Image via Complex Original
31.
In late September, Bradley Beal caused quite the stir among the NBA community and basketball fans alike when he proclaimed that John Wall and him are "definitely the best backcourt in the league." Eventually, Dion Waiters put forth his two cents, calling the claim "nonsense." Then, Stephen Curry got looped into the conversation, adding, “What was he supposed to say? I would have said the same thing (about us)." Through it all, the question still remained. Who has the best backcourt in the NBA right now?
Could Beal be right in thinking that the Wizards guard duo is deserving of top honors? Are people overlooking Waiters and Kyrie Irving? Are they all underestimating the Splash Brothers? Obviously, there are more names not being mentioned here, so why waste our time just picking and choosing which ones to discuss? Let's just take them all on by Ranking All 30 Starting Backcourts in the NBA.
30.Philadelphia 76ers
Starting Backcourt: Michael Carter-Williams, K.J. McDaniels
The Philadelphia 76ers. What is there left to say about this team as a whole? They are a work in progress. However, they do have a solid asset in point guard Michael Carter-Williams. The former Syracuse guard showed plenty of promise, leading all rookies in scoring, rebounding and assists last season, but a backcourt is comprised of two individuals and this is where the 76ers face problems. As of right now, it looks like their second-round pick out of Clemson, K.J. McDaniels, will be called upon to man the two. McDaniels is known more for his defensive skills and not his ability to put the ball in the basket. With the newly-acquired Alexey Shved breathing down his neck, the athletic K.J. could see diminished minutes as the season progresses if he can't produce at both sides of the ball. It's probably going to be another long year for the Sixers.
29.Sacramento Kings
Starting Backcourt: Darren Collison, Ben McLemore
With one season under his belt, Ben McLemore wasn't all that impressive. And this is coming from someone who loved what he was doing in Kansas. Still, it's only right to give the younger players a fair shake, but so far, the 2013 seventh overall pick has proven to be a mediocre talent and will need to show improvement with rookie Nik Stauskas looking to cut into his minutes. Alongside McLemore, the Kings have the newly acquired Darren Collison, a clear downgrade from Isaiah Thomas who was just starting to turn a corner towards becoming a promising point guard in the league. Now, don't get it twisted, Collison is good, but starter good? Not so sure about that. Luckily for Sacramento, their superstar frontcourt of DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay will surely make up for the shortcomings of their guards.
28.Utah Jazz
Starting Backcourt: Trey Burke, Alec Burks
Following a breakout year of sorts, with Alec Burks averaging double-digit points per game, the 23-year-old now joins an incredibly young and talented-but-raw point guard in Trey Burke. The future of Burke and Burks—seriously, did the Jazz do this one purpose?—is still up in the air. There is a good chance that both of these guys pan out, but there's also the possibility that regression could be on the way. During the preseason, the duo has shown an ability to score in bunches, eclipsing the 20-point mark twice so far. Can they carry that success over the regular season? We'll have to wait and see. Until then, they have to show more in order to receive a higher ranking.
27.Orlando Magic
Starting Backcourt: Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo
The Orlando Magic backcourt of Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton are extremely young, but this duo could become a magical one. Okay, sorry for the terrible pun, but you get what we're trying to say here. Going into the 2014 NBA Draft, many people were intrigued by what Payton brought to the table. Elfird has the size, the speed and the vision while Oladipo showed plenty to make everyone believe that the Indiana product could turn into a cornerstone player for the Magic. Obviously, with nothing solid to base our ranking on, it's difficult to put them high on the list, however, we wouldn't be the least bit shocked to see them pan out as one of the better backcourts in the league next season.
26.Milwaukee Bucks
Starting Backcourt: Brandon Knight, Giannis Antetokounmpo
After breaking out in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Knight could very well improve even further now that he has Jason Kidd as his head coach. However, this is Knight we're talking about. In his three seasons, Knight has looked like a middle-of-the-road point guard with plenty of posterization potential. And speaking of posterizations, let's discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo. Excuse us as we fact-check his name four times. Anyway, Antetokounmpo is young and freakishly athletic. Hopefully, Kidd can find a place for him in the starting lineup where he can develop and possibly turn the corner in his career. If they can utilize the Greek Freak to the best of his abilities, who knows what the future holds for the Bucks? Until then, they have to make their case.
