Rajon Rondo clearly doesn’t lack for confidence. That’s a good thing for him and the Boston Celtics. It’s even better for journalists. Earlier this summer, Rondo said he thinks he’s the best point guard in the NBA today.
Again, I have no problem with him saying that. But it got me thinking…
Who’s the best point guard of all-time?
Magic averaged the most assists per-game over a career, 11.2 APG. He was just as good in the playoffs, where he dished out more assists than anyone else.
Stockton has the most career assists and steals. The NBA’s iron man, he missed just 22 games in 19 years.
Cousy won the most rings of any point guard, 6. He revolutionized the position.
Mr. Triple Double, did just about everything except drive the team bus.
He’d spend the first 40 minutes of every game getting his teammates involved and when it came down to crunch time, he’d take over. Remember Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals?
They each have a great case for the title of greatest point guard of all-time.
But I’m not here to debate exactly where a point guard should be ranked.
The more important question is what makes a great point guard.
Do you value sheer volume of assists? That’s fine. Your top-5 list starts off with Stockton. But it would also have Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson ahead of Magic.
Do you want your point guard to score? The Big O filled it up quite nicely. His 26,710 points ranks him 10th all-time. Allen Iverson is 2nd on that list, 17th most points all-time (yes, I know he was considered a shooting guard as well).
Racking up assists and points are useful qualities but there’s more to the debate than statistics.
What about the rings?
I understand that in team sports, championships can’t be the end-all be-all, but they have to matter. If the point guard is the floor general and running the offense, shouldn’t the final result have an impact on his legacy? You can’t control being drafted onto a terrible team or running up against a dynasty, or even playing with one. But that doesn’t mean you get a hall pass.
Cousy won six championships. Magic is second with five. But that list means Derek Fisheris tied with Magic and with all due respect to Mr. Fisher, I’m not sure he’d make a top-5 point guard list during any year of his career.
So what makes a great point guard?
Merriam-Webster defines the point guard as “a guard in basketball who is chiefly responsible for running the offense.”
To me, the point guard is the quarterback; the starting pitcher; the goalie. He dictates the tempo, controls the rhythm, and more often than not, determines the outcome.
I want my point guard to be able to fill up a box score when his team needs someone take over.
I want my point guard to make his teammates better. Does it look like I could score 10-12 every night with this guy running the show?
Most of all, I want my point guard to be clutch. He doesn’t have to score himself, but he better be the reason his team excels late in the game.
Here’s my all-time top-5 Point Guard list [CLNS Radio Staff Ranking]:
- Magic Johnson [1st] – 1st in assists per game (11.2), 3 regular season MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs – filled the box score and jewelry box
- Isiah Thomas [5th] – 5th all-time in assists per game (9.3), raised PPG/APG/RPG in the playoffs – knew exactly when to take over a game.
- Bob Cousy [4th] – led the NBA in assists 8 straight years – revolutionized the position
- Oscar Robertson [2nd] – 4th most assists per game (9.5), 9th most points per game (25.7) – averaged a triple-double for five straight seasons.
- John Stockton [3rd] – Most assists all-time and most steals all-time – has anyone run the pick-and-roll better?
My current top-5 point guards [CLNS Radio Staff Ranking]:
- Chris Paul [1st] – 3rd highest assists per game average (9.8), led NBA in steals four times – You say he’s never made it past the second round? I say he improves his scoring, rebounding, and assist averages in the playoffs. The best PG at taking over games in crunch time.
- Rajon Rondo [2nd] – today’s Mr. Triple Double and he lead the league in assists with 11.7 a game in 2011-2012. He can do this. And this.
- Steve Nash [7th]- 2-time MVP and 4-time member of the 50-40-90 club – Has anyone allowed more players to sign undeserved contracts than Nash? You can’t tell me with a straight face it wouldn’t be more fun to play with him than anyone else.
- Derrick Rose [3rd]- Youngest MVP in NBA history and the fastest player in the game – his team’s primary (and secondary and third) scoring option
- Tony Parker [6th] – 3 rings (second only to Fisher) and has evolved from taking a back seat on a champion to being the leader of a team with a top-10 player in NBA history.
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