Remember when there was a raging debate about the “best backcourt in the NBA”?
It hasn’t been that long since the conversation was a hot topic, but with a full season in the books since the peak of that discussion, it is time to revisit things. For the sake of amusement, Dion Waiters was at the center of the debate last time around, and the former Cavaliers shooting guard is now languishing in relative obscurity with the Thunder as a role player. That combined with the maturation of other young players across the league and the prominent return of some injured “stars” has created an explosion of talented duos, and that is what makes this fun.
For the sake of clarity, this is a discussion concerning starting backcourts only. Depth is exceedingly valuable across the league, but using the San Antonio Spurs and their three-headed backcourt of Tony Parker, Danny Green and Manu Ginobili as an example, that depth won’t be rewarded here.
This ranking should certainly generate discussion, especially with one prominent duo landing outside the top five, but keep in mind that the list also reflects how the backcourts act right now and it is not a future projection over the next handful of seasons. With the criteria out of the way, let’s take a look at the quintet of backcourts, beginning with the pairings that just missed the cut.
Next: Best of the Rest
The Best of the Rest (In Alphabetical Order)
Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver – Both players were All-Stars in 2014-2015, but some of that certainly had to do with team success. Teague has ascended into the conversation and as a top-10 point guard and Korver is the second-best shooter on the planet. Not a bad combination.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert – Irving carries this duo, but Shumpert isn’t quite good enough to make up the difference. Personally, I’m likely lower on Kyrie than most pundits, but at worst, he is an elite offensive player and Shumpert proved his worth down the stretch of last season.
Phoenix Suns – Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe – Knight and Bledsoe are almost interchangeable, and while neither is a “star”, both are solidly above-average. It will be interesting to see how they coexist in the long-term, but Phoenix could have something with their versatility and quickness.
Toronto Raptors – Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan – What Kyle Lowry are we getting? There was a stretch when Lowry was operating as a fringe top-5 point guard in the league, but he struggled badly in the second half of last season, and injuries have always been a concern. DeRozan is an intriguing wing that could continue to grow.
Washington Wizards – John Wall and Bradley Beal – This is the “shocker” in that Wall and Beal are usually near the top of everyone’s list and Washington’s duo was prominently involved in last year’s controversy. For me, this is about Beal falling a bit short of the way he is perceived. At the age of 22, he is a very intriguing prospect, but Beal has never posted even a league-average PER (14.3 is his career best) while struggling to crack 52% in true shooting and averaging just 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per 36 minutes. Wall is actually underrated by many folks (he is an elite point guard), but they couldn’t crack the top five (although they would be sixth) in the present, even if the upside is huge with Beal.
Next: 5. Houston Rockets
5) Houston Rockets – Ty Lawson and James Harden
Admittedly, this pairing has some uncertainty.
Ty Lawson arrived in an off-season trade from Denver, and his value has plummeted to the point of no return after yet another DUI arrest. Still, the now 27-year-old has averaged 16.3 points and 9.2 assists per game over the past two seasons combined, and there is no one who questions his ability as an above-average point guard if the off-court issues subside.
With that out of the way, James Harden is the best shooting guard in the league and it isn’t particularly close. The runner-up for the 2014-2015 MVP award made huge strides last season on the defensive end, and his offensive production (27.4 points, 7.0 assists per game) speaks for itself.
Harden and Lawson would likely land second overall on this list if not for Lawson’s issues, and if things go well from a “fit” perspective, the sky is the limit. Expectations must be couched a bit, both by those off-court dealings and the presence of Patrick Beverley, but Lawson is a top-15 point guard in the NBA when he’s right and Harden’s greatness carries the pair to the top five.
Next: 4. Miami Heat
4) Miami Heat – Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade
Here is another pairing with a wide range of outcomes, but both players are capable of big things.
Wade was very good (again) in 2014-2015, even if we can assume he’ll miss 20 games per season. The now 33-year-old averaged 24.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per 36 minutes last season, and even with a dip in his efficiency (53.4% true shooting), he managed to post a 21.4 PER for Miami. Throw in the fact that the Heat were battered with injuries to Chris Bosh and others throughout the season, and Wade can reasonably be slotted into a slightly diminished role that will allow his trademark efficiency to rebound.
