Winning without a floor general on the court is a nearly-impossible task in basketball, and the National Basketball League features nothing but the crème of the crop in terms of playmakers. With that in mind, Our list of the best NBA point guards 2022-23 is here.
Best NBA point guards 2022-23
A true point guard serves as an extension of the coach on the floor. He calls the plays, breaks down opposing defenses, and gives his teammates the ball where they need it to thrive. But as great as most NBA PGs are, just a handful of them stand out from the rest of the pack.
You need someone who can take over when the game is on the line. You need a guy that can weather the storm, lead his team, and put everybody in a position to succeed, and not many playmakers have that kind of skill set. So, here, we present you with the list of the 20 best NBA point guards 2022-23.
20. Cade Cunningham
Although he missed a stretch of his rookie season, Cade Cunningham is still one of the best point guards in the NBA right now. His playmaking skills are ahead of schedule for a guy his size and with so little experience as a pro, and it didn’t take long before he proved that he can be a perennial MVP candidate if he stays healthy.
Cunningham is an elite rebounder for his size and has the potential to become a lockdown defender as well. His body is built like a modern point-forward, and he can fill up the stat sheet any given night. The sky seems like the limit for the former first-overall pick, and the Detroit Pistons are doing a great job of surrounding him with more talent.
19. Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry had a down year and isn’t getting any younger, which is why he’s dropping in our rankings. He looked like a great fit for the Miami Heat on paper, but that became questionable deep in the season, up to the point where he was tangled up in trade rumors.
Even so, Lowry is one of the best shooters at his position, as well as an underrated passer. He’ll run through screens and put his body on the line on every fast-break, and that championship with the Toronto Raptors finally helped change the narrative around him.
18. De’Aaron Fox
Despite playing in arguably the worst-ran organization in the NBA, De’Aaon Fox is still one of the best point guards in the NBA in 2022. He’s one of the fastest players in the league and has made great strides since his rookie season, albeit to no avail, as he’s yet to make his first postseason appearance.
The Sacramento Kings are wasting his career, so it’ll be interesting to see whether he eventually forces his way out of the franchise. In the meantime, he’ll continue to push the pace and put defenders on skates with his smooth hesi and handles. Hopefully, his team will finally turn the corner, but it doesn’t seem likely.
17. Tyrese Maxey
We have a gut feeling that Tyrese Maxey will finish the season way higher in this ranking. He’s going to be a starter for the first time in his short career, and early reports from the Philadelphia 76ers training camp point him out as the prime breakout candidate next season.
Maxey can shoot the ball at an elite clip, and he’s shown glimpses of greatness early in his career, plus he’s only gotten better with more playing time. He’s got that smooth crossover and is a willing passer, although he doesn’t fit that old-school, pass-first mold of the traditional point guard.
16. Josh Giddey
Remember when scouts pointed out nearly every basketball-related skill as Josh Giddey‘s weaknesses when he first entered the league? Well, the Australian guard has sure made them all look foolish after his brief tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Giddey is a perfect fit next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s not afraid to box out and fight on both ends of the glass, will finish through contact, and has shown a high basketball IQ when facilitating for others. We wouldn’t be shocked to see him average 10+ dimes per game this season or next.
15. Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet‘s history of success is one for the ages. He was unnoticed for most of his career, but he never stopped grinding, and the Toronto Raptors are the kind of organization that will always favor hard work over highly-coveted prospects and big names, so it was a match made in heaven.
VanVleet has earned every single penny of that big contract he signed. He stepped up as the team’s veteran leader, even ahead of Pascal Siakam. Some believe he could be traded as they look to get younger, and his combination of shooting and defense could come in handy for multiple contenders.
14. Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is one of the best point guards in the NBA 2022. However, whether he’ll be as good in 2023 is a big question mark, as some fear he could miss the entire season with a nagging knee injury. He suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery and is still feeling some pain.
When healthy, Lonzo is one of the best passers you’ll see out there. He’s got that Jason Kidd-like skill set as a pesky defender who can also dominate on the glass and is one of the few pass-first guys in the league. Hopefully, he’ll be back to full strength soon.
13. Jamal Murray
While more suited to playing the shooting guard position, Jamal Murray is listed as the Denver Nuggets starting point guard for the season. Nonetheless, we all know that Nikola Jokic will continue to serve as their primary playmaker and ball-handler.
Even so, we’ve got to tip our hat off to Murray. He’s one of the most explosive scorers in the league and one of those guys who’s just unstoppable when he gets in the zone, especially from beyond the arc. He missed a lot of time, though, so he may not be the same anymore.
12. Darius Garland
There were multiple concerns about Darius Garland when he first entered the league. He was an intriguing prospect but had barely played in college, so some questioned whether his offensive skill set would translate to the pros or if he’d struggle to make the adjustment.
Fast forward to today, and it’s safe to assume that Garland was just fine. He’s gotten better with every season, especially in the playmaking area. Now, he’ll be in for another breakout year, as defenses will have to collapse and focus on Donovan Mitchell, leaving plenty of wide-open shots for him.
11. Jrue Holiday
For some reason, Jrue Holiday continues to be overlooked as one of the prime players in the league. Maybe it’s because he’s no longer a primary scoring option and has shifted his focus toward being a team player, but that’s still something I just can’t fathom.
