The best way to track how effective a player is on the defensive end is by looking at their cumulative defensive win shares. While no one always guards the best player, some players are much more likely to be guarding the other teams elite players, which makes them appear weaker defensively. Surely the most underappreciated great player in NBA history because he was quietly dependable rather than flashy and never broke through on the biggest stage. Then, after a single down year, he had y straight years of 2 steals per . And I never saw him go in the wrong direction, not once. "The Logo" Jerry West was an NBA Champion, a 14 time All-Star, ten time All-NBA First team selection, four time All-Defensive team selection, NBA scoring champion and an NBA assist leader. Top NBA point guards for 2022-23: Ranking all 30 starters | Sporting News TMGNNS LEBRON Sun, 4:30p DEN CLE 2/23, 4:00p BOS IND 2/23, 4:00p DET ORL 2/23, 4:00p MEM PHI 2/23, 4:30p NOP TOR. In all, Wade was a three-time All-Defensive Team selection (all on the 2nd team), his 1620 steals rank 31st all-time and hes had six seasons where he ranked top-20 in steals per game. Players Stats: 20.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Stats dont make a good argument, they make a good foundation for a good argument. He actually plays his best games against his best opponents. Hes not just ordinary quick, either; hes pesky-quick, with fast hands that dart in and take the ball out of the ball-handler's dribble with alarming frequency. The five best defensive point guards of all time Jarrod Castillo Dec 16, 2019; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul (3) directs his team during a play against the. Previously, Id had the impression that Rondo was beaten more often than he actually is and that Kevin Garnett just constantly bailed him out, which made his numbers look better than they are. In his heyday, Parker could score 25 points a night and seldom made poor choices with the ball. Closing out on jumpers is an issue, especially when coming off screens, where he yields a 46.7 shooting percentage from the three-point line. If Williams had more pride in his defense, he would actually ask for, and depend on, help more than he does. WAMS includes scouting. Even though Payton only played a little part in 2006, the Heats success would not have been possible without his defensive presence and leadership. Though he had a relatively short career he only played 13 seasons his 50.4 DWS is 44th overall. Anyways, we hope you enjoyed going through the rankings with Magic Johnson securing first place in the Top 10 NBA point guards of all time. He was transcendent. Players Stats: 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG. Hes not going to get beaten back, and he doesnt give up in transition. That earned him the nickname Mr. As previously discussed, it is true that purely objective analysis does not, and cannot, tell the whole story, especially when it comes to something as dynamic as defense. He benefits tremendously from help defense as previously mentioned, but that doesnt mean he doesnt also provide help defense. Point guard - Wikipedia 76ers vs. Eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, seven-time All-D selection, Rookie of the Year (2005-06), Career stats The Clippers were 10 points better with Lamar Odom on the court than DeAndre Jordan according to NBA.com/STATS. He didnt have an eye-popping number, but he was in the top 25 percent of players there. For the purpose of this study, 82games was used because the net defensive rating was also easily available and it made for consistency. Michael Cooper was a great defensive guard, evident when he won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award in 1987, and James Worthy is a top-ten Small Forward of all-time and was one of the . Perhaps the most unstoppable offensive player in NBA history, Jordan decimated and demoralized his foes on the defensive end. He doesnt use his size exceptionally badly or incredibly well, though. That had the effect of distorting Pauls on/off numbers. Some players with tremendous athleticism just dont apply it on both ends of the court. Hes a learning player, and his extensive time sitting last year may have helped his grasp of defense as well as offense. What he offers goes beyond the court. Bill Russell 3. Micah Adams is the lead NBA research specialist for ESPN Stats and Info. Per Synergy, he forces turnovers 18.5 percent of the time, and he does so barely giving up any points. If a player tends to be the helper, he gets a better score. He was the primary defender on 1,127 plays last year in all, surpassed only by Stephen Curry among point guards. Current NBA point guards known for their defensive prowess include Jrue Holiday, Mike Conley Jr., Marcus Smart, and Chris Paul. He also plays through to the end of the play when his man doesnt have the ball, which is not something you see all point guards do. He cant be faulted for not being taller or longer, but he could use the length he has better. Occasionally hell chase the play after hes been beaten, but not always. At 61 and 171 pounds, Rondo is pretty small by NBA standards, but he plays much tougher than his size. Rajon Rondo is probably the most athletic player in the league who plays most of his game below the rim. Bob Cousy Bettman/Getty Images. The only point guard to win Defensive Player of the Year, Payton was a defensive nightmare and he never had a DWS lower than 1.2 during his 17-year career. He led the NBA in scoring in only his second season, 1967-68, with 27.1 points per game. His net defensive rating of minus-7.7, combined with his lack of a defensively-solid backup big, is a strong