Alright, so I was kicking back the other day, scrolling through some old basketball clips, and it got me thinking about the 2010s. Man, what a time for point guards. Felt like every team had a killer floor general. So, I decided to actually sit down and try to figure out who really were the best point guards of that decade. You know, just for myself, see where I landed.
Setting the Stage
First thing, I had to define the “2010s”. For me, that means the seasons starting from 2009-2010 all the way through the 2018-2019 season. Ten full seasons of hoops. Seemed fair.
Just Brainstorming Names
Then, I just started listing guys that popped into my head. No real order, just getting them down on paper, metaphorically speaking. The list got long pretty quick:
- Stephen Curry – Obvious one, changed the game.
- Chris Paul – Mr. Consistent, Point God stuff.
- Russell Westbrook – The energy, the triple-doubles, the MVP.
- Derrick Rose – That MVP year was something else, even if injuries hit later.
- Kyrie Irving – Handles for days, clutch shots.
- Damian Lillard – Dame Time, loyalty.
- Tony Parker – Had success early in the decade, Finals MVP before that.
- Kyle Lowry – Gritty leader, eventually got that ring.
- Rajon Rondo – Passing genius, defense early on.
- Even thought about guys like Steve Nash at the very start of the decade, but mostly the 2000s for him.
That felt like a decent starting pool. Lots of different styles, lots of talent.
Figuring Out What Matters
Okay, now the hard part. How do you rank these guys? “Best” is tricky. I decided I needed some things to judge them by, covering the whole decade:
- Peak Performance: How good were they at their absolute best during the 2010s? MVP level?
- Consistency/Longevity: Were they great for most of the decade, or just a flash?
- Team Success: Did their teams win? Championships are a big deal, let’s be real.
- Individual Awards: MVPs, All-NBA teams, All-Star games count for something.
- Impact: Did they change how the game was played or how the position was viewed?
Seemed like a good mix. Not just stats, not just rings, but a bit of everything.
Sorting Through the Players
This is where I really started chewing on it.
Stephen Curry just jumped out. Two MVPs (one unanimous!), multiple rings, completely revolutionized shooting. He basically owned the middle part of the decade. Hard to argue against him being right at the top.
Chris Paul was elite for pretty much the entire decade. Year after year, All-Star, All-NBA, All-Defense. Didn’t get the ring, which always comes up, but his consistency as a pure point guard was incredible. Led some great teams.
Russell Westbrook… man. The MVP season averaging a triple-double was legendary stuff. The intensity was off the charts. Maybe not the most efficient guy, and his teams didn’t reach the very top after KD left, but his individual dominance for a stretch was undeniable.
Derrick Rose is tough. His MVP in 2011 was peak performance, absolutely electric. But the injuries really limited his impact for the rest of the decade compared to the others. Can’t put him at the very top for the whole 10 years, sadly.
Kyrie Irving has maybe the best handles ever? And that shot in the 2016 Finals… huge. Definitely elite skill. Played alongside LeBron for some of those peak years, got the ring. Maybe less consistent as the lead guy across the full decade compared to Steph or CP3?
Damian Lillard became a star in the 2010s. Super clutch, loyal to Portland. Consistently great scorer and leader. Maybe just a notch below that Curry/CP3/Westbrook tier for the full decade’s body of work, but definitely up there.
Guys like Tony Parker and Kyle Lowry were really important too. Parker had Finals MVP momentum coming into the decade and won another ring. Lowry was the heart of those Raptors teams and capped the decade with a championship. Solid, winning players. Rondo was unique, great passer, but his role shifted.
Making the Call (Sort Of)
So after going back and forth, looking at the awards, the impact, the winning…
For me, Stephen Curry has to be number one for the 2010s. He changed the game more than anyone, had the highest peak, and the team success to back it up.
After Steph, it gets really debatable. I lean towards Chris Paul for the second spot, just based on his incredible consistency and two-way play for the entire decade, even without a ring. He was the definition of a floor general.
Then you have Russell Westbrook. That MVP and the triple-double seasons were historic. Pure force of nature. Gotta have him right near the top.
Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard are probably in that next breath. Amazing scorers, big moments. Rose’s peak was as high as anyone’s, but the duration just wasn’t there for the decade.
Wrapping Up
Man, that was actually kinda tough, but fun to think through. So many ridiculously talented point guards in the 2010s. Everyone probably has their own order, and that’s cool. It really depended on what you valued most – peak, longevity, rings, pure skill. For me, thinking about the whole ten-year stretch, that’s kinda how it shook out. Definitely an era that changed how the point guard position is played.
