The rain was tapping gently against my windowpane last Tuesday evening, the kind of soothing rhythm that makes you want to curl up with some basketball highlights. I found myself rewatching that incredible game from last week – the one where the young point guard from Denver orchestrated the final play with just 2.3 seconds left on the clock. There's something magical about watching a master floor general at work, someone who sees the game three moves ahead like a chess grandmaster. It got me thinking about the question that's been buzzing around basketball circles all season long: who are the best point guards in the NBA this season?
I remember back in my college days playing pickup games at the local gym, I always preferred being the shooting guard – that freedom to move without the ball, to find openings rather than create them. But over years of watching the game, I've developed this profound appreciation for what point guards do. They're the conductors of basketball's symphony, the ones holding the team together when everything threatens to fall apart. This season particularly fascinates me because we're seeing this incredible blend of veteran wisdom and youthful explosion at the position. Just last month, I was having coffee with my friend Miguel, who coaches high school basketball, and he mentioned how his point guard was struggling with the pressure of being the top-ranked team in their division. It reminded me of something I'd read recently from the Philippine basketball scene, where FEU's captain LJ Tolentino talked about handling expectations: "May added pressure din 'yun kasi very unusual na nag-number one kami. But that's outside noise. We'll do our best to get to the next level."
That sentiment resonates so deeply with what we're seeing in the NBA this year. The pressure on these elite point guards is immense – they're not just expected to score 20+ points per game anymore, but to be leaders, defenders, and the emotional center of their teams. Take Stephen Curry, for instance. At 35, he's still putting up ridiculous numbers – 28.4 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 42.7% from three-point range. What amazes me isn't just the statistics but how he's evolved his game. I watched him dismantle the Celtics last month with that incredible 43-point performance, and what struck me was how he controlled the tempo without ever seeming rushed. He'd bring the ball up, survey the defense, and either attack immediately or reset the play – always reading, always calculating.
Then there's the younger generation making their case. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City has been nothing short of spectacular, averaging 31.2 points per game while leading the Thunder to unexpected success. What I love about his game is how methodical he is – that deliberate pace that reminds me of older point guards from the 90s, combined with modern efficiency at the rim. I was at the game where he dropped 38 against Minnesota last month, and the way he controlled the fourth quarter was a masterclass in pace management. He understands that sometimes the best play isn't the flashy pass or deep three, but simply getting to your spot and making the defense react.
The conversation about elite point guards this season wouldn't be complete without mentioning Luka Dončić, though classifying him strictly as a point guard sometimes feels inadequate given how much he does. The man is averaging a near triple-double – 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists – numbers that would make prime Oscar Robertson nod in approval. What fascinates me about Luka is how he manufactures magic through what often looks like chaos. His game isn't sleek or particularly fast, but it's incredibly effective. I remember watching him against Phoenix last week, that game where he had 16 assists and only 1 turnover. The Mavericks were struggling in the third quarter, and he just took over – not by scoring, but by creating exactly what his teammates needed. It's that kind of situational awareness that separates good point guards from great ones.
What Tolentino said about handling pressure and taking things step by step – "For now, we are working on the quarterfinals, next is semis naman. Then, hopefully, mag-finals kami" – reflects the mindset these NBA floor generals need as we approach the playoffs. The best point guards understand that championship aspirations are built one possession at a time. Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana embodies this perfectly. His transformation this season has been remarkable – 21.8 points and 11.7 assists per game while leading the league's most explosive offense. I had the chance to watch the Pacers practice back in January, and what stood out was how Haliburton was constantly communicating, directing traffic even during routine drills. That leadership quality doesn't always show up in stat sheets, but it's crucial for playoff success.
The beauty of this season's point guard landscape is its diversity of styles. You have traditional facilitators like Chris Paul, who at 38 is still averaging 9.2 assists with his trademark precision. Then there are scoring dynamos like Trae Young, who might be inconsistent from deep this year (shooting just 35.4% from three) but remains one of the most dangerous offensive weapons when he gets going. I have this theory that the ideal modern point guard needs to blend these approaches – knowing when to attack and when to facilitate, when to push the pace and when to slow things down. That's why I've been so impressed with Jalen Brunson in New York this season. His mid-range game has become virtually unstoppable, and he's carrying the Knicks offense with a confidence that reminds me of those classic New York point guards from the 90s.
As the regular season winds down and we look toward the playoffs, the role of these point guards becomes even more critical. They're the ones who will need to manage games, make the right decisions under pressure, and elevate their teams when it matters most. The advantage of having an elite floor general, as Tolentino noted about their twice-to-beat advantage, is something teams will need to maximize: "May advantage na kami ngayon, twice-to-beat. Again, going into the playoffs, we will maximize it." In the NBA context, that advantage comes from having a point guard who can control tempo, exploit mismatches, and keep everyone connected through the playoff grind.
Sitting here now, with the rain having stopped and the game highlights still playing on my screen, I'm struck by how fortunate we are to witness this golden era of point guard play. Each brings something unique to the table – Curry's revolutionary shooting, Dončić's creative genius, Gilgeous-Alexander's methodical dominance, Haliburton's infectious leadership. Trying to crown just one as the best feels almost reductive. What matters more, at least to this basketball fan, is appreciating how each is answering that fundamental question in their own way, showing us night after night what it means to be the engine that drives a team, the heartbeat of basketball's beautiful chaos.
