Upon completion of the 2023-24 NBA season, we have named the 25 best point guards in the world and divided them into five tiers. The point guard position is as important as ever these days and it is no longer about being a primary playmaker. The best point guards in the world right now include an NBA Finalist, a multiple-time champion, and a budding MVP candidate.
Note that key point guards such as Ja Morant (nine games) and LaMelo Ball (22 games) are excluded because of their unavailability throughout the year, and positions are as indicated on Basketball-Reference .
Tier 1 (The Best)
Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Luka Doncic has to be in Tier 1 after a dominant season in which he led the NBA in scoring, averaged a near triple-double (33.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 9.8 APG), and led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals against all odds. Doncic can play three or even four positions but he is the primary point guard for the Mavericks and will be number one in the world heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. The 2024-25 season could also be the one that finally sees the Slovenian win an MVP trophy.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in MVP voting so he has to be alongside Luka Doncic in Tier 1. The superstar point guard is a walking bucket, posting 30.1 points per game this season, and will continue making the Oklahoma City Thunder relevant as they grow together and gain experience. Expect Gilgeous-Alexander to continue challenging for the MVP trophy.
Tier 2 (Superstars)
Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, Devin Booker
It might be more than interesting that Stephen Curry is no longer the best point guard in the world but that’s just the reality. Since 2014-15, Curry has been on a level on his own but he has been surpassed by more impactful players when it comes to scoring, passing, and even defense. Curry is still the leader of Tier 2 after averaging 26.4 points per game and don’t be surprised if he has an exceptional individual season next year at an offensive level.
Jalen Brunson was far too good this season because nobody expected this kind of production from a 6’2” point guard. Brunson led the New York Knicks to the second round of the playoffs with a Game 7 victory away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Perhaps if the Knicks had Julius Randle healthy, they would have been the ones challenging the Boston Celtics in the East. Regardless, Brunson averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game this past season.
Devin Booker did a tremendous job playing out of position for the Phoenix Suns this year. The team lacks a natural point guard but Booker stepped up and averaged 27.1 points and 6.9 assists per game. Everyone knows Booker is a natural shooting guard so heading into next season, he might continue playing point guard and doing an incredible job at doing so unless management finds a way to get him back to his favored position.
Tier 3 (Bonafide Stars)
Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, Damian Lillard
Kyrie Irving played his role perfectly this season for the Mavericks even if his Finals performances came under scrutiny. Despite only posting 19.8 points per game on 27.6% shooting from three in the Finals, Irving had an excellent year as Luka Doncic’s sidekick and was invaluable in the team’s run to the grandest stage. Many doubted Irving’s ability to play alongside Doncic in Dallas but he has shut down all the haters.
Tyrese Haliburton continues to improve and we could be seeing the arrival of the second coming of Steven Nash. Haliburton has improved his shot selection so much that he is getting more encouraged to shoot the ball instead of passing all the time and might need to improve upon his 20.1 points per game average. The Indiana Pacers will be a major problem as long as Haliburton and Pascal Siakam share the court together.
Tyrese Maxey won Most Improved Player this year by posting 25.9 points and 6.9 assists per game for the Philadelphia 76ers and he has become one of the most untouchable players in the world alongside Joel Embiid. Maxey is only 23 years old which means there could be much more to come from one of the most energetic and confident offensive guards in the league.
Damian Lillard has still got it and is a superstar player offensively. He averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on 35.4% from deep this past season and will no doubt be an even bigger problem alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. After one season under his belt with the Bucks, expect another strong season from Lillard.
Tier 4 (All-Stars)
De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young, Jamal Murray, Darius Garland, Jrue Holiday, James Harden
De’Aaron Fox has become the All-Star the Sacramento Kings saw in him when they drafted him No. 5 overall in the 2017 Draft. Fox is a machine at slicing to the rim and creating offense for the Kings and he continues to get better across the board. He shot a career-high 36.9% from deep this season so that is a great sign the point guard will continue challenging for an All-NBA spot alongside Domantas Sabonis.
Trae Young’s numbers are always solid and he will always be an automatic bucket or assist no matter what team he plays for. Young could be leaving the Atlanta Hawks but even if he stays, he will have the No. 1 overall pick to pass to. Averaging 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game in 2023-24, Young is tremendous when it comes to carrying an offense singlehandedly.
