2023/24 NBA season: Ranking the top five point guards

Who is a top five point guard in the NBA, and who is on the outside looking in?

Below are our top five point guards in the NBA, which includes some of the best scorers, perimeter shooters and playmakers in the league.

5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

In his fifth season in the NBA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted some incredible numbers to mark himself out as a true superstar. The Canadian averaged an amazing 31.4 points per game last term, before going on to star at the FIBA World Cup in his country’s run to third place.

His impact was so huge last year that he made it into the All-NBA first team, picking up more points than any guard in the voting. While he has yet to be fully tested in the playoffs, he looked to take another step forward in his game at the World Cup.

SGA heads into the new campaign as the fulcrum of an Oklahoma City Thunder side that is still a work in progress. However, the Canadian is so good that he could drag them to Play-In contention on his own, so he deserves a place on this list.

4. Jamal Murray

It’s tough to look beyond the starting Point Guard for the reigning champions, especially as Jamal Murray proved any doubters wrong last term. He broke out in the Bubble in Orlando in 2020, averaging an impressive 26.5 points per game in that playoff run.

Murray was growing alongside an improving Denver Nuggets side, until injury struck in the 2020/21 season. He missed the remainder of the campaign and the playoffs, while he didn’t feature at all in 2021/22.

After such a long time on the sidelines, it was easy to fear for Murray’s future. However, the Nuggets stood firm and Murray’s return turned them into NBA champions.

While the Canadian guard doesn’t get much spotlight alongside Nikola Jokic, Denver coach Mike Malone put Murray on the same level as two-time MVP Jokic, which speaks volumes.

3. Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard is the only Eastern Conference alum on this list, just weeks after moving from the Portland Trail Blazers. The new Milwaukee Buck was the big trade target of the summer and his arrival in Wisconsin immediately elevated his new side to title favorites.

Despite turning 33 over the summer, Lillard is fresh off his best-ever season offensively. He posted a career-high 32.2 points per game, making more threes per game than ever before while shooting at a career-high field goal percentage of 46%.

While he scaled new heights, the Trail Blazers were getting further and further from contending. That forced Lillard out of Oregon in search of a well-deserved ring with the Bucks, having been named among the top 75 players of all time in 2021.

Lillard is set to completely transform the Bucks’ half-court offense with his ball-handling and shooting, while he’s probably the best clutch player in the league. That puts him comfortably among the top point guards in the NBA.

2. Stephen Curry

A four-time NBA champion, Steph Curry has already earned his spot as the best shooter in league history. The Golden State Warriors star will turn 36 before the next postseason kicks off, but he remains as big a threat as ever.

Curry was able to right a wrong in 2022, winning his first-ever Finals MVP on his way to a fourth ring. He heads into his 15th NBA season at +1400 to win the MVP award for a third time, which shows his incredible longevity.

Curry is the all-time leader in made threes and he’s averaged at least 41% from deep across all but two of his seasons in the league. However, that tends to overshadow his ability to finish in the paint and set up his teammates, making him the hub of this long-running Warriors dynasty. 

1. Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic arrived in the NBA as a ready-made superstar, something he has proven across his five seasons in the league. He was a EuroLeague winner and MVP in his final season with Real Madrid before making the move stateside in 2018.

He’s been both an All-Star and an All-NBA first-team selection in each of his last four seasons, taking Rookie of the Year honours in 2018/19. Looking back, it’s incredible that the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings overlooked him for Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III.

Doncic has become a one-man offense for the Mavericks, although an honourable mention probably should go to Kyrie Irving. In terms of talent, it’s hard not to put him among the top five point guards in the league, but he’s taking a backseat in Dallas to the Slovenian. 

There isn’t a guard in the league that can match what Doncic brings to a side. Hopefully, the Mavs can build a functional defense around him and he gets an opportunity to return to the playoffs after a thrilling run to the West finals in 2022.