Future Top Point Guards?

[ReubenJRD]

This is a thread, somewhat influenced by Enlightenment, who asked in the thread 'Rebuilding: Who is doing it right?'.

Enlightenment: Who was the better first overall PG pick?

John Wall or Kyrie Irving?

Now, this isn't much about the draft, but more about the point guards.

My question I pose to all of you is, who do you believe, will be the best point guards in the future?
It could be your top 5, it could be your top 3, top 10 whatever it may be. Also state, specifically how far/near into the future? ex: 3 years, my top 3 guards are; etc, etc, etc.

I'm a point guard myself, and I love watching great play from the floor general, and seeing how they get their teammates involved, and how to make an impact on the game.

My list goes for Top 5, in 4-5 years.

In order:

1 - Derrick Rose (once, or if ever returns to complete form).
2 - Kyrie Irving
3 - Ricky Rubio
4 - Russel Westbrook
5 - Eric Bledsoe

The best point guards in the league have something special about them. You look at the point guard position, and the future? It is very bright for a number of players. Eric Bledsoe, a kid who really came into his own last season playing behind Chris Paul, and Chauncey Billups. Having the ability to learn from two experienced, high talent, star calibre players, makes you a better player yourself. His last two seasons in the league so far have been a joy to watch. Many believe in years time, he will be taking over the reigns as a starter be it in a Clipper uniform, or elsewhere looking for a kid to run their team. This guy is a joy to watch, and I can't wait to see him grow even more. His jump-shot has improved, he's extremely strong, and very athletic. He's developed a better sense of where his players are, and learned to see the floor better. The Kentucky product reminds me a lot of a 'better attitude' Steve Francis. He came into the league as a high risk, high reward player, and well, quite frankly, The Clippers have gotten one heck of a reward.

[Mack North]

When are you entering the draft? #RRRepresent! haha

I see CP3 earning a Ring either this season or next with the Clip, leaning more towards next year though as I think Blake needs one more year to enter his prime. So I think CP3 will still be up there in 4 years.

Hard to argue against your list, but it's really hard to say. Such a dominant position with so many up-and-comer's these days.

All these kids just need to stay healthy and the Association is in great shape. I can really see Kyrie battling for supremacy within two years if the rest of his team progresses along with him. Tristan Thompson I'm looking at you!

[ReubenJRD]

When are you entering the draft? #RRRepresent! haha

I see CP3 earning a Ring either this season or next with the Clip, leaning more towards next year though as I think Blake needs one more year to enter his prime. So I think CP3 will still be up there in 4 years.

Hard to argue against your list, but it's really hard to say. Such a dominant position with so many up-and-comer's these days.

All these kids just need to stay healthy and the Association is in great shape. I can really see Kyrie battling for supremacy within two years if the rest of his team progresses along with him. Tristan Thompson I'm looking at you!

+1! Oh man, If I can get into Division 1, it'll be because of RR! Haha, I'll enter in the 2015 draft, I'll be the Raptors' second round pick!

I agree, Kyrie seems to be at top with Derrick Rose possibly not returning to form.

[joey_hesketh]

Moved to NBA section .. because lets face it, the Raptors have nothing to do with this conversation Reuben. :P Haha


ESPN did a 5-on-5 on exactly this.

"Who was the best Point Guard drafted in the last 5 Draft Classes"

They count down All 5, but for the Top, the ESPN "experts" had:

5. Who's the best PG of the past five draft classes?

Arnovitz: Irving. It's still early, but after 66 NBA games, Irving has already mastered the specifics of pick-and-roll basketball, the nuances of directing an offense and the ability to shred his man in isolation. He acknowledges that his defense needs more bite, but let's project ahead a season and a half or so, to a time when Irving has logged 200 games. What's he going to look like then?

Foster: Irving: Plain and simple, Irving has the most skill of the group. He's the best ball handler, the best perimeter shooter (non-Curry division) and the best shot-creator. These types of efficiency numbers typically don't happen with such a high usage rate and such bad teammates, but they are. Once he starts defending, Irving will have a spot in the league's best point guard conversation, period. He's that good.

Herbert: Derrick Rose. It might be a while before Rose looks like the best of the bunch once he returns from injury, but at his peak he is a (slightly) more destructive force than any of his peers. The strides he made from his rookie of the year season to his Most Valuable Player season are immense.

Koremenos: Irving. This kid can just flat-out play. He's a taller, better-shooting version of Paul who is already capable of being the first option on a contender. The only thing holding him back from superstardom is if his odd assortment of injuries continue to force him to miss time.

Sunnergren: Rose. Though the next fact I learn about ACL recoveries will be my first, I can't shake the feeling that Rose's best chapter is yet to be written. Temporarily sapped of the athleticism that's carried him, he'll be forced to become a more cerebral player in the initial stages of his return. And when the explosiveness returns, which it will, watch out.

Source

Amazingly, these guys have Irving over Rose .. former MVP.

Check out the link, but some of the other guys mentioned in their top 5: Rubio, Lawson, Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Eric Bledsoe.

John Wall isn't named at all in the whole article. Harsh.

