Sacramento Kings star point guard De’Aaron Fox is coming off the best year of his career. Fox made his first All-Star appearance and received All-NBA third-team honors. He averaged 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He also led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 16 years, achieving the three seed in the Western Conference.
There are many talented point guards in the NBA, as it is possibly the most skilled position. We all know how talented De’Aaron Fox is and how important he is to this Kings team, but where does he rank among the league’s best? Here we will rank our top 10 point guards in the NBA and see how De’Aaron Fox matches up against them.
Honorable Mention: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
All Kings fans are familiar with Tyrese Haliburton, as he spent the first year and a half of his career in Sacramento before getting traded to Indiana in exchange for All-NBA big man Domantas Sabonis. Haliburton is coming off a breakout season, averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game and making his first All-Star appearance.
Honorable Mention: Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland is a skilled guard with a deep offensive bag. His passing, with his shot-creating ability, makes him one of the league’s elite talents. Garland averaged 21.6 points, 7.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. While playing sidekick to All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell, Garland showcased his skills and performed well in the Cavaliers’ first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.
10. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Now heading to his first Finals appearance, Jamal Murray has shown the world how good he is. Murray has been a premier playoff performer, averaging 27.7 points and 6.1 assists to help lead the Nuggets to the Finals. Back-to-back 37-point performances in the Western Conference Finals were the perfect example of what Murray can do when fully healthy. After missing all last season, Murray averaged 20.0 points and 6.2 assists while helping the Nuggets achieve the first seed in the West.
9. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
The 14-year NBA veteran, Jrue Holiday, has become one of the league’s premier defenders. The 2021 NBA champion and 5-time All-Defensive team member has been a significant part of the Bucks’ success, perfectly playing alongside superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Holiday averaged 19.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
8. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
After signing a shocking4-year contract worth $104 million this past offseason with the New York Knicks, many people doubted how good Jalen Brunson would be. He proved any doubter wrong, having a great season and cementing himself among the league’s best guards. He averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists but was more impressive in the playoffs. He went two playoff rounds without scoring less than 20 points in a game, including four 30-point games just in the second round and a 41-point performance facing elimination.
7. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
While his future is up in the air, Ja Morant’s playing ability is undeniable. The high-flying guard has unlimited talent and is one of the most athletic players I have ever seen. The 2023 All-Star starter averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. While Morant has not seen much postseason success, he has been amazing the past two seasons, putting him among the league’s best point guards.
6. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
The two-time All-Star, Trae Young, has been an elite three-point shooter and playmaker since he was in college. Young averaged 26.2 points and 10.2 assists per game and has been putting up numbers like these since he entered the league. While he has been inefficient at times, his playmaking ability is one of the best we have seen in a long time. He has had more postseason success than most of the players behind him, highlighted by a 2021 Eastern Conference Finals appearance, and averaging 29.2 points and 10.2 assists in his 6-game playoff stretch this season.
5. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
The moment everyone has been waiting for, De’Aaron Fox. The All-NBA guard has cemented himself as a top point guard in the league after putting up consistently good numbers the past few years, and it has finally resulted in wins for the Kings. He averaged 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while leading the Kings to 48 wins, their most in 18 years. The 25-year-old guard will continue to jump up this list, as he was barely in the top 10 before this season.
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a premier talent in the NBA this season. The 24-year-old guard received All-NBA first-team honors after averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. While Oklahoma City failed to make the playoffs after losing in the play-in tournament, that should not take away from SGA’s elite season. Gilgeous-Alexander shot 51% from the field, scoring at a high rate. SGA took the league by storm, and once Oklahoma City starts winning more games, he may end up being top 2 on this list for years to come.
3. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
The NBA 75th Anniversary Team member Damian Lillard continues to improve every year. In his 11th NBA season, Lillard averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game, highlighted by a 71-point performance. Lillard received All-NBA honors for the 7th time in his career this season, as he continues to be one of the top guards in the league. Lillard has not seen much postseason success but stays loyal to Portland rather than join other stars for a chance to win. If Lillard had more success in the playoffs, he could be number two on this list, but regardless, he is an elite player in the NBA.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
The Slovenian guard and former EuroLeague MVP, Luka Doncic, has emerged as an NBA star since he entered the league. Doncic received All-NBA first-team honors this season, averaging 32.4 points, 8.0 assists, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. Like SGA and Lillard, Luka also missed the playoffs this season, but he has proven he is one of the best in the NBA. Doncic has been in the league for five seasons and is a four-time All-Star and All-NBA. Luka Doncic has the potential to go down as one of the best point guards of all time.
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Finally, the clear best point guard in the NBA is Stephen Curry. The top 10 player of all time continues to impress even in his 14th season. The two-time MVP and four-time NBA champion averaged 29.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game. Coming off a championship and his first NBA Finals MVP last season, Curry and the Warriors had a down year, but Steph remains the top point guard in the NBA.
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