The upcoming NBA season is set to be a thriller, with guards playing pivotal roles across various franchises. Among them, Luka Doncic of the Mavericks stands out, ranked 1st among guards and 3rd overall. Coming off the best statistical year of his career, where he led the league in scoring at just 25 years old, Doncic continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Demonstrating a unique ability to play at his own pace, even the most elite defenders find it challenging to contain him.
Hot on Doncic's heels is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ranked 2nd among guards and 4th overall. Gilgeous-Alexander, last season's MVP runner-up, led the NBA in drives for the fourth straight year. His statistics are equally impressive, shooting 69% at the rim and 51% from midrange, while leading the league in steals. As James Herbert puts it, "nobody recorded more steals than Gilgeous-Alexander."
Stephen Curry, the veteran guard for the Golden State Warriors, sits comfortably at 3rd among guards and 6th overall. Despite being 36 years old, Curry remains an offensive juggernaut, celebrated for his inimitable movement and pure shot-making talent. However, Brad Botkin notes that "he needs better talent around him to make his way back into title contention."
The New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson has made remarkable strides, placing 4th among guards and 13th overall. Brunson's performance in the 2023-24 playoffs was nothing short of historic; he became only the fourth player in NBA history to score 40 points or more in four consecutive playoff games and had a total of 16 40-point games in the year. "In May, Brunson made history," remarks James Herbert, spotlighting his extraordinary playoff feats.
Not far behind is Devin Booker, ranked 5th among guards and 14th overall. Booker has taken on more responsibilities, including serving as the point guard for the Phoenix Suns last season, culminating in a career-high year in assists. Jasmyn Wimbish praises him, saying, "Booker has arguably become one of the most underrated players in the league... he’s liable to drop 40+ points on you."
Ja Morant, holding the 6th spot among guards and 16th overall, remains a thrilling player to watch despite recent struggles with injuries and suspensions, having played only 70 games over the past two seasons. Jack Maloney describes him as "one of the most exciting guards in the league" and adds that "whether or not Morant can return to an All-NBA level is one of the biggest storylines to watch."
Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, ranked 7th among guards and 17th overall, had an impactful season despite an injury midway through. Sam Quinn highlights his impressive stats before the injury, noting that Haliburton was averaging 23.6 points per game, accounting for a significant amount of offense generated for the Pacers.
Donovan Mitchell, ranking 8th among guards and 19th overall, had career highs in assists, rebounds, and steals last season while performing as the lone playmaker for the Cleveland Cavaliers. As Brad Botkin elaborates, "when he gets going downhill as a pull-up shooter, he is virtually unstoppable."
Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey, who is 9th among guards and 24th in the top 100 NBA players, stepped up significantly following James Harden's departure, taking on the No. 2 role. Jack Maloney notes, "Maxey stepped into the No. 2 role in Philadelphia last season and made the leap," ultimately being rewarded with the Most Improved Player award.
Kyrie Irving, ranking 10th among guards and 25th overall, remains one of the most captivating players on the court. Jasmyn Wimbish commends Irving’s skillset, stating, "Irving still has the best handle in the league, can easily get to the rim and score from all three levels."
With such dynamic talents spread across the league, the upcoming NBA season promises high-octane action and intense competition, especially among the guards who will no doubt continue to shape the contours of their respective teams' destinies.