For the month of June, I will be ranking the top ten NBA players at each position. These rankings will be solely based on the portion of the 2019-20 season that has been played and will not include any injured players. The positions of players were determined from ESPN.com.
Here is my ranking of the best point guards from the 2019-20 NBA season.
No. 10 | Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets
The injury to Kyrie Irving opened the door for Spencer Dinwiddie and allowed him to become the Nets’ go-to player this season. He is a crafty player who can get to the rim with ease, find the open teammate, and create his own jump shot. One critique on Dinwiddie is that his 30.8 three-point percentage ranks near the bottom at the point guard position.
No. 9 | Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder
When Chris Paul was traded to the Thunder for Russell Westbrook, most people forgot about him. At age 35, Paul is averaging 17.7 points and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the field. His leadership and performance have locked the Thunder into a playoff position.
No. 8 | De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox’s improvement since his rookie season has been astonishing. He’s averaging over 20 points per game for the first time in his career and dishing out 6.8 assists each outing. What makes Fox one of the best point guards in the league is his speed and quickness, which he uses to dominate opposing teams in transition.
No. 7 | Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics
When Kemba Walker joined the Celtics, there were concerns about how he would adjust to having more scorers around. Despite his point averages dropping from last season, Walker still ranks fifth at the position with 21.2 points per game. His quick first step and ball-handling make him extremely hard to guard in the open court.
No. 6 | Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry’s incredible performance from last year’s playoffs has carried over into the season. He ranks fourth among point guards with 7.7 assists per game. With Kawhi Leonard out of Toronto, Lowry improved his points per game from 14.2 last season to 19.7 this season. Although he is 34 years old, Lowry remains one of the top point guards in the league.
No. 5 | Zach Lavine, Chicago Bulls
Zach Lavine’s move to point guard put the ball in his hands more often. With more opportunities to shoot, his point totals skyrocketed this season. His 25.5 points per game rank fourth among point guards and 12th in the league. Lavine combines three-point shooting with high flying dunks to establish himself as one of the best scorers in the game.
No. 4 | Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets
With all the attention in Houston going to James Harden, Russell Westbrook is underappreciated. He is averaging 27.5 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game and has improved his free throw percentage by 12 percent this season. Westbrook also leads all point guards with eight triple-doubles on the year.
No. 3 | Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
If Ben Simmons could develop a jump shot, he might be number one on this list. He averages 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 59 percent shooting from the field. What makes Simmons stand out are his contributions on both ends of the floor. He leads the entire NBA in steals and uses his 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame to guard any position on the court.
No. 2 | Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young has dominated opposing defenses this season. Despite his size, Young can get to the rim with ease, shoot from beyond the three-point arc, and pass the ball through tight windows to his teammates. His 29.6 points per game leads the point guard position and ties for third out of all positions. The only reason he comes in at number two on this list is because of his 4.8 turnovers per game and statistically being one of the worst defenders in the league.
No. 1 | Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard carried the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals last year, however, fans continue to sleep on him. Lillard is averaging a career-high 28.9 points per game, fifth-best in the NBA. He is shooting up around 40 percent from three and dishing out 7.8 assists per game. Lillard is the best point guard in the league this season and should be mentioned in the MVP discussion.
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @kyleoconnell23 to see when my next position ranking is published!