Jamal Murray did not have the best postseason of his career, posting 20.6 points per game on 31.5% from the field. The Denver Nuggets couldn’t return to the Finals after last year’s championship victory but we can’t count them out going forward. Murray has yet to make an All-Star Team and there is a reason for that, but watch out for his performances in next year’s playoffs.
Darius Garland found himself in some trade rumors earlier this season but that’s only because the Cavaliers’ priority is Donovan Mitchell above the rest. Garland is an excellent player and All-Star who can score and pass at a high level (18.0 points and 6.5 assists per game), but the Cavaliers will want to see more when it comes to pushing the team past the second round. At 24 years old, Garland has plenty of time to reach that new level.
After some thought, Jrue Holiday deserves to be in Tier 4 because he is the exact player title-contending teams need. He is an elite defender, an excellent shooter, and hustle-first player who does whatever it takes to win. While Kristaps Porzingis was a genius acquisition by the Celtics, Jrue Holiday was the true difference-maker in the team’s championship victory as he posted 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in the Finals.
James Harden is declining a little bit each season but his basketball IQ is still off the charts (16.6 points, 8.5 assists per game in 2023-24). He will be 35 years old next season and that could be the first time we will see The Beard getting “old”, but expect the Los Angeles Clippers to bring him back in the hopes he can revert back to the player who helped Joel Embiid win the MVP award in 2022-23 and do the same for Kawhi Leonard.
Tier 5 (Star Starters)
Fred VanVleet, Cade Cunningham, CJ McCollum, D’Angelo Russell, Coby White, Immanuel Quickley, Tyus Jones, Russell Westbrook, Josh Giddey, Keyonte George
Fred VanVleet helped change the culture in Houston and the Rockets showed improved play enough to almost make the play-in. VanVleet is a reliable point guard who defends and has an excellent outside jumper so Ime Udoka will be expecting more of the same from the former NBA champion because the playoffs are in sight next year.
Cade Cunningham’s numbers were more than solid (22.7 points and 7.5 assists per game) but putting big numbers on a bad team gets a bad rap nowadays. Cunningham is a max player in Detroit because the franchise cannot afford to lose their best player and suffer an even worse season going forward. At 22 years old, Cunningham has what it takes to be an All-Star in short order.
An excellent one-on-one scorer and experienced playmaker, CJ McCollum had another strong season on his resume after posting 20.0 points and 4.6 assists per game on 42.9% from three. The Pelicans have entrusted McCollum with the ball and he has done a great job getting everybody involved enough.
D’Angelo Russell had an excellent regular season even if his playoff numbers dipped. The Lakers’ starting point guard averaged 18.0 points and 6.3 assists per game on 41.5% from three which are numbers good enough for a third option. Unfortunately, Russell only posted 14.2 points and 4.2 assists per game on 31.8% from three in the playoffs and that is why his return to Los Angeles isn’t guaranteed.
Coby White had a breakout season by posting 19.1 points and 5.1 assists per game on 37.6% from three which is why the Chicago Bulls will likely build around him going forward. With Alex Caruso gone and Zach LaVine likely next, White has a chance to boost his numbers more next year.
The Toronto Raptors wanted Immanuel Quickley in the OG Anunoby trade and they got him. Quickley is a confident scorer and has a chance to get even better moving forward. At 25 years old, Quickley is coming off averages of 17.0 points and 4.9 assists per game which easily places him in Tier 5.
Tyus Jones is a prototypical steady point guard, averaging 12.0 points and 7.3 assists per game on 41.4% from three. He makes the right plays, has a nice jumper, and doesn't let up on defense. Jones is more suited to be a sixth man rather than a starter due to his size, but he has been a top-25 point guard regardless.
Russell Westbrook had a more than strong campaign as a bench player for the Los Angeles Clippers this season, posting 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Far more than his numbers, Westbrook impacted the court with energy and confidence and was a key part of the Clippers' 4th-seed finish in the West.
Josh Giddey didn’t have a great postseason but he helped the Oklahoma City Thunder capture the first seed in the West by posting 12.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. Giddey is a new member of the Chicago Bulls and hopes to continue his growth as an all-around threat at the point guard spot.
The Utah Jazz are high on Keyonte George and his averages of 13.0 points and 4.4 assists per game as a rookie show the true potential of the 6’4” combo guard. George is showing steadiness as a ball handler and his improvement over the next few seasons could be something to look out for.
Related: 25 Best NBA Players After The 2024 Finals
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