10 GREAT POINT GUARDS EVER!

[넘버원페니포에버]

Updated: May 11, 2006

DAILY DIME: SPECIAL EDITION
10 greatest point guards ever

ESPN.com

Magic Johnson

Team: Los Angeles Lakers (1979-91, 1996)

Titles: 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

Honors: 12-time All-Star, three-time MVP (1987, 1989, 1990), three-time Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987), Hall of Fame

The player: The prototype big point guard. The only player in NBA history who could dominate -- not just play -- all five positions.

Magic was the best ever in transition. He led the break and shoved the ball down your throat or backed you down and carved you up with a pass or drive.

He was unselfish -- but not to a fault (he'd take over and score when necessary) -- and he made passing cool.

Given his age (a rookie at age 20), the stakes (NBA Finals), the opponent (Dr. J and the 76ers) and the fact that he moved to center to replace injured legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic's 42-point, 15-rebound, 7-assist, 3-steal effort in the title-clinching Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals was probably the best individual performance of all time.

It could be argued that he's the one player in NBA history who was better than Michael Jordan.

Photo credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

OSCAR ROBERTSON

Walter Iooss/NBAE via Getty Images

Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1961-70), Milwaukee Bucks (1970-74)

Titles: 1 (1971)

Honors: 12-time All-Star, 1961 ROY, 1964 MVP, Hall of Fame

The player: The gold standard, two decades ahead of his time.

Oscar was one of the smartest players ever. There has never been a better post-up guard.

We hear about "The Big O" averaging a triple-double for one season (1961-62), but he actually averaged a triple-double over the first five seasons of his career (1960-65) when the games are strung together. In those 384 games, he averaged an astounding 30.3 points, 10.6 assists and 10.4 rebounds.

ISIAH THOMAS

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Team: Detroit Pistons (1981-94)

Titles: 2 (1989, 1990)

Honors: 12-time All-Star, 1990 Finals MVP, Hall of Fame

The player: He was the smallest and baddest of the Bad Boys. He was an absolute killer on the court with as much heart, will and toughness as playing ability.

Isiah willed his team to a championship level. He was at his best when it counted -- in the playoffs. Against New York in the 1984 playoffs he scored 16 points in the last 94 seconds of regulation to send Game 5 into overtime.

JOHN STOCKTON

Dale Tait/NBAE via Getty Images

Team: Utah Jazz (1984-2003)

Titles: 0

Honors: 10-time All-Star

The player: His durability, toughness, leadership, poise, efficiency, vision and longevity were phenomenal.

Stockton might be the most deceptive point guard ever.

All-time leader in assists and steals, with a .515 shooting percentage. Very efficient.

Sustained excellence overcomes the absence of rings. The Stockton-Malone pick-and-roll will be the measuring stick for years to come.

TOP 10 POINT GUARDS

We're in an era of great point-guard play (see Steve Nash's second straight MVP trophy and Chris Paul's ROY award), with Nash, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Sam Cassell and Gary Payton providing their leadership in the second round of the playoffs.

So it's time to stack up the best point guards of all time.

We compiled top-10 rankings and comments from a panel of ESPN.com's NBA experts, and then pooled those rankings to produce this composite top-10 list.

The voters were: B.J. Armstrong (BA), Chris Broussard (CB), Ric Bucher (RB), John Carroll (JC), John Hollinger (JH), Scoop Jackson (SJ), Tim Legler (TL), Jim O'Brien (JO), Jack Ramsay (JR), Chris Sheridan (CS), Ken Shouler (KS), Bill Simmons (BS), Marc Stein (MS).

Players received 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for second, and so on down to one point for a 10th-place vote.

Player	Voters
	BA	CB	RB	JC	JH	SJ	TL	JO	JR	CS	KS	BS	MS	TOTAL
Magic	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	128
Oscar	9	9	9	8	10	9	9	--	9	10	9	9	9	109
Isiah	8	8	8	9	3	8	7	5	5	2	6	7	8	84
Stockton	5	5	7	5	8	2	8	9	8	7	8	6	3	81
Cousy	--	7	5	7	6	6	4	8	7	6	5	8	7	76
Frazier	4	6	--	6	2	3	6	7	6	3	7	4	6	60
Kidd	6	4	6	3	5	5	5	4	4	8	2	3	2	57
Tiny	--	1	4	4	1	7	2	6	2	5	--	1	4	37
Nash	--	2	--	2	4	4	1	3	3	4	4	2	5	34
Payton	--	3	2	--	7	1	--	1	--	1	3	5	--	23
Others receiving votes: Jerry West (7), Lenny Wilkens (6), Scottie Pippen (3), Maurice Cheeks (3), Chauncey Billups (2), Dave Bing (2), Mark Jackson (1), Earl Monroe (1), Micheal Ray Richardson (1)

The experts have given their opinion. Now it's your turn, SportsNation.

Vote in our poll to tell us which of the all-time greats is your favorite, which was the best passer and which young point guard might make the list someday. And rank the top 12 of all time.

