 |
| Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant signed his rookie contract at the age of 17. |
But probably the biggest change from the game many years ago to the game today is the most valuable position in the game. Look back in history and you will see many great centers. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Willis Reed, David Robinson, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon are some of the best centers to play the game. Robinson was the last one to play in the NBA and he finished his career in 2003.
 |
| Former Spurs Center David Robinson last played in the NBA in 2003. |
So where am I going with this? Many years ago if you didn’t have a franchise center then you had no chance of winning a title. Now with the NBA game changing and becoming more scoring and fast paced, if you want your team to contend for a title you need a franchise point guard.
Among the 30 NBA teams 17 teams have a franchise caliber point guard or a young player who has the potential to turn into one. Below I have divided the 30 starting point guards in the NBA into four categories, superstar, young potential superstar, solid starter, needs to be replaced.
Category 1: Superstar Level
1) Clippers Chris Paul
2) Bulls Derrick Rose
3) Celtics Rajon Rondo
4) Nets Deron Williams
5) Thunder Russell Westbrook
6) Spurs Tony Parker
7) Suns Steve Nash
Argument? None! While Rose is the most exciting point guard to watch and is the best scorer among the group (one could argue that Westbrook is the best scorer among the group) but Paul is overall better. Paul’s passing and defense is much better than Rose would if you throw a tall double team at him (aka LeBron James and Dwayne Wade) he will struggle unlike Paul who can make everyone around him much better. Rondo and Westbrook only point guards in the NBA who can legitimately give you a triple double any night and Rondo is the only point guard that can very possibly pull off a quadruple double. Williams is ahead of Westbrook on this list because he is a better passer and a better decision maker. Parker and Nash are the oldest two on the list but both are the most important player on each of their teams. Parker is the fast-flash scoring machine and Nash still is one the best passers despite being 38 years old.
 |
| Suns PG Steve Nash makes a no look pass against the Trail Blazers. |
Category 2: Young Potential Superstar
1) Warriors Stephen Curry
2) Rocket Kyle Lowry
3) Cavaliers Kyrie Irving
4) Wizards John Wall
5) Nuggets Ty Lawson
6) Bucks Brandon Jennings
7) Timberwolves Ricky Rubio
8) 76ers Jrue Holiday
9) Pistons Brandon Knight
10) Bobcats Kemba Walker
Argument? You could argue that some players should be higher and others lower. But of the list of ten players above, can you argue that any of them don’t have a bright future and superstar potential? No! Wall and Irving probably have the most upside but still Curry and Lowry are better players today. The real player to keep your eye on is Rubio, the Spanish teenager with the pimples, has passing skills are probably top five in the NBA today despite him being a rookie. We will have to wait till next season to see him play again as he tore his ACL a few weeks back against the Lakers and it will keep him out the reason of this season and the 2012 Summer Olympics (another gold medal for the Americans? I think so!).
 |
| Timberwolves PG Ricky Rubio tears his ACL against the Lakers. |
Category 3: Solid Starters
1) Mavericks Jason Kidd
2) Lakers Ramon Sessions
3) Grizzlies Mike Conley
4) Trail Blazers Raymond Felton
5) Heat Mario Chalmers
6) Jazz Devin Harris
7) Pacers Darren Collison
8) Magic Jameer Nelson
9) Hawks Jeff Teague
10) Kings Isaiah Thomas
Argument? This group is the ten starting point guards in the NBA would are solid as a starter and should be replaced if a better option becomes available. Kidd a few years back would have been in the Superstar Level category but his age has slowed him down, until Nash. Kidd can still play there is no doubt about that but at his age the Mavericks should be looking towards the future at point guard if they want to win another title anytime soon. Players like Felton, Chalmers, Collison, and Teague looked like they could be in the Young Potential Superstar category a year ago but there play over the last year or two has really showed that they will never be superstar talent players. The kicker in this group Thomas, despite being the last pick in the draft this past summer he could turn into a superstar, it’s a long shot but we have seen a lot of crazy stuff before. Like this scooter for a senior citizen.
Category 4: Needs to be Replaced
1) Knicks Jeremy Lin
2) Raptors Jose Calderon
3) Hornets Jarrett Jack
Argument? Make one for me? Without Mike D'antoni’s offense around anymore Lin has hit earth and hit it hard. He isn’t a great ball handler and his defense and turnover rate are flat out disgusting. Calderon is one of the better passers in the NBA but again defense kills him, I high doubt he could guard this kid.
And amazingly the Hornets traded away the best point guard in the NBA to have the worst starter in the NBA. Jack is a solid player, I don’t want you think he is total trash but he is much better off player 12-16 minutes a game and not 30 plus.
The New Orleans Hornets franchise was really hurt but the trade but the lottery is not that far away and the Hornets could get two potential franchise changing players in the draft this year. And they should draft a pass first point guard in this draft like North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall.
 |
| UNC PG Kendall Marshall is a likely lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft should he enter it. |
