There’s arguably no position in basketball more stacked than the point guard position.
Veterans such as Steph Curry and James Harden are still playing at a high level. Players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are entering their primes. And younger guards such as Cade Cunningham and Darius Garland have commanded respect.
Here are the top 10 point guards entering the 2025-26 NBA season:
Top 10 point guards entering 2025-26 NBA season
Stats consist of points (PTS), rebounds (REB), assists (AST), steals (STL), turnovers (TO), games played (GP), field-goal percentage (FG) and 3-point field-goal percentage (3FG).
Honorable mentions
Injury concerns prevented some players from making this list. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) are not expected to play next season, and Kyrie Irving (ACL) could miss a significant amount of time.
Ja Morant, Tyrese Maxey and LaMelo Ball are also capable of cracking the top 10. But all three players must deliver a complete campaign after appearing in fewer than 55 games last season.
2024-25 stats: 24.2 PTS, 3.1 REB, 11.6 AST, 1.2 STL, 4.7 TO, 76 GP, 41.1% FG, 34% 3FG
There’s no limit to the things Trae Young can do with the ball in his hands. No 3-pointer is too deep to knock down, and no open teammate goes unnoticed by the elite playmaker.
The lone limitation in Young’s game is his defense. There’s only so much you can do as a 6-foot-1, 164-pound guard. But that hasn’t stopped Young from earning four All-Star selections and leading Atlanta to the Eastern Conference finals in 2020-21.
The Hawks have a chance to make another deep run this season after they added Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. If they can do that with Young leading the way, the 26-year-old guard could certainly climb this list.
2024-25 stats: 20.6 PTS, 2.9 REB, 6.7 AST, 1.2 STL, 2.5 TO, 75 GP, 47.2% FG, 40.1% 3FG
Donovan Mitchell is Cleveland’s best player, but Garland is the engine to its offense.
The 25-year-old guard establishes the pace of play with his blazing speed. He scores from both inside and outside the arc. And he generates good looks for others on the Cavaliers’ star-studded roster.
Similar to Young, Garland is limited defensively as a 6-1 guard. But Garland gets the slight edge because of his efficiency. He shot over 40% from deep for the second time in the last three seasons, and he averaged nearly half as many turnovers as Young.
2024-25 stats: 22.8 PTS, 5.8 REB, 8.7 AST, 1.5 STL, 4.3 TO, 79 GP, 41% FG, 35.2% 3FG
Harden has seen plenty of changes in scenery. He has gone from OKC to Houston to Brooklyn to Philadelphia to the Los Angeles Clippers throughout his 16-year career.
And yet Harden’s game has remained mostly the same. Despite now being 36 years old, the lethal offensive weapon made an All-NBA third team selection last season with averages of 22.8 points and 8.7 assists. He also ranked first in the NBA in isolation points per game (nine).
Father Time is undefeated. But Harden is still one of the better point guards in the NBA, and I don’t see that changing this upcoming season.
2024-25 stats: 21.4 PTS, 3.9 REB, 6 AST, 1.4 STL, 2.1 TO, 67 GP, 47.4% FG, 39.3% 3FG
Jamal Murray is the only player on this list who hasn’t made an All-Star appearance. That even includes the honorable mentions.
But I’m taking him over plenty of point guards. In addition to averaging 21.4 points and six assists last regular season on great efficiency, Murray delivered when it mattered most. He helped Denver push OKC to seven games in the second round of the playoffs.
Murray should play a key role in the Nuggets’ pursuit of a championship again this upcoming season. Even though he doesn’t have an All-Star selection to his name, he continues to shine on the big stage.
2024-25 stats: 23.5 PTS, 4.8 REB, 6.3 AST, 1.5 STL, 2.8 TO, 62 GP, 46.3% FG, 31% 3FG
After being traded by Sacramento at the deadline, De’Aaron Fox didn’t look great in his 17 games with San Antonio last season. He only averaged 19.7 points on 27.4% shooting from deep.
But just like his new environment, Fox should heat up this upcoming season. The one-time All-Star should settle into the Spurs’ system as an electric playmaker, and he’ll form a dangerous pick-and-roll duo with Victor Wembanyama.
Fox is also the best defender on this list so far. Three-point shooting is an area he can improve on, but he’s still one of the most well-rounded point guards in the NBA.
2024-25 stats: 26.1 PTS, 6.1 REB, 9.1 AST, 1 STL, 4.4 TO, 70 GP, 46.9% FG, 35.6% 3FG
There was some outside noise surrounding Cunningham early in his career. The former first overall pick went through growing pains as a rookie in 2021-22, and he only played in 12 games as a sophomore due to a stress fracture in his left shin.
But Cunningham has silenced those who dared to doubt him. He made his first All-Star appearance last season by averaging career highs of 26.1 points and 9.1 assists, and he even landed on the All-NBA third team.
Detroit also made its first playoff appearance since 2018-19. And with the East wide open this season, Cunningham and the Pistons should continue to make some noise of their own.
2024-25 stats: 26 PTS, 2.9 REB, 7.3 AST, 0.9 STL, 2.5 TO, 65 GP, 48.8% FG, 38.3% 3FG
It’s all about the state of mind for Jalen Brunson. Despite being an undersized guard who’s generously listed as 6-2, the New York superstar continues to take his game to new heights.
Brunson earned a second straight All-NBA second team selection last season with averages of 26 points and 7.3 assists. His fearlessness also shined down the stretch of games, as the tough shot maker won the Clutch Player of the Year award.
Brunson led New York to its first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 1999-2000, and it’ll be in the hunt for a championship this time around. The Knicks will have a chance as long as they have Brunson, who’s undoubtedly a big-time player.
2024-25 stats: 24.5 PTS, 4.4 REB, 6 AST, 1.1 STL, 2.9 TO, 70 GP, 44.8% FG, 39.7% 3FG
It’s hard to make sense of the things Curry does on the floor.
The 37-year-old superstar averaged a league-high 11.2 3-point attempts per game last season, and plenty of them had a high degree of difficulty. But he still shot a blistering 39.7% from deep. Curry also became the second-oldest guard in NBA history to make an All-NBA team, as he continues to age like a Napa Valley wine.
I’m giving Curry the third spot over Brunson, another elite scorer, because he has the edge on defense. And even though he’s no longer the top point guard in the league, that doesn’t make what he does any less mind boggling.
2024-25 stats: 28.2 PTS, 8.2 REB, 7.7 AST, 1.8 STL, 3.6 TO, 50 GP, 45% FG, 36.8% 3FG
Dallas’ decision to send Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season is arguably the most surprising trade in NBA history.
The five-time All-Star has exceptional court vision and unreal passing skills. He breaks down defenders with his craftiness and strength. And at 26 years old, he should continue to dominate the league for the next decade.
Some people might also be surprised that Doncic isn’t first on this list, but one point guard is entering this upcoming season with more momentum.
2024-25 stats: 32.7 PTS, 5 REB, 6.4 AST, 1.7 STL, 2.4 TO, 76 GP, 51.9% FG, 37.5% 3FG
OKC won its first championship last season thanks in large part to Gilgeous-Alexander, who racked up the accolades.
The 26-year-old superstar won the scoring title with an average of 32.7 points. He was also named the regular-season MVP and the Finals MVP, making him just the fourth player in NBA history to complete that hat trick.
With great size at his position, elite scoring and strong defense, Gilgeous-Alexander has earned the title of the league’s best point guard. Add that to his growing list of achievements.
Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.