NBA Point Guard Tiers 2023-24

So far during the 2023-24 NBA season, the point guard position has been among the best in the league. From a pair of serious MVP hopefuls to the gritty two-way players making a subtle yet favorable impact on their team’s playoff chances, the point guard spot is as strong as it has been in the last two decades.

Below, the 25 best point guards in the NBA today will be placed into tiers based on their stats and accomplishments so far this season as well as their overall impact on success on the court. These 25 point guards are being evaluated solely on their play during the 2023-24 season and not on what they have done in the past or what their potential may be.

Tier 1 (Kings)

Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry

The three players who are Tier 1 of this list in 2023-24 are the only three worthy of the label “superstar” at the point guard position. The first of these superstars is 2024 All-Star starter Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic is leading the NBA with 34.2 points per game on 49.2% shooting overall and a career-high 37.5% from three. His 9.5 assists per game are third in the NBA as well and he ranks in the top 20 in rebounds with 8.8 per game. Doncic has Dallas currently at 32-23 on the season, just one game out of fifth place in the West.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is another serious MVP candidate in 2023-24 with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and a league-leading 2.2 steals per game. He was named an All-Star starter for the first time this season coming off an All-NBA First Team selection in 2023. Gilgeous-Alexander’s elite play has made the Oklahoma City Thunder one of the top teams in the Western Conference at 37-17, just 1.5 games back of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The final member of the Tier 1 superstar tier is, of course, Stephen Curry. While the MVP award is likely not headed his way thanks to poor team performance, Curry is still playing at a level that has his opponents and teammates in awe. Through 50 games played for the 27-26 Warriors, Curry is averaging 28.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. What has been even more impressive is his efficiency at 46.2% overall, 42.1% from three, and 92.2% from the foul line.

Tier 2 (All-Stars)

Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Damian Lillard, Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox

Tier 2 of 2023-24 point guards is full of young and ascending talent in the current NBA along with a familiar face or two as well. Leading things off, we have two-time All-Star and 2024 Eastern Conference starter Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers. Haliburton has played at an All-NBA level this season, leading the NBA with 11.7 assists per game while also adding 21.8 points on 49/40/85 shooting splits. Haliburton has the Pacers currently in the thick of the playoff chase in the East at 31-25 overall and holding onto the sixth seed.

Jalen Brunson has been another point guard in 2023-24 who has broken through into start status after being on the cusp of it for the past two years. With the Knicks in 2023-24, Brunson has reinvigorated the city with energy, earning All-Star honors and averaging 27.6 points, 6.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. Brunson’s leadership has helped the Knicks navigate injury woes to a 33-22 record through 55 games, good enough for a spot at fourth in the East.

At the top of the NBA’s Most Improved Player race, you will find first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers. Once again, Maxey stepped into a starting role with the 76ers at point guard this season after a disgruntled former one left town. Maxey has thrived both with and without Joel Embiid on the court, averaging 25.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 44.9% shooting. At 32-22, Maxey has a ton of work to do to ensure a higher seed for the Sixers going into the playoffs.

Even in a new city and with a new team, Damian Lillard continues to be a top 10 point guard in the NBA. Through 51 games with the Bucks this season, Lillard is averaging 24.6 points and 6.7 assists per game for his third-place squad in the East. Lillard added to his resume in 2023-24 with a three-point title and All-Star Game MVP as well this past weekend but has bigger goals in mind for himself and his pursuit of an NBA championship the rest of the way.

The fifth point guard to grace Tier 2 of 2023-24 point guards is Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Although not initially recognized as one, Young was named an All-Star as an injury replacement but deserved to be there anyway. In 50 games this season, Young is averaging 26.7 points and 10.9 assists per game, which is second in the NBA, for a struggling Hawks team st 24-31. Although his name remains tied to teams such as the Lakers in trade rumors, Young continues to show up and play at an elite level every night.

The final member of Tier 2 may not have been an All-Star in 2023-24 but deserved it every bit as much as the ones who were. De’Aaron Fox has been a top-10 point guard this season easily, averaging 26.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. For the second season in a row, Fox has the Kings in the thick of a playoff chase at 31-23. Fox’s chemistry with teammate Domantas Sabonis has the Kings tabbed as one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA come playoff time.

Tier 3 (Exceptional)

James Harden, Jamal Murray, Jrue Holiday, LaMelo Ball, Darius Garland, Coby White, Cade Cunningham

Atop Tier 3 and making a very strong case for Tier 2 is James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden’s arrival in L.A. was met with skepticism and criticism, especially when they started with five straight losses with him in the lineup. Since then, the Clippers are 33-10 in games he has played and have now solidified themselves as a serious title contender this season. Harden is currently helping lead the way with 17.5 points and 8.4 assists per game on 45.0% shooting.

Coming off an NBA championship run in 2023, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets remains one of the most underrated players in the NBA. In 2023-24, despite missing 15 games due to injury, Murray still has the Nuggets in fourth in the West, averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 assists per game next to Nikola Jokic. Murray is also shooting 41.1% from three on 5.9 attempts, making himself one of Jokic’s favorite targets on his cross-court passes.