[NoPropsneeded]

D Rose gtfo if you don't agree. He can single handedly take your team to the playoffs. He can drive and finish against anyone in traffic, Great passer, Improved shooter, good defender, good rebounder for his position. He can do it all, probably my favorite player in the entire league.

[ReubenJRD]

D Rose gtfo if you don't agree. He can single handedly take your team to the playoffs. He can drive and finish against anyone in traffic, Great passer, Improved shooter, good defender, good rebounder for his position. He can do it all, probably my favorite player in the entire league.

I didn't include Derrick Rose because of the injury. Also, I wouldn't rank him a 'good' rebounder for his position, and isn't a 'good' defender, more so I would say improved defender.

Other than that, he is one of my favourite point guards in the league when healthy. But, I love watching tough passes and great play-making. Chris Paul is still my favourite point guard to watch.

[Miekenstien]

drose

[Miekenstien]

drose

these pretzels are making me thirsty. having a bunch of problems with the phone boys. don't buy a xiao mi phone.
anyway

drose
Irving
lillard
rubio
wall

[ReubenJRD]

these pretzels are making me thirsty. having a bunch of problems with the phone boys. don't buy a xiao mi phone.
anyway

drose
Irving
lillard
rubio
wall

D-Rose is probably the best overall player down the road. Russel Westbrook will probably be the best scoring point guard. Kyrie Irving could be the best bet (other than D-Rose) to break out as a star.

[RandomGuy]

D.Rose
Irving
Lillard
Westbrook
Wall

[ReubenJRD]

D.Rose
Irving
Lillard
Westbrook
Wall

No Rubio? Easily the best passer of the group. Point Guards overall need to know how to get guys involved.

[RandomGuy]

No Rubio. I foresee many injuries and scoring problems for him.

[Red and White]

No love for Curry?

He is the best shooter in the game playing on a young and improving Golden State team that plays to his style. He is gonna be great in the years to come.

[ReubenJRD]

No love for Curry?

He is the best shooter in the game playing on a young and improving Golden State team that plays to his style. He is gonna be great in the years to come.

Oh I agree, quite frankly I don't know why I didn't include him, but, he is fairly injury prone. He has been fairly consistent in terms of staying healthy this year though.

[phiLLy]

DRose
Irving
Curry

All great choices. Rubio, good player, but not the in contention for the best IMO.

[Hotshot]

My list goes for Top 5, in 4-5 years.

In order:

1 - Derrick Rose (once, or if ever returns to complete form).
2 - Kyrie Irving
3 - Ricky Rubio
4 - Russel Westbrook
5 - Eric Bledsoe

In 4-5 years I bet half of that list will be filled with point guards who are currently enrolled in highschool.

[WJF]

I never thought Lillard would be this good as a rookie, but you need to throw his name out there in the mix. 18.5 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3.5 rpg, add in over a steal per game and OK shooting percentages for a first ear guard and he is looking pretty legit moving forward.

[joey_hesketh]

I think John Wall is proving once again, that he can't be left out of this conversation.

Leading the Wiz back from like 18 down against the Lakers last night, finishing with 24 points, 16 assists and 3 steals.

[white men can't jump]

I think John Wall is proving once again, that he can't be left out of this conversation.

Leading the Wiz back from like 18 down against the Lakers last night, finishing with 24 points, 16 assists and 3 steals.

Agreed, he's way too young and talented to just say he won't get it.

[white men can't jump]

I'm also not sold on Kyrie. Injury prone, and frankly, i have not been at all impressed by his leadership since he came into the league. He has, by far, the most scoring potential of any PG, but yeah, I have not been impressed with the way he plays team basketball. Honestly, I thought as a team they looked better with him down and Waiters leading the charge. Maybe I just need to watch him more.

I think my list would go like this:
1. D Rose
2. Rondo
3. John Wall
4. Jrue Holiday
5. Kyrie Irving

I put Irving at 5th because again, I'm not a big fan, and basically, I think of him as a scoring guard. Same as Westbrook, who I left off entirely because he's absolutely awful as a PG.

Honorable mentions:
-Lawson: has the right team for him right now, really hard for me to judge how he'd look on a less deep team that didn't play a lot of run and gun ball. Definitely a top 10 PG, but I don't know about top 5.
-Rubio: this dude should be in the top 3, hands down, if he could hit a jumper and there weren't health concerns. He sees the floor better than anyone on the list, except maybe Rondo. Big, fast, strong defender, creative, liked by his teammates...come on man, learn that J.
-Lillard: Doing way better than I expected, but I don't want to jump to conclusions off just his rookie year. Could easily crack the top 5 with a better all-around potential than Rondo, or even how I see Irving.
-Curry: Similar to Irving, mostly a scoring guard. I do think he plays the team game smarter, and as a better leader, than Irving does. But he is injury prone, and just doesn't have the all-around impact some of these other guys do.

Poor bastard who gets left out: Bledsoe....he's really struggled to run the team in the last couple of years since taking a backseat to CP3. Has all the tools, but I haven't seen enough from him to suggest that he'd be a better player than, say, Jrue Holiday, who has similar strengths. He needs an opportunity, but he is also still quite raw.