indication of his value as a help defender. Paul is just listed at just 60, and that might be generous. Average players struggled, though. Del Negro just worried about the matchup without ever developing a true defensive system or identity with the Clippers. This is a necessity because of the point guard's many leadership obligations. He does all those little things that dont show up in box scores. Chris Paul fell into the same kind of trap last season. When we watch basketball, we get general impressions of defense, but the storyline is whats happening with the ball. A point guard primarily defends on the perimeter, just as they primarily play on the perimeter on offense. Curry has won three NBA championships and cemented his status as the finest shooter in NBA history since becoming a superstar and two-time MVP. Hes able to stay in front of all but the quickest point guards in the league. -- Pelton, So precise with his passes and timely with his shots. Players Stats: 24.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, Honors: 5x All-Stars, 4x All-NBA Selection, 2012-2013 Rookie of the Year. The 3 Best NBA Defenders At Every Position For The 2022-23 Season I counted off over 20 plays, specifically watching to see if Chalmers would stop the ball-handler, and he only did once. He plays way too far off the ball, supposedly so he wont get beaten, but since he perpetually gets beaten like a drum anyway, why not play closer up so he can at least do a better job of defending the jump shot? There's no way Stockton & Curry are better than Isiah. Nevertheless, its just as important. He applies himself and stays committed, but when hes beaten on a play, hell relax waiting for his bigs to pick up the slack. You can be the best shooter in the world, but you can't score if you don't get the ball. Thats good for 14th all-time in NBA history and he also had 10 seasons in the top 20 for steals per game. Does he know when to help and not to help? Its difficult to have a perfect rating system thats entirely objective, and even more difficult to have a realistic one that is purely subjective. Isaiah Thomas 5. -- Haberstroh, Teams Parker is a seasoned point guard who plays the game like a pro. However, who are the all-time top point guards? He doesnt play on the ball physically, utilizing that advantage. Whatever else you want to say about Brandon Knight, just dont say he never tries. The following are the five categories and what was considered for each of them: How fast players are from end to end is only a part of speed. For example, in the clutch, with the Rockets engaged in a playoff run, the team locked up in a tight battle with the San Antonio Spurs and the score close with less than five minutes remaining, Lin consistently showed the same 90 percent effort he always shows. OPER is the Opponents Player Efficiency Rating and has been tracked by 82games.com since 2008. Were shooters able to shoot over them? Widely known as one of the best, if not the best, point guards of all time, Chris Pauls offensive exploits are well-documented. 20 greatest point guards ever: The HoopsHype list | HoopsHype 18.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 9.9 APG, 2.3 SPG, The player Parker applies himself defensively in bursts, and this appears to be by design. He was a 13-time NBA All-Star during the early half of the Celtics dynasty, winning six NBA championships during his 13-year tenure with the team. He also is tougher than most point guards to post up. DJ, standing 6'4, started playing point for Boston in the second half of his basketball career and was often tasked with shutting down . Rushmore of greatest postseason performances in league history. From there, hes playing catch up. He could play any spot on the court as well. For his career, Jordan averaged 2.3 steals (third all-time) and 4.2 DWS per year. All that was due to Bryant emulating Jordans relentless drive to win on both sides of the floor. He compensates for his diminutive size by fighting hard and using that aforementioned quickness. Its interesting that when he plays against elite point guards, or when he plays angrily, he plays much more of a physical game. The problem is he doesnt use that height or strength as well as youd like to see. He averaged 18.4 points, 7.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. Archibald was the first player in league history to lead the league in both points scored and assists, making him a one-man offense. Although Drexler never made an All-Defensive Team in his career, he did average two steals per game for his 15-year career. 5-on-5: Will Curry pass Magic as best PG ever? The five best defensive point guards of all time | Yardbarker The average score by point guards was 16.1. NRG VS KOI Highlights. Starter from the VCT lockin. #VCTLOCKIN # You need to build something on it. For his time with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson is most known for his role alongside Charles Barkley. After all, as his name implies, Billups was known for taking and making huge shots in order to help his team win. His record and effect on the game, particularly offensively, are legendary, and its easy to see why. J.A. As the primary decision-maker for a team, a point guard's passing ability determines how well a point guard is able to put their decision into play. He doesnt put a lot of effort into chasing his man through screens. Ranking the best point guards of all time and selecting the top 10 point guards of all time are two of the most difficult things to do. Gary Payton 12. A defensive point guard will also pressure opponents in passing lanes in an attempt to generate steals and scoring opportunities for their own team. He is entirely too aggressive. Scroll below to see where Stephen Curry ranks among the best point guards in the NBA. 