The Greatest Current NBA Point Guards: Top Five List

The NBA point guard is the proverbial quarterback out on the basketball court. PGs are an extension of the coach that facilitates the offense, motivates teammates and controls game tempo. Beyond these mental aspects, the NBA point guard position lays claim to some of the most talented athletes in all of sport. By definition, the point guard combines speed with graceful agility to pick his spots and attack the opposition. Defensively, he must check and contain his mirror image with solid footwork and quick hands.

Of course, narrowing the NBA point guard field down to a top-five list is controversial and open for debate. Elite point guards manage the game by making those around them better-often subordinating their own offense for the good of the team. However, talented point guards are capable of scoring the basketball in their own right, and can jumpstart the offense at any time during the game. These players never back down from the big moment and are threats to score or pass on every possession.

As a fan, you often marvel at the poetry in motion of a top-shelf point guard running the fast break, pick-and-roll, or one-four isolation set. The one-guard may break down his man with a slick crossover, quick first-step, or nifty post work before dishing to cutting teammates for rim-rocking jams that electrify the crowd.

We have entered a Golden Era for basketball and point guard play, which makes the composition of this list that much harder. Rule changes that limit physical intimidation have made life easier for prototypical point guards to exert their will upon the competition. Although these athletes have risen towards the Pantheon for today's generation, NBA Championship hardware is required to match the iconic status of their predecessors. Yes, Chris Paul is good, but he is no Isiah Thomas.

Greatest Current NBA Point Guard (Honorable Mention): Rajon Rondo

I am leaving Rajon Rondo just outside of this top-five list. Certainly, Rajon Rondo is a stat sheet stuffer that scores, rebounds and defends with blazing speed. Additionally, Rondo's growth as an NBA basketball player has been spellbinding. Rondo entered The League as a raw athlete from the University of Kentucky in 2006. From there, he was dismissed as the weak link during the 2007-2008 championship run for the Boston Celtics. Rondo's decision making was sometimes questionable and the opposition limited his effectiveness by daring him to shoot.

Rajon Rondo did not actually come into his own until the 2008-2009 Playoffs-captured by his virtuoso performance against the Chicago Bulls. Rondo put up triple-double numbers that post season-tallying 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game. Further, Rondo is a force defensively-averaging 2.4 steals per game at the midpoint of the 2009-2010 season.

Despite these accolades, I do not feel comfortable installing Rondo within the top-5. Rondo's jump shooting mechanics remain poor and he is a career 63% free throw shooter. In fact, his numbers have actually declined to 59% at the charity stripe this 2009-2010 season. This stat-line is abysmal for a man that is supposed to have the ball in his hands at crunch time by default.

#5 Greatest Current NBA Point Guard: Tyreke Evans

Tyreke Evans is the most physically imposing point guard in the NBA. Evans is a 6'6 220 pound goliath that runs the point guard position with brute force. He is a match-up nightmare that packages the rare combination of size and speed upon the hardwood. Of course, the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft will always be compared to tenth pick Brandon Jennings. I recognize that installing Evans as the fifth best point guard in the League carries the weight of also declaring him as my Rookie of the Year.

Tyreke Evans labors in obscurity at Sacramento, which has degenerated into an NBA outpost shortly after its contentious battles with the L.A. Lakers earlier this decade. Frankly, most casual basketball fans have fallen asleep while Tyreke Evans goes to work. Evans is quietly averaging 21 / 5 / 5 within the star-studded Western Conference. While doing so, he continues to progress-limiting turnovers and increasing the efficiency of every offensive set.

Evans is not your traditional point guard, yet his size allows him to see the floor well and make plays as a distributor. He is more so comfortable with an up tempo style in which he reacts and uses his strength to score the ball, rather than reading defenses within the half court. Additionally, Evans' wingspan enables him to excel as a superb off-the-ball defender that swipes 1.5 steals per game. Tyreke Evans is well on his way to starring as The Man in Sacramento.

#4 Greatest Current NBA Point Guard: Steve Nash

Steve Nash is the best pure passer in the game of basketball today. Nash, the former soccer player is adept at delivering the ball at seemingly impossible angles for his teammates to score. Beyond his passing skills, Nash is deceptively quick and deadly from the outside. These abilities translate into 2009-2010 season averages of 20 points and 12 assists per game. Nash is also among the League leaders in free throw and three-point accuracy-at 94 and 44 percent shooting, respectively. Steve Nash is remarkably efficient at point guard-always making the right decision at the right time to score or pass.