• Vote: Best PG? Your favorite? | Rank 'em: Top 12 of all time

• Send your thoughts on the best point guards of all time.

자...게리옹 유독 알럽느바까페에그동안 섭섭하셨죠? 역시 울 까페에서 가장 저평가 되어온 포인트 가드라 할만하군요.

얼마전에 페이튼옹이 역대 포가 10위는 어림도 없다. 키도도 10위가 안되는데 이런글들을 봣는데, 15년 가까이 본 저로선 페이튼 만한 포가를 못본거 같습니다.(지극히 개인적인 생각입니다.^^)글고 매직존슨은 스탯에서나 임팩트에서나 역사적으로 가장 조던과 필적할 만하다는 데 완전 동의! 느바가 10년 정도 빨리 우리 나라에 들어왔으면 존슨의 임팩트도 지금까지 오르락 했을꺼 같군요.

Career Statistics
	Years	PPG	RPG	APG	PER
M. Johnson	13	19.5	7.2	11.2	24.1
O. Robertson	14	25.7	7.5	9.5	23.2
I. Thomas	13	19.2	3.6	9.3	18.1
J. Stockton	19	13.1	2.7	10.5	21.8
B. Cousy	14	18.4	5.2	7.5	19.8
W. Frazier	13	18.9	5.9	6.1	19.1
J. Kidd	12	14.6	6.5	9.2	18.8
T. Archibald	13	18.8	2.3	7.4	18.0
S. Nash	10	13.5	2.8	7.1	19.5
G. Payton	16	16.9	4.1	6.9	19.2

BOB COUSY

NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images

Teams: Boston Celtics (1950-63), Cincinnati Royals (1969-70)

Titles: 6 (1957, 1959-63)

Honors: 13-time All-Star, 1957 MVP, Hall of Fame

The player: Cousy was ahead of his time with his ballhandling and passing skills.

He won more championships than any other point guard and was one of only four point guards to win MVP. The guy who made it all click for the NBA's greatest dynasty ever.

WALT FRAZIER

Walter Iooss Jr./ NBAE via Getty Images

Teams: New York Knicks (1967-77), Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-79)

Titles: 2 (1970, 1973)

Honors: 7-time All-Star, Hall of Fame

The player: Perhaps the best defensive point guard of all time. He was also a great scorer, rebounder, assist man and floor general. A true team player, but when he needed to take over he did.

In Game 7 of the 1970 Finals against Wilt, West and the Lakers, he notched 36 points, 19 assists and 5 steals to make up for a hobbled Willis Reed.

No one did it better with more style and grace on the world's greatest stage.

JASON KIDD

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Teams: Dallas Mavericks (1994-97), Phoenix Suns (1997-2001), New Jersey Nets (2001-present)

Titles: 0

Honors: 7-time All-Star, 1995 Co-ROY

The player: A brilliant passer -- his 9.2 assists per game average trail only Magic, Stockton and Oscar.

He's a terrific leader and intelligent competitor. Can beat an opponent in so many ways without scoring a point. J-Kidd is able to do precisely the right thing at the right time at the right place.

TINY ARCHIBALD

NBAE Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1970-72), Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1972-75), Kansas City Kings (1975-76), New York Nets (1976-77), Boston Celtics (1978-83), Milwaukee Bucks (1983-84)

Titles: 1 (1981)

Honors: Six-time All-Star, Hall of Fame

The player: A candidate for title of most dominant "little guy" ever.

As the first point guard to make scoring his emphasis, Tiny was the only player ever to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season (34 and 11.4, 1972-73).

Awesome individual talent who had a lot of A.I. in him early in his career. Invented penetration.

STEVE NASH

Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

Teams: Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-present), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004)

Titles: 0

Honors: Four-time All-Star, two-time MVP (2005, 2006)

The player: His performance over the last two years in Phoenix has put him in this elite category. He's the only point guard other than Magic to win back-to-back MVPs.

Takes the "makes players around him better" tag to a whole new level. Has the ability to make entire teams adjust to his style of play.

GARY PAYTON

Tom Hauck/NBAE via Getty Images

Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1990-2003), Milwaukee Bucks (2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-present)

Titles: 0

Honors: Nine-time All-Star, 1996 Defensive POY

The player: More swagger than a gunslinger.

As a lockdown defender nicknamed "The Glove," he's one of the few point guards in Frazier's class defensively.

Great scorer who could run a team and, when necessary, put the club on his back. Break down his career and you'll conclude he's been underrated.

[무로이 칸리칸]

제이슨 키드........ 의 바이오는.. 따른건.. 눈에 안들어오고.... 단지..........without scoring a point. ......OTL.....여러가지 방법으로 상대를 제압할수 있다 어떻게 ? without scoring a point. ...... ......키드형... 신인왕타고 인터뷰할때 모라고 했어요..? ㅜㅜ

[공중에서 멈출때]

스탁턴이 우승이란걸 경험해봣다면... 순위에 변동이있었을텐데..

[현우군_]

우와 키드가 대단하기 ㄴ대단하구나...

