With the NBA season right around the corner, now is as good a time as any to take stock of the best talent around the league. So before the regular season officially begins, Sports Illustrated will be ranking the top five players at every position in the NBA. Here, we are focusing on point guards, a loaded position with players who employ very different styles.
Apologies to: Jamal Murray, Tyrese Haliburton
5. De’Aaron Fox
Fox saw the most efficient year of his career last season.
Bob Frid/USA TODAY Sports
Fox was the lead guard for one of the best offenses in NBA history last season, so leaving him off this list would be difficult for me. Paired with a great coach and a competent roster—a rarity in Sacramento—Fox thrived in the 2022–23 season. He averaged 25/4/6 on over 50% shooting from the field. It was the most efficient year of Fox’s career, and his two-man game with Domantas Sabonis propelled the Kings to the third seed in the West. If not for an ill-timed injury in the playoffs, Fox may have even been responsible for knocking out the Warriors in Round 1.
4. Damian Lillard
Life will be easier for Lillard in Milwaukee, which should terrify opposing coaches all season long.
Jonathan Hui/USA TODAY Sports
Lillard arguably had the best season of his life in 2022–23, averaging 32.2 points a night on 46.3% shooting. He was deadly efficient, particularly in the pick-and-roll, slicing up opposing defenses with ease. Lillard’s brilliance wasn’t enough to lift up a moribund Blazers team, though, and he missed the final chunk of the season so Portland could tank. Lillard should benefit greatly from playing with the Bucks, and the thought of his life being easier on offense should keep opposing coaches from getting much sleep before games against Milwaukee. The spotlight on Lillard’s defense will be brighter than ever before, however. And how he holds up on that end should go a long way in determining the Bucks’ success.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA uses his size to battle his way into the paint, where he’s adept at finishing at the rim or drawing fouls.
Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports
I’m not sure anyone has ever averaged 31.4 points as quietly as Gilgeous-Alexander did in 2022–23. He was a revelation for the Thunder, basically forcing the team to be taken seriously as it now seemingly finally emerges from a Process-like rebuild. SGA is a unique scorer at his position. He uses his size to battle his way into the paint, where he’s adept at finishing at the rim or drawing fouls. Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10.9 free throws a night last year, a big reason for his increased scoring output. Despite being a capable shooter, SGA took only 2.5 threes per game in ’22–23, his fewest number of attempts since his rookie year. The patience and maturity Gilgeous-Alexander uses to get to his spots more closely resemble a grizzled vet than a 25-year-old. As he adds to his game, he should be near the top of this list for years to come.
2. Luka Dončić
Dončić is one o fthe most impactful players at any position in the league.
Kamran Jebreili/AP
You don’t really need it explained why Luka is great, do you? He may be the NBA player best at truly carrying an offense on his back, that is, taking the ball up the floor every single possession and bending the defense until a great shot is created for either himself or a teammate. When Luka really gets going—as in, the stepback three is falling that night—there is really no stopping him. The defense and conditioning could be slightly better, sure, but that’s nitpicking. Dončić is one of the most impactful players at any position, and no one else in the league is carrying the weight he is on the offensive end of the floor for Dallas.
1. Stephen Curry
There is still no player creating as many easy baskets for his teammates as Curry.
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports
Even at 35 years old, no one puts as much stress on a defense as Steph. What he lacks in dribbling the air out of the ball at the top of the key while waiting for a screen, Curry makes up for in his dogged commitment to moving off the ball. The Warriors’ offense, which often features two nonshooters, is juiced almost entirely by Curry’s presence on the floor. He must be accounted for on every inch of the court for every second he’s on—otherwise he’s drilling an open three. There is still no player creating as many easy baskets for his teammates as Steph, who springs multiple wide-open layups a game for whoever else is on the floor because of his shooting prowess. Combine that with his killer instinct in high-stakes moments and championship credentials. If your team wants to win a title in 2024, there are maybe only a couple of players worth taking over Curry.
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