10. Mookie Blaylock
Daron Oshay “Mookie” Blaylock, a point guard standing 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 meters) tall, was known for his stellar defense during his NBA career.
His determination and defensive prowess made him one of the game’s best defensive stoppers, often outmaneuvering larger players to secure the ball.
Blaylock’s NBA career spanned 13 years, during which he played for the New Jersey Nets, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Golden State Warriors.
While with the Hawks, he became the team’s all-time leader in steals, a testament to his defensive skills. Additionally, Blaylock was ahead of his peers in 3-point shooting, further showcasing his versatility on the court.
After seven years with the Hawks, Blaylock moved on but his career trajectory changed.
He finished his career with the Golden State Warriors.
9. Walt Frazier
Walt Frazier is widely regarded as one of the best two-way point guards in NBA history, leading the New York Knicks to two NBA championships.
During his career, Frazier was selected for seven All-Star Games and named to seven All-Defensive First Teams.
The Knicks were a formidable team in the early 1970s, especially when Earl Monroe joined as another point guard.
Frazier’s career spanned from 1967 to 1979, and he retired with averages of 18.9 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.9 RPG.
8. Gary Payton
The Seattle SuperSonics selected Gary Payton with the second pick in the 1990 NBA Draft after he played college basketball at Oregon State.
During his first season, Payton started all 82 games he played and averaged two steals per game, earning him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
This tied him with 11 other rookies for 12th place in the league.
At the end of his fifth season in the league, Payton was chosen for the first of nine All-Star teams he would make over his career.
Before he retired, he played for the NBA champion Miami Heat in 2006, adding a highly sought-after championship to his resume. Payton has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
7. Bob Cousy
Robert Joseph Cousy is an American former professional basketball player.
Cousy was a point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly played for the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969–1970 season.
In 1957, the NBA named him the Most Valuable Player, and he was on the NBA All-Star team 13 times.
During the early years of the Celtics dynasty, he was an important part of the team.
He is considered the first great point guard in the National Basketball Association.
Cousy received a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross after making the varsity team as a junior in high school.
He led the Crusaders to spots in the 1948 and 1950 NCAA Tournaments and was named an NCAA All-American for three seasons.
After the 1950 basketball season, Cousy entered the NBA and continued to play until the 1969-70 season.
6. Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd was the perfect example of a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ point guard because he could score, pass the ball, and grab rebounds.
He earned the nickname ‘Mr. Triple Double’ due to his ability to accumulate points, assists, and rebounds in a single game. With 107 triple-doubles, he ranks fourth all-time.
Kidd, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame and named a 10-time All-Star, was also a great defensive player.
Throughout his career, he was chosen for the All-Defensive First Team four times and the All-Defensive Second Team five times.
5. Steve Nash
Steve Nash is the only player in the sport’s history to have compiled a 50-40-90 line while averaging 10 assists a game. He achieved this feat four times.
Nash’s teams have been highly rated offensively during his career.
Nevertheless, the greatest historical impact that Nash will leave behind will be paving the way for Stephen Curry and a new generation of point guards in a league that embraced point guards creating plays with a wide-open court.
Curry is one of the best point guards in the NBA today.
4. Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson, also known as ‘Big O,’ is a standard to which all other ‘versatile’ players are compared.
His career scoring average of 25.7 points per game ranks among the highest for retired players, and he averaged 30 points or more in six seasons.
Six players have surpassed Robertson’s career record of 9,887 assists. Some people believe that Robertson’s record was set at a time when an assist wasn’t given as much credit as it is now.
Robertson averaged 7.5 rebounds per game throughout his career.
It’s a testament to Robertson’s versatility that he once led his team in rebounding.
The Big O changed the role of the basketball guard, paving the way for players like Magic Johnson and others.
3. Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas, also known as “Zeke,” was one of the best point guards in the (NBA).
He was a well-liked sports figure in Detroit and led the Pistons to two NBA titles.
Thomas was known for his intense and competitive nature on the court.
His ability to play through pain and his rough-and-tumble style of play often meant that he played while hurt.
Thomas was a player who put the needs of the team ahead of his own, but he also had a great record of success individually.
In the 13 years he played for the Pistons, he set records for points, assists, steals, and games played, making him the team’s all-time leader in those categories.
He was picked for the All-Star Team 12 times, not every year except his last.
In 1990, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals.
2. John Stockton
John Stockton is considered one of the best point guards of all time due to his exceptional basketball skills, particularly in passing and stealing.
He holds the NBA’s all-time records for assists and steals, with 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals, showcasing his unparalleled playmaking and defensive abilities.
Stockton was known for his remarkable court vision, durability, and consistency, as well as his high shooting percentage, which is rare for a guard.
Despite not being flashy, his ability to deliver the ball with precision and his understanding of the game earned him a reputation as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.
His unique skills, leadership, and impact on the game have solidified his legacy as a top-tier point guard.
1. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is considered the greatest point guard of all time due to his unique combination of skills, including exceptional passing, scoring ability, leadership, and physical attributes.
He is also widely recognized for his numerous accolades, such as winning 5 NBA championships, 3 regular season MVPs, and an Olympic gold medal.
Widely known by his nickname, ‘Magic,’ in the basketball world, He earned this nickname because of his exceptional skills on the court, especially his passing ability.
In Magic’s rookie year in the NBA, his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, won the championship.
He stepped up in the NBA Finals when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured and was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals. Johnson’s average number of assists per game (11.2) is the highest in NBA history.
He was named league MVP three times and NBA Finals MVP three times. Johnson finished his career with 138 triple-doubles, which ranks him third in NBA history.