Where Does Isaiah Thomas Rank Among Point Guards?
By Jeremy Karll
Isaiah Thomas has the stats to warrant a spot on an All-NBA Team, but where does he rank among point guards?
The NBA season is quickly coming to an end. The Celtics have clinched a playoff spot for the eighth time in ten years, this time being led by Isaiah Thomas. The talk all season was about how impressive Boston’s season is considering they don’t have a true star. Some people still say that, although, many people have switched to a lack of a superstar as the reason Boston isn’t a true title contender.
Whether you want to admit it or not, a 5’9″ point guard is a star in the NBA. The years of ridiculing Thomas for being selfish and only looking to score are over. Putting up 22.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game is nothing less than star quality and proof of his all-around game.
When it comes to ranking the best point guards in the NBA, two guards stand out from the rest; Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook. Curry has a chance to make more than 400 threes this season, after already demolishing his NBA-record for most three-pointers made in a season.
Westbrook has recently tied Magic Johnson for the most triple-doubles in a season, in the last 30 years, with 17. Both of them should be first and second in MVP voting this season, as both are putting together some of the best seasons we’ve seen from a point guard.
The next tier down has the likes of Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, and Damian Lillard. Once the most dominant point guard in the NBA, Chris Paul has taken a back seat this season to Curry and Westbrook. He decided not to participate in the Olympics with Team USA this summer, although, there is no doubting his play. Paul doesn’t always get the same recognition that he once did, however, he is still just as dominant and versatile.
Paul is averaging just under a double-double; averaging 19.8 points (highest since 2011-12), 9.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Paul has dominated the league for 10 seasons now, and while he isn’t the same player he once was, there is no doubt he is still considered one of the best point guards without any argument.
Kyle Lowry just joined the group of “elite” point guards last season. He struggled with attitude issues early in his career, however, the Villanova product finally found his footing with Toronto. He’s taken his game to another level this season, averaging 21.4 points (career-high), 6.4 assists, 4.8 rebounds (career-high), and 2.1 steals (career-high) per game.
Lowry’s improved shooting this season from everywhere on the court has only taken his and the Raptor’s game to the next level. His numbers look similar to Isaiah Thomas’, although, his big body (6’0″, 205 pounds) makes him one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA. He has also become a threat from behind the arc (38.5 three-point percentage) and his improved defense makes it hard to find any huge flaw in his game.
If there is a player who gets disrespected as much as Damian Lillard then let me know. The former Weber State guard seems to always be forgotten when talking about the best point guards in the NBA. He has made two all-star teams in four seasons, however, he barely made it last season and he was a snub on this year’s team. To be fair, three of the top four point guards are in the Western Conference.
Lillard is tied with LeBron James for fifth in the NBA in points per game with 25 and eighth in assists per game with 6.8. No more LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland meant that him and C.J. McCollum had to step up, and they both did. Lillard won’t be on Team USA and he’ll get snubbed from the all-star team a couple more times, however, there is no doubting his game. He has led a “rebuilding” Trailblazers team to the playoffs, and there aren’t many point guards who score as well as he does.
Being in the third tier of point guards is not only impressive but also shows the strides Thomas has made since joining the Boston Celtics. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who thought Thomas would be an all-star this season or someone who thought Thomas would be a top-10 point guard a little over a year after he was traded for. Despite all the talks about him being too small or too selfish, he has become one of the top point guards in the NBA.
In the third tier, him and John Wall are by themselves. Wall has a career-high in points per game this season (19.9) and is also averaging a double-double for the second straight season (10.2 assists per game). While Wall is more of a household name, Thomas is right up there with him. Although, their games are very different.
Thomas relies on his scoring to do the talking, on the other hand, Wall is more of a pass-first guard. Neither guard is a great shooter (both shooting under 43 percent from the field), however, Thomas’s ability to get to the line makes up for it. Wall’s 6’4″ build helps his rebounding ability (career-high 4.9 rebounds per game), and he is one of the quickest guards in the league.
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When it comes down to it, owning the seventh best point guard in the NBA is rare and something no one thought would happen when making the trade to acquire Thomas from Phoenix last trade deadline. Right now, it’s hard to argue Isaiah Thomas over any of the top-tier guards, however, jumping over John Wall one day is a possibility. Thomas has continued to become more of a playmaker and adding another star player will only help his game and take focus off of him on offense.
With that being said, being ahead of point guards like Kyrie Irving and Jeff Teague is telling enough of how far he has come. The last pick in the 2011 NBA Draft is among elite company when it comes to point guards and the doubting of whether he is a star needs to stop.
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However, the chances of Thomas making an All-NBA Team seems slim considering the great guard play around the league this season. Either way, he’s having one of the best seasons among point guards in the NBA and is more than ready to lead Boston into the playoffs.