Besides being a more than a decent scorer and a superb playmaker, Jrue Holiday is one of the best, most suffocating lockdown defenders in the league. He can check the best shooters on Earth with his long arms and quick hands, and he can even guard bigger players.
10. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, yet his numbers were better than most of the guys on this list. We just seem to hold him to a different standard because of all the triple-doubles and how poorly he’s fared in the playoffs as of late, and that’s not fair.
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t put Westbrook in a position to succeed. He didn’t help his case, either, but let’s not ignore the fact that he’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the most explosive and athletic point guards in NBA history.
9. Marcus Smart
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, finally got the flowers he was due for quite a long time. He’s just the sixth perimeter player to win this award and the first since Gary Payton in 1996. That seemed long overdue, and it was more than deserved.
Smart is one of the few players in the league who can legitimately guard one through five, and we’re talking about a guy who’s 6’3”. He’s also made great strides as both a passer and a shooter, working through all the noise and trade rumors over the past couple of years.
8. LaMelo Ball
Rival scouts questioned LaMelo Ball‘s ability to dominate in the NBA. His unorthodox shooting form looked like a blocked shot waiting to happen, and his lack of defensive commitment raised some eyebrows. None of that mattered as soon as he set foot on an NBA hardwood.
Melo has been in the spotlight his entire life, so he couldn’t care less about that. He’s already box office, one of the most electrifying passers in the game, and a nightly triple-double threat. He fits passes where not many players can, and he’s single-handedly turned the Charlotte Hornets into a must-watch team.
7. Damian Lillard
For years, fans, analysts, and even rival players have questioned Damian Lillard‘s commitment to the Portland Trail Blazers, calling him out for not leaving RIP City. Lillard has stayed true to his word and has repeatedly stated his desire to retire in Portland.
He already has a strong case to be considered the best or second-best player in franchise history, although that hasn’t translated into any silverware. Lillard has been overlooked in MVP races, has failed to win a Scoring Title, and an NBA championship seems off the table with that supporting cast. He’s still one of the greatest shooters ever.
6. Kyrie Irving
As controversial and trouble-making as he is, no one can deny that Kyrie Irving is one of the ultimate showstoppers in the league. He’s got arguably the best handles in the history of basketball, and he’s got the footwork of a big man trapped in a guard’s body.
While not a traditional point guard and more suited to play at the two, Irving can pass the rock like the best of them when he feels like it. He can score from all three levels and is a master when the game is on the line. Hopefully, he’ll focus solely and primarily on basketball next season and will silence his critics once and for all.
5. Trae Young
The fact that people can’t talk about Trae Young without mentioning Stephen Curry or Luka Doncic is both unfair and sad. He’s a star of his own, and while his non-existent defense will always be a source of concern, his offensive firepower makes him one of the most entertaining players in the world.
Young has an unlimited shooting range, but he’s way more than just a shooter. He’s got a never-ending bag of tricks and moves to fool his defenders and bait them into fouling him, not to mention he’s one of the few guys in the league that could average 12+ dimes a game.
4. Ja Morant
Ja Morant is no longer an afterthought or living under anyone’s shadow. He’s worked his heart off to become one of the best point guards in the NBA right now, and he’s just getting started. He embodies the Memphis Grizzlies’ grittiness and toughness and has the team ahead of schedule in their development process.
Morant is simply electrifying. He can take off from the free-throw line and put a seven-footer on a poster, then run back on defense and keep that intensity up for 40+ minutes a night. He’s one of the most athletic players in the league and often reminds us of a young Derrick Rose.
3. Luka Doncic
While not always playing at the one, Luka Doncic is listed as the starting PG for the Dallas Mavericks, so there’s no way we can leave him outside of our list of the top point guards 2022. He’s basically elite at every single thing except playing defense, so he can play any position Jason Kidd wants him to.
Doncic is one of the most unique players ever. He’s something like a mix between Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James, at least in terms of his offensive skill set. He’s not an impressive athlete by any means, but he doesn’t need to be fast or a high-flying stud to control the pace of the game and score at will from all three levels.
2. Chris Paul
Chris Paul isn’t only one of the best PGs in the game right now but also one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. In fact, some argue that he’s the best true point guard to ever live, even ahead of the likes of Magic Johnson and John Stockton. Whether that’s true or not is not for us to debate, but he sure has a strong case.
Paul embodies the definition of a true point guard. He’s the ultimate floor general, a genius when picking apart opposing defenses, and he’ll make everybody around him better every time he touches the basketball. His lack of an NBA championship will always be a stain in his résumé, but he’s still a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
1. Stephen Curry
And unsurprisingly, Stephen Curry rounds up the list of the best NBA point guards today. He’s fresh off winning the NBA Finals and finally putting his doubters at ease by taking home the Finals MVP award, so what are they going to say now? He’s the only unanimous MVP in NBA history and the greatest shooter ever.
Curry has changed the game of basketball. Whether you like it or not, and even if you’re not a fan of modern hoops, you just can’t deny that.
Steph made opposing teams play full-court defense, and he’s the most unstoppable scorer in the world when he enters that human-torch mode. Maybe it’s time people stop questioning him once and for all.