Dragic isn’t quite the player that he was in 2013-2014 (20.8 points per 36 minutes), but he is a solidly above-average point guard. That solid across-the-board performance returned in Miami after he exit from Phoenix, and if he can return to 36% shooting (his career average) from three-point range, the Heat will be terrifying offensively.
At this point, the “upside” of Wade and Dragic isn’t as high as the groups from Washington or Houston can provide, but both players are going to be quite effective when on the court and that safety is valuable.
Next: 3. LA Clippers
3) Los Angeles Clippers – Chris Paul and J.J. Redick
Yes, Chris Paul is this good.
Some have vaulted Stephen Curry and/or Russell Westbrook ahead of Paul for “best point guard alive” status, but for my money, the 30-year-old Paul still holds the belt. He is, quite easily, the best pass-first player in the NBA as he emerges from back-to-back assist titles, but Paul does much more than that. Despite his relative lack of size, he is a strongly above-average defender for the position, and as a shooter, Paul knocked down nearly 40% of his threes on the way to a 60% true shooting mark a season ago. In short, he’s the reason that the Clippers are on this list.
With that on the table, J.J. Redick is no slouch in his own right. For reference, Redick posted better numbers (across the board) than a player like Bradley Beal last season, and he appears to be improving even at the age of 31. Even if the Clippers got a slightly reduced version (i.e. the 2013-2014 season), Redick is a 40% career three-point shooter (43.7% in 2014-2015) who defends well and doesn’t need the ball to be successful. It is fair to surmise that Paul is the “worst” of the 10 players included on these five teams, but the gap isn’t wide and Paul’s excellence keeps them here.
Next: 2. Chicago Bulls
2) Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler
Which Derrick Rose are we getting?
That is perhaps the biggest question on this entire list.
Rose wasn’t particularly good in 2014-2015, struggling with his jump shot (28% 3-PT) on the way to a 49% true shooting. Still, he looked to be explosive at times and his raw per-game numbers (17.7 points, 4.9 assists per game) are certainly acceptable. This ranking builds in a bit more from Rose on the heels of reports that he looks fantastic from an athletic standpoint this summer, but aside from the obvious caveat of health, Rose must get back to his aggressive, basket-attacking ways in order to reascend among point guards.
Butler, on the other hand, had a coming-out party in 2014-2015 and it looks to be legitimate. The 25-year-old swingman was the recipient of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award after averaging 20.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and his shooting improvement (37.8% 3-PT) was enormous. Butler is a rare player who can greatly impact the game on both ends, and after Harden, he is firmly in the mix among the next tier of high-end shooting guards in the league.
If Derrick Rose is the same player that he was in 2014-2015, this ranking is probably too high. Still, there is reason to believe he will be better as the injury concerns move further away, and Jimmy Butler is a full-blown stud.
Next: 1. Golden State Warriors
1) Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson
The debate is over, at least for now.
Golden State’s march to the NBA title greatly improved the stock of both Curry and Thompson, but each player has ascended on their own merit. Curry is now firmly in the mix with Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook for top point guard honors on the heels of an MVP season, and at the very least, he is the best shooter in the NBA. Curry’s 49/44/91 shooting line from a year ago is just silly, and when you throw in 7.7 assists per game and reasonable defense, he’s the full package of a superstar.
As for Thompson, it is fair to say that he is a bit overrated in some circles, but that doesn’t stop the 25-year-old from being a legitimate All-Star. Thompson made a sizable improvement in his ability to create off the dribble in 2014-2015, and that resulted in increased efficiency (career-high 59% true shooting) and overall impact. His defense is above-average and, well, he’s also an elite shooter after a career-high 43.9% mark from long range.
At the moment, the Warriors are the only team in the league that boasts legitimate All-Stars at both guard positions, and when one of those players is the reigning league MVP, the case is simple.