The Phoenix Suns have led the NBA in scoring five out of six years-with Nash running the offense. For his career, Steve Nash has earned two MVP awards and six All-Star appearances, alongside 8,092 assists that rank as the eighth most all-time. At 35, Nash continues to polish off his Hall of Fame resume-complete with dagger threes, no-look passes, and alley oops to running mate Amare Stoudemire.

Still, Steve Nash is a complete liability on the defensive end and is torched repeatedly for career nights by opponents. Quicker players, stronger point guards and tough screeners abuse Nash's turnstile defense. Although Nash runs the offensive end like a dream, his lack of defense simply gives the points right back. Steve Nash clubs from Dallas to Phoenix always find themselves locked within 120 pt. shootouts, and out of the NBA Playoffs.

#3 Greatest Current NBA Point Guard: Tony Parker

Tony Parker, alongside Tywon Lawson, is hailed as the fastest man in the NBA from end to end. Besides his blistering speed, the Frenchman is the best point guard finisher in the NBA. Despite his slight 180-pound frame, Parker is a career 50 percent field goal shooter that lives in the paint. Tony Parker is a scoring point guard that has mastered the art of teardrop floaters that drop buckets over the arms of outstretched big men. His interior arsenal includes scoop shots, lay-ins and the ability to elevated for dunks.

Tony Parker has expanded his game dramatically from his 2001 rookie year-where he was written off as little more than a speedster. Parker has added the ability to knock down outside jump shots and pick his spots to take over as San Antonio's Top Gun. Tony Parker has won three titles with the Spurs-taking home MVP hardware during the 2006-2007 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Parker, 27, continues to improve and his leading role during San Antonio's championship runs prove that he is indeed, a winner. However, Parker can be posted up and out-muscled at the defensive end. Further, his typical line of 20 and 7 are not ideal for a position that is usually required to get others involved and control the game with the pass. For these reasons, the distinction for greatest point guard in the NBA actually swings between two other men.

#2 Greatest Current NBA Point Guard: Deron Williams

Deron Williams is the total package. The 6'3 210 pound point guard is a load to contain at NBA arenas. D-Will rivals Chauncey Billups and Baron Davis for the title of strongest starting point guard in the NBA. In addition to his strength, Williams is an underrated athlete that can put the ball on the floor, post up, and finish with flair. The Utah Jazz playmaker excels at the one for Jerry Sloan-the most demanding of coaches for point guards. Indeed, Deron Williams has taken several pages out of the John Stockton playbook-hooking up with Carlos Boozer to execute the pick and roll to perfection.

Deron Williams has emerged as a steady 20 and 10 performer for the Jazz that continues to improve with every game. As a 2005-2006 rookie, Williams required the entire season to earn the trust of Coach Sloan and was actually benched several times during this campaign. Over time, he has learned to manage the game by improving his shot selection and decision-making. Because of his size, he is a top rebounder at guard, and must be accounted for at all times upon the offensive glass.

D-Will is recognized for his leaning rope-a-dope crossover, timely bounce passes, and sweet step-back jump shot. He was also the third pick of the 2005 NBA Draft-one spot before Chris Paul. Deron Williams and Chris Paul are forever running mates for The Crown as best point guard in the NBA.

#1 Greatest Current NBA Point Guard: Chris Paul

Chris Paul is everything to the New Orleans Hornets. Despite his unassuming frame, Paul controls the game as a scorer, passer, rebounder, and defender. Paul is a stat sheet maven that has actually led the NBA in steals and assists for two consecutive seasons between 2007 and 2009. Paul's 2008-2009 season is statistically comparable to that of the all time greats-with 23 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals per game.

CP3 is forced to carry the load for New Orleans. Besides Paul, David West is an undersized power forward that serves as the only legitimate scoring threat on the Hornet's roster. Paul has willed his club into the Playoffs, but has run out of gas without help. This scenario became evident by last season's 4-1 first-round spanking of New Orleans by the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets keyed upon Paul to take him out of his game, and won the series by an average game score of 108 to 84.

In defeat, Basketball Nation further appreciated Chris Paul's overall importance to his team. Paul's full command of the ballgame goes well beyond his dazzling displays of slick ball handling, lob passes, and clutch shooting. CP3 is in control at all times. Of course, basketball is a team game and Paul cannot go at it alone to win. Paul is the best point guard in today's game, but rings are necessary cement any athlete's legacy.

The Greatest Current NBA Point Guards: Top Five List, Sources:

Chris Paul Official Website, http://www.chrispaul3.com/

NBA Official Website, www.nba.com

Chris Paul Statistics, http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paulch01.html

Deron Williams Statistics, http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide01.html