Ranking Garland and the 30 best point guards in the NBA
30 best point guards in the NBA: Solid backups
A couple of these players start, but they are all backup-quality point guards; these teams should be open to adding to the position if they don’t already have a better option in tow. That being said, these are all good players who deserve a prominent rotation role. We round out the Top 30 and then have another 11 in this tier as “honorable mentions” in no particular order.
No. 27: Derrick Rose, New York Knicks
No. 28: Reggie Jackson, LA Clippers
No. 29: Spencer Dinwiddie, Dallas Mavericks
No. 30: Patrick Beverley, Minnesota Timberwolves
Derrick Rose had an underrated season for the New York Knicks last year, at least when he was healthy and on the court. He has a lot of scoring pop and has reinvented himself successfully as a role player; interestingly enough, the stat RAPTOR rated Rose as the third-best point guard in the league last season, which is obviously not true but speaks to how he helped the Knicks win last year.
Reggie Jackson and Spencer Dinwiddie are starter options in the right situations but have clear flaws to their game that prevented them from being something greater. Finally, Patrick Beverley has the tenacity to start at the 3 for the Minnesota Timberwolves, a quintessential 3-and-D guard who can fit onto most any team.
Next group: Russell Westbrook, Immanuel Quickley, Jose Alvarado, Delon Wright, Gabe Vincent, Devonte’ Graham, Monte Morris, TJ McConnell, Payton Pritchard, Cole Anthony, Kevin Porter Jr.
Russell Westbrook is the big name; he’s full of talent and his relentless nature helps to overwhelm opponents, but he is so damaging to whatever team he is on in terms of matador defense, ugly turnovers and poor shooting that he landed just outside the top 30. Otherwise this is a group of really solid players who will only ever be backups due to size or a one-way ability, plus a few young players who could still grow into something more like Quickley, Vincent and Kevin Porter Jr.
dark. Next.
We didn’t solve whether point guard is the league’s most valuable position, but every NBA team needs someone reliable at the position. The future of the league is in gifted hands, and the Cavs’ own Darius Garland is one of many rising stars across the NBA.