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), Career stats However, he tends to play soft at times against the pick-and-roll, tending to rely on his quickness when he could muscle through a pick quicker. Over the last decade, the best point guards such as Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and others have dominated the position. Mar 6, 2020; New York, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul (3) reacts during the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. He has above-average size and strength, but he doesnt play like it. What he gives up at the point of attack, he makes up for with his team defense. Wayne Gretzky on the court, Nash could hurt opponents by getting rid of the ball quickly or by holding on to it for so long that the defense finally made a mistake. Like last time, these shooting guards are ranked based on the cumulative defensive win shares (DWS). Passing skills, ball handling, and court vision are crucial. The scouting score was then combined with the WAM score to produce WAMS, with the scouting counting as one-third of the final score. Both figures can be obtained by going to any players team page and then clicking on the appropriate name. The five best defensive NBA shooting guards of all time There are some disadvantages to this style of play. If the team gives up more points while hes on the court, thats bad. He doesnt help much, but he doesnt get a lot of help either, so its a bit of a wash. To his credit, he has the best WAM score of any point guard without a great defensive center to back him up. NBA History: Ranking the Greatest Guards Ever - Bleacher Report It seems so much of Conley is either there or not there; you get it or you dont get it. Players Stats: 17.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Honors: 3x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Selection, 1988-1989 Most Improved Player. When he was off the ball, it was spectacular. The former professional basketball player was born on March 26, 1962, and is regarded as one of the best passing point guards. They tried just as hard as the valedictorian, but all they got were Bs. Notably, several modern point guards have used a successful style of post play, a tactic usually practiced by much larger centers and forwards. He wont even try and fight over a pick if he gets caught in one, but just quits on the play. Similarly, while each of the advanced and/or traditional metrics has value, each also misses something. He leaves talented shooters alone to go double-team bad shooters. Even point guards who are not given this much freedom, however, are still extensions of their coach on the floor and must display good leadership skills. My guess is that it has something to do with that. The biggest reason appears to be a fundamental one. Why did you choose such a weird number scale? Thats helped him amass 47.3 DWS, 56th overall. Magic Johnson. Chris Paul 13. Smart people recognize their limitations. His shot-making and defense made him a top-tier point guard throughout his career. Bledsoes defensive numbers would be far worse if he werent getting helped out by Odom all the time. Is that because Chalmers is a better team defender or is it because Cole isnt on the court with James as much? If you want the perfect picture of what Hinrich brings to the defensive end of the court, think of him tackling the runaway freight train, otherwise known as LeBron James, in the game which stopped the Miami Heats streak. Conley is generously listed at 61 and 180 pounds. His ability to score and create plays made him an NBA superstar. Russell is regarded as one of the best point guard finishers of all time. Mr. Best Point Guard Defensive Rating 2022 | StatMuse Luka Doncic had the lowest defensive rating by a point guard in 2021-22, with a 106.5 rating. Just because someone gets past him doesnt mean theyre going to score. When he gets it going, hes unstoppable. Strictly speaking, he should have a score closer to 20, but because of all the help he is in the locker room and practice, he gets a little leeway. By combining them, we can get a better picture of the whole elephant of a players defense. Point guards are expected to be vocal floor leaders. Let's see who has made it to the top 10 best point guards of all time. Players Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, Honors: 10x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Selection, 1994-1995 Rookie of the Year, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall of Famer. Thats because they can spend all their energy quickly, while starters have to pace themselves. Ranking 50 Greatest Point Guards in NBA History A point guard should always look out for teammates and be able to pass well. It is akin to the blind men and the elephant in the Indian fable adapted to a poem by John Godfrey Saxe. Why not a normal scale of one to 10? The Glove was a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, making the First Team all nine times. When he does, he gets put off and his effort isnt there anymore. At 64, hes big enough to guard shooting guards, as well as point guards. Something was great about that play, but it was Knight showing the heart to challenge Jordan, not Jordan dunking on a man a foot shorter than himself. When the pick gets set, he just hurls into it and uses the momentum of the bounce to send him in the right direction. While Rose is slightly faster, Westbrook is slightly bigger. Rose had it all, including speed, explosiveness, and the ability to score when it mattered most. Either way he