Jrue Holiday is another starting point guard in 2023-24 fitting into his new role quite nicely. It helps that Holiday landed with the No. 1 team in the East but do not be fooled, Holiday has a lot to do with it himself. In 50 games, Holiday is averaging 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Even more impactful, however, has been his contributions to the Celtics defense which is currently third in the NBA overall. Holiday’s championship experience is also something beginning to rub off on a Celtics team with aspirations of the same sort.

Despite injuries once again taking center stage in his 2023-24 season, LaMelo Ball’s talent and production continue to speak for themselves on the court. Ball has played just 22 games this season thanks to an ankle injury but when on the court, he has been spectacular for the Hornets. He is currently averaging 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. However, it looks like we will have to wait another year to see what Charlotte can do with him fully healthy in their lineup.

Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers is another Tier 3 point guard who dealt with his fair share of injuries this season. Garland has been in 29 games of 53 for the 36-17 Cavaliers, averaging 18.2 points and 5.9 assists per game on 47.1% shooting. Garland’s absence did not hurt the Cavaliers who are second in the East at the All-Star break but his presence will only elevate their chances of making noise come playoff time.

If you are under the impression that Coby White of the Chicago Bulls has not been a Tier 3 point guard this season, then you have not been paying attention. Since taking over after Zach LaVine’s injury, White is averaging 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 46.3% shooting overall and 39.7% from three. White is a serious contender for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and has the Bulls in a fight for a spot in the Play-In Tournament.

Although he remains the starting point guard for the worst team in the NBA in 2023-24, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham has been having a Tier 3-worthy season. After playing just 12 games in 2022-23, Cunningham has returned to the court in 2023-24 on a mission. Through 44 games thus far, he is averaging 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game on 44.6% shooting. Cunningham has made it clear he is the piece to build around in Detroit for the future.

Tier 4 (Role Players)

Russell Westbrook, D’Angelo Russell, Mike Conley, CJ McCollum, Fred VanVleet, Immanuel Quickley

Tier 4 is made up of a few lower-end starters and bench players who are still having a substantial impact on their respective teams this year. Nobody fits that mold better than Clippers Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Russell Westbrook. On the outside, his 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game do not look like much. His willingness to take a bench role, the energy he brings every night, and the leadership he has shown on the court are all directly responsible for the Clippers’ outstanding 36-17 record.

We rarely watch an NBA player heavily immersed in trade rumors play himself out of a deal thanks to how well he performed on the court. That is exactly what has gone down with Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell this season through 51 games played. Russell is currently averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 assists per game for the 30-26 Lakers, sparking enormous comebacks and late-game runs with his efficient scoring and playmaking.

Mike Conley just recently inked a two-year, $22 million extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The confidence to sign the 36-year-old on for two more seasons has to come from the way he has led the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves through 50 games. Conley is currently averaging 10.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Defensively, he has been as good as Minnesota could have hoped for, helping the team become the top-ranked defense in the NBA.

Not many people are talking about the New Orleans Pelicans and their position at 32-22 and fifth in the Western Conference. Maybe that is because they sent zero All-Stars to Indiana this year despite having a trio that could have been honored. One of those members of that trio is point guard CJ McCollum. Through 41 games, McCollum is averaging 19.0 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for the Pelicans on 46.1% shooting.

Fred VanVleet began the 2023-24 season with a team not named the Toronto Raptors for the first time in his eight-year career. Following a massive free-agency deal with the Rockets, VanVleet has been decent in his debut season with 16.5 points, 8.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. VanVleet’s play and leadership had the Rockets in the thick of the playoff race in the West but poor play recently has taken them out of that, for now, at 24-30.

The final member of Tier 4 is Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley. Set to hit restricted free agency this season, Quickley has built on his near-Sixth Man of the Year season in 2023. After 30 games with the Knicks, Quickley was traded to Toronto where he has improved through 20 games. Quickley is averaging 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 40.1% shooting for Toronto as they navigate a quick rebuild North of the Border.

Tier 5 (X-Factors)

Keyonte George, Tyus Jones, Tre Jones

The three point guards that make up Tier 5 are currently toward the lower end of the top 25 but with the potential to make their way into the top 20 by the start of next season. Rookie Keyonte George has been a pleasant surprise for the Utah Jazz this season after being selected 16th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Through 50 games this season and 19 starts, George is averaging 11.7 points and 4.3 assists per game for the 26-30 Jazz. His potential is through the room but his performance in 2023-24 has been recognizable as well.

Tyus Jones has been one of the very few bright spots for an underwhelming and disappointing Washington Wizards team in 2023-24. Despite their 9-45 record, Jones has been a decent leader for them with 12.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 50/42/78 shooting splits. Although he will not be a difference-maker this season, Jones being on the move this summer could be something to keep an eye out for amongst contenders in need of depth at point guard.

The final member of Tier 5 and the last player on our 2023-24 point guard tier list is Tre Jones of the San Antonio Spurs. Even at 11-44, Jones has been decent in his role through 50 games and 21 starts. Since taking back his starting role in January, Jones has averaged 11.9 points, 7.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 53.3% shooting from the floor. The Spurs are 6-15 in that time while being 5-29 with him coming off the bench.