The NBA has increasing become a point guard driven league, and almost all of the league's top players have changed the way the position is played. Here are the five guys who were the top point guards in the league this season:
5) Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Many thought that Irving's spotlight would dim playing alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love, but it's only increased it. Averaging 21.7 points and 5.2 assists last season, Irving is not only among the league’s best ball handlers, he’s also a consistent stat sheet filler for the Cavaliers - and he had the two highest scoring games in the NBA last year (55, 57).
He will miss some time at the beginning of the year as he recovers from a fractured kneecap he suffered in the Finals, but he'll be as dominant as ever when he returns.
4) John Wall, Washington Wizards
Wall is blossoming into the very player the Wizards envisioned him to be, and has also emerged as one of the best facilitators in the league. Wall averaged 17.6 points and 10.0 assists per game last season, showcasing his versatility to both run a team and take over a game. Needless to say, Wall has worked his way towards the top of the league.
3) Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have been as ho-hum as a legitimate contender winning over 2/3 of their games can be, with critics quick to point out just what this team lacks rather than what has kept them afloat. However, Chris Paul remains the league’s most adept facilitator when it comes to a point guard getting the most out of the other players on the floor.
His scoring (19.1 ppg), passing (10.2 apg), and ability to seamlessly switch hats from shooter to traditional point guard (not to mention his all-world ability to lock down opposing guards on defense keeps him as one of the NBA’s elite.
2) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook (28.1 ppg, 8.6 apg, 7.3 rpg) missed a chunk of time at the beginning of last season, but he’s the biggest reason why Oklahoma City nearly made the playoffs. He went on an absolute rampage during the last few months of the season, recorded 11 triple-doubles, and won the league scoring title. He's the most athletic player in NBA history (yes, I said it), and plays with unmatched ferocity and intensity. Critics point to the multitude of shots he takes as a point guard, but with unmatched speed and quickness, a good three-point shot, deadly pull-up jumper, and insane finishing ability, it's easy to see why Westbrook has become one of the best players in the NBA.
1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry has officially taken the leap over the past year-plus, graduating from top-tier NBA marksman to the most deadly pure shooter in all of the NBA. Give Curry an inch, and he’ll confidently launch for 5, 10, 20, or 30 feet. Add to the mix his deadly first step and NBA2K16 set of handles, and Curry’s offensive game has opened up the floor for the rest of the NBA-best Warriors to get theirs.
Averaging 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game last year, Curry narrowly missed out on becoming just the 7th all-time member of the 50-40-90 club – shooting 48.7% from the field, 44.3% for three, and 91.4% from the free-throw line last season. Throw in one of the best regular seasons in NBA history (Curry led the Warriors to a 67-15 record), an MVP, and a Larry O'Brien trophy, and Curry is indispensible.
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