25.Detroit Pistons
Starting Backcourt: Brandon Jennings, Jodie Meeks
Anybody who still thinks that Brandon Jennings is a potential All-Star probably needs to get their head examined. A shoot-first point guard who can't actually shoot, Jennings would be a candidate to get jettisoned by new coach Stan Van Gundy except for the fact that his contract is virtually untradeable. His 39 percent career shooting mark is, to put it delicately, horrendous. Jodie Meeks had easily the best season of his career last year, averaging over five more points per game than his previous best. He cashed in this off-season as a result as he signed a three-year, $19 million deal with Detroit, but it's tough to see him matching his Lakers-level production again this season now that he has to share the ball with Jennings, Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond.
24.Miami Heat
Starting Backcourt: Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade
Welcome back to Wade County. After four seasons of handing the reins over to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade is (sort of) the main man in Miami, forming a strong tandem with Chris Bosh. At this point, we know what to expect out of Wade. He's a high volume scorer when his brittle knees aren't slowing him down. And then there's Mario Chalmers. With LeBron gone, the Heat will need Chalmers to step his game up and in a contract year, that could happen. For his career, Rio puts up 8.9 points per game and that should see an upswing. Regardless, the backcourt is still middle-of-the-road, at best.
23.Dallas Mavericks
Starting Backcourt: Jameer Nelson, Monta Ellis
Anyone who has watched him can tell you that Jameer Nelson does not really resemble the guy who helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009. Fortunately for him, he's landed on a Dallas team that has plenty of established players who will also carry the burden of expectations, and Nelson's job will basically be to simply keep things moving and not be a complete black hole. Ellis experienced a resurgence last season, pairing with Dirk Nowitzki and refining his shoot-first style that has made him one of the more frustrating players to watch in recent memory. Together, Ellis and Nelson form the type of strong veteran core that the Mavericks seem to thrive on.
22.Los Angeles Lakers
Starting Backcourt: Jeremy Lin, Kobe Bryant
Steve Nash is reportedly out as the Lakers’ starting point guard, which makes sense given the fact that he can't pick up a suitcase without injuring himself. Jeremy Lin will assume the starting role, now well removed from the height of Linsanity and settled into a role as a relatively subpar NBA point guard. He can't quite shoot well enough to justify his lackluster assist numbers, which is not a combination that will please his new teammate Kobe Bryant. The Mamba has his own issues to worry about, however, with reports circulating that he is crippling the Lakers franchise with his stubbornness and questions lingering over his general health and on-court effectiveness. In what could be a rough season for LA, the backcourt is just one of several huge question marks.
21.Charlotte Hornets
Starting Backcourt: Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson
Kemba Walker has always been an under-the-radar kind of player, but the former UConn Husky has carved out a really nice NBA career for himself. While he may not be the best ball handler in the world, Walker has managed to be effective and last year helped lead the Bobcats (now Hornets) to their first playoff appearance since 2010. He'll be joined in the backcourt this season by Lance Stephenson, the mercurial, borderline All-Star who last season enjoyed easily the best year of his career. Another overlooked player when he was coming into the league, Stephenson has emerged as a force who led the NBA with five triple-doubles last season. While they may not be the most skilled tandem in the league, combined with power forward Al Jefferson these two make the Hornets a near lock for the playoffs.
20.Indiana Pacers
Starting Backcourt: George Hill, Rodney Stuckey
The Pacers had a troubling finish to last season, one that saw them basically meet expectations as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals but also be constantly embroiled in on-and-off-court turmoil. Chief instigator Lance Stephenson is now in Charlotte, and has been replaced by Rodney Stuckey, a decent enough scorer now entering his eighth season in the league. Basically, at this stage he is what he is. That would be fine, except George Hill has never truly looked like an elite point guard either, and this “meh” combination of players likely means that the Pacers will need superhuman efforts from Roy Hibbert and David West if they want to have any hope of making the playoffs without Paul George.
