Why point guards are ruling the NBA

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In today’s NBA, the point guard position is in good hands. Like, lots of them, which is to say they are, to use a basketball term … a dime a dozen?
Throwing passes that lead to buckets, controlling the flow and the floor (and, in plenty of cases, leading their team in scoring), the position arguably has never been richer.
Title contenders, playoff teams and rebuilding teams all have this in common: Chances are they’re either blessed with a solid point guard or developing one heading in that direction.
Or listen to this hot take from someone with perspective at the point:
“What we’re seeing is a group that’s very talented and very deep,” Jason Kidd said.
Before he became the Dallas Mavericks’ coach, Kidd led the previous generation of point guards with consistent all-around play that punched his ticket to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. Today, he coaches Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić, both of whom will one day follow him into the Hall.
“You look at the league now, guards are talented, their shooting range is a lot deeper, they have the ball 98% of the time,” Kidd said.
In certain situations, that’s true. But there are exceptions (the Denver Nuggets, for example, run their offense through Nikola Jokić, not Jamal Murray). Still, the overall skill level is high, and it’s evident almost on a nightly basis — like Wednesday when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander meets Stephen Curry in the Thunder-Warriors matchup (10 ET, ESPN).
The obvious difference between Kidd’s time and now is the number of scoring point guards — a skill almost required to play the position. The days of Mark Jackson and John Stockton as pass-first purists are about over. In some situations, point guards are asked to be their team’s leading scorer or second option.
“De’Aaron Fox just had 109 points in two nights,” said Kidd about the Kings guard. “That’s the mentality today. These young men are different than in the past. They have all the moves and the shooting range they learned at a young age. It’s all very impressive.”
Four point guards are currently among the top 10 scorers in the league. LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets and Dončić are No. 1 and No. 2 in average shot attempts per game, and of the top seven players on this list, five are point guards.
Here are the point guard tiers that reflect the quality and the depth:
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: Is he a true point guard, or does he just play one in the games? That conversation followed Curry throughout his career, especially with much of the Warriors’ offensive flow running through Draymond Green. Still, Curry’s passing remains very understated, which is understandable given how it’s overshadowed by his unmatched 3-point shooting.
James Harden, LA Clippers: While not officially listed as a point guard, Harden has assumed the responsibilities since he left Oklahoma City more than a decade ago. A two-time assist champion, his scoring (three NBA scoring titles) has overwhelmed his solid playmaking skills.
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks: Owner of perhaps the trickiest handle in history, Irving creates more off the dribble than many of those who ever played the game. That amounts to numerous opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks: His place in this conversation is almost exclusively due to his deep shooting. Lillard defines the scoring-point-guard designation more than most. He has been a decent passer throughout his career (6.7 career assists) but tends to trust his shot when given the choice, especially with the game on the line.
Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs: The oldest of the bunch, Paul has transitioned into a new role as a mentor. He once tutored Gilgeous-Alexander for a season in Oklahoma City and is doing the same with rookie Stephon Castle in San Antonio this season. That doesn’t mean Paul is all talk and no action. He has five career assist titles and is at it again, ranking among the best at 8.3 apg.
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks: A game-changer and Kia MVP contender, Dončić is the game’s most do-it-all point guard, elite at the three phases: scoring, passing and rebounding. His defense remains a work in progress, though.
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings: A true clutch performer, Fox gives the Kings their best chance to win close games when the ball is in his hands. In those situations, he usually makes the right decision, whether to pass or shoot.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder: The runner-up in the Kia MVP vote last season, Gilgeous-Alexander has few (if any) peers in terms of scoring point guards. His playmaking and ability to find teammates have improved in the last few seasons.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies: The most athletic player at a position that doesn’t demand as much, Morant is thrilling to watch and spends more time in the air than any of his counterparts. Much like Gilgeous-Alexander, his passing and playmaking is starting to mature and give his game more balance.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks: When it comes to scoring and assists, few point guards can match his bundle. Young has been a fixture near the top of both lists over the last four seasons. His defense may never measure up because of his size, but the pluses in his game outweigh the minuses.
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets: Currently on a scoring binge and assembling a breakout season, Ball is scorching in the right direction and slowly becoming an entertaining, must-watch player. He just needs to win more games.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks: He established himself as a premier point guard over the last few seasons (he was NBA All-Second Team in 2023-24). Yet, despite his age (28), the best may still lie ahead. His passing, the weakest part of his game, is improving.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: When healthy, he’s a handful, combining smarts and court vision. But because he plays on a developing team that’s trying to gain traction, his feats largely go under the radar.
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia Sixers: He’s a blur with the ball and able to find the comfort spots on the floor, which has helped him to rapidly develop into a scorer (he’s averaging 24.4 ppg) and serves as Robin to Joel Embiid’s Batman. He’s not a great playmaker, though (4.1 career apg), and he hasn’t used passing as a weapon just yet.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls. He announced his arrival last season with a breakout, and now he’s confirming his place with a solid follow-up. Two years ago, his impact was mild. Now, he’s arguably the Bulls’ best player.
Others rate highly, too — Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers led the league in assists last season. Jamal Murray has learned to play more off the ball next to Jokić, much like Darius Garland with Donovan Mitchell on the East-leading Cavs.
Kidd predicts this complex group will only grow soon.
“You have 13- and 14-year-olds playing with the pros in pickup games,” Kidd said. “A lot of sons of ex-players are playing at a high level right now. For them to be able to score 50 in a high school game, 40 in college, when they get to the league, they’re not scared. It’s very cool to see.”
Given the lack of depth among quality big men and how the game has evolved since Kidd’s time, it’s possible that the most valuable position could be point guard.
That’s good news for the NBA since it’s the position where talent doesn’t appear to be in short supply.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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