NBA Positional Rankings: Top 10 point guards entering 2021-22

Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
7 of 10
Chris Paul
Phoenix Suns Chris Paul (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

No. 4: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

2020-21 Stats: 16.4 PPG/4.5 RPG/8.9 APG/1.4 SPG/.499/.395/.934

First year in Phoenix, first trip to the Finals for one Chris Paul. I know there was a lot of debate on whether the best player in Phoenix was Devin Booker or CP3. Let’s do everyone a favor and just not entertain it, okay? What we can say, though, is that Paul was the undisputed leader of this young team.

Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, and Deandre Ayton were the Suns’ three best players beyond Paul, and they had never been to the playoffs before. While the Point God had never been to the Finals before, he was the seasoned veteran of the team. And he acted like it. And played like it. And the rest of the team followed suit because of it.

His pedigree alone earns him a top 10 spot, but the success in his first year in Phoenix is what earned him top 5. I have my concerns about Phoenix in next year’s re-loaded Western Conference, I must admit. But if Paul is healthy, the Suns are still one of the best-run teams in basketball.

Those teams make it through adversity better than most and kept them afloat in a weird and dangerous playoffs. It can happen again. If so, the Suns are prepared, will some of these new teams be?