19.Minnesota Timberwolves
Starting Backcourt: Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin
So far, in the preseason, Ricky Rubio has shown more of a scoring mentality. Is this a sign of things to come? Maybe. With Rubio in his contract year and looking to cash in on a max deal, he will need to prove that he's more than just a skilled passer with the ability to come up with quick hands on defense. As for Kevin Martin, the guy can put points on the board. That has never been an issue for him. It has been the injuries which have slowed him down. If Martin can stay healthy throughout the course of the season and Ricky can prove to be a more dynamic threat than he has shown thus far, expect Minnesota's backcourt to turn some heads. For now, we'll take the wait and see approach.
18.New Orleans Pelicans
Starting Backcourt: Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon
Jrue Holiday has always been a sneaky good player. Nothing really pops off the page, but night in and night out, he's positively contributing to the team. If only we felt the same way about his backcourt mate, Eric Gordon. At times, Gordon is amazing, taking over a game and just pouring it into the basket. And then, there are those moments where you can only scratch your head. The lack of consistency on Gordon's end hurts this team, but Holiday keeps them from dipping further in the rankings.
17.Brooklyn Nets
Starting Backcourt: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson
After assembling a team ostensibly built to win the NBA championship, the Brooklyn Nets really fizzled last season. That was due in no small part to the struggles of Deron Williams, who was supposed to be one of their stars but turned out to be more like an injury prone, overpaid role player. Joe Johnson may have made the All-Star team, but he too experienced a down season that saw his numbers decline from where they've been in previous years. This duo has a lot of work to do to reclaim their reputations as elite players, but given their talent level and body of work over the course of their careers, they should still be given the benefit of the doubt at least for a little while.
16.New York Knicks
Starting Backcourt: Jose Calderon, Iman Shumpert
If Jose Calderon can master the intricacies of the triangle offense, he will be a huge asset for the New York Knicks going forward. Calderon has shown throughout his career that he can successfully play the point and his pass-first mentality will prove to be valuable for a pure scorer like Carmelo Anthony. Meanwhile, Iman Shumpert will benefit from working in the new scheme, but his playing time is a huge question mark. Along with Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. will be fighting for time at the crowded two-guard spot. Depending on the flow of the game, Iman could stand to receive the least amount of time out of the three guys. Because of that, it's difficult to be high on Shump and as a result, the overall ranking suffers.
15.Atlanta Hawks
Starting Backcourt: Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver
The Atlanta Hawks were one of the NBA’s nice surprises last season, and that was due in no small part to their reliable backcourt tandem of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver. Teague averaged a career-best 16.5 points per game and 6.7 assists, and the deadeye shooting Korver had another solid season as he led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (.472). Korver even had a chance of making the World Cup team this summer, getting sent home in the final roster cutdown. While Atlanta will not surprise nearly as many people this year, a healthy Al Horford along with Paul Millsap and this strong backcourt means that they will be a contender for a top four playoff seed in the Eastern conference.
14.Denver Nuggets
Starting Backcourt: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo
Ty Lawson enjoyed a really good season last year, averaging over 17 points and just under nine assists a game. A borderline All-Star who seems to still be improving, he is unequivocally the key to Denver's success. Arron Afflalo will rejoin him in Denver after a two-year stint in Orlando, and he’ll bring some positive momentum with him. The shooting guard had the best season of his career last year, averaging 18 points per game for a pretty bogus Magic squad and also shooting a very good 43 percent from three point range. The stacked Western Conference means that the Nuggets likely will be outside the playoffs once again, but (if healthy) their guards will not be the reason that they'll be watching the postseason from home.
13.Memphis Grizzlies
Starting Backcourt: Mike Conley, Courtney Lee
The acquisition of Courtney Lee was a move that really helped stabilize the Grizzlies last year, and a full season of Lee and Mike Conley together should yield similarly solid results. Lee can score the basketball (as can Conley), and the duo’s ability to shoot from outside helps them space the floor for their two low post anchors Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The Western Conference is highly competitive, but this combination of experienced and reliable guards should Memphis them a likely playoff team.
