conley looked away from Billups and was pointing vehemently to Paul, trying to tell Allen to get over there and cover him. Holiday wouldnt just go under the pick; he would go too far under the pick. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position. Defensively, Stockton had 3,265 steals the most all time during his 19-year. For his career, Jordan averaged 2.3 steals (third all-time) and 4.2 DWS per year. Additionally, the 10-time All-Star and Hall of Famer was an impressive defensive player in his own right. His offensive style has been revamped to incorporate a powerful mid-range jumper along with some range as well. -- Adams, The fashion forerunner to Russell Westbrook. While he is frequently noted for his ability to see the court and make the right play on offense, he doesnt get the same recognition on the defensive end. While hes able to keep himself from getting pushed around when point guards, or even shooting guards, try and post up on him, hes not able to dig through picks the way the other three are. With both, its the combination of their size and speed that makes them so phenomenal. 3. Scouting isnt the same as just watching games. The Cleveland Cavaliers relied heavily on Kyrie Irving to take and hit huge shots, even when he was partnered with LeBron James. All-Time #NBArank: Top 10 point guards ever, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. He has decent size for a point guard, at 63 but he doesnt have much of a vertical: 28.5.. Players Stats: 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Thats a difference of almost five points a game given up to point guards. The number in the parentheses indicates where they ranked in that category. Doc Rivers has had a lot of input into how Rondo plays the game. -- Pelton, Today's children will ask, "Who was the Steph Curry before Steph Curry?" He gets a higher score here than he technically deserves because he tries so hard. He was an All-Star every year of his career and led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals appearances. He doesnt cheat in either direction, though. It tracks the production of a players counterpart while he is on the court. In addition to the traditional role of the point guard, modern teams have found new ways to utilize the position. -- Peterson, Teams -- Peterson, A menace on both ends of the court, Frazier was at his best in the 1970 NBA Finals when tallied 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds in a title-clinching Game 7. Does he make stupid fouls or smart fouls? He gave up 1.01 points per play on the spot-up last year. He can be stagnant when his man doesnt have the ball. When he does do it, he does it half-heartedly. Jrue Holiday is making . Bledsoe is not a great help defender, in spite of boasting a -4.9 net defensive rating. During his career, he was selected to nine All-NBA Defensive Teams and five All-Star teams. It seems so much of Conley is either there or not there; you get it or you dont get it. At 63, with a wingspan of almost 68, he has decent size. Anyways, we hope you enjoyed going through the rankings with Magic Johnson securing first place in the Top 10 NBA point guards of all time. His huge hands allowed him to pass as effectively with one hand as most could with two. Paradoxically tough on the court and flashy off of it, Frazier epitomized the '70s-era backcourt style in which roles were less defined. There are few players on this list who can match his incredible scoring, rebounding, and playmaking prowess. He applies every bit of failing athleticism he has all the time. Just because someone gets past him doesnt mean theyre going to score. Watching a thing, and watching for a thing, are different. A point guard should always look out for teammates and be able to pass well. Its possible for Nash to be the whole offense and to shoot 50-40-90 from the field on a continuous basis. Nixon played 6 seasons with the Lakers, making the All-Star Teams in 1982 and 1982 when he posted 17.6 PPG and 17.2 PPG respectively. A point guard specializes in certain skills, like other player positions in basketball. Second, having a five-point range on a 22-point scale prevents any one statistic from overly dominating the others. The .72 points per play he gives up in isolation is elite-level defense. Hopefully he can break it. Its also a big part of why he has the most defensive plays per 36 minutes, using his quickness to get to those long rebounds. For Rose, his biggest issues on both sides of the ball have to do with fundamentals and understanding. Gary Payton was born on July 23, 1968, and is widely regarded as one of the best defensive point guards of all time. The 10 Best Tall Point Guards in NBA History - Plus 2 Clothing -- Pelton, No player his size, 6-foot-3, has ever bent defenses to his will as Curry does.

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best defensive point guards of all time