Straight to the Point: This Has Gone on for Too Long

For decades, we’ve marveled at the abilities of point guards and dearly hold a special place for them inside. We’ve seen them in all different shapes and sizes, but it’s their uncanny ability to lead the teams we love that has captured us.

Some argue that playing the point is the toughest position to play at the professional level, which may be true but quite frivolous.

I’m not convinced that the point guard position is any more valuable than the others.

It’s easy to get drawn into their overemphasized importance, through the recurring discussions and lists that rank guards almost every week. I mean, how many times have you seen or heard ESPN rank the top centers or forwards?

Elite guards are so coveted because the league hasn’t seen many players at other positions with the multifaceted skill sets or the “total packages” that some point guards possess.

"It’s CP3. No, it’s easily Deron Williams. Don’t forget about Rondo. I like Rose. Westbrook is next…"

Why is it that people insist on having these arguments? Really, if the best point guard was guaranteed to win the championship, I’d be right there arguing for my favorite guards—Stephen Curry and Baron Davis—as well.

I’m not that familiar with past guards who had great championship runs like Isaiah and Magic, so let’s fast forward to more modern times.

John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, and Gary Payton were a few of the top guards that ran the show in the 90s. Among those Hall-of-Fame caliber guards, only GP was fortunate enough to get a ring at the end of his career aboard the D.Wade train.

More recently, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams are considered to be the best at running the point. Although their careers are far from over, they all have big goose eggs in the championship column.
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