12.Oklahoma City Thunder
Starting Backcourt: Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson
For the first couple of weeks with Kevin Durant out, it's going to be the Russell Westbrook show. And with Westbrook, you know what you're getting: a superstar guard with a shoot-happy streak, a little bit recklessness but overall, a good amount of success. Given the uncertainty at the shooting guard position with the season just around the corner, Russ will most likely assume the role of the team's point and shooting guard from a pure statistical standpoint and we're like 99 percent sure he has no problem with it. But for argument's sake, we'll take a look at the supposed front-runner for the two-guard spot, Andre Roberson. At times, Roberson has shown the ability to put the ball in the basket with consistency, but the guy is just plain average most of the time. Nothing to see here at the two.
11.Boston Celtics
Starting Backcourt: Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley
The Celtics’ already brittle roster was dealt a serious blow when Rajon Rondo went down with a broken hand in late September after falling in the shower at home. Playing without their best and most experienced player will hurt Boston big time over the first two months of the season, and it means that Avery Bradley will have to take on an even bigger role. Bradley enjoyed a solid season last year, posting career highs in points and rebounds per game for a team that was pretty terrible. He then signed a four-year, $32 million extension in the off-season, and will be expected to elevate his play if this team wants to have a chance of winning more than 20 games in 2014-15. A potential trade of Rondo also looms over this entire Celtics season, and it seems almost a certainty that the impending free agent will be on the move before February.
10.Houston Rockets
Starting Backcourt: Patrick Beverly, James Harden
After losing Chandler Parsons in free agency and failing to sign Chris Bosh, the Rockets will lean more heavily than ever on James Harden if they want to take the next step in their quest to become one of the NBA's elite teams. Harden has become an elite pure scorer, perhaps the best in all of basketball. His defense, however, is so bad that making jokes about it doesn't even seem fair at this point. Patrick Beverly more than makes up for Harden’s lack of defensive acumen, but has struggled to stay healthy in both of his pro seasons. Understandably, with Harden and Dwight Howard dominating the touches on offense, Beverly doesn't contribute a ton on that end (and won't really be expected to). However, with Jeremy Lin now on the Lakers, the need for Beverly to step up and be a regular rotation player for 75-plus games a season has never been greater.
9.San Antonio Spurs
Starting Backcourt: Tony Parker, Danny Green
The San Antonio Spurs play a tried-and-true team game. No one really stands out much, but they still play incredibly well together. The same can be said for their starting backcourt. Tony Parker is good. Really good. But his numbers don't pop out at you. That same sentiment applies for Danny Green, who put up 9.1 points per game in a down year, but he was still pivotal to the team's success. San Antonio is a difficult team to evaluate from a starting backcourt perspective because the squad is truly a sum of its parts. They aren't ranked highly as a backcourt, but together, they are one of the best teams in the league today.
8.Cleveland Cavaliers
Starting Backcourt: Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters
For good reasons, much of the talk surrounding the Cavaliers this off season has been centered on LeBron James and Kevin Love. Kyrie Irving has gotten some shine as well, having signed a max level extension earlier this summer before the team’s other two stars had been acquired. He is one of the bright young point guards in the league and has made the All-Star team in each of the last two seasons, and at age 22 there’s no reason to think he won’t keep improving. Dion Waiters, on the other hand, is a bit more of an unproven commodity. He hasn't been an outright disappointment, but Irving and he have not exactly meshed well in the Cavaliers backcourt in the past. While LeBron may be the elixir for this duo's on-court chemistry issues, they will need a bunch of games to prove that to the rest of the league.
7.Toronto Raptors
Starting Backcourt: Kyle Lowry, Terrence Ross
After an impressive second half of the season last year where he averaged 20 points, seven assists and five boards per game, Kyle Lowry received a nice (and well-deserved) contract extension with the Toronto Raptors. While the assist and rebound averages have been fairly consistent throughout his eight-year career, Lowry really came into his own as a scorer. Now, the 28-year-old will need to prove that last year wasn't a fluke and that he has rounded into a nice asset for Toronto's budding future. As for Terrence Ross, the jury is still out. After two years in the league, the 2012 first-round pick still has time to develop into something special, however, based on what he's given us to work with so far, there's a lot left to be desired. Of course, when you're essentially the fourth offensive option behind DeMar DeRozan, Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas, you take what you're given. Ross is skilled and serviceable, and for this squad that works just fine.
