NBA: Top 5 greatest Point Guards of all time

The NBA has seen a transition in this century when it comes to the most prominent position on a roster. It used to be a big man's league when most star players were either centres or power forwards. That is not the case anymore, as elite point guards are the strongest must-haves for NBA teams right now.

In today's NBA, the point guard is more often than not, the leader of the team, the one who orchestrates almost each and every play and scores as well as distributes the ball with astonishing efficiency.

Flashy dribbling and lights-out shooting have made the league dependent on the stardom of point guards. Although, throughout the NBA's richly talented history there have been some great point guards over the years. Let us have a look at the greatest point guards of all time:

#5 Stephen Curry

The newest entrant on this list, Steph Curry

To say that Stephen Curry has revolutionized the playing style of basketball of this generation would still be selling it really short. Leading the Warriors from his position, he has taken the franchise to unimaginable heights.

Still at the peak of his career, he is already considered to be the greatest shooter of all time. Sure he has had help all along the way, but it has always been his creative, audacious, and brilliant self, pulling the strings from behind.

Curry (3 NBA championships and 2 regular season MVPs) is unquestionably the greatest point guard of his generation and he is just a couple of championships and/or Finals MVPs away from topping this list, such is the influence and capability that he possesses.

His dribbling and those sudden launches from way past the three-point line over a couple or more players, just off the dribble are really aesthetically pleasing and jaw-dropping to witness. Same goes for his perfect lane-splitting and shrewd behind-the-back flashy passes. A perfect modern day, once-in-a-lifetime point guard.

#4 John Stockton

The only player on this list who does not have a championship. It was his grit, discipline and resolve which makes him a legitimate top-five point guard of all time. Pairing up with Karl Malone in Utah, he was part of a deadly duo during his time in the NBA.

In a way, John Stockton is one of the reasons why the great Michael Jordan has his legacy. There were some fiercely contested Finals series between the two sides, with MJ's Bulls always coming out on top.

One of the most humble superstars, Stockton would surely have had more accolades had he and the Jazz were not operating on the wrong side of the greatest NBA dynasty of all time.

With a couple of All-NBA First Team selections, leading the NBA in career assists and steals, nine straight All-Star appearances, being named co-MVP with the Mailman in 1993, being inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame, and winning the Olympic Gold medal as a part of the historic Dream Team, Stockton has had his share of incredible accomplishments and hence, his position on our list.

#3 Isiah Thomas

A part of the famous 'Bad Boys' Pistons, Isiah played in one of the toughest eras of all time. One of the very few players in NBA history who went up against Jordan and actually came out victorious, on multiple occasions.

A 12-time All-Star, two-time champion, and a Finals MVP, Isiah Thomas has been regarded as one of the toughest point guards to ever play basketball.

Operating during the Bird-Magic age and at the beginning of Jordan's utter dominance, Isiah was part of the most richly talented and contested decades in NBA's history.

He kept the point guard position still in relevance at a time when the league was being run by huge-framed centers and forwards. His grit and leadership is storied and sets up an incredible standard for point guards from all ages.

#2 Oscar Robertson

With incredulous and ground-breaking numbers throughout his career, 'The Big O' has a sure shot presence on every all-time list. His legendary triple-double season is a feat that many players are still trying to emulate in modern day NBA (only Russell Westbrook was able to do it).

With his scintillating performances, Oscar Robertson kept the spirit of the NBA alive and kicking, at a time when he was also fighting for the rights of the players.

With nine All NBA First Team selections, being the assists leader for six seasons, and three-time All-Star game MVP, Oscar is statistically the greatest Point Guard to have ever played the game.

Such was his prominence and dominance, that he filed and won the lawsuit that turned out to be the birth of Free Agency in the NBA. All said, he has been a major contributor and influencer in the game of NBA, be it through his on-court brilliance, or in the way of his vocal presence against the rules of the association.

#1 Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson led the Lakers to five titles

The greatest entertainer that the NBA has ever witnessed, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, is without a doubt the greatest player of the 1980s and is a top five player all-time.

During his days, with one of the most famous teams of all time, 'The Showtime Lakers', Magic impressed fans and oppositions alike with his dazzling displays and also with a storied rivalry against another historic player, Larry Bird.

His three regular-season MVPs and three Finals MVPs, provide irrefutable validation to his stature. Johnson also had the most important ability that is expected from a great player, to perform when it mattered most, in Playoffs and Finals.

He is an important part of Lakers lore, without whose presence, the Lakers franchise wouldn't have been as illustrious as it is.

Also, the leader of the greatest team ever assembled, the 'Dream Team', that brought back the Olympic Gold to the USA, Magic occupies the pinnacle position in the all-time greatest point guards list, as well as being one of the most respected players of all time.

The players who narrowly missed out on this list and would be the absolute next members if this list is ever stretched to a top ten list are, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash.

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