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Top accolades: Five NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, three MVPs, nine All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12 All-Stars

NBA rank: 7th in assists, 23rd in steals, 84th in scoring, 148th in rebounds

The leader of one of the finest teams in basketball history, Magic Johnson had flash, pizzazz and any adjective you can think of as a playmaker, often hightailing it down the open floor and making spectacular passes that not many others would have attempted, let alone pulled off as successfully as he did. Magic was also a winner, making iconic plays over and over again in the biggest of stages. Add in his super charismatic personality and you have the complete package as one of the biggest superstars the league has ever seen.

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, two MVPs, four All-NBA 1st Team selections, nine All-Stars

NBA rank: 38th in scoring, 45th in assists, 58th in steals

Stephen Curry changed the way the game is played, as now, basically every player on the floor wants to shoot threes, and needs to be able to hit them for your offense to keep up with modern scoring. Curry’s a wizard not only as a shooter, but his playmaking deserves more credit than it receives. The future Hall-of-Famer out of Davidson is already the greatest shooter ever – and it’s not particularly close.

2022-23 was another strong year for Curry, who was an All-Star once again and was chosen 2nd Team All-NBA, though he did only make it to the second round of the playoffs.

Top accolades: One NBA title, one MVP, nine All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12 All-Stars

NBA rank: 8th in assists, 14th in scoring, 80th in rebounds

The first player to average a triple-double in league history, Oscar Robertson was an expert playmaker, rebounder and scorer at the lead guard spot, and a somewhat underrated player historically. He experienced very little team success until he joined forces with Lew Alcindor in Milwaukee, but did eventually win an NBA championship. One of the most well-rounded offensive guards ever.

Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, 10 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 14 All-Stars, four All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 23d in scoring, 34th in assists, 238th in rebounds

No one on this Earth can possibly hate the Celtics as much as Jerry West, having lost to them in the Finals six times out of the six he faced them. Impossible to blame West for those championship defeats, though, as he put up beastly numbers against them on a consistent basis – just as he did against the rest of the NBA. West was a masterful combo guard who performed at a high level thanks to his scoring and playmaking. He was also a great shooter, both off the dribble and with his feet set. West achieved All-Star honors in every season of his NBA career, which only three other players with 10-plus seasons of NBA experience (Julius Erving, Bob Pettit and Paul Arizin) have accomplished.

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Top accolades: Two NBA tiles, one Finals MVP, thee All-NBA 1st Team selections, 12 All-Stars

NBA rank: 10th in assists, 17th in steals, 68th in scoring

Perhaps the best player ever under 6-foot-1, Isiah Thomas combined talent with fierce competitiveness. He could create at an elite level but could also score out of the midrange off the dribble. He was the face of the Bad Boys Pistons who beat Jordan’s Bulls three straight times in the playoffs in the late ’80s. The one thing holding Thomas back on this list is he had a short career for star standards.

Top accolades: 11 All-NBA selections, 12 All-Stars, seven All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 3rd in assists and steals, 37th in scoring, 232nd in rebounds

The Point God, Chris Paul is one of the steadiest floor generals in NBA history, capable of acting as a head coach on the floor, getting teammates into the right spots, destroying opponents out of the pick-and-roll and scoring at a high level when needed thanks to his unreal touch as an off-the-dribble scorer in the midrange.

The only thing still missing from his legacy is a ring, but he’s a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer with or without one. Could that championship come in a secondary role for Paul now that he’s slated to basically be Curry’s backup with the Warriors? And how much will that affect his legacy if he wins a ring as a role player off the bench?

We might only have to wait a year to find out.

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Top accolades: 11 All-NBA selections, 10 All-Stars, five All-Defensive 2nd Team selections

NBA rank: 1st in assists and steals, 51st in scoring

John Stockton’s assists and steals record will never be beaten, as the Jazz legend finished his career with 15,806 assists (3,715 more than the second-highest player) and 3,265 steals (581 more than anyone else). Was he ever the best point guard in the NBA? Perhaps not. But the longevity speaks for itself, and Stockton was excellent for a very long time.

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Top accolades: Two MVP awards, seven All-NBA selections, eight All-Stars

NBA rank: 5th in assists, 91st in scoring, 235th in steals

Along with Mike D’Antoni and the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns, Steve Nash moved basketball forward thanks to his pick-and-roll wizardry and ability to shoot off the dribble, including from beyond the arc, something that wasn’t as common in his era. Nash’s two MVP awards were quite controversial, but there’s no discussing he’s one of the finest players of his generation.

Top accolades: Six NBA titles, one MVP, 10 All-NBA 1st Team selections, 13 All-Stars

NBA rank: 21st in assists, 100th in scoring

The original floor general, Bob Cousy was the first star player who did everything a modern point guard should do, be it dribble, give quality passes, direct teammates or shoot jumpers. Cousy was called the Houdini of the Hardwood because of his ballhandling skills and creativity.