6.Portland Trail Blazers
Starting Backcourt: Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews
Here we have the 2013 Rookie of the Year in Damian Lillard and the self-proclaimed “best two-way, two-guard in the NBA” in Wesley Matthews. While you gotta love the confidence displayed by Matthews, there's no way in hell that he's the best two-way two-guard in the league. Still, he's a pretty solid player who, alongside Lillard, creates a nice scoring duo in the Trail Blazers' backcourt. Both guys are consistently bubbling under-the-radar. Another solid year for the Blazers and maybe more people will take note of what this team is doing.
5.Washington Wizards
Starting Backcourt: John Wall, Bradley Beal
John Wall and Bradley Beal are 24 and 21 years old, respectively, and while their future with the Washington Wizards is undeniably promising, their ages indicate that there is still room for improvement before they both hit their prime years. With every season, Wall has gotten a little bit better on the offensive side of the ball, expect for one category: shooting percentage. J-Wall continues to shoot the ball in the early-to-mid 40 percent range while Beal has consistently hovered around the 41 percent mark in his brief two-years in the league. Over time, these two will assuredly continue to improve their mid-range game and become even more well-rounded players. Aside from that aspect of their game, this tandem is as freakishly athletic as they come. Very few point guards are as quick and stealthy as Wall and there aren't many twos who show as much promise as Beal. Even with a few shortcomings, they are still incredible and Beal wasn't too far off the mark when saying they were the best backcourt in the league. Given some time to further develop, who knows where they will be? The sky is the limit.
4.Phoenix Suns
Starting Backcourt: Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe
What's not to like about the Phoenix Suns' backcourt? Goran Dragic really came into his own last season and was given the Most Improved Player award. Eric Bledsoe rose from out of Chris Paul's shadow and proved to be an incredible talent. After only one year together, Bledsoe and Dragic—the “Slash Brothers"—have been instrumental in improving the Suns by leaps and bounds. As they continue to gel, these two should only get better. Which is saying something given their already high ranking among other backcourts in the league.
3.Chicago Bulls
Starting Backcourt: Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler
The return of Derrick Rose means that the Chicago Bulls are likely the best team in the Eastern Conference, at least at the start of the season. With apologies to the Cavaliers, the Bulls have the track record and incredibly complementary backcourt necessary to make it to the NBA Finals. We all know what Rose can do, and the former MVP's ridiculous athleticism makes him a threat anytime the ball is in his hands. With Rose missing significant time the last couple seasons, Butler has been an absolute workhorse in the Bulls' backcourt and has emerged as a very good player. He is a defensive stopper who averaged an astonishing 38-plus minutes per game last season, which makes up for the work he still has to do to improve his shooting efficiency. Despite Butler's shot's shortcomings, this pair’s talent is just one of the reasons why the Bulls are projected as a team to beat in the East.
2.Los Angeles Clippers
Starting Backcourt: Chris Paul, J.J. Redick
After getting a feel for each other last season, the combination of Chris Paul and J.J. Redick appears poised to do big things for the Clippers the season. Paul is obviously one of the best players in the NBA, a rare blend of point guard whose ability to share the ball is matched only by his ability to get huge baskets when necessary. Redick is a solid spot up shooter who is an ideal player for the offensive scheme of coach Doc Rivers, and as long as he can stay healthy he should be a big contributor. The Clippers are expecting lots of success this season under new owner Steve Ballmer, and a healthy backcourt combo should go a long way towards helping them reach their goal of an NBA title.
1.Golden State Warriors
Starting Backcourt: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson
They've been anointed by some already as the best backcourt in the league, and an argument certainly could be made that the “Splash Brothers” are the NBA's preeminent guard combination. Both can shoot the lights out, and Curry especially is an absolutely electrifying player. Still, though, questions remain. Thompson, especially, can occasionally fade in and out of games, and neither is particularly great on the defensive end. Nevertheless, anytime you're talking about a pair of players who on 500-plus attempts can shoot over 40 percent from three, that is an elite duo.