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 10 guys who were the top point guards in the league this season:
10) Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Lowry (17.8 ppg, 6.8 apg) made his first All-Star team this season, and rightfully so. He led a Raptors team that finished in fourth in the Eastern Conference, and he uses his elite strength to get into the lane, where he create plays for himself and his teammates.
9) Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
Teague (15.9 ppg, 7.0 ppg) is the leader of the Eastern Conference regular season champs, yet he doesn't always get the credit he deserves. His game-breaking speed and quickness create shots for himself and others, but his lack of an elite skill on either end of the floor keeps him from taking his game to another level.
8 ) Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
It’s hard to keep someone who’s helped lead the Bulls to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference out of the top five, but missing as many games as he has doesn’t help. Rose simply can’t stay on the court for a full season. He has boasted a stat line of 17.7 points and 4.9 assists, but he's only ramped things up in the playoffs.
7) Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
Few expected Conley to develop into the player he is today, and it doesn’t help that he’s started for an under-the-radar Grizzlies team. On that note, Conley has made his presence known this season following an impressive outing last season. Conley, who is averaging 15.8 points and 5.4 assists, has proven he can distribute the ball accordingly to his talented bigs in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph as well as score when needed.
6) Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
If these rankings were based on being clutch, Lillard would have a strong case for the top spot. Lillard has developed into a big-time player in just three years, and he also shows up when the lights are brightest. All he has left is to improve on the defensive end, where he has begun to show improvement. Lillard is currently averaging 21.0 points and 6.2 assists while helping to carry Trail Blazers team that has been ravaged by injuries.
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, Irving is not only among the league’s best ball handlers, he’s also a consistent stat sheet filler for the Cavaliers - and he has the two highest scoring games in the NBA this season (55, 57).
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 averaging 17.6 points and 10.0 assists per game this 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. Blake Griffin may get the glory (and mostly deservedly so), but 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 D) 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 the 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, but he wasn’t able to keep the Thunder from falling out of the postseason. Despite his ridiculous numbers, the lack of team success puts him at five.
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 NBA2K15 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, Currynarrowly 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. Throw in one of the best regular seasons in NBA history (Curry led the Warriors to a 67-15 record), and you have all the ingredients for an MVP season.
Back to the NBA Newsfeed