[지나가는이]

오스카 로버트슨....경악,,그 자체

[Seed Foot Guy]

스탁턴.. 19년간 평균 더블더블의 압박

[Dee-Miles]

핍의 3표를 주목하는건 저뿐인가요... 빌럽스와 막잭슨을 뛰어넘는....

[No.8 KOBE]

대기만성형 내쉬.....내쉬가 좀더 일찍 전성기를 맞이했다면 키드를 따돌렸을텐데..;;

[Black]

좀 더 일찍 전성기를 맞이 했다기 보다는 좀더 빨리 댄토니를 만났으면 일겁니다,,내쉬는 대기만성형이 아니고,,단지 자신이 중심이 되는 팀을 이제야 찾았을뿐,,

[纘。ⓚⓗⓐⓘ]

페이튼 그냥 은퇴 해버렸으면 더 높은 순위 받았을텐데 레이커스와 보스턴 과 히트 ㅜㅜ

[VV S-lOo]

글세요.. 그럴거같진 않습니다. 10위 안에든 선수들은 모두 대단한선수들이고 페이튼보다 더 뛰어난 업적을 거둔선수들인걸요..

[VV S-lOo]

페이튼도 굉장한 선수지만. 저기 나머지 선수들도 모두 그에 못지 않군요..

[`iverson`]

워워 핍 3표 -0-; 대단해요!

[Thirst]

월트 프레이져 라는 선수 참 궁금하네요..짧은 영상만 봐서 별명이 흑표범이고 스틸에 일가견이 잇는 선수란 것 외에는 잘 모르겟네요.. -_-a 페이튼이 그의 수비와 비슷하다고 하는건가?

[티맥_로날딩요_에투_셰브첸코_웨이드]

스티브 내쉬가 벌써 페이튼을 제칠줄은...-_-;; 조던을 시리즈 평균 27점으로 틀어막았던게 엊그제 같은데...그러고보니 그때로부터 벌써 10년이나 지나버렸네요 ㅜㅜ

[티맥_로날딩요_에투_셰브첸코_웨이드]

내쉬 사진 멋지네여.휘날리는 머릿결이라...ㅎㅎ 머리카락으로 페이크 넣는건 아닌지? ㅡㅡ;;

[서브제로]

핍의 3표는 8위표를 어떤분이 쥐어준것 같군요... 그 분은 나중에 스몰포워드 투표때는 피펜을 안뽑을것이라 예상됩니다.

[넘버원페니포에버]

오스타 로버트슨 5시즌 스탯. 경악이군요.In those 384 games, he averaged an astounding 30.3 points, 10.6 assists and 10.4 rebounds

[kobenjh]

헉..스탁턴이 4위??왜지??우승을 못해서그런가??아무리봐도 스탁턴이 1위인 존슨에게 밀리건 절대없지않나요??또한 내쉬의 요즘모습을 본다면 정말 키드를 능가하는거같습니다.이제 현역최고포인트가드는 내쉬라고해도 반대입장보이실분들 없을거같아여..크 그런데 제이윌은 언제쯤 넘버원이되려나.ㅠㅠ기대많이했는데

[리바짱 벤!!]

스탁턴이 존슨에게 밀리는건 (다 논외로 쳐도~)사이즈에서부터 밀린다고 봅니다~;;;;존슨 옹께선 1~5번까지 다 보시는 사기유닛이시면서도 1번으로써의 능력도 스탁턴보다 뒤진다라고 말할 수 있는게 없죠~~~

[웨인 루니]

솔직히 스탁턴은 오스카 제치기도 힘듭니다;; 근데 로고아저씨랑 핍도 표를 받았네요-_-ㅋ

[D.P_DIESEL]

분명 스탁튼이 대단한고 꾸준한 선수기는 하지만, 4위가 적절한 평가 같습니다. 위의 세명은 저알 대단한 선수들이죠...

[MagicKoBe]

당연한 결과인데-.-;;아무리 봐도 다 밀립니다.이거뿐만 아니라 오랫동안 저들을 봐온 현지 팬 투표 결과까지 보시죠.대부분의 투표에서 압도적으로 매직이 절대적입니다.애초에 스탁턴이 역대 최고 포가니 하는 소리 나오는게 이상할 정도죠.역시 자기가 본 선수들을 더 높게 평가하는(특히 우리나라는 90년대 선수들)

[MagicKoBe]

경향이 있어서 그런지 유독 국내에선 스탁턴이 역대 최고 PG라는 소리가 심심찮게 나오는데 저 결과가 현실입니다.매직과 비교는 커녕 오스카나 쿠지, 토마스보다 낫다고 말하기도 힘들죠.물론 스탁튼은 Legend PG가 분명하나 저들은 Legend of legend죠.특히 매직은 포가계의 MDE입니다.

[musiczz79]

It could be argued that he's the one player in NBA history who was better than Michael Jordan. 마이클조던보다 낫다고 주장할수있는 유일한 선수다.. 매직의 실력을 가장잘말한 마지막 문구가 아닐지