The best point guards heading into the NBA Finals

With the current NBA season winding down, focus turns to what will undoubtedly be a spectacular postseason. Quality across every team has increased, teeing up one of the most competitive playoffs in recent years, the Bucks and the Celtics can’t be split in the latest  NBA finals odds. 

Last year’s affair will take some beating, a Golden State victory after a hard-fought contest against the Boston Celtics. This year, the Easter conference seems poised for revenge, with the top teams faring better than their Western counterparts. 

The Bucks, Celtics and 76ers have been particularly impressive, and find themselves occupying the league’s top three spots. In the Western conference, the Denver Nuggets have shone and sit firmly in first place.

Whilst the current roster is brimming with talent in every area, the quality of point guards is the best for years. From Curry to Doncic, this list details the best point guards heading into the NBA finals. 

 Luca Doncic

Arguably the best point guard on the roster, Doncic is rightly considered among the league’s most talented. Although he isn’t the most athletic player, with unremarkable speed and jumping, his sky high basketball IQ more than compensates. 

Near the top in terms of average points per game this season, with 33, he is the Mavericks’s biggest asset. In a standout performance against the Knicks, he managed the first ever 60-point 20-rebound triple-double in the NBA. 

Doncic won best player of the calendar year of 2022, as well as featuring in the KIA All-NBA 1st Team. At just 24, the Dallas Mavericks’s star man can still improve massively and be near a decade off retirement. 

Slovenian Doncic is a consistent top performer, and will be integral to Dallas Mavericks reaching the NBA finals.

 Steph Curry

One of the biggest names in the sport, the four-time champion has been one of the league’s finest for years. Arguably the greatest shooter in NBA history, there is a strong case for him to be the best point guard too. 

Despite being 34, he continues to display his immense quality. Curry led the Golden State Warriors to the championship last year, winning the Finals MVP along the way. 

This is alongside the two MVP awards for the league itself, in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Although Curry’s playing time has been somewhat hampered by injuries this season, his performances have remained top class. He’s averaging five 3-point field goals per game, a huge 0.7 more than second placed Klay Thompson.

His free throws percentage of 0.923 is enough to rank him among the highest in the league. 

 Damien Lillard

An extremely gifted point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard’s miserable 2021/2022 season was ruined by injury. Portland’s leading scorer was sidelined after just 29 games with an abdominal problem. 

This year, Lillard has been back to his best and continues to carry a team that struggles for success. During his decade-long tenure with the Blazers, they’ve only made the Western Conference Finals on a single occasion. 

However, Lillard has shown unyielding loyalty to the only team he’s known, collecting plenty of personal accolades in the process. This includes featuring six times in the All-NBA team and being voted into the league’s 75th anniversary team. 

The 32 year-old is averaging 4.2 3-point field goals made per game, and 32.3 points per game. 

 Ja Morant

Having turned 23 at the end of last year, Morant’s NBA career is still in its early stages. A player with huge potential, he’ll undoubtedly develop and improve with the team around him. 

That doesn’t stop the South Carolina native from already being considered one of the league’s elite point guards. 

At just 6”2, his explosive burst and great dribbling allow Morant to cover the court in a flash. He is one of the best in transition, rivaled only by Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

An MVP candidate last season, the Memphis Grizzlies man is averaging 8.2 assists, and 27.1 points, per game. Morant was a prolific scorer in October, including a very impressive 49 point game against the Houston Rockets. 

 Trae Young

Texan Trae Young is the Atlanta Hawks offensive powerhouse and was instrumental in them having the second best offense last year. Young excels at long range shooting, able to quickly and effortlessly get shots off from awkward angles. 

His average 10.1 assists per game ranks him third in the league. He’s also leading the charts in terms of turnovers per game with 4.1

The arrival of Dejounte Murrey has massively helped Young defensively and the two make a formidable pair. With the Hawks looming on the edge of qualification, a strong end to season from Trae is needed.

 This year’s Finals won’t disappoint

After what’s been a very entertaining NBA season, the prospect of the finals has everyone excited. With so many talented point guards on the roster, it’s their performances that will ultimately prove decisive.