1. James Harden, Houston Rockets
2018-19 stats: 36.1 points, 7.5 assists, 6.6 rebounds
It wasn’t hard to predict who the number one point guard in the league would be – only the former MVP and seven-time all-star. James Harden’s rise to the best point guard in the game has been quite inspiring, considering he had a tough time even getting recruited out of high school before attending Arizona State. And even once he broke into the league, it took a few years before he was given the opportunity to be a full-time starter – it wasn’t until he was traded to the Houston Rockets that he was given the full reins of a team.
He’s not the most athletic player, but Harden shoots the ball extremely well and always knows where to be at the right time. His basketball IQ is extremely high and he can impact the game in so many different ways. He is one of the best passers in the association, while always posing a threat to either drain a deep 3 or pump fake and drive to the rim.
Now with Russell Westbrook alongside him in Houston, maybe Harden can finally bring a title to the Rockets. He’s been criticized for not being clutch in the postseason, but his season statistics absolutely speak for themselves. He won the scoring title by a longshot, averaging almost nine points more per game than Steph Curry.