chases the ball until he catches it. All-Time #NBArank: Top 10 point guards ever, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. Sometimes hell even rush to defend the wrong guy while his man is draining a wide-open three. On the other, he so rarely allows his opponent to get past him that he doesnt need to rely on it either. In order to answer that, we introduce Weighted Averaged Metrics (WAM) and WAM with Scouting (WAMS), a pair of advanced defensive metrics which combine other stats and metrics, weight them so that each represents an equal relative value, and then use them all to derive a final score. He has no All-Defensive team accolades, because those werent introduced until the 1968-1969 season. A point guard specializes in certain skills, like other player positions in basketball. Aside from the centre, having the best point guard is critical to improving your game because every play starts with him. In case you missed it, Jason Kidd was tops on the list with 75.1 DWS, good for 11th all-time. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Even the fastest point guards tend to get bottled up. With his record of successes and pioneering point guard talents, Magic is at the top of the list. He does get a bit of a bump here for his rebounding. He lifted the Lakers, and transition basketball, to ethereal levels. -- Doolittle, Perhaps someday Paul will reach the conference finals and we can focus more on his incredible accomplishments as a scorer, distributor and defender and less on his teams' inability to turn them into deep playoff runs. He applies every bit of failing athleticism he has all the time. While blocks and steals can be misleading when taken to exclusively represent defense, they are an aspect of it, so they shouldnt be discounted entirely. Once he had the ball on the fastbreak, The Flash was gone. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. 50 Greatest NBA Point Guards of All Time - Bleacher Report It doesnt help to be fast if you dont use it, so Bledsoes score here is lower than you might expect. Big O is widely regarded as one of the best offensive point guards of all time. He tends to do the right thing, but then hell do something kind of stupid that makes you wonder what hes thinkingeven if what hes thinking is right. It will be interesting to see if his new coach, Jason Kidd, can help him to work on this, as Kidd was a terrific help defender. 1987 Lakers are often seen as one of the greatest teams ever. Seemingly overhauling your system for every opponent is not. The strength of this is that it shows what the other player does offensively. Many consider Bob Cousy to be a passionate athlete who was the first All-Star and dominating player for the Boston Celtics squad that included legends like Bill Russell and Kevin Collier. Others with less physical prowess can dominate defensively simply because they pour everything into it. Jumping ability, body control and agility were all considered as well. Players Stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, Honors: 1989-1990 Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Selection, Hall of Famer. Its like hes chosen the worst of both worlds. Top 50 Point Guards of All-Time: Magic, The Big O and Curry top the List Whenever anyone imagines a point guard, chances are theyre thinking of Utah Jazz legend John Stockton. His defensive usage was the highest of any player with at least 1,200 minutes. Ergo, a negative number is a positive thing, and a positive number is a negative thing. His lateral quickness is exceptional, making it hard for people to get around him, and thats a big part of why he is tied with Derrick Rose for the fewest points per play among qualified point guards. The house would collapse. Its not uncommon to see him challenge shots with both feet on the floor. When he went up and challenged DeAndre Jordan, and then got blown up, the entire basketball world acted like theyd just seen the greatest basketball play ever. As Kyrie Irving showed in the decisive Game 7 versus the Warriors when he beat Stephen Curry to the game-winning jumper, Kyrie Irving is also one of the finest guards in NBA history, and he possesses some of the best hands of all time. Coming off one of the best offensive seasons in NBA history, Curry takes the top spot on our list of the league's best point guards, followed closely by 22-year-old wunderkind Luka Doncic, who may . This is also manifested in his spot-up defense. Have a look! When defending the isolation play, he gives up a nauseating .94 points per play, a strong indication of that. He normally makes the right play, even if he doesnt always do it well. A point guard needs always to have in mind the times on the shot clock and the game clock, the score, the numbers of remaining timeouts for both teams, etc. A point guard should know when and how to instigate a fast break and when and how to initiate the more deliberate sets. Top 10 Point Guards of All Time Best NBA Point Guards, NBA and other Best Basketball Leagues in the World, Facebook and Twitter takedown hackers targeting Ukraine political figures and military officials via fake accounts, Britney Spears called out Fans that She felt Sick to her stomach after Family plans Intervention, Stephen tWitch Boss passed away intestate, wife Allison Holker has filed Estate Control. He is not a guy you would single out as an NBA player in a crowded room. Perhaps he just grew weary of Doug Collins' act. Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection, Hall of Fame, Career stats For each player, I watched between one and two hours of footage of defense, taking account of specific things and grading them in five different areas.