Ranking Garland and the 30 best point guards in the NBA
30 best point guards in the NBA: Low-end starters
This collection of players are certainly good, but teams hoping to compete in the postseason aren’t necessarily convinced they are top-tier options and may look to upgrade on them. Some teams will employ these players as high-end backups.
No. 21: Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers
No. 22: D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves
No. 23: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Malcolm Brogdon missed much of last season to injury but when he played he was the same excellent two-way player he has been the past few seasons, averaging 19.1 points per game and defending 1-3. If the Indiana Pacers keep him around to play alongside Tyrese Haliburton they will have a bounty of playmaking.
D’Angelo Russell and De’Aaron Fox are different players but in similar boats. The Minnesota Timberwolves like Russell, and he’s tight with Karl-Anthony Towns, so he may stick around as their third option; they could also look to move on from him in order to move Anthony Edwards to the point or get a more versatile off-ball option. Fox, on the other hand, seems to have won the battle to be the Kings’ lead guard (over Haliburton, who checked in a few spots higher) but has to discover his outside shot to really lead a high-octane offense.
No. 24: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
No. 25: Tyus Jones, Memphis Grizzlies
No. 26: Ricky Rubio, Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Maxey is young and dynamic, but he also needs to shore up holes in his game on defense and as a consistent perimeter shooter. Playing with Joel Embiid and James Harden allows him to attack weak spots in the defense, but also puts postseason expectations on him as a very young point guard.
Tyus Jones and Ricky Rubio are older and have a longer track record. Ricky Rubio was once the hit young phenom but injuries and age have seen him settle in as more of a steady hand; last season before he tore his ACL he was great, scoring at a career level and unlocking some nasty lineups with the Cavaliers. Jones has been awesome as both one of the league’s best backups and when filling in for Ja Morant, and could be looking for a starting job when he hits unrestricted free agency this summer.