Top NBA point guards 25 years old or younger
Thirteen of the 30 starting point guards in the NBA are 25 years old or younger. We rank the top five of those, taking into account several factors: Ability to generate offense by creating scoring opportunities – whether it’s for himself or for his team, defensive proficiency (including defensive plus/minus: an estimation of defensive effectiveness by points allowed per-100 possessions), basketball IQ, athleticism, leadership, and potential.
1. John Wall, Washington Wizards, Age 25
Wall had the best season of his career as he carried the Wizards to the Eastern Conference semifinals. His scoring dropped from 19.3 points per game in 2013-14 to 17.6, but his assists (10 per game), rebounds (4.6), and field goal percentage (44.5%) all improved.
He proved that he can be one of the best transition guards by either taking the ball to the basket or dishing it to a teammate on the perimeter. Last season, with Wall leading the way, the Wizards ranked third in field goals made (158) in transition. Only Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook put up better fast break numbers. He also ranked third in points created by assists with 23.1 per game.
On defense, Wall remained at the top last year as well, ranked fourth among point guards with a plus/minus of +1.73 and fifth in steals with 1.75 per game. He turned 25 in early September, so the best of Wall is yet to come.
2. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Age 25
Lillard recorded career highs in points (21), steals (1.2), rebounds (4.6), and field goal percentage (43.4%) last season. He has shown that he is an adept scorer that can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. He was ranked fifth in the league for scoring off pull-up jumpers and second for total points when driving toward the basket.
His assists stayed around his career average with 6.2 per game. Lillard’s ability to stay on the court is another factor that put him above the rest of this list. Heading into his fourth NBA season, he has yet to miss a game – a perfect 262/262, including playoffs.
His weakness might be creating opportunities for teammates and on-ball defense. He was ranked 24th in points created by assists per game last season and 30th in plus/ minus with -0.37. Now the bona fide leader on the Blazers with LaMarcus Aldridge in San Antonio, expect Lillard to continue to rise towards his full potential as long as he can facilitate his teammates’ scoring and stay energized on both sides of the ball.
3. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, Age 23
Irving's ball handling skill is top-notch, he can shoot from just about anywhere on the floor with ease, and his quickness with the ball in his hands are what makes him one of the best young players in the league. He ranks third among point guards for points per game with 21.7 last year and fourth in shooting percentage with 46.8%.
He ranked fourth in total points on drives and ninth for total points while pulling-up. However, his passing ability (tied for 17th in the league with 5.2 assists per game), defensive effectiveness (39th ranked point guard in plus/minus with -0.89), and health (72 games missed over four seasons) are all red flags when ranking Irving. His potential is clearly there, and at the age of 23, he still has plenty of time left to continue his development.
4. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns, Age 25
After struggling to fit with the Los Angeles Clippers for his first three seasons, it's safe to say that Bledsoe has finally found his niche in Phoenix. He averaged 17 points, 1.6 steals, 6.1 assists, 5.2 rebounds and shot 44.7% – all top-15 numbers amongst NBA point guards. He also ranked third in point guard defensive plus/minus with +1.8.
He’s quickly proving that he’s the go-to guy in Phoenix, as he ranked fourth in the league for total touches last season. With Brandon Knight accompanying him in the backcourt, the Suns have a solid duo led by Bledsoe. But, he needs to continue to spread the ball more and get his passing numbers up from last season, as he was ranked 20th in the league for passes per game with 56.9. As long as he can maintain his quick development and show that the Suns are his team, he’s someone to watch.
5. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves, Age 24
Rubio's skill as a true point guard has never been questioned. He's one of the best passers in the league (8.2 career assist per game), an excellent on-ball defender (2.3 career steals per game), and has tremendous basketball IQ. He was first in the league for point guards last season with a defensive plus/minus of +2.33. His main problem: his lack of scoring.
Rubio has never averaged more than 10.7 points and has never shot better than 38.1% in his four seasons. His career high for points in a single game is 25. He also missed 60 games because of injury last year and has played one season without missing time for injury. In order for Rubio to develop and reach his full potential, he needs to be able to stay on the court. Unfortunately, that’s a lot easier said than done.
Honorable mentions: Jrue Holiday (25), Kemba Walker (25), Michael Carter-Williams (23).