When LeBron James was asked about Kyrie Irving and the future stars of the league, he made profound statement: "This is transforming into a point guard league," he said. "It's not there yet. You still have D-Wade, Kobe, Kevin Durant, all these great wing guys. But it's a point guard league.
Indeed, when you look at Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, who became the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011 at the tender age of 22, Chris Paul, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, and a long list of other point guards who continue to not only play at a high level but make huge strides every season, then James my not be far off from his analysis.
And when you have an elite point guard in your team, you have a good chance of winning in the NBA. So who is the best point guard in the coming 2014-2015 NBA season?
Chris Paul is the top point guard in the NBA today - has been the best at the position for a while now - and its not hard to argue why. With his incredible skill and intelligence, the Los Angeles Clippers point can basically do it all: from top notch passing (11 assists and only 2.3 turnovers per game) to his lock down defense (2.5 steals per game) and even scoring as he averaged 19 points a game for the Clippers in the previous season. And while Blake Griffin had the best time in his career, so far, last season, CP3 was still the MVP and the true leader of 'Lob City'. Paul has also shown that he can take his game to the next level in the playoffs (20.9 PPG, 9.5 APG, 48% FG in 40 career playoffs game).
Paul, a 7 time All-Star , NBA All-Star Game MVP, and 4 time All-NBA First Team, is the true embodiment of a point guard not only in the NBA but in Basketball as a whole. He is a very gifted passer and creator for his teammates as testament to his 11 assists per game at an impressive 48.9% assist rate (both best in the league). He is also a potent pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop player - able to drive to the rim in lightning fast speed, shoot the ball when the defender tries to go under the screen, and pass the ball to his pick-and-roll partner when the defense tries to focus on him.
But still without an NBA title to boast or even a conference finals appearance, time is not on the side of CP3 as he enters next season at 29 years old. But even if he ends his career without an NBA ring, Chris Paul will still go down as one of the best point guards to have ever played the game.
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