Top accolades: One NBA title, five All-NBA 1st Team selections, 10 All-Stars, nine All-Defensive selections

NBA rank: 2nd in assists and steals, 59th in rebounds, 89th in scoring

One of the greatest point guards ever, Jason Kidd could make the flashy pass or the simple play with the best of them while also loving to hightail it in transition to wear opponents down in transition. Also used his ridiculous basketball IQ to rack up steals and defend at a high level. He even became an adept outside shooter later on in his career, which really added to his longevity.

Top accolades: One NBA title, nine All-NBA selections, nine All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 5th in steals, 11th in assists, 35th in scoring, 249th in rebounds

Perhaps the greatest point guard defender of all time, Gary Payton had unnatural strength for his size, quick feet and elite hands and timing to help him lock down foes one-on-one as well as rack up the steals. He was also an excellent playmaker and a solid scorer, who used a solid mid-range game to get buckets.

Top accolades: One MVP, nine All-NBA selections, nine All-Stars

NBA rank: 9th in assists, 19th in steals, 27th in scoring, 77th in rebounds

One of the most energetic players the NBA has ever seen, Russell Westbrook is absolutely tenacious every minute he’s on the floor, often fighting off bigger opponents for rebounds and flying down the floor in transition to throw down monstrous dunks. Of course, as is the case with basically every player, age is starting to affect the former triple-double machine, and that athleticism and energy level are starting to dwindle as Westbrook’s effectiveness pales in comparison to what they used to be.

Top accolades: Seven All-NBA selections, seven All-Stars

NBA rank: 59th in scoring, 67th in assists

Of course, like with any active player on this list, Damian Lillard could see himself outperforming his ranking depending on how the rest of his prime goes. Even as is, however, Lillard is one of the best score-first point guards ever, with outstanding shooting ability and clutch shots galore on his resume already.

Top accolades: Two NBA titles, four All-NBA 1st Team selections, seven All-Stars, seven All-Defensive 1st Team selections

NBA rank: 71st in assists, 133rd in scoring

Walt Frazier, remembered partly by his cool nickname Clyde, was one of the smoothest point guards of his era, one who could also take over the bulk of the scoring load for the Knicks. Frazier was also one of the best point-guard defenders ever, making a ridiculous seven 1st Team All-Defenses in his career.

Top accolades: One NBA title, three All-NBA 1st Team selections, six All-Stars

NBA rank: 28th in assists, 104th in scoring

One of the hardest-to-stop players of his era thanks to ridiculous quickness and speed, Tiny Archibald tormented opponents in the ’70s and early ’80s when attacking the basket. Archibald was also a very solid playmaker and could hit jumpers from the short midrange area.

Top accolades: Four All-NBA selections, five All-Stars

NBA rank: 119th in scoring, 160th in assists

“Pistol” Pete Maravich was one of the flashiest players ever, with a highlight package filled with behind-the-back, no-look passes and stop-on-a-dime shooting prowess, one that impresses to this day. The NBA’s leading scorer in 1976-77, Maravich’s legacy is negatively affected by losing more games than he won in his career and only playing 17 playoff games in his prime, 26 in total.

Top accolades: Four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, three All-NBA 2nd Team selections, six All-Stars

NBA rank: 19th in assists, 56th in scoring, 152nd in steals

Tony Parker, surely the best European point guard the NBA has seen, dominated opposing backcourt players with quickness, a tight crossover and a beautiful tear-drop floater in the lane. He changed the game for guards trying to reach the NBA from overseas.

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Top accolades: One NBA title, three All-NBA selections, eight All-Stars

NBA rank: 125th in scoring, 139th in assists, 244th in steals

Maybe the best ballhandler in NBA history, Kyrie Irving will always be remembered for his huge shot at the end of Game 7 in the 2016 Finals that helped the Cavs win their first title. One of the craftiest finishers around the rim, Irving is unstoppable getting in the paint. Despite his tendency to attract drama, his talent has been irresistible for fans and (many) executives.

Top accolades: Nine All-Stars

NBA rank: 16th in assists, 82nd in scoring

A Hall-of-Famer four times over (three-time Naismith inductee – one as a player, one as a coach and one as an assistant for the Dream Team – and a College Basketball Hall-of-Famer), ’60s and ’70s floor general Lenny Wilkens put together a fantastic career, being named the All-Star Game MVP in 1971 and leading the NBA in assists in 1969-70.

Top accolades: Two All-NBA 1st Team selections, seven All-Stars

NBA rank: 57th in assists, 77th in scoring

Dave Bing was a point guard ahead of his time, still beyond adept at playmaking but also using his explosiveness to score more than his lead-guard contemporaries of the time. Bing averaged over 20 points per game for his career.