While saving up for the NBA 2K20 game, it might be a good idea for sports fans to brush up on their knowledge of the real world equivalents of these in-game characters. Ever since the emergence of Steph Curry, the NBA's definition of a premiere point guard has changed a bit.
Gone are the days of a distributor as teams look for a guy who can score with the best of them. The league is still home to fantastic facilitators and assist men, but many of the league's best put scoring above all else. Whether new school or old school, the league is brimming with unquestionable talent at the position. Let's now look at the NBA's 10 best point guards and rank them to help you get ready to play the best game of NBA 2K20 you can.
10 Trae Young
There's arguably a couple of other point guards who could have made the list, such as Kyle Lowry or Patrick Beverly, but Trae Young got the nod. Not to discredit his talent and abilities, but Young owes a lot to Steph Curry.
In many ways, the reason his style of play has led to success in the NBA is due to the game evolving in a post Curry world. He proved the world wrong at the University of Oklahoma, so don't be surprised if he does the same in an Atlanta Hawks uniform for the next decade-plus.
9 De'Aaron Fox
De'Aaron Fox may not be currently turning heads in the NBA, but his jump from rookie to sophomore season showed tremendous growth in almost every statistical category. If this type of improvement is matched in the upcoming season look for Fox to average around 20 points and 10 assists per game.
Even if he sees a fraction of the growth he did in the first two seasons, he'll still be considered one of the league's best. Sacramento may be hidden, but it could be the lack of spotlight that's helping Fox grow into a star.
8 Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker happens to be a premiere NBA point guard and a fantastic player who just so happened to play for arguably the league's worst franchise. The Charlotte Hornets managed to waste his talents for several years as they filled the roster with overpriced free agents and NBA Draft miss after miss.
Thankfully Walker will now be on center stage as he looks to lead a young core for the Boston Celtics. With superstars heading West, there's no better opportunity for them to make a real run in the playoffs.
7 Jamal Murray
Imagine leading your team to the best record in the NBA's Western Conference and not being a name that shoots to people's minds when discussing the best at your position. Jamal Murray has faced this reality the last two years, but thankfully his team understood his efforts as he signed a 5-year, $170 million max extension with the Denver Nuggets in 2019.
Nikola Jokic may be the Nuggets best player, but Murray's 18 points per game weren't irrelevant. With the bag secured it will be interesting to see how he grows heading into next season.
6 Ben Simmons
If the 2019 offseason posts by Ben Simmons are to be believed it seems he's finally worked on developing an outside shot. Very rarely has the NBA seen a guy of Ben Simmons talent who is completely against even attempting a single 3-point shot in a game.
It seems that Simmons has made this a priority this offseason, and if he's able to add it to his game he will quickly shoot up the list as a Top 3 NBA point guard. The down under native could remind the world just how dangerous Australia can be.
5 Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is the NBA's most polarizing player, which is proven by the fact that most people reading this will believe he's either too high or too low on this list.
At this point, he's managed to make averaging a triple-double for a season seem useless simply for the fact that following those tremendous individual seasons he's failed to help the Oklahoma City Thunder accomplish anything in the NBA Playoffs. The change of scenery and move to Houston may do well for the athletic phenom's career.
4 Mike Conley
For years Mike Conley and Marc Gasol lead the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs only to run into the well-oiled machine known as the San Antonio Spurs. Heading into 2019 the veteran superstar point guard will be suiting up for the Utah Jazz alongside emerging star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.
Conley may not be a well-known name, but he's been a pillar of consistency and leadership for years and will now look to chase a championship in Utah. The team's excited they finally have a point guard that can shoot.
3 Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard was seemingly born into this world with a chip on his shoulder. He never went to a premier college program or went #1 in the NBA draft, but throughout his career, he's established himself as a true superstar.
He's cut from the cloth of the modern era point guard, the type of player who can score with the best of them and isn't necessarily looking to rack up the assists. Many people credit Lillard as the man responsible for destroying a would-be Oklahoma City Thunder dynasty with a single game-winning shot.
2 Kyrie Irving
Despite how the 2019 offseason went for Kyrie Irving as he left the Boston Celtics, his talent is undeniable. According to multiple sources, he lacked the leadership skills the Celtics thought he possessed and ultimately put his interests above all else.
No matter what happened the fact of the matter is that he's still a tremendous player and has the best ballhandling skills in the entire NBA. There are point guards on this list who are better leaders, but it's hard to find anyone more talented.
1 Steph Curry
Steph Curry will likely end his career as the best shooter of all-time, or at least be in the conversation for such. He's not only managed to win 3 championships, but he's changed the way the NBA game is played. Curry is a huge reason why the focus has shifted from scoring in the paint to putting a heavy emphasis on the 3-point shot.
When you add what will be a great legacy to the notion that he changed the way a sport was played, it's hard to deny that